Scrollmaster: Practical in PFS?

[Patrick Harris @ SD]

I'm toying with the idea of playing a scrollmaster. They seem like quirky fun. But it occurred to me that, since I won't be able to scribe my own scrolls, and I will go through them pretty quickly in scenarios, the cost might be prohitibive.

Has anyone had any experience playing a scrollmaster in Society play who can comment?

Alternately, have any of you math types crunched any relevant numbers?

[noswald]

I've not seen any PCs, but there is a scenario with a ScrollMaster and the PCs were like WTF?

I don't think it is practical for Society play since there is no crafting rules and gold is limited, but I would enjoy seeing a ScrollMaster at a table I'm judging just to see the reaction on the other players faces when you pull out scrolls for a shield and weapon.

[Wraith235]

take a look at the costs of scrolls ...

1st 25 gp
2nd 150 gp
3rd 375 gp
4th 700 gp
5th 1,125 gp
6th 1,650 gp
7th 2,275 gp
8th 3,000 gp
9th 3,825 gp

so 700gp for a +2 shortsword for 4 successfull attack rolls you make

or 3000 for a +4 shortsword for 8 successfull attack rolls you make

its much the same for the shield but 3000 gets you a +5 Shield bonus for 8 successfull attack rolls against you

I look at this and I cant help but look at this and think ... while cool its Really not worth it ... just immagine a creature that has 5 attacks (does terrible damage) hitting you before you have a chance to act ... I dunno ... seems cost porohibitive to me

[Jeffrey Fox]

I don't think it would be that bad. It seems like every scenario has scrolls laying around for loot so you'll get them free to use every scenario. I'm not sure how good the archetype is, but it does seem rather interesting.

[Mathwei ap Niall]

The more interesting question is since this archetype uses scrolls as melee weapons does that mean he can use Quick Draw on scrolls now?

If you can then you'll just be investing in low level scrolls (a lot of them) and moving around the battlefield constantly spamming spells while staying mobile. PLUS you'd never be disarmed, can take AoO's when things approach.
Don't forget Mending can fix any item that has been destroyed (just takes 10 minutes).

[Mergy]

Mathwei ap Niall wrote:

The more interesting question is since this archetype uses scrolls as melee weapons does that mean he can use Quick Draw on scrolls now?

If you can then you'll just be investing in low level scrolls (a lot of them) and moving around the battlefield constantly spamming spells while staying mobile. PLUS you'd never be disarmed, can take AoO's when things approach.
Don't forget Mending can fix any item that has been destroyed (just takes 10 minutes).

You may be onto something with that first one.

As for mending, doesn't that only work on non-magical items? I was under the impression you would need make whole.

[LazarX]

People looking into this archetype might want to keep in mind that while you do have the neat trick of death by paper cut, you're still all the other things about being a Wizard and should not consider that this archetype makes melee a primary aspect of the character.

It's also worth noting that at 10th level this archetype gives casting from scrolls a major boost.

[Jiggy]

Mergy wrote:

As for mending, doesn't that only work on non-magical items? I was under the impression you would need make whole.

Actually:

Mending wrote:

Magic items can be repaired by this spell, but you must have a caster level equal to or higher than that of the object. Magic items that are destroyed (at 0 hit points or less) can be repaired with this spell, but this spell does not restore their magic abilities.

So if you can finish the fight before the scroll hits 0 HP, you're golden.

[Patrick Harris @ SD]

Ooh, see, I didn't even think of that. I'm glad I asked.

[Mike Lindner]

Neither mending nor make whole will help.

Quote:

Scrollmaster (Archetype)

The scroll blade has hardness 0 and hit points equal to the highest-level wizard spell on the scroll. Each successful hit by the scroll blade reduces its hit points by 1; this damage cannot be repaired, but does not affect casting from the scroll. When its hit points reach 0, the scroll is destroyed.

[Patrick Harris @ SD]

Aww, weaksauce.

