Bards and the Tome of Ancient Lore [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bards and the Tome of Ancient Lore [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Khan the Destroyer
12-12-06, 11:50 PM I was curious, and my understanding of the Use Magic Device skill is not enough to engage in those spectacular debates that rage on this board every now and then.

So I was curious... can a bard use the Use Magic Device skill to prepare spells out of the Tome of Ancient Lore? Assuming he had the the Arcane Preparation feat out of Complete Arcane, could he emulate the wizard's class feature (preparing spells out of a spellbook) to use the Tome to prepare any spell in existance?

If so, it would add a tremendous amount of versatility to the bard. Granted, to benefit he would have to become a preparation caster, but the benefits would be large indeed.

So, am I off my rocker? Give me the low down.
GaffeR
12-12-06, 11:52 PM Tome of what-now? Where might one find this thing?
Khan the Destroyer
12-12-06, 11:56 PM Complete Divine, page 103. It is a spellbook relic that contains every arcane spell in the game. Using the index in the back of the book gives you a 90% chance (if I remember correctly) to find the spell you're looking for to prepare it.

I was wondering if a bard with the True Believer feat (or one that worships Boccob and sacrifices the spell slot) could use UMD to prepare spells out of it like a wizard.
GaffeR
12-13-06, 12:22 AM Hmm...
Emulate a Class Feature

Sometimes you need to use a class feature to activate a magic item. In this case, your effective level in the emulated class equals your Use Magic Device check result minus 20. This skill does not let you actually use the class feature of another class. It just lets you activate items as if you had that class feature.
The bolded bit makes me doubt this trick, but I haven't looked into it that deeply.
SageBahamut
12-13-06, 01:17 AM Is it possible to UMD to simply emulate being a particular class? Like how certain items only work for one class or another. AFB atm.
Vaelan
12-13-06, 03:45 AM If you read the statement that a character that can prepare spells can prepare spells out of it as an ability of the item, as opposed to a use of the aforementioned ability, then yes.

This would be, of course, one of the more ridiculous "interpretations" I have seen here.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Khan the Destroyer 12-12-06, 11:50 PM	I was curious, and my understanding of the Use Magic Device skill is not enough to engage in those spectacular debates that rage on this board every now and then. So I was curious... can a bard use the Use Magic Device skill to prepare spells out of the Tome of Ancient Lore? Assuming he had the the Arcane Preparation feat out of Complete Arcane, could he emulate the wizard's class feature (preparing spells out of a spellbook) to use the Tome to prepare any spell in existance? If so, it would add a tremendous amount of versatility to the bard. Granted, to benefit he would have to become a preparation caster, but the benefits would be large indeed. So, am I off my rocker? Give me the low down.
GaffeR 12-12-06, 11:52 PM	Tome of what-now? Where might one find this thing?
Khan the Destroyer 12-12-06, 11:56 PM	Complete Divine, page 103. It is a spellbook relic that contains every arcane spell in the game. Using the index in the back of the book gives you a 90% chance (if I remember correctly) to find the spell you're looking for to prepare it. I was wondering if a bard with the True Believer feat (or one that worships Boccob and sacrifices the spell slot) could use UMD to prepare spells out of it like a wizard.
GaffeR 12-13-06, 12:22 AM	Hmm... Emulate a Class Feature Sometimes you need to use a class feature to activate a magic item. In this case, your effective level in the emulated class equals your Use Magic Device check result minus 20. This skill does not let you actually use the class feature of another class. