If First Level Clerics can't cast any spell then why are there First Level cleric spells?

[otaking]

On page 7 it says that Clerics can't cast spells of a divine nature at level 1 but on page 15 there is a list of first level spells.

[SmootRK]

Spell levels and Character levels are not the same thing.

[otaking]

Does that mean that a cleric can use any spell of any spell level once his character level is two?

[daryen]

Uh, no.

There is a chart on page 7 of the Basic Fantasy RPG Core Rulebook shows what level spells a cleric of a particular level may use, and how many they may use. So, for example, a cleric of level 4 may use 2 first level spells and 1 second level spell. (A high wisdom can give them more spells to use.)

Again, spell levels and class levels are totally different despite using the same word "level".

[otaking]

Thank you, now I am no longer confused.

[SmootRK]

Thank you, now I am no longer confused.

Ok, good. I had meant to expand upon my answer with something of more substance, but got sidetracked at my work. Daryen had perfect answer for you.

[Solomoriah]

(A high wisdom can give them more spells to use.)

This is a house rule, not a standard one.

[daryen]

Oh. Sorry. I was going from memory. I apologize for the mistake.

[Bumblepig]

Thank you, now I am no longer confused.

Confusion between "spell levels" and "class levels" has been an issue since the very earliest RPGs. So you're not alone.

This is one issue I wish they would have thought through at the beginning. If the rules just used a synonym for "level" for one of the two usages (e.g. Class "levels" vs. Spell "ranks") it would eliminate the issue for new gamers.

I get that BFRPG probably doesn't change terminology since the existing terms are so engrained in the gaming community, but I'd submit it as a candidate issue to consider if there ever is a BFRPG v. 4.

[jdn2006]

1st edition AD&D Player's Handbook 1978 by Gary Gygax page 8:

"It was initially contemplated to term character power as rank, spell complexity was to be termed power, and monster strength was to be termed as order. Thus, instead of a 9th level character encountering a 7th level monster on the 8th dungeon level and attacking it with a 4th level spell, the terminology would have been: A 9th rank character encountered a 7th order monster on the 8th (dungeon) level and attacked it with a 4th power spell. However, because of existing usage, level is retained throughout with all four meanings, and it is not as confusing as it may now seem."

If you wanted to use logic then Spell Level would be the level the ability to cast the spell is gained at. Thus, For Clerics there would be 2nd, 4th, 6th, level spells and the Magic User 1st, 3rd, 5th. But the given conventions are so ingrained no one changes it and some might be confused by said changes when going from old materials to new.

There are other considerations. Example: If a new class was designed using the traditional system which was given the ability to use minimal Clerical spells such as a few 1st, 2nd, and 3rd level at such and such experience level, you just provide a chart/table. For the second idea a note of some such would be required such as the New Class can start casting 2nd level cleric spells at 5th experience level, 4th at 9th experience, 4th at 15th or whatever the progression.