Arcane spell research has been essentially moribund for the seven centuries since the fall of Northern Tynar. Frilond magicians often muse that they are but dwarfs standing upon the shoulders of the Adepts; most "new" spells are actually rediscovered lost spells. Although spell research in Frilond is currently an expensive and adolescent field, it shows much promise: arcane studies have undergone some recent advances through the efforts of a few intrepid scholars.

In addition to gaining new spells through gaining levels or by copying formulae out of spellbooks, a wizard also can research a spell independently, duplicating an existing spell or creating an entirely new one. A commonly known, existing spell is much easier to research than a rarer existing spell, which in turn is easier to research than a completely new spell. Similarly, higher level spells are more difficult to come by than lower level ones.

Spell research costs time and money as the wizard must purchase rare and expensive texts and materials, conduct experiments, and revise the formula. The cost of research is determined by a Wealth check; the DC is based on the spell level and rarity, as shown in the table below:

The minimum length of time needed to complete the research also varies by spell level and rarity: