Ok, maybe this is a dumb question and maybe I'm just missing the obvious, but this came up in discussion elsewhere with a regular gaming friend of mine and his take on it is vastly different than mine.
When a Sorcerer uses a Divine scroll, a Cleric uses an Arcane scroll, or a Rogue uses any Scroll, what are all the UMD checks that are required to succeed?
My understanding was that you would make the standard UMD [Using a Scroll] check at a DC of 20+caster level. Assuming your ability score was high enough, this is all you have to do. Otherwise you also must make a UMD [Emulate an Ability Score] check.
The alternate viewpoint is that in addition to these another UMD [Emulate Class Feature] check is needed.
So which way is correct? Am I removing an important step or is he adding an unnecessary one?
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The only dumb question is the one you don't ask!
Emulate an Ability Score: To cast a spell from a scroll, you need a high score in the appropriate ability (Intelligence for wizard spells, Wisdom for divine spells, or Charisma for sorcerer or bard spells). Your effective ability score (appropriate to the class you're emulating when you try to cast the spell from the scroll) is your Use Magic Device check result minus 15. If you already have a high enough score in the appropriate ability, you don't need to make this check.
Use a Scroll: Normally, to cast a spell from a scroll, you must have the scroll's spell on your class spell list. Use Magic Device allows you to use a scroll as if you had a particular spell on your class spell list. The DC is equal to 20 + the caster level of the spell you are trying to cast from the scroll. In addition, casting a spell from a scroll requires a minimum score (10 + spell level) in the appropriate ability. If you don't have a sufficient score in that ability, you must emulate the ability score with a separate Use Magic Device check. This use of the skill also applies to other spell completion magic items.
So first check if the player has a high enough ability score to use the spell they want to. If they do, then they make a single UMD check with a DC equal to 20 + the caster level of the spell from the scroll. If they do not have a high enough ability score, they must still make the previous check but they must also now made an additional, separate UMD check to emulate a high enough score to cast the spell.
To activate a scroll that is all you need to do, you do not need to emulate the ability to cast spells.
I hope this helps!
Ah yes, I was assuming if the character was activating a scroll that they already knew what it did. If they don't yet they need to decipher it.
Ok thanks. That's what I thought.
Yes we're assuming the Scroll user know what the spell is and they have a high enough ability score.
The issue revolved around whether any of the above classes needed to also Emulate a Class Feature in addition to Use a Scroll. I had never heard of this before, but my friend's insistence made me start to wonder if I was missing something.
Glad that is cleared up. Thanks. :)