@TheEdVerse In regards famous spellbooks like those found in the OGB and "Pages from the Mages". Many of these spellbooks mention being traded for sums of money or items or similar, and that many of them are hunted down or being sought by powerful folk- so my questions are:

Dec 20, 2017 · 9:30 PM UTC

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(i) How much would rare spellbooks such as those be valued at? (ii) Are the spells within generally able to be copied into someones own master spellbook? (iii) Are the spells within able to be "memorised" without being copied into someones own master spellbook?
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linked to this as a kind of further (iv) how rare are the various mechanisms to learn new spells in the Realms? Once again, many thanks GG
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(iv, concluded:) -evil spellcasters willing to tutor, except to further a fervent cause (so learner may have to join and serve a faction, etc.). Evil spellcasters all too apt to use learners as fodder for experiments/dangerous adventuring missions.
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(iv, continued:) Also depends on what’s going on (wartime? deep harsh winter?), what the learner is willing to do (become an apprentice? undertake dangerous “fetch this” quests for a tutor?), and many other factors. Schools of wizardry are NOT plentiful, and neither are non-
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(iv) Again, the best answer is “it depends.” On the location (city? trackless wilderlands? Underdark? affects availability of tutors), available funds, and personal nature (are they a drow or a creature thought of as a “monster”?) of the individual wanting to learn.
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Once again and as always many thanks. Were distance less, I would offer to buy you and yours a meal in thanks - GG
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more replies
(iii) Usually, yes, a spell in a spellbook can be studied (taking the usual time and requiring the usual light sufficient for reading), and memorized, in the usual manner. Again, complications may arise depending on the magics of the spellbook.
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(ii) Usually, yes, though in some cases this will cause the spell being copied to fade away from the original, or it will trigger “hung and waiting” spells to act on the copier. (Depends on the enchanted nature of the spellbook.)
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(i, concluded): So, in short, it really “depends.” Rough rule of thumb: several tens of thousands of gold pieces per complete-seeming spell a buyer wants.
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(i) Many sages value rare spellbooks as beyond price. What they’ll fetch in coin varies wildly, depending on the seller (how desperate?) and buyer (is magic any use to me personally? do I know someone I think I can sell it to? is dealing with them worth the danger I perceive?).
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