[Curaigh]

I had to look up the scroll master, but it says 'this damage cannot be repaired.' If you played short-sword focus (MC with fighter? feint/sneak attack? AoO?) and have a back up short sword. It would definitely be fun. A scroll of magic weapon where every strike is a gamble on whether or not you can enhance your regular short sword before it breaks.... :) Still I think I would avoid it without scribe scroll.

EDIT:ninja'd

[Mike Lindner]

This might make a good PC to dump GM credit on. Then when you do play it you have that extra cash from scenarios where you aren't spending money just to get through it.

[Wraith235]

I have curiousity ... does anyone actually have one ? and what are their opinions on playing one

[cblome59]

I've been thinking of designing one but just haven't gotten around to it. They seem like fun and spending cash for that fun seems like a decent trade off for me.

[Dust Raven]

I've been considering rolling up a Scrollmaster because I think they're kinda neat. I don't think I've ever use the scrollblade ability unless I multiclassed, but I love the idea of bonus AC just for having a scroll in hand. The 10th level Improved Scroll Casting looks awesome.

[Spaarky]

Scrollmaster, to me, makes no sense and the Archtype itself makes me laugh. You are a Wizard, why would you ever waste a scroll to hit someone with a sub par weapon when you can unleash powerful spells upon them.

[Dust Raven]

Chris Mullican wrote:

Scrollmaster, to me, makes no sense and the Archtype itself makes me laugh. You are a Wizard, why would you ever waste a scroll to hit someone with a sub par weapon when you can unleash powerful spells upon them.

I agree. The use of that (perhaps defining) class feature is a waste (unless you multiclass). But the "free" AC from from holding a scroll, I like that.

[Dennis Baker]

My thought is you buy the scroll, until it has 1 HP then set it aside for use casting off later. You still wind up with a bunch of scroll you burn through fast, but at least you get to cast them.

I can see using this in three use cases and they are potentially compatible.

For wizards who don't want to get their hands dirty, it is shield bonus to AC (+3 is fairly cheap). It's good for 3 hits then you have a normal 4th level scroll. Wizards aren't on the hard edge of combat all the time so those 3 hits will take a few combats to accumulate.

If you are going Eldritch Knight this gives you an interesting way to get through your first five levels of wizard. You would have a normal weapon but use the scrollsword ability to bust out an icy or shocking sword when you need a quick upgrade (Or to give your weapon reach).

You deliver a lot of touch spells and want a backup weapon

[Elbe-el]

In organized Pathfinder Society play, the Scroll Master is useless, due to the "no crafting" bit.

In an actual table-top role-playing game, though, the Scroll Master sounds like quite a bit of fun. I wish I could remember the name of it right now, but there was an anime series that featured a lady who could manipulate paper into weapons, defenses, transportation, or most anything else she needed. I remember the series being fun to watch, and it being the first thing that came to mind when I read the Scroll Master archetype.

I would suggest that regardless of its "optimization", you try the archetype for the sole reason that it might be fun to play ( I mean, really...Why else do we engage in this hobby?)

[Illeist]

Elbe-el wrote:

In organized Pathfinder Society play, the Scroll Master is useless, due to the "no crafting" bit.

In an actual table-top role-playing game, though, the Scroll Master sounds like quite a bit of fun. I wish I could remember the name of it right now, but there was an anime series that featured a lady who could manipulate paper into weapons, defenses, transportation, or most anything else she needed. I remember the series being fun to watch, and it being the first thing that came to mind when I read the Scroll Master archetype.

I would suggest that regardless of its "optimization", you try the archetype for the sole reason that it might be fun to play ( I mean, really...Why else do we engage in this hobby?)

I'm definitely a Read or Die fan, and I've been wanting to try out this archetype for a while.

The only way that I can see it working would be to take four levels of Soul Forger Magus and select a high level scroll as your Arcane Bond. That will allow you to give the scroll hardness, and by RAW "[w]hen an object is damaged, subtract its hardness from the damage. Only damage in excess of its hardness is deducted from the object's hit points." It's cheesey, but, given the extremely low power level of the archetype (both archetypes, actually) and the extreme effort it takes, it's easily forgivable cheese.

