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If 5E is returning to the older ways of doing spells and especially if monster stat blocks are going to be like 3E with a list of a dozen different spells and spell like abilities, and how I wish this were not the case from what I have seen it will be, please keep the spells per level low in number.

Easy example of a classic, don't have "Fire Ball" have "Energy Blast" let one spell stand in for more.  Make things like alarm and protection circles as rituals. 

I love the 4E stat block for monsters but if we have to take a step backwards please do it by making things more simple, with 30+spells of every level 3E was a mess and for the most part players only ever prepared the same 10 maybe of each level.  So just keep it down to those 10 or so spells but give each one options.  Make a general "Ward" spell, not protection from this and that.

The more spells the better. I don't matter if some are the same, some are useless, some are way over-the-top and unreasonable. Spells should be limited by DM, type of campaign, high/low fantasy, exploration, understanding of magic.

Spells should not be choosen each level. A caster must discover (or granted by a god) the spell(s) or research them. It's not like a caster just heads over to the local library and signs out "Wizards Spells for 4th level, A-C Vol 1."

3.0 and 3.5 spells in most cases where about right I think, but the newer books I think tried to break the system - to force us to need a new set of books. I have not bought anything from 4th edition - I hate the spell system and choices. I even created a 3.0 Character that knew every single cantrip in the game. He collected them as a hobby. Idiocy was not a bad spell but it can cripple spellcasters without killing them and made a good argument for wizards to carry wands.

But as a rule - the more spells the better I think. Limiting creativity is bad move in any fantasy game. Keeping the spells balanced is a good idea. The easiest way to limit spells is to say no spells above 2nd level can be used. That way you don't deal with fireballs - which I believe was designed to fight undead and plagues.

@GreyICE - Your argument is misplaced

time stop is a useful escape spell but it does have limits, shapechange can be fun for a creative GM. Alter self is a really nice spell for detective and spying games, polymorphs can add humor to a reckless party. Turn the party into rabbits and has the wizard turn them loose in a druids garden. Gate spells can be abused but you hold expect that from 9th level spells. 

I had a party that used a magic gate to go to a spellcaster school that used portals. If anyone tried to pass through with anything but cantrips memorized they where bared entry. The player could take other classes but the ability to pass was limited to cantrips - will the 7th party took on the landsharks and fallen angels - using wands to supplement their spells. 

Feb 14, 2012 -- 11:00AM, GreyICE wrote:

Seriously, over-the-top spells are horrid for the game and it should NOT be the job of the DM to try and figure out which one of WotC's little blocks of text is useable.  

Also your idea that the DM should spend the time to go through and individually pick out each spell that the Wizard can learn, making sure they're balanced and appropriate for the power level of the other players is in my opinion not fun for the DM. As a DM, I'm NOT going to spend more time with the Wizard than with EVERY OTHER PC COMBINED, and with spellcasting classes in 3.X, that's how my prep time went.

Anyways I'll always stick to more spells, the better. A rather my spellcasters find ancient scrolls and spellbooks dungeon delving with a scroll containing a spell I wish to include into my campaign, or a spellbook with several levels worth of spells my caster can research. I even allow my players to learn spells not of their level... of course with a moderate or high chance of the spell doing horrible things to caster/party. I like to DM creatively but with some limitations (realism).