I sort of feel like the cost of scrolls is a lot for low level characters, making them too expensive, but then the cost goes down significantly as the character levels up.
What if to help make scrolls of on-rank spells be more worth the 'relative' wealth they cost for spellcasters, do the following. Any normal (permanent consumable) scroll when used to cast a spell, gives the spell a +2 status bonus to its DC or Attack roll, as long as the caster's level does not exceed twice the rank of the spell on the scroll.
This would mean that for casters investing in on-level/rank consumables, which are expensive, it gives them a 'boost' to their use of the consumable. If the caster can cast higher rank spells, it stops boosting their ability, because their ability surpasses the extra oomf able to be packed into the consumable.
My definition of permanent consumables is to say they are a consumable that is paid for and remains until used. If any ability produced 1 or more scrolls that would be good for a day or until used, that would not be a permanent consumable, so this rule would not boost that scrolls spell effect.
This gives a caster a reason to want to invest in a scroll of a useful spell that is on their top rank, despite the cost, as it would give them a boosted effect. A little like having a masterwork arrow, so to speak. But by making it not apply when someone's level exceeds the rank it keeps low level scrolls from providing a cheap boost. They have to be willing to spend enough to get the rank of the spell up to their level to get the boost.
It also makes higher level scrolls potentially a little easier to pull off, as scrolls use the DC/attack of the caster, not creator.
I'm not sure how one could do something similar with potions (or if we'd want to) but it is another thought.
Since wands/staves are daily items, I don't think they need such a boost beyond what, for instance staves provide some spells. The premise is to make the commitment of wealth to consumables, give you a notable benefit, in the particular moment beyond what using a renewable resource would have gotten you with no longer term cost.
Scrolls are actually kinda way too good for how little gp they cost, so I don't think I'd buff them.
Upping spell DC is also kinda the "forbidden fruit" that is basically non-existent to casters. There is some new R9 or 10 incarnate spell that invented /added the mechanic, which should give you an idea of how serious that buff would be.
The best I can come up with that would reasonably allow someone to "boost" a spell cast via scroll:
Invent a new base 0A metamagic that enables any caster to burn focus points to Heighten a spell cast from a scroll/wand. You would need to choose how many Ranks the spell is boosted per FP spent.
Instead, or additionally, you could allow the burning of hard spell slots (actual class slots, not bonus slots) to Heighten item-cast spells. Because you also have to consider the R of burned slot, that would be a bit more complicated when deciding how to math the boost.
Another "helper" houserule would be to let anyone with magical crafting swap which spell is inside 1 scroll/wand during daily prep to another spell of the same Rank.
There are plenty of "evergreen" low R spells, and that mechanic would allow the players to pick exactly which they prefer.
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Um... how about doing it indirectly by buffing the Scroll cases?
I think they're a really good idea with a minor limitation, they are technically limited to Rank 1 scrolls as I read them. I would say if you could purchase higher level scroll cases that can accept higher ranked spell scrolls, and cast their listed spells at the same rank as the scroll used (maximum Spell rank should be equal to (item level/2)-1) and maybe add one or two useful higher level spells at the highest levels. This way if you find/made scrolls that you thought would be useful, but you're in a pinch and need a more generally useful spell you don't have at the ready, you can convert that scroll into the more useful spell. and saves you from having to prepare/learn that specific spell, as you don't need to know that spell to use the case, you just need to be able to cast spells of that list.
I kind of like the original idea here, as it sort of makes the scroll into an expendable component that empowers a spell. I'm not sure if +2 DC / Attack is appropriate, maybe it should scale with level like runes do? But numeric quibbles aside, is the fundamental idea sound?
Possible flaws:
- the fundamental bonus scrolls already give is basically more spell variety and casings per day
- The bonus is only useful for spells that need a roll
- Some spells that need rolls are already popular scroll choices (I'm thinking Cleans Affliction for a divine caster, for example) since they are very useful but very situational.
- Scrolls for some spells are arguably already cheap compared to other options. For example, I'd maybe rather buy multiple scrolls for rank 2 Tailwind (12 gp) than a wand (160 gp). Am I actually going to (need to) use that 160 GP wand more than 13 times? At level 5? Or is 6 or 7 uses enough until I reach a level where the gold for the wand is no longer a major expense?
- Kind of puzzles the mind why only max spell slot rank equivalent scrolls get the benefit (other than obvious game balance)
Possible strengths:
- Does what is says on the tin, makes on-level scrolls appealing to use
- Bonus is arguably balanced (at least in some cases) by the action cost of using a scroll (in theory you could get the same bonus using the action to do a successful demoralize, bon mot, etc) combined with financial cost.
- Lots of games are tight on cash and short on consumables, and finding the "right" way to spend consumable money is hard; an always available "buy this consumable to boost casting you'd already be doing" option could make shopping easier.
Very much on the fence here. I feal like it's touching on a good idea but not quite there. A possible adjustment would be to add some non-money "cost" to such casting, that maybe also allows it to work for ALL scrolls. Like maybe the scroll must be attuned, and you can only attune one scroll at a time this way? Or more extremely, that you must spend a appropriately ranked spell slot, but need know / have prepared the spell? The later makes it so you both use the scroll AND a slot, which clearly is worthy of some bonus, and allows scrolls to practically work as talismans that bump up your casting rolls. Combine that with limited attunement and you get something very like a talisman, although talismans don't use actual attunement. Maybe the scroll would be "attached" to a staff or wand or new type of "casting implement" to allow such casting?
Note that in 2nd edition, you don't really make actual profit by crafting. You pay for half the cost of what you make in raw materials (starting cost) and you either pay the rest in raw materials or use Earn an Income with the level of the item to earn value to replace what would be raw materials cost.
Then if you decide to sell, you sell for 50% of the price... or basically your raw materials starting cost. So by the rules PCs lose either time or money from crafting for sale, unless there is a specific story reason for them to have a customer willing to pay full price for a specific item.
But otherwise, again, I'm not interested in making new consumables that might be worthwhile having, but trying instead to make existing consumables something to make them have more tangible use for people when the cost is a notable part of their resources, rather than waiting for it to become either cost-negligible when they can buy them up and use them for full effect.
I'm trying to make it so that you are more inclined to use the various scroll you find, instead of selling it for a wand of something like Tailwind.
I'll admit that maybe +2 may be too strong, but I guess I was hoping to get feedback that that would be the only thing wrong with the idea. Pointing to making other permanent items or different consumables to do something else that might be useful doesn't seem to do much to make Scrolls more useful as loot and on-level resource.
I've also considered the idea of making consumables more likely to be used than just sold off by changing the 'standard' sale of consumable from 1/2 the prices, to down to 1/4 the price. that at least would give the advantage of insuring that you should be able to reduce how much of Wealth by Level any consumables should take up in treasure calculations.