Getting Prepared Casters to...prepare.

[Bloody Initiate]

I echo Phaedrus' point about character sheets -- you cannot expect people to do their homework prior to the game if they don't have the materials to do so.  If you are the only one with the books, let them take those cards home, too.

As I said, no one is ever prohibited from taking their character sheets home. Most are glad to leave them with the DM since their day before roleplaying frequently invlolves work or class and thereby makes toting a special sheet around an annoyance.

[PhaedrusXY]

I echo Phaedrus' point about character sheets -- you cannot expect people to do their homework prior to the game if they don't have the materials to do so.  If you are the only one with the books, let them take those cards home, too.

As I said, no one is ever prohibited from taking their character sheets home. Most are glad to leave them with the DM since their day before roleplaying frequently invlolves work or class and thereby makes toting a special sheet around an annoyance.

You're not the OP, though. If he isn't letting them take their sheets home, and then complains because they don't prepare their spells beforehand, this whole thing might partially be his fault. I have had DMs that insisted on keeping all the character sheets between games.

[officeronin]

That's exactly what I do, and anyone who comes over is free to look at their character sheet, look over my books, write up spell cards or whatever. The one time the druid player did that she got half way through a spell card and then began watching a movie. So I don't know.

And because of dramabullshit the relationship between me and the druid & cleric is already stressed; in fact, the relationship my girlfriend (playing a duskblade) and my friend (sorcerer) and I all share with the rest of the party (sans the archivist because that guy is on perma-mellow, probably from all the weed he's smoked over the years) is stressed because of it. So, I don't want to do anything draconian that's going to bust the game wide open and cause even more dramabullshit -- because D&D is about fun and we all have fun when we play (except for the irksome non-preparing part that annoys me).

This is a reply to the OP.

The fact that it's everyone who prepares spells, and not just one person, argues that this is a systemic problem, rather than just you being blessed with an idiot.  I would try one of the following options:

1.  If they have the books (or can find stuff online), let them take their sheets home and prepare stuff at home.  In fact, ask them to do so.

2.  Set aside 15 minutes at the beginning of a session to pick spells, just in case they did not get their stuff done.  To help with this, use the same spell list they used last time, present it, and ask them to make any changes they would like to make.

3.  The cards sound time-consuming.  I really do like the idea for many reasons -- but I wonder if the busy-work of making a card is getting in the way.  I'd consider dropping that idea.  If nothing else, keep the cards so new ones don't need to be made.

4.  Emphasize that this is to get the game moving and keep it fun.  At least your laid back guy will be cool with it.

5.  Next time they are in town, have the druid meet another druid who gives some helpful ideas -- "So you're a druid, eh?  Have you tried using the magic of <spell name>?  I always prepare it when I am travelling through the arctic north.  If I am headed underground, I find <another spell name> to be far more useful."  Who says that druid in town is not familiar with the Optimization Boards?  I use this all the time to introduce spells from splats.

6.  Start on time -- and never turn on the TV, go online, or allow Magic decks to be pulled out near game-time.

[Brullig]

I really don't understand why you say prepared casting is so complex.

1. Your character is familiar with a large number of spells.
2. Each morning, you pick a subset of those spells that you think you might need during the day.

I'd say that's easier to do than play something like a sorcerer where you have to anticipate what you're going to need for the next two levels as opposed to the next day.

[kurashu]

I echo Phaedrus' point about character sheets -- you cannot expect people to do their homework prior to the game if they don't have the materials to do so.  If you are the only one with the books, let them take those cards home, too.

As I said, no one is ever prohibited from taking their character sheets home. Most are glad to leave them with the DM since their day before roleplaying frequently invlolves work or class and thereby makes toting a special sheet around an annoyance.

You're not the OP, though. If he isn't letting them take their sheets home, and then complains because they don't prepare their spells beforehand, this whole thing might partially be his fault. I have had DMs that insisted on keeping all the character sheets between games.

This would be an issue if a) I wasn't the only with the books, despite that I've given everyone the OK to borrow them provided they're returned in the same condition and the URL to the Hypertext SRD and b) everyone who plays except for the archivist is over here all the time. There's no reason that while one of the two in question is over here to say "I want to prepare my spells ahead of time and actually do it." Or to borrow a book and do it. The only reason I have the character sheets is because everyone insisted and everyone is over here all the time. And it only takes a few minutes for someone with three spell slots to say "Alright, I want these three spells. Let's go."

[officeronin]

Kurashu:

My apologies.  I thought you were looking for advice on how to solve a problem, and prevent the drama in your gaming group. 

Good luck on your game.

Officeronin

[CountArioch]

I wouldn't play in a game where I was a prepared caster and couldn't change my spells every time I prepared them. 