[Harley Quinn X]

I thought about rolling up one of these, but already have too many casters to I stayed away. While expensive, perhaps a Fortifying Stone would make this archetype work better. It would give the scroll Hardness 5, and the temp HP from a fortifying stone be used to give more life to your scroll weapon, and the temp HP from the Fortifying Stone can be restored with a casting of Make Whole. You'd just have to make sure you cast Make Whole before you whack someone too many times.

Then, with the ruling that Prestige Points can get you a scroll with multiple castings of the same spell on it, have one scroll with several castings of something like Tongues or a level 2 spell. Keep one casting left on the scroll, and use the other if the need arises. That gets you a +1 Shortsword for a little over 1000 gold. Just can't use it without the occasional Make Whole.

Given the costs, this really wouldn't be feasible until you hit level 3 or so. But that's when you'd get Make Whole to cast. And as others have said, the drawbacks of being a wizard (low BAB, low HP, low AC) make it an idea I'd be leery about doing. Maybe in a home game.

EDIT: Realized you'd need to be at least level 14 to repair the Fortifying Stones with Make Whole. Well, then, that goes somewhat out the window. I think it remains "home game" territory for me.

[Morgen]

Chris Mullican wrote:

Scrollmaster, to me, makes no sense and the Archtype itself makes me laugh. You are a Wizard, why would you ever waste a scroll to hit someone with a sub par weapon when you can unleash powerful spells upon them.

You wouldn't honestly. At 10th level you get the real ability of the class, Improved Scroll Casting. You can use your own caster stat and caster level with scrolls. That's where the power of the archetype comes from.

The whole attacking with scrolls thing or scroll shield is just some kind of silly for flavour thing it does before that.

[Yiroep]

Scrollmaster Universalist? Hand of the apprentice + scroll weapon = waaaay too amusing. At least in my head anyway.

[Wraith235]

David Montgomery wrote:

I thought about rolling up one of these, but already have too many casters to I stayed away. While expensive, perhaps a Fortifying Stone would make this archetype work better. It would give the scroll Hardness 5, and the temp HP from a fortifying stone be used to give more life to your scroll weapon, and the temp HP from the Fortifying Stone can be restored with a casting of Make Whole. You'd just have to make sure you cast Make Whole before you whack someone too many times.

Then, with the ruling that Prestige Points can get you a scroll with multiple castings of the same spell on it, have one scroll with several castings of something like Tongues or a level 2 spell. Keep one casting left on the scroll, and use the other if the need arises. That gets you a +1 Shortsword for a little over 1000 gold. Just can't use it without the occasional Make Whole.

Given the costs, this really wouldn't be feasible until you hit level 3 or so. But that's when you'd get Make Whole to cast. And as others have said, the drawbacks of being a wizard (low BAB, low HP, low AC) make it an idea I'd be leery about doing. Maybe in a home game.

EDIT: Realized you'd need to be at least level 14 to repair the Fortifying Stones with Make Whole. Well, then, that goes somewhat out the window. I think it remains "home game" territory for me.

Not completely

Stones are 1,000per ... so .... buy your 8th lvl scroll (3000) add stone (1000) +4 weapon / shield for 4k each - granted I think they are straight +'s ...

and why 14th level ... Im not seeing anything in Make Whole that prevents it from being used that way

[Harley Quinn X]

Wraith235 wrote:

and why 14th level ... Im not seeing anything in Make Whole that prevents it from being used that way

As per the spell,

Make Whole wrote:

Make whole can fix destroyed magic items (at 0 hit points or less), and restores the magic properties of the item if your caster level is at least twice that of the item.

Each Fortifying Stone is CL 7, so you'd need an effective caster level of 14. With some feats, you could do it earlier than 14, but not much earlier than that.

