Magic items and spell completion items indicate that they are cast at the lowest level that allows the item to be created (unless otherwise indicated but the creator) so the effective caster level is indicated there. It's the device that supplies the level, not the user.
UMD doesn't grant you the privilege of actually understanding the spell in question right? It's just kind of activating it blindly.
I'd give the rogue in question a Will save to see if he/she can maintain control of the undead. Failed save = oops.
I disagree. Rogues are supposed to be dabblers in magic via fiddling with the magic gizmos they loot from treasure piles. I don't have a problem with them using UMD to make themselves appear as big bad spellcasters.
The real sorcerers and wizards know better of course, but Joe Commoner will be impressed.
I guess I could see it both ways. If you follow the RAW for casting from a scroll, you have to decipher it first (takes a minute, can be accomplished via UMD). Then, once you understand it, you can try and cast it (again requiring a UMD check).
I guess using this logic, I would give the control of undead to the rogue without a Will save (they understand the nature of the spell). However, I also think it's fun to allow a scroll to be cast without necessarily understanding it's exact inner workings (e.g. before it has been deciphered). Perhaps you know by glancing at it for a round that it's a necromancy spell of some kind that may grant you power over the undead. I would think that allowing the rogue to UMD the scroll at this point would be fun (if against the rules), and would probably put in a Will save to see if he can maintain control of the situation.
Out of curiosity.
If, say, a Rogue, by using Use Magic Device, casts Animate Dead out of a scroll, what happens with the undead minions? Do they forever remain under his control despite the lack of a caster level to do so?
We've always used the caster level of the item. CL 5 scroll = maximum of 20 HD worth of undead (assuming you can animate that many at a time, which requires a desecrate spell).
Nice idea for a cleric with leadership then. Grab scribe scroll, make a bunch of animate dead scrolls, cast desecrate, get each minion to cast from one of the scrolls, (as long as it appears on their caster list, or they have UMD skill) and voila, Army of Darkness meets the battle of Helms Deep! (Except in your favour - Cue evil laughter!)
Nice idea for a cleric with leadership then. Grab scribe scroll, make a bunch of animate dead scrolls, cast desecrate, get each minion to cast from one of the scrolls, (as long as it appears on their caster list, or they have UMD skill) and voila, Army of Darkness meets the battle of Helms Deep! (Except in your favour - Cue evil laughter!)
More or less. Grabbing the mcguffin that lets you create undead is a pretty common trope. Armies of mindless undead are likewise pretty common in theme. A sufficiently high level necromancer with leadership and plenty of time on his hands should probably support a scene that looks something like...: this.
Personally, I think the basic idea's fine, but go for making Shadows, rather than skeletons/zombies. I lack the time, skills, and inclination to go find a picture for it... just imagine the horde of shadows, obscuring the moon's light upon the ground...
PS: Does the physical body of someone stuck down by shadows convert into the shadow, or does it get left behind?
If it gets left behind, can it then be animated with animate dead? Two undead for the price of one?
Can you create a scroll of a spell that has a variable material component? Is it legal to make a scroll sans component and require the user of the scroll to supply the materials separately?
If the component is variable, you provide (x) component when scribing the scroll, and the spell effect is limited to (x-based) effect. [This is the gem value determined by HD of the corpse, yes?]
You have to provide expensive components when scribing the scroll; there is no current mechanic for scribing a scroll for someone else to provide the component for casting with the scroll.
It's not beyond the pale to imagine making it possible... but, for instance, a feat 'Scalable Crafting' that provides the ability to do so is awfully underpowered. You might incorporate the ability as a class feature in a prestige class, but it seems like a lot of work just to be able to half-scribe a scroll.
Depending on your GM, you might be able to work out something involving a DC adjustment to Spellcraft to work it. Or even just a by-fiat, 'sure, go ahead.' It WOULD be an interesting way to prevent your own scrolls from being used by someone who steals them, not knowing they STILL need (x) component.
But, RAW, no, you can't. :(