[kurashu]

Way to put words in my mouth. My point with the spell cards was to get commonly cast spells for the cleric and druid written down so it wouldn't needed to be looked up every time ("What does cure light wounds cap again?" "What's the bonus shield of faith has?") as well as have a tangible object for the archivist and to give the sorcerer and duskblade some ease in remembering spells. I'm fine with changing spells every time -- in fact, I endorse it. But what is happening is that everytime we sit down to play, the druid and cleric say "Well, I don't any of those spells. I want all new ones and we're going to take an hour to choose."

Though last session, I don't what changed -- maybe it was that half the people were there (the half that weren't gave the okay for others to run their characters since one knew he was working and the other knew he was out of town that day and the other was the cleric's girlfriend) -- but spells were prepared AND spell lists were given to me. So, I don't know. Ranger just took a level in swordsage since he asked me how if he could multiclass and what I would recommend -- since he's got mad dex, a decent wisdom and an interest in hitting stuff really hard, swordsage came to mind. So, I'll have to see how this pans out now too -- but he's excited about having all day spells.

[Operation Shoestring]

Get new players? That sounds straight-up retarded.

If that's not an option ( ), just tell them that they can't cast any spells that they don't have listed as prepared before they show up for the game. And stick to your guns.

+1 this is my way of doing it for all but newbies.

They don't need to prepare spells when they come to play, as they should have all the information they need *FROM LAST SESSION*

on the other hand, if one session covers multiple days, then yes, it is perfectly okay for them to demand more time.

I happen to like Vancian spellcasting.  I like having a shtick of "i need to pack the tools for thsi mission before insertion, and i don't get resupply".  there;s nothing silly about that.

The mechanical problem is the lack of a cap on spells known, making the wizards options potentially near infinite.

[Alastar]

Money = cap.

With my archivist, most of my WBL at level 5 is spent on spells, it kinda sucks ^^

[kurashu]

I've been nice about finding spells for him.

[McPoyo]

Just some notes I figured I'd toss in well after the fact that I've found help in my groups:
-When I play a prepared caster, I have a "standardized" list or two I keep with me with spell names written down. It's not every spell slot, but it's a decent portion of them, and I title them things like "Traveling with Random Encounter chance", "Dungeon", "City/Social", etc. I'll leave 1-3 spell slots of any given level open (depending on spells per day) so I can do minor customization, with a suggestion for what I will normally prepare. That way, when I know what I'm heading into, I just say "This sheet is my prepared spells". Half a page of paper, usually, tops. If I have to do something a little out of the ordinary, I customize those spare slots with whatever oddities I might need (higher travel assisting spells, more anti-undead, more CC, etc.). The only time these lists change is when I level up, and that's just to adjust the list if I need to for more spells per day or new spells learned that might come in handy. Spells I commonly use, I have an index card with the relevant spell information on it, including source and page name in case the DM wants to look it up.

-My players now take this same tactic. If they have a prepared caster (or in some cases, even the warblade players), they have a quick shortlist of names of their standard prepped stuff to minimize the work they do. They write stuff out on notecards, and keep those notecards handy. The DM Keeps the notecards in between sessions, usually, just so they don't get forgotten on game day.

-I get a little bit draconian, though, sometimes. If they habitually misplace their notecards, I don't let them hold up the game by writing out new ones. They'd better just know the spell, or have the book open to it when it's their turn. If they don't pay attention enough to combat that I can run through 9-10 enemies turns and resolve them all (including multiple casters) in less time than it takes them to decide what spell they are going to cast, I skip them. Yes, it is a dick move and makes me a bad DM, but combat times in my games improved from 45 minutes for 1 round with 10 occupants (6 of which were NPCs), to 2-6 minutes a round, depending on complexity and number of rolls.

[Bloody Initiate]

Keeping the game moving at a good pace isn't bad GMing, it's just the opposite. As for it being a dick move, sometimes you have to be a dick to someone in order to keep the game fun for everyone.

[axleleft]

Perhaps once the players have a few more sessions under their belts they'll start to have spells they prefer to use and until then want to experience them all? If that is not the case then so far the better advice I've seen has been the "prep a few standardized lists for typical situations." Indeed, you may want to set aside a session to  go through this with your players in addition to playing. Though if they're spending a lot of time at your place you may just want to work it into casual conversation ("So what's was your favorite spell so far? Have you found any combinations you like a lot?"). If the problem seems to be that they are overwhelmed by choices you may want to consider using the spell point or recharge magic variant from the SRD. They'll still have to prepare spells but they won't have to worry about how many of each spell they think they'll need.

My point with the spell cards was to get commonly cast spells for the cleric and druid written down so it wouldn't needed to be looked up every time ("What does cure light wounds cap again?" "What's the bonus shield of faith has?") as well as have a tangible object for the archivist and to give the sorcerer and duskblade some ease in remembering spells.

+1 for players new and old.