This is a bit embarrassing, 10+ years into 3x., but here goes.
Somehow I've avoided situations where I needed to cast a spell from a scroll that was higher level than I could normally cast. Looked through the relevant sections in the PH, DMG & Rules Compendium. Still seems to confound me.
Here's my example. Mystic Theurge (cleric 3, wizard 3, mystic theurge 1) means I'm a 4th level wizard for this purpose. I find a scroll of Teleport (5th level spell), presumably scribed by a 9th level caster.
What do I roll to see if I can cast this scroll spell? Am I rolling 1d20 + 4 (pretty sure), and more importantly, what is the DC? 11 (base) + 9 (level cast) = 20??
Don't have any forbidden schools...
EDIT: and if I fail that roll, is the spell still on the scroll, or ruined/cast??
Here's my example. Mystic Theurge (cleric 3, wizard 3, mystic theurge 1) means I'm a 4th level wizard for this purpose. I find a scroll of Teleport (5th level spell), presumably scribed by a 9th level caster.
What do I roll to see if I can cast this scroll spell? Am I rolling 1d20 + 4 (pretty sure), and more importantly, what is the DC? 11 (base) + 9 (level cast) = 20??
Don't have any forbidden schools...
Not quite that difficult:
To have any chance of activating a scroll spell, the scroll user must meet the following requirements.
The spell must be of the correct type (arcane or divine). Arcane spellcasters (wizards, sorcerers, and bards) can only use scrolls containing arcane spells, and divine spellcasters (clerics, druids, paladins, and rangers) can only use scrolls containing divine spells. (The type of scroll a character creates is also determined by his or her class.)
The user must have the spell on his or her class list.
The user must have the requisite ability score.If the user meets all the requirements noted above, and her caster level is at least equal to the spell’s caster level, she can automatically activate the spell without a check. If she meets all three requirements but her own caster level is lower than the scroll spell’s caster level, then she has to make a caster level check (DC = scroll’s caster level + 1) to cast the spell successfully. If she fails, she must make a DC 5 Wisdom check to avoid a mishap. A natural roll of 1 always fails, whatever the modifiers.
You already meet the first two requirements and assuming you have an INT of 15 you would have to make a DC 10 caster level check (Caster lever 9 for scroll +1). And yes, you'd roll 1d20+4, unless you have any items/feats/other that increases your wizard caster level.
EDIT: and if I fail that roll, is the spell still on the scroll, or ruined/cast??
If you fail the spell and the WIS chk, then the spell is expended from the scroll but a scroll mishap occurs. The rules don't seem to explicitly state what happens if you make the WIS chk, but I would rule that you merely waste your action and that the spell remains on the scroll.
Ok, thanks. Looks like I only needed a 6 or higher on D20, or a 75% chance to cast that 5th level spell from the scroll. I thought I needed a 14 or higher, or a 35% chance. I actually rolled a "17" so it worked out...
Looks like I can be a little more adventurous w/ the higher level scroll spells, and stop hoarding them until I'm higher level!
I lost a character to trying to cast a higher level spell off a scroll. Tried to cast Stone to Flesh in order to save a family that had been turned to stone. I was able to cast 2nd or 3rd level spells at the time. A tough roll but not impossible. Well I rolled a natural 1 for the caster check and another natural 1 for the Wis check. GM ruled that I fried my brain. I had to roll up another character and the group needed to find someone else to cast the spell.
I lost a character to trying to cast a higher level spell off a scroll. Tried to cast Stone to Flesh in order to save a family that had been turned to stone. I was able to cast 2nd or 3rd level spells at the time. A tough roll but not impossible. Well I rolled a natural 1 for the caster check and another natural 1 for the Wis check. GM ruled that I fried my brain. I had to roll up another character and the group needed to find someone else to cast the spell.
That's a bit harsh. Couldn't your fellow party members have pooled their resources for a Heal spell? A scroll is only 1650 gp, so I don't think it would cost much more (if anything) to have an NPC cleric cast that. Unless you were in the equivalent of Timbuktu and couldn't get to such a healer...
Ok, thanks. Looks like I only needed a 6 or higher on D20, or a 75% chance to cast that 5th level spell from the scroll. I thought I needed a 14 or higher, or a 35% chance. I actually rolled a "17" so it worked out...
Looks like I can be a little more adventurous w/ the higher level scroll spells, and stop hoarding them until I'm higher level!
Just remember that wisdom check can be helped with owls wisdom so that it's impossible to fail. Barring a natural 1.
Just remember that wisdom check can be helped with owls wisdom so that it's impossible to fail. Barring a natural 1.
That's a good tip, b/c my cleric's Wis is only 16, so she could fail that Wis check on a 1-2 right now. Looks like I'd better make good use of my Brew Potion feat to carry around an Owl's Wisdom potion or two.