I'm looking for difinitive answers on a couple questions as well as page references in the rule books - Can you cast a higher level spell via a scroll? If so, what's the DC to pull it off? So far the only reference I've seen is making a Use Magic Device(UMD) check (p. 109 Core Rulebook), though it seems rather high, especially if you're trying to cast a spell from your list X levels higher than you. I've also seen arguments in other threads that the DC is 5 (though no reference to back it up) as well as saying it simply cannot be done.
In addition, what if the DC roll fails, is the person simply not able to use the scroll or do we get into the mishap rules?
Final question on this topic, from what I understand according to the UMD rules any spellcaster can cast ANY spell (arcane or divine) from a scroll so long as they beat the UMD DC, is that correct? If so, does it make a difference if the spell requires M or F components or was that included in making the scroll? For example, Wreath of Blades (UC) requires four mithral daggers, each worth at least 502 gp each.
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 class.)
• The user must have the spell on 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 (see Scroll Mishaps). A natural roll
of 1 always fails, whatever the modifiers. Activating a scroll
is a standard action (or the spell’s casting time, whichever
is longer) and it provokes attacks of opportunity exactly as
casting a spell does.
Your last question: "yes", then "no"
Can you cast a higher level spell via a scroll?
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 class.)
* The user must have the spell on 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.
In addition, what if the DC roll fails, is the person simply not able to use the scroll or do we get into the mishap rules?
"If she fails, she must make a DC 5 Wisdom check to avoid a mishap (see Scroll Mishaps). A natural roll of 1 always fails, whatever the modifiers."
according to the UMD rules any spellcaster can cast ANY spell (arcane or divine) from a scroll so long as they beat the UMD DC, is that correct?
Use Magic Device - Use a Scroll: "Normally, to cast a spell from a scroll, you must have the scroll's spell on your class spell list. Use Magic Device allows you to use a scroll as if you had a particular spell on your class spell list. The DC is equal to 20 + the caster level of the spell you are trying to cast from the scroll. In addition, casting a spell from a scroll requires a minimum score (10 + spell level) in the appropriate ability. If you don't have a sufficient score in that ability, you must emulate the ability score with a separate Use Magic Device check."
does it make a difference if the spell requires M or F components or was that included in making the scroll? For example, Wreath of Blades (UC) requires four mithral daggers, each worth at least 502 gp each.
"Activating a scroll spell requires no material components or focus. (The creator of the scroll provided these when scribing the scroll.) Note that some spells are effective only when cast on an item or items. In such a case, the scroll user must provide the item when activating the spell."
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
|
Amazingly enough, lots of your questions are answered under "Scrolls".
Amazingly enough, lots of your questions are answered under "Scrolls".
Yes, the one stupid place I was NOT looking. Many thanks for the information! So I take it that a cleric, for example could use the UMD rules to cast a paladin spell from a scroll? Could they also cast an arcane spell from a scroll as well or are they still restricted to divine spells? I'm looking at the UMD rules to mean ANY spell (literally), and maybe that's why the DC is so high.
|
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
|
Amazingly enough, lots of your questions are answered under "Scrolls".Yes, the one stupid place I was NOT looking. Many thanks for the information! So I take it that a cleric, for example could use the UMD rules to cast a paladin spell from a scroll? Could they also cast an arcane spell from a scroll as well or are they still restricted to divine spells? I'm looking at the UMD rules to mean ANY spell (literally), and maybe that's why the DC is so high.
A divine caster using an arcane scroll (or vice-versa) would require UMD.
For a cleric casting a paladin spell from a scroll, he only needs UMD if it's not on his list. But if a paladin makes a scroll of cure light wounds, a cleric could activate it without any check whatsoever, just as if a cleric had made it.
It's worth noting that the fighter can cast arcane spells from scrolls just as easily as the cleric can. There's nothing inherent in being a spellcaster which enables you to UMD a scroll better (or worse).
Thanks again for the clarifications guys; most appreciated! Interesting note Bobson, I didn't think about that, though the fighter would have to dump a bit of ranks in UMD to make it worth it. There again is the trade off. :o)
No more or less than the cleric would. The cleric would just have the advantage of not needing to roll for most divine scrolls.