Spellbook (item)

The spellbook is the most important part of casting spells in Britannian Magic, and without it, no magic can be done. In the spellbook, all spells known to the mage are written down for easy access. Spells can be learned from other mages (of course after paying in gold), and are then recorded in the book for later use. Typically, the more experienced a mage is, the more expansive his or her spellbook becomes.

Thankfully, the usage of a spellbook makes the mixing of reagents obsolete, as the book uses the right qualities of reagents once the spell is spoken.

History
Spellbooks came into widespread use beginning in Ultima VI. Before this, spellbooks weren't required, and the spells were mixed directly. In Ultima V, magic scrolls appeared which duplicated the various spell effects, but they were somewhat unpractical, and fell out of use.

In Ultima VI, spells could be readily purchased from other mages and then added manually to the spellbook, and Lord British even had a spellbook ready for the Avatar in his castle. In Ultima VII, purchased spells were automatically recorded into the book. Again, Lord British had a spellbook ready for the Avatar, while two more could be found in the dungeons Destard and Hythloth. In Ultima VII Part Two the Avatar started with a spellbook, but lost it in a teleport storm. Fedabiblio in Moonshade was able to create a replacement for the Avatar, using three fresh Mandrake Roots.

The rules for spellbooks changed significantly in Ultima IX, see Ultima IX Magic. The Avatar here found a spellbook in Stonegate.

Trivia

 * Despite the Avatar's reliance on the spellbook, in Ultima VII, Jaana does not require a book for healing.
 * The Avatar's Britannian spellbook carries spells native to the Serpent Isle upon first arriving in the new world.