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One of the characters in the Starter Set is a 1st-level high elf wizard with an Int mod of +3. How does this character have 6 spells?
I understand that one is a ritual, but it has 5 more and not 4?
The spellbook shows:
I had the same original question myself. This is a premade character sheet licensed by D&D.
While this might not be the case in the Starter Set you are looking at, in the official rules (the full Player's Handbook), 1st-level wizards (PHB 114) are granted a spellbook containing 6 spells. They can then prepare a number of spells equal to their wizard level + Int modifier for casting (in this case, 4) using their two 1st-level spell slots.
At 1st level, you have a spellbook containing six 1st-level wizard spells of your choice.
You prepare the list of wizard spells that are available for you to cast. To do so, choose a number of wizard spells from your spellbook equal to your Intelligence modifier + your wizard level (minimum of one spell).
Without viewing the source you are referring to, it seems that the 6 spells listed are their initial 6 spells in their spellbook, from which the player must prepare 4 spells each day to actually have available to cast. Detect magic, being a ritual spell, can still be prepared and cast as a standard action using one of the two spell slots, or it can cast as a ritual, in which case it does not need to be prepared and takes 10 additional minutes to cast.
In short, as far as I can determine, the character sheet is correct.
This is quite straightforwardly explained in the character sheet:
Spell Slots. You have two 1st-level spell slots you can use to cast your prepared spells.
Prepared Spells. You prepare four 1st-level spells to make them available for you to cast, choosing from the spells in your spellbook.
Spellbook. You have a spellbook containing these 1st-level spells: burning hands, detect magic, mage armor, magic missile, shield, and sleep.
The default starting wizard has a spellbook with those six 1st-level spells. You can only prepare four of those. You only have enough spell slots to cast two before a long rest. (The Arcane Recovery ability listed on the character sheet also allows the 1st-level wizard to recover one slot, once per day, on a short rest.)
The rules for spellcasting are given on page 21 of the Starter Set rulebook.
