Magic items for non-casters

[PoJo72]

I am running a published adventure (The Dragon's Demand). The treasure listed after a couple of the encounters list a Wand of Web and a Scroll of Glittering.

Can these only be used by people that can cast those spells? In other words, could the fighter use the Wand of Web or read from the scroll to realize its effect?

Along a similar vein, could I give a magic item that is listed as a spell for Druids and Clerics and give it to a Wizard to use?

Thanks

[Khrysaor]

You use Spellcraft or knowledge arcana to identify items and Use Magic Device to use items that aren't on your spell list.

[DarkPhoenixx]

Use Magic Device?

[mln84]

Use Magic Device

[PoJo72]

ok. So basically they need a few things.

1) They need to have a rank in 'Use Magic Device'
2) They need to do a Use Magic Device check with the appropriate DC
3) If they pass the check, then they can use the Wand of Web and follow the normal spell resistance and such that goes with the Web spell.

Do I have that about right?

[blahpers]

Generally, yes.

If the fighter takes a single level of sorcerer, of course, then she can use the wand with no check. The scroll, well, see the PRD entry on Scrolls for all the details.

[PoJo72]

I think I have it now. It is possible for non-casters to use magical items as long as some other conditions are met, but they would not be able to use a scroll unless it matches their class and level and such.

[Khrysaor]

You can use the Use Magic a Device skill to use any magic item. You emulate a caster class when using a scroll. It's all under the UMD rules.

[blahpers]

Yes, you can use UMD for a scroll.

[Staffan Johansson]

There are basically five types of magic items, three of which can be used by pretty much anyone and two which require special knowledge.

The three that can be used by anyone are:

1. Permanent items, like a headband of intellect +2. They provide a permanently active bonus or, occasionally, spell effect.

2. Use-activated items. You use them in some relatively mundane fashion, and then magic happens. For example, take the chime of interruption: you strike the chime, and then the chime produces a magic effect. Some use-activated items may require some type of skill in order to use them, like a lyre of building. A particularly common type of use-activated item is the potion or oil: drink it or smear it on an object, and magic happens.

3. Command-word items. You speak a word, and the item produces a magical effect - usually, but not always, based on a spell. This is in many ways the default type of item. When an item doesn't specify how you use it, you can pretty much assume it's a command-word item.

The two types that require special skills to use are:

4. Spell-trigger items, primarily wands and staffs. In order to use one of these, you must have the relevant spell on your class spell list, although you do not need to be high enough level to cast it, or have a high enough ability score. A simple 1st level sorcerer could use greater teleport from a staff of passage without any problems whatsoever (where the sorcerer got his hands on a 207,000 gp item though is a different question).

5. Spell completion items, primarily scrolls. These are a bit harder: first you need to decipher the scroll, using either a fairly difficult Spellcraft check or casting read magic. This can be done ahead of time. When actually using them, you need to fulfill four requirements: you must have the spell on your class spell list, the scroll's magic type (arcane/divine) must match your class (So even though cure light wounds is both a bard and a cleric spell, the two can't share CLW scrolls. The bard could share with a witch though, and a cleric with a druid), you must have a high enough ability score in your caster stat to cast the spell (10+spell level), and your caster level must equal or exceed that of the scroll. The last requirement can be fudged a little: if you try to use a scroll with too high a caster level, you need to make a caster level check with DC = scroll caster level+1 (so a 5th level wizard trying to use a CL 9 scroll of wall of force rolls d20+5 vs DC 10).

The skill Use Magic Device is used to "fake" having the requirements for using an item. For example, a rogue can't normally use a wand of scorching ray, but with a successful DC 20 UMD check he can trigger it.

[PoJo72]

I think it is making sense.

For type 4 (wands etc...)
A Wand of Web could be used by anyone as long as they have and pass a UMD check first.

For type 5 (scrolls etc...)
The treasure for a recent encounter included a Scroll of Glitterdust, which is a spell for Bards, Sorcerers, and Wizards. None of my PCs are any of those classes. They could use a UMD check to decipher the scroll, but since they are not the right class, they cannot activate the scroll.

[Blakmane]

No, you use spellcraft to decipher the scroll, and because they are not the right class, they use a UMD check to activate the scroll. They can still use the scroll.

You need to read up on this:

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/skills/use-magic-device

Which will give you a much greater understanding of what can and cannot be done with the UMD skill.