Do abilities like Extra Spell and the Master Specialist Expanded Spellbook allow you to take spells outside of your class list?

Question

Several abilities including feat Extra Spell and the Master Specialist class feature Expanded Spellbook allow spellcasters to learn an additional spell. However, these abiities do not specify that the spell learned must be on their class spell list.

The reason why I feel that spells outside the caster's normal class list would be permitted in the case of Expanded Spellbook, at least, is that gaining a small number of spells into a wizard's spellbook is not really a terribly useful ability; a wizard can do that pretty easily anyway. Also, it makes a lot of sense, flavor-wise, if a wizard who is an utmost master of his school of magic can cast a handful of spells that other wizards can't.

If a feat, class feature, or other ability says that a spellcaster can learn a new spell, and that ability does not specify that the spell must come from their class list, can they learn spells that are not on their class list? I'm specifically asking about D&D 3.5.

Answer 1

Extra Spell is specifically addressed in the FAQ (p. 40):

Can you take spells from spell lists other than your own with the Extra Spell feat (CAr 79)?

The Extra Spell feat allows you to choose a new spell, but it does not remove the restrictions of how you would normally pick your spells—so they must be picked from your own spell list.

This is the general rule -- you have a class ability that lets you cast spells from a particular class list only. For instance, the wizard has the following ability:

Spells: A wizard casts arcane spells which are drawn from the sorcerer/ wizard spell list.

For something to give you spells not on your class list, it has to explicitly call this out as an exception to the more general rule. The Master Specialist ability is worded almost identically to the wizard's regular spell book entry, so it clearly does not allow this:

When you reach 2nd level, you can add one spell of your chosen school to your spellbook. The spell can be of any level that you can cast, and it is in addition to the normal spells gained when increasing your level.

If it isn't on your class list, how would you even determine if it was a level that you can cast?

Answer 2

No, the class list restriction exists unless something removes it. An easy example is the Unseen Seer PrC from Complete Mage, which has this:

Advanced Learning (Ex): At 2nd, 5th, and 8th level, you can add a new spell to your spellbook or list of spells known, representing the result of personal study and experimentation. The spell must be a divination spell of a level no higher than that of the highest-level arcane spell you already know. The spell can be from any class's spell list (arcane or divine). Once a new spell is selected, it is forever added to your spell list and can be cast just like any other spell on your list.

Answer 3

A lot of it is based on asking your DM. However, for the two listed items, it's addressed in the FAQ. In particular:

For Extra Spell, the FAQ:

Can you take spells from spell lists other than your own with the Extra Spell feat (CAr 79)? The Extra Spell feat allows you to choose a new spell, but it does not remove the restrictions of how you would normally pick your spells—so they must be picked from your own spell list.

And for Master Specialist, in the errata:

Page 70 – Expanded Spellbook [Revision] First sentence should read, “When you reach 2nd level, you can add one wizard spell of your chosen school to your spellbook.”

In some instances, abilities will allow you to add things outside the normal list (the first example off the top of my head being Unseen Seer). Normally, if it doesn't specify, it's probably safe to say it can be from outside your list. Check with your DM in those cases. However, in the two listed cases, you cannot add spells outside the normal list.

Answer 4

I would say the opposite is true. By default, all your spells must come from your class's spell list. For you to take a spell that isn't, the feat or power must say so explicitly.

Also, flavor-wise, I would expect a Master Specialist to... well... specialize. Not dabble in spells outside of his specialization, but be better in the narrow school he chose.

Of course, these are just the RAW. If there's a cool spell that's not on your spell list but you feel would fit your character concept, ask your DM and chances are it'll be approved. Coolness trumps most RAW.

Answer 5

The limitation of your spell list is specific to your class’s learning mechanic

It is not a general rule; any restrictions on which spells you may choose must be stated in the rule that allows you to gain a new spell, by RAW.

In particular, Extra Spell is (almost) entirely pointless otherwise.

In the case of Master Specialist, though, it does make sense to houserule that limitation.

Answer 6

From the character's perspective also think about it in terms of where they get their power from. It wouldn't make sense for a Devine caster to get to choose from spells that are cast by people with magic in their blood or vice versa.