[Wraith235]

David Montgomery wrote:

Wraith235 wrote:

and why 14th level ... Im not seeing anything in Make Whole that prevents it from being used that way

As per the spell,

Make Whole wrote:

Make whole can fix destroyed magic items (at 0 hit points or less), and restores the magic properties of the item if your caster level is at least twice that of the item.

Each Fortifying Stone is CL 7, so you'd need an effective caster level of 14. With some feats, you could do it earlier than 14, but not much earlier than that.

Hi Im Derp - and Im not awake.... so anyway

hmmmm I disagree to a point but only Just

Make whole can fix destroyed magic items (at 0 hit points or less), and restores the magic properties of the item if your caster level is at least twice that of the item

there is really only 1 question here - is it Destroyed

since IIRC a destroyed magic Item Looses its magical properties while a damaged Item does not ... that said its still on the player to not let the HP hit 0 cause then hed be SoL

however in the 1st line of the spell "Functions Like Mending"

Mending States that
"Magic items can be repaired by this spell, but you must have a caster level equal to or higher than that of the object"

I believe that youd need to be 7th to make whole a stone .. not 14th (Unless its destroyed that is)

[Mergy]

David Montgomery wrote:

EDIT: Realized you'd need to be at least level 14 to repair the Fortifying Stones with Make Whole. Well, then, that goes somewhat out the window. I think it remains "home game" territory for me.

The double caster level of the item clause only applies to restoring magical ability to a broken item. It's not required to recharge a fortifying stone.

[Harley Quinn X]

Mergy wrote:

David Montgomery wrote:

EDIT: Realized you'd need to be at least level 14 to repair the Fortifying Stones with Make Whole. Well, then, that goes somewhat out the window. I think it remains "home game" territory for me.

The double caster level of the item clause only applies to restoring magical ability to a broken item. It's not required to recharge a fortifying stone.

Hrm. 20 whacks, and you'd need a level 14 Wizard to cast it. So less than that, and you don't have to be so high level. Fair enough, I guess.

[Mike Lindner]

Wraith235 wrote:

Not completely
Stones are 1,000per ... so .... buy your 8th lvl scroll (3000) add stone (1000) +4 weapon / shield for 4k each - granted I think they are straight +'s ...

and why 14th level ... Im not seeing anything in Make Whole that prevents it from being used that way

The real problem with this plan is you can't buy an 8th level scroll.

Guide 4.2 pg 25 wrote:

Finally, scrolls of spells of 7th level or higher are not permitted unless you gain access to them on a Chronicle sheet specifically listing them.

[Wraith235]

ok ... so 6th level Scroll - 1,650 gp + Stone - 1000 = 2650 for a +3 Weapon .. Both of which are Purchasable at 13 fame (3rd level most of the time)

so 3000 vs. 18000+MW Weapon Cost

or 3000 vs. 9000 + MW Armor cost

[Patrick Harris @ SD]

David Montgomery, you are my hero.

[CanisDirus]

Yiroep wrote:

Scrollmaster Universalist? Hand of the apprentice + scroll weapon = waaaay too amusing. At least in my head anyway.

Not only does this have lots of potential, but I'm actually giving serious thought to making it - I've got a few GM credits on a PC I can still retrain that I was thinking of shelving until I had a good idea.

If Myrmidarch got Ranged Spellstrike earlier than 4th level, that could be neat - Hand of the Apprentice + Spellstrike + Scroll Weapon...

Another thing to consider for this archetype is that many scrolls are picked up during scenarios - a scrollmaster could make use of those and save their own gold.

My question is, do Scroll Blades count as "fragile" weapons? If so...

Ultimate Combat wrote:

Disposable Weapon

You ignore the limitations of your equipment, striking harder despite the damage it does to your weapon.

Prerequisites: Base attack bonus +1, proficient with weapon.

Benefit: Whenever you use a melee or thrown weapon with the fragile weapon special quality to score a critical threat against an opponent, you can give your weapon the broken condition to automatically confirm the critical hit.

[Harley Quinn X]

Patrick Harris @ SD wrote:

David Montgomery, you are my hero.

