[RPG] Will enemies with Wizard spells have spellbooks a PC Wizard can learn from

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I'm aware that Wizards can learn spells from other spellbooks and scrolls they find, as long as they take the time and money to learn it. If there is an enemy, such as a Mage that is listed in the Hoard of the Dragon Queen supplement, that is listed as a caster and said to have Wizard Spells, does this mean we can assume they are a Wizard class and they have to have a spellbook? Is there any chance a PC Wizard could learn the spells off this defeated enemy?

Best Answer

As you say, a Wizard can learn spells from spellbook they find. So the question here is whether wizardly enemies will have spellbooks on them when they are defeated.

That's entirely up to the DM. Like any piece of loot, any enemy could be carrying a spellbook for whatever reason. If the DM wants the players to find the defeated Mage's spellbook, they will. There are a multitude of reasons for why a Mage would or wouldn't be carrying their spellbook on their person - it's the DM's choice to give the players access to this (fairly valuable) piece of treasure or not.

Remember that a Wizard doesn't require their spellbook to cast their spells (unless they want to cast them as rituals), so it's perfectly reasonable for a Mage to have hidden their spellbook somewhere once they prepared their day's spells.

So if you're asking this as a DM, the answer is that it's up to you. If you're asking as a player, the answer is that it's up to the DM, but it might well be worth your while to search the lairs/houses/dens/homes/castles/towers/whatever of enemy Mages you defeat.