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Hello,
My question concerns a conversation I had after the latest PFS session with another new player. My understanding of UMD is that if I have a wand with a spell that one of my classes can cast, it doesn't matter if my character doesn't have that spell in his spell book (or in the case of a Ranger, the fact that he's currently not high enough level to cast spells without a wand). The only time UMD comes into play would be if say my Wizard/Ranger wanted to use a wand for a cleric spell or something like that.
That's my understanding of the RAW, which I reread after our discussion, and the fellow I was talking to said he'd read the RAW latter as well. I'd just like to be able to tell him "BTW, I checked on the forums..." should his interpretation of the RAW differ from mine. He's of the opinion that my character would need to roll UMD for any ranger wand I have, since I'm not yet high enough level to cast Ranger spells. Also, unless a Wizard spell is specifically in my spell book, I'll still need to roll UMD despite my taking a rank in Wizard recently.
If he's right I'm gonna be burning through wand charges what with the DC 20 for UMD and my charisma of 7. Worse, since I thought I could use the wands, I don't even have ranks in UMD, which is Trained Only. Oh well, there's always another adventure or two to get me to the next level/more skill points lol
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If your class can cast spells and has that spell on your spell list then you can use that wand without a UMD check. Note that if you have a class that have spells but take an archtype that removes spells like skirmish ranger than you are no longer considered to have the ability to cast spells and must use UMD.
As a related question based on Martin Sheaffer's response: Since you aren't considered to have a class ability until you actually reach the level where you have it (which was answered regarding feat selection, etc.), then does the same apply to wands? For example, is a Ranger considered to have a spell list prior to 4th?
You are correct. UMD for higher level spells that are on your list is for scrolls and not wands. For wands it ONLY needs to be on your class list. You don't need to "know" it personally.
Wands are Spell-Trigger items.
Spell Trigger: Spell trigger activation is similar to spell completion, but it's even simpler. No gestures or spell finishing is needed, just a special knowledge of spellcasting that an appropriate character would know, and a single word that must be spoken. Spell trigger items can be used by anyone whose class can cast the corresponding spell. This is the case even for a character who can't actually cast spells, such as a 3rd-level paladin. The user must still determine what spell is stored in the item before she can activate it. Activating a spell trigger item is a standard action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity.
Thanks Jeraa!
@Xaratherus
Use a Wand, Staff, or Other Spell Trigger Item: Normally, to use a wand, you must have the wand's spell on your class spell list. This use of the skill allows you to use a wand as if you had a particular spell on your class spell list. Failing the roll does not expend a charge.
Nothing in there says you need a caster level. You just need it to be on your class' list. The skirmisher archetype explicitly states you can't use trigger/completion items and can not cast spells which removes the entire spell list. It still has nothing to do with the existence of your class level before level 4.
Just a minor correction...
If he's right I'm gonna be burning through wand charges what with the DC 20 for UMD and my charisma of 7.Failing a UMD check doesn't use a charge of a wand.
Rolling a 1 on a UMD check prevents you from using it for 24 hours though.
@Buri: Jeraa linked the specific text, and yes, you are both correct. My thought was that, like Extra Channel, you couldn't actually take the feat until you had the Channel Energy class feature, but in this case the rules explicitly make an exception.
Good to know.
To summarize:
- If your class can cast the spell, and if you haven't given up spellcasting for that class (such as the Skirmisher archetype for Ranger), you can use the wand without the need for UMD
- The spell is cast at minimum caster level (you can't buy higher level CL wands in PFS unless it's off a chronicle sheet)
- If you do use UMD to cast a spell and fail the check, no charges are expended
- If you fail the UMD check with a 1 on the die, you can't use the wand for 24 hours
You should also note the following for PFS:
All potions, scrolls, wands, and other consumables are made by clerics, druids, or wizards in Pathfinder Society Organized Play. The only exceptions are spells that are not on the cleric, druid, or wizard spell list. For example, a scroll of lesser restoration must be purchased as a 2nd-level scroll off the cleric spell list and may not be purchased as a 1st-level scroll off the paladin spell list. If a spell appears at different levels on two different lists, use the lower level spell to determine cost. As an example, poison would be priced as a 3rd-level druid spell instead of a 4th-level cleric spell. All potions, scrolls, and wands are available only at the minimum caster level unless found at a higher caster level on a Chronicle sheet.
This means that any wands you cast off the Ranger list must be purchased at the Druid, Cleric, or Wizard level unless it's not on any of those lists. You buy the wand at the lowest level from those three lists.