Tell that to anyone that says it's a cool idea.

CanisDirus wrote:

My question is, do Scroll Blades count as "fragile" weapons?

They don't gain the broken condition when you roll a 1, so no. As little sense as that may make.

Druid: I rolled a 1 with my solid bone club. It's broken. :(
Wizard: I rolled a 1 with my paper.
Druid: And it's broken now?
Wizard: Nope.

[CanisDirus]

Alright, the heck with it - I'm drawing one up now. With luck I'll get to play him tomorrow night locally. Will post how it goes, if people want :)

Either way - great feedback on here about this!

[Yiroep]

CanisDirus wrote:

Alright, the heck with it - I'm drawing one up now. With luck I'll get to play him tomorrow night locally. Will post how it goes, if people want :)

Either way - great feedback on here about this!

I would make fun of Kreighton Shaine. "You're the master of scrolls? Yeah, well look what I can do with them!"

[Eric Brittain]

CanisDirus wrote:

My question is, do Scroll Blades count as "fragile" weapons?

Scroll Blade from the PRD:

Pathfinder PRD wrote:

Scroll Blade (Su): A scrollmaster can wield any paper, parchment, or cloth scroll as if it were a melee weapon. In the hands of the wizard, the scroll acts as a short sword with an enhancement bonus equal to 1/2 the level of the highest-level wizard spell on the scroll; a scroll with only a cantrip or 1st-level spell on it counts as a masterwork short sword. The scrollmaster is proficient in this weapon, and feats and abilities that affect short swords (such as Weapon Focus) apply to this weapon. A scrollmaster cannot wield two scrollblades at the same time.

Activating this ability is a free action. A scroll blade only retains its abilities in the hands of the scrollmaster. The scroll blade has hardness 0 and hit points equal to the highest-level wizard spell on the scroll. Each successful hit by the scroll blade reduces its hit points by 1; this damage cannot be repaired, but does not affect casting from the scroll. When its hit points reach 0, the scroll is destroyed.

If a scroll contains a spell with a metamagic feat, this ability uses the original spell level of the spell (a scroll of empowered fireball counts as a 3rd-level spell).

At 3rd level, when using a 4th-level or higher wizard scroll as a scroll blade, the scrollmaster can choose to reduce its enhancement bonus by 1 (minimum +1 enhancement bonus) to treat it as a reach weapon. For example, he could use a scroll of charm monster (a 4th-level wizard spell) as either a +2 short sword or a +1 short sword with reach.

At 5th level, when using a 4th-level or higher wizard scroll as a scroll blade, the scrollmaster can choose to reduce its enhancement bonus (to a minimum of a +1 enhancement bonus) to give any of the following weapon properties: defending, frost, icy burst, keen, ki focus, shock, shocking burst, speed. Adding any of these properties consumes an amount of enhancement bonus equal to the property's cost (see Table 15–9: Melee Weapon Special Abilities in the Core Rulebook). The scrollmaster must know the prerequisite spell or spells to craft the weapon property in question (for example, he must know haste to be able to give his scroll blade the speed property). This ability replaces the wizard's arcane bond.

and

Fragile from the PRD:

Pathfinder PRD wrote:

Fragile: Fragile weapons and armor cannot take the beating that sturdier weapons can. A fragile weapon gains the broken condition if the wielder rolls a natural 1 on an attack roll with the weapon. If a fragile weapon is already broken, the roll of a natural 1 destroys it instead.

Armor with the fragile quality falls apart when hit with heavy blows. If an attacker hits a creature wearing fragile armor with an attack roll of a natural 20 and confirms the critical hit (even if the creature is immune to critical hits), the armor gains the broken condition. If already broken, the armor is destroyed instead. Fragile armor is not broken or destroyed by critical threats that are not generated by natural 20s, so if a creature wielding a weapon with a 19–20 or 18–20 critical range scores a critical hit on the wearer of this armor with a roll of less than a natural 20, that critical hit has no chance to break or destroy the armor.

