Magical Shorthand / Learn a Spell Interaction


Rules Discussion


I'm working on a skill feat tier so my players don't have to dig as much when they level up. I've hit a little pothole with magical shorthand, specifically in how it interacts with the activity it modifies.

The learn a spell activity takes 1 hour per spell rank. Magical shorthand modifies the activity in the following way,

Player Core p.258 wrote:
"When you succeed at Learning a Spell, it takes 10 minutes regardless of the spell’s rank."

That's pretty narrow language. It doesn't seem like magical shorthand modifies the duration of the activity if you fail the check, so what happens here? Are you forced to commit to the normal duration of the activity if you fail the check? If so, does that not mean you still have to be prepared to spend hours attempting to learn a spell if you fail your check?


Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

I would say no, personally. It helps to consider the pre-remaster version:

"If you’re an expert in a tradition’s associated skill, you take 10 minutes per spell level to learn a spell of that tradition, rather than 1 hour per spell level."

It made hour long increments into 10 minute increments. I think the remastered feat's intent was to further improve upon this, not to create an incredibly janky divide between succeeding and failing at the check.

I think you're correct with a strict RAW reading, but PF2 really isn't meant to be run strict RAW.


Captain Morgan wrote:

I would say no, personally. It helps to consider the pre-remaster version:

"If you’re an expert in a tradition’s associated skill, you take 10 minutes per spell level to learn a spell of that tradition, rather than 1 hour per spell level."

It made hour long increments into 10 minute increments. I think the remastered feat's intent was to further improve upon this, not to create an incredibly janky divide between succeeding and failing at the check.

I think you're correct with a strict RAW reading, but PF2 really isn't meant to be run strict RAW.

My interpretation does result in jank. I think I've read so many skill feats that I'm expecting jank now. The original language helps clarify the intent. Given that, this is a great skill feat.

Edit: Probably.

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