The Library

The single most important tool in the wizard’s laboratory is his library. Every wizard has a library, even if it consists of nothing more than his spell books and a handful of old texts and journals. Depending on the campaign flavor and the prevalence of magic, wizards may find that ancient grimoires and codices are the only source of new spells, potion formulae, or procedures for creating magical items. Unless they go to extraordinary lengths to unearth, purchase, copy, or steal these books, their advancement in the arcane arts can come to a dead halt.

When a character builds and outfits a laboratory of any type, a basic library is assumed to be included in the overall price. This collection allows the wizard to conduct the basic functions of the laboratory—brewing potions and manufacturing special inks for scroll creation, making magical items, or conducting spell research. However, the materials in a lab’s initial collection only allow the character to research the formula for one potion or scroll, one magical item, and one 1st-level spell. In effect, the library that the wizard acquires to outfit his laboratory is only sufficient for the first two or three research efforts he undertakes. After these initial studies, the wizard must expand his library in order to undertake new research efforts.

Alchemists and Artificers: These two specialist wizards do not need to increase the size of their library in order to discover new formulae or procedures. Their specialist abilities bypass this requirement; the character’s expertise allows him to do without many of the texts and canons other wizards find necessary.

Library Requirements: Expanding a library and collecting volumes suitable for advanced research takes time and money. The total value of the wizard’s library governs the research he can undertake there, as shown in Table 13: Libraries.

Library Expense is the total investment the character makes in acquiring books, references, and other research materials. The initial library expense is simply the cost of the character’s laboratory, so if a wizard builds a research laboratory and then spends 2,000 gp on expanding his initial library, he can research 2nd-level spells.

Number of Potion Formulae represents the maximum number of potions the wizard can research given a library of the listed size. Using the correct enchantments and materials is a critical part of potion-brewing, and wizards must invest some time in researching the correct formula and procedure for any particular potion. (See Chapter 7 .) For example, a wizard who purchases an alchemical laboratory can determine the formula for two types of potion (flying, for instance) with the materials at hand, but in order to learn the formulae for additional potions, he must spend money to expand his reference library.

Number of Item Formulae represents the maximum number of magical item creation processes the wizard can discover using a library of the listed size. Each magical item has its own unique “formula”—materials and procedures required to successfully produce one item. The initial laboratory included in a forge allows the wizard to research the creation of one type of magical item, such as a rope of climbing or boots of the north. Discovering the requirements for additional types of magical items requires a larger and more complete library.

Maximum Spell Research Level is the highest-level spell the wizard can research, given the library at hand. The basic research laboratory allows the wizard to research 1st-level spells, but if he wants to indulge himself in more advanced studies, he’ll have to obtain additional texts, references, and materials.

Finding Books: Naturally, a library worth 10,000 gp is not a heap of treasure waiting to be carted off by the nearest adventurer. It is a labor of love and care, created over years by the dedicated efforts of an intelligent and well-organized character. And, unfortunately, building a library can be a tedious and exhausting task. Important volumes may take years to find.

Generally, a library is composed of books ranging in value from 50 to 500 gold pieces, although unusual works may cost much more. Thus, a library valued at 2,000 gp might include 15 to 20 books in the 50–100 gp range, three or four valued at 100–200 gp, and maybe one or two in the 300–500 gp range. While it’s not necessary to catalog every single book that is contained in the collection, it’s a good idea for the DM to identify a handful of critical works, or references that are so central to the wizard’s studies that the library just isn’t complete without them. Finding or tracking down these rare volumes can be quite a challenge, creating many adventure hooks for a PC wizard!

If the DM is generous, he can assume that the wizard can find everything he needs, given time, and assume that one week of library-building allows the character to spend up to 500 gp on books he needs. In other words, increasing a library’s size and value by 2,000 gp would require four weeks of dedicated effort on the wizard’s part. Finding a rare or unusual text (or, treasure of treasures, an intact collection!) in an adventure could save a wizard a great amount of time and money.

However, building a library can be far more difficult than just spending money. In medieval societies, books were hand-written, and there might be only six or seven copies of a book the wizard needs to be found anywhere, let alone in the local bookseller’s shop. Particularly rare or valuable tomes may change hands through sale, deceit, or thievery dozens of times, disappearing from common knowledge.

In addition to the problem of scarcity, it’s possible that some significant works required by a wizard might not be written in his native language but instead in the language of a far-off kingdom. An ambitious character might be forced to learn his campaign’s equivalent of Latin, Sanskrit, or Mandarin Chinese for no other purpose than to read a single book. Another problem might be suppressed or forbidden books; trading in banned works could get a character into a lot of trouble.

Last but not least, the current owner of the book the character seeks may have no wish to part with it, especially if it’s considered dangerous or unique. The wizard may be able to persuade the book’s owner to allow him to make a copy of the text, or he may have to consider more direct action to acquire the necessary materials.

Library Size: Large collections of books require space, just like laboratories. The basic references included in the cost of a laboratory don’t take up any additional space above and beyond the laboratory’s requirements, but expanded libraries require at least 25 square feet for each 2,000 gp value. For example, a library valued at 10,000 gp would require 125 square feet (a 10-foot by 121/2-foot room). This may sound like a generous amount of space, but keep in mind that many of these tomes are extremely large and bulky, and require special shelving, displays, and cabinets. All these furnishings are included in the cost of the library.

Care and Protection: A wizard’s library is an investment of great value to the character eventually exceeding even the most complete laboratories and forges. Naturally, the owner should be quite interested in making sure nothing happens to it. The library should be in a dry, secure room that is well-ventilated but not open to the weather. Dampness can quickly mold or destroy books, especially those made without modern preservatives. Last but not least, the wizard should consider fire traps or similar spells to guard the room against intruders.

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