Masterwork and magical fragile weapons and armor lack these flaws unless otherwise noted in the item description or the special material description.

Since the Fragile weapon quality is specifically defined and the Scroll Blade description does not reference the Fragile weapon quality then I would conclude that Scroll Blades are not Fragile weapons.

Therefor Disposable Weapon is not a feat that can be used with a scroll blade.

[CanisDirus]

Irony ahead.

I played my Scrollmaster in "Icebound Outpost", where, apparently...

Scenario Spoiler:

One of the enemies towards the end was also a Scrollmaster! Who could have called that coincidence? (since I only went to that table since it had a brand-new GM to "ride shotgun" and help out if he needed any).

There wasn't much call for using a scroll blade, because other than me we had:

1 - Human Fighter
1 - Dwarf Fighter
1 - Human Wizard
1 - Elf Cleric
2 - Kitsune Rogue
and me (Half-Orc 1 Fighter / 1 Wizard)

However, using a Level 3 scroll as a Scroll Shield did give my AC enough of a boost so that I only took one hit the entire scenario (and that was after I had cast Enlarge Person on myself and was covering the group's flank with my Bardiche (polearm) at the end of the scenario and didn't have the shield anyways).

I think LazarX, Dennis Baker, and David Montgomery's takes on this are spot-on. Using scrolls for melee instruments are good backups to have, especially for the shield (since you only subtract a scroll shield's hp if you get hit), and you gain the ability to draw your scrolls as weapons (took a poll of the local GMs - 5/5 agree that a scrollmaster can draw scrolls as if drawing weapons i.e. as part of a move action).

More play will be required to learn more about how this archetype plays, but it was a fun character to run tonight, to be sure!

[Mortifier]

Patrick Harris @ SD wrote:

I'm toying with the idea of playing a scrollmaster. They seem like quirky fun. But it occurred to me that, since I won't be able to scribe my own scrolls, and I will go through them pretty quickly in scenarios, the cost might be prohitibive.

Has anyone had any experience playing a scrollmaster in Society play who can comment?

Alternately, have any of you math types crunched any relevant numbers?

I have a scrollmaster in society (Abram "Abe" Darius) a very old gray hair human and he is by far my favorite charictor that I have played so far, due to RP reasons.

I built him with melee combat in mind, basically hitting people with scrolls for the wtf value and gave him one level of fighter. It worked very well for a few levels. After about level 5, any type of hand to hand combat with Abe basically became irrelevant. He can't hit anything because of 1/2 BAB and he dosn't have the HP to be in melee.

Min-max wise he is a horrible charictor lol, and yet still my favorite. Abe is now a buffer, casting heroism, haste, bulls STR, etc. often off of scrolls. Debuffs and direct damage spells don't work because my DC is to low. Buffing young lads and lasses, reminds him of the good old days of fighting in melee. He still gets to hit things every once in a while and it still gets cross-eyed looks. Abe also carries a lot of high level scrolls on him, he is a very expensive charictor, but disinegrating people is fun.

Looking back on Abe, if I were ever to make a scrollmaster again I would not put the level of fighter. Just go straight scrollmaster for the "staff like scrolls" at level 10 that scrollmaster gets. 25g for a casting lvl 10 magic missle scroll. Yes please.

It has probably been said already in this post, but you can only but lvl 6 scrolls. You can get the lvl 7-9 scrolls later on, but only if you are able to cast that level of spell.

[Abram Darius]

Get off my lawn! Don't make me hit you with this newpaper!

[Eric Clingenpeel]

CanisDirus wrote:

I think LazarX, Dennis Baker, and David Montgomery's takes on this are spot-on. Using scrolls for melee instruments are good backups to have, especially for the shield (since you only subtract a scroll shield's hp if you get hit), and you gain the ability to draw your scrolls as weapons (took a poll of the local GMs - 5/5 agree that a scrollmaster can draw scrolls as if drawing weapons i.e. as part of a move action).

The bolded part is incorrect.

