UMD


Rules Questions


Why don't Wizards have Use Magic Device?


For the most part, they don't need it. Unlike a sorcerer, they can learn every spell on their list. Most of the other spells they would use are already on their list. They can still put ranks into the skill to be able to use non-wizard wands and staffs, but overall it isn't really something that they need.


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joeyfixit wrote:
Why don't Wizards have Use Magic Device?

Thematically, they're about mastery of magic through knowledge and study rather than through Fonz-like "I hit the magic jukebox and it just works because I'm cool."


But it seems like it would come in awfully handy for divine spells, bard spells, and spells that are in your opposition school. Or is that last one irrelevant?
Doesn't the fact that it needs to be a trained skill (and isn't on the wizard skill list) mean that wizards can't put ranks in UMD?
Aren't there magical devices in PF that aren't scrolls, staffs, wands that simply emulate a spell?


Joeyfixit - Characters can train any skill, but if it is not in their list the don't get a +3 bonus (For having at least one rank in the skill and it being on one of their class's skill lists)


If it is a Trained Only skill, that just means you have to actually have at least one rank in the skill to use it. Anyone can put ranks in any skill. Nothing stops a wizard from putting maximum ranks into UMD. He just won't be quite as good as someone who does the same, but has it as a class skill. (Being a class skill only gives a +3 bonus. That is it. So everything else being equal, the rogue as a UMD check 3 higher then a wizards.)

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