just a basic question.
assuming that a chicken has an infinite bonus to Use Magic Device, what is it capable of using (wands, scrolls, ect.)?
1) Wands: No
Longer version:
Activation: Wands use the spell trigger activation method, so casting a spell from a wand is usually a standard action that doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity. (If the spell being cast has a longer casting time than 1 action, however, it takes that long to cast the spell from a wand.) To activate a wand, a character must hold it in hand (or whatever passes for a hand, for non-humanoid creatures) and point it in the general direction of the target or area.
Even if the DM allows the chicken to hold the wand in the beak, we then move on to the spell trigger activation rules.
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.
The UMD skill gets around the knowledge of spellcasting requirement, but only MODIFIES the requirement to speak the single word.
Activate Blindly: Some magic items are activated by special words, thoughts, or actions. You can activate such an item as if you were using the activation word, thought, or action, even when you're not and even if you don't know it. You do have to perform some equivalent activity in order to make the check. That is, you must speak, wave the item around, or otherwise attempt to get it to activate.
The chicken must perform an equivalent activity, but a chicken can't speak.
2) Scrolls:
Activate the Spell: Activating a scroll requires reading the spell from the scroll. The character must be able to see and read the writing on the scroll.
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.
UMD gets around the chicken not having the spell on the class list. It also gets the chicken around not having the minimum appropriate ability score. However, it does NOT obviate the requirement to READ the scroll. Last I checked, chickens can't read.
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The chicken must perform an equivalent activity, but a chicken can't speak.
What if the chicken holds the wand in one of its talons and the command word is 'bawk'?
Would that work?
About the activation word, that one is a sound that it's advisable not corresponding to an actual word with meaning as it may accidentally trigger the item while speaking normally.
So if the command word is cluck-cluck the chicken can do it.
So if Tongues or something equivalent is done to the chicken and the chicken holds a wand in its talons...
IF the GM lets a chicken stand on one leg and aim a wand with a foot (let's see YOU do that) AND rules that the command word can be spoken in chickenish, then maybe.
Change the chicken to a parrot. Now it certainly can speak recognizable words. I'd think you'd need a "handle animal" to get it to speak on demand.
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The chicken must perform an equivalent activity, but a chicken can't speak.What if the chicken holds the wand in one of its talons and the command word is 'bawk'?
Would that work?
Does the chicken have large talons?
IF the GM lets a chicken stand on one leg and aim a wand with a foot (let's see YOU do that)
Actually, that's infinitely less implausible than a chicken with infinite UMD.
Side note: If my feet were the only thing I had to pick stuff up and manipulate stuff, for my whole life (e.g. like a chicken), then I'd probably be better at it. I've seen videos of people born without arms who can do things with their feet that would impress even Sebulba...
Chickens can have very strong talons. Some of them get pretty big. But wands are only .25 inches thick, anyways.
Talons are the obvious means by which a chicken would grasp the wand. They'd work fine for the job. Chickens are fairly agile with talons and can use them to scratch their heads without falling down. They are also specialists in using their talons to attack. Both. At once. If they can manage that, wands should be a piece of cake. Plus, if balance is really a problem, the wings can easily alleviate that.
Assuming the chicken can speak, scrolls and wands are a piece of cake.
Assuming the chicken can speak, scrolls and wands are a piece of cake.
Speaking helps with the wands, but even Tongues doesn't provide the ability to READ required by a scroll. Perhaps Comprehend Languages ?
EDIT: Comprehend Languages might not work because scrolls are magical writing and CL says "Magical writing cannot be read."EDIT2: "Decipher the Writing: The writing on a scroll must be deciphered before a character can use it or know exactly what spell it contains. This requires a read magic spell or a successful Spellcraft check (DC 20 + spell level). Deciphering a scroll is a full-round action."
So the chicken needs Comprehend Languages (if that even works) AND (Read Magic OR Spellcraft)
hey just doing a quick search on chickens grasping items...
I found a chart on the pfsrd, I don't know what book it is from. If we assume that a chicken is an avian, which it is, then it should be able to carry/grasp an item. what ever that means
EDIT: tongues doesn't let you read but the lower level spell comprehend languages does...
EDIT2.0: probably should read the entire post before commenting :P
Someone with a chicken familiar is not trying to become the next Pun-Pun. I don't think you need to be that conservative.
Assuming the chicken can speak, scrolls and wands are a piece of cake.Speaking helps with the wands, but even Tongues doesn't provide the ability to READ required by a scroll. Perhaps Comprehend Languages ?
The fact that it has ranks in Use Magic Device implies that it has an Intelligence score above 2. I don't think that's worth nitpicking.
These are the real questions.
A completely normal chicken? I very highly doubt it unless there is a magic item made specifically that can be activated by a chicken.
A chicken with any sort of real intelligence could get a single polymorph spell cast on it and then rule the world.
It's actually my variant multiclass wizard's familiar
I'm giving it the sage archetype. My DM is currently deciding on if he'll allow me to stack on the figment archetype too.
I'm taking it so I can get the creation subschool. I didn't really want the familiar. So I'm planning on using it for disable device and UMD checks...
Our group already has a rogue(read skill monkey), so don't worry, we wont die because my chicken sucks.
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Mmmmm. Sage chicken.
Although I prefer Rosemary chicken.
Mmmmm. Sage chicken.
Nevermind. I would absolutely allow this chicken nonsense to happen.
Sorry to bring this up again... but I now really want a wand toting chicken.
I know you can put metamagic feats into wands. How would a silent wand work? or would it?
Also, if I'm remembering correctly a familiar and its master can speak to each other. If the master had craft wand could he set this language as a command word?
I *think* you mean a wand of Silent <spell name>. I'm not certain that has any effect on how a wand works.
I also think that the communication between a master and a familiar, while certainly verbal, is not a language as such. Other creatures cannot be taught to understand it. They can only do so with magical aid. Magical devices probably won't understand it either, unless they have some sort of "understand anything" power.
Of course, bribing your GM would probably work. Personally, I'd be wary of any familiar that isn't an improved familiar using wands.
For more on increasing animal intelligence and its effects, see this link
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Decoy Chicken would be a great band name.
Perhaps with activate blindly, instead of use wand? It could wave it around and cluck and try to get it to go off?
I'd allow it just because it's hilarious.
for flavors sake i would rather the chicken just make chicken noises... I'll talk to my GM about allowing it to activate blindly. balance wise it should be fine. semi-random activation, chance of mishap, I'll argue for semi-random targeting, etc... I mean we do also have a rogue that can use wands in an emergency so...
But i think that is a topic that wouldn't fall under Rules Questions.
Consider this /closed
So heres the real question: did Renarin Kholin get polymorphed/resurrected as a chicken and he has a wand of *fixes the problem* but he doesn't know if he can use it?
Haha, you got me (￣ω￣;)
but really i just want my useless chicken familiar to use a wand of summon minor monster... so i can have more chickens...
Haha, you got me (￣ω￣;)
but really i just want my useless chicken familiar to use a wand of summon minor monster... so i can have more chickens...
Or you could take a level in Commoner and take the old feat (can't remember what system) that lets you draw a live chicken from a component pouch and it just exists, then build an army of chickens armed with wands of ray of frost/cold/acid (slash).