UM wrote:

Activating this ability is a free action. A scroll shield

only retains its abilities in the hands of the scrollmaster.
The scroll shield has hardness 0 and hit points equal to
the highest-level wizard spell on the scroll. Each successful
attack roll against the wizard reduces the scroll shield’s hit
points by 1; this damage cannot be repaired, but does not
affect casting from the scroll. When its hit points reach 0,
the scroll is destroyed.

Not Hit, Attack roll. Whether you are hit or not, each time something attacks you it takes a hit point away. So your third level scroll would have been good against three attacks, not three hits.

[Jiggy]

Dude. Read the word that came right before the part you bolded.

[Eric Clingenpeel]

Sure... I successfully roll an attack against you... I missed you, but I succeeded at rolling... <sigh> Yeah yeah... ;) Seems silly that even though you block the attack with the scroll (a miss by scroll level or whatever) that it doesn't hurt the scroll. Only when you don't deflect the attack with the scroll does it get damaged...

[Patrick Harris @ SD]

Eric Clingenpeel wrote:

UM wrote:

Activating this ability is a free action. A scroll shield only retains its abilities in the hands of the scrollmaster. The scroll shield has hardness 0 and hit points equal to the highest-level wizard spell on the scroll. Each --> successful <-- attack roll against the wizard reduces the scroll shield’s hit points by 1; this damage cannot be repaired, but does not affect casting from the scroll. When its hit points reach 0, the scroll is destroyed.

Not Hit, Attack roll. Whether you are hit or not, each time something attacks you it takes a hit point away. So your third level scroll would have been good against three attacks, not three hits.

Successful attack roll. It's in the rule you quoted. It is in fact the very last word before the part you bolded. Each successful attack roll.

A successful attack roll is, in fact, "a hit."

Edit: D'oh, massively ninja'd. This is what I get for loading the page and wandering off to check my webcomics before replying.

[Jiggy]

Hehe, I'm faster than Patrick. :D

[Brian Darnell]

This has been a very entertaining thread. I have played and ran for Mort's Scrollmaster Abe and that character has been very fun to play with and run for.

@Mort - do you recommend a specific school for a scroll master? I was thinking Transmutation for the stat boost.

[Horatio Burns]

I find this archetype very interesting because I see it as some type of paper pushing bureaucrat that is put out in the field and uses what he knows best as a weapon.

For some reason I just like this one for the RP value. Might not be the most practical or powerful but sounds fun to play.

[Mergy]

Hmm... would Quick-Draw be a good feat for a scrollmaster? Would it work the way I'm hoping?

[CanisDirus]

Mergy wrote:

Hmm... would Quick-Draw be a good feat for a scrollmaster? Would it work the way I'm hoping?

I believe that it does (and in two more games I'm planning to take it myself for mine...)

[Mergy]

Scroll Blade (Su) wrote:

A scrollmaster can wield any paper, parchment, or cloth scroll as if it were a melee weapon. In the hands of the Wizard, the scroll acts as a short sword with an enhancement bonus equal to 1/2 the level of the highest-level Wizard spell on the scroll; a scroll with only a cantrip or 1st-level spell on it counts as a masterwork short sword. The scrollmaster is proficient in this weapon, and feats and abilities that affect short swords (such as Weapon Focus) apply to this weapon. A scrollmaster cannot wield two scrollblades at the same time.

Activating this ability is a free action. A scroll blade only retains its abilities in the hands of the scrollmaster. The scroll blade has hardness 0 and hit points equal to the highest-level Wizard spell on the scroll. Each successful hit by the scroll blade reduces its hit points by 1; this damage cannot be repaired, but does not affect casting from the scroll. When its hit points reach 0, the scroll is destroyed. If a scroll contains a spell with a metamagic feat, this ability uses the original spell level of the spell (a scroll of empowered fireball counts as a 3rd-level spell).

So activating the ability is a free action, and it doesn't say you must already be holding a scroll to activate the ability. It would fly with me, but there's always that dreaded table variance.