It just dawned on me:
What is the difference between "Spellcraft" and "Use Magic Device?"
I have long since discarded spellcraft in my own games, but if it is to be kept as the skill of concentration and spell ID, then I highly suggest that the Use Magic Device applications get rolled into the skill. That would distinguish it sufficiently from Knowledge Arcana for me to keep it around.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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It just dawned on me:
What is the difference between "Spellcraft" and "Use Magic Device?"
I have long since discarded spellcraft in my own games, but if it is to be kept as the skill of concentration and spell ID, then I highly suggest that the Use Magic Device applications get rolled into the skill. That would distinguish it sufficiently from Knowledge Arcana for me to keep it around.
Hmm, I think UMD has always been a 'wing and a prayer' type skill. I wouldn't want to bundle it for the simple reason it's too good.
Spellcraft is like a master's degree in engineering.
Use Magic Device is knowing how to jury-rig stuff.
So, we're saying it's an Unskill?
You don't imagine someone who knows a lot about spells and magic and can pull of somatic components in the middle of a fistfight doesn't stand a better chance of "fooling" a wand?
I recall from 2e a description of the thief ability being that he had learned actual arcane knowledge from mages during his travels. That doesn't sound like a wing and a prayer to me. Plus, the two classes that currently have it as class skill now have some access to casting anyway.
It's not the best skill fold idea in the world. But it does make some sense...
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I understand where you're comign from, toyrobots. I just disagree.
I think it's the MacGuyver skill. Maguyver wasn't a genius, but he had an eclectic enough band of knowlege to make stuff work.
If knowlege arcana is rocket science, use Magic Device is 'Hmm, read this in Amazing Stories, lets try it!'
Everyone's entitled to their opinion.
I'll grant it's maybe not the best idea... but parsing them out to "theory and practice" is my least favorite argument when it comes to skill lists. If the skill name doesn't make it immediately obvious how it is distinct from another skill, then either the skill or the name must change.
Use Magic Device is where a Rogue goes "I'maPaladin, I'maPaladin, I'maPaladin" in his head as he reaches for the Holy Avenger.
Spellcraft is the Wizard going "The uplifting arc on the edge of this rune indicates pre-Netherese era Draconian, so this must be a wand of magic missile".
One is Charisma, faking it. The other is knowledge and training in actual use of the objects and magic.
Both have their place in the game, and don't need to be consolidated. I don't want my Rogues knowing every little thing about magic... I do want them to fake out a magic item.. shaking a wand of cure light wounds until it works, while desperately trying to heal the Cleric before he bleeds out.
Use Magic Device is where a Rogue goes "I'maPaladin, I'maPaladin, I'maPaladin" in his head as he reaches for the Holy Avenger.
HEH , I had a player try this once with a moonblade... sometimes a skill no matter how good you roll is never enough. He did like his new char though
Use Magic Device is where a Rogue goes "I'maPaladin, I'maPaladin, I'maPaladin" in his head as he reaches for the Holy Avenger.
Spellcraft is the Wizard going "The uplifting arc on the edge of this rune indicates pre-Netherese era Draconian, so this must be a wand of magic missile".
One is Charisma, faking it. The other is knowledge and training in actual use of the objects and magic.
Both have their place in the game, and don't need to be consolidated. I don't want my Rogues knowing every little thing about magic... I do want them to fake out a magic item.. shaking a wand of cure light wounds until it works, while desperately trying to heal the Cleric before he bleeds out.
Which, while the wizard knows what the wand is, he can't do without figuring out the knack of it.
Wizard: "Well, the most common command words for wands of cure light wounds are the Seven Fathers of Medicine. Let's see, Avicenna, Agrippa, Paracelsus...."
Wizard: "Well, the most common command words for wands of cure light wounds are the Seven Fathers of Medicine. Let's see, Avicenna, Agrippa, Paracelsus...."
Kevin, I presume this is a case in favor of the idea. Thanks for the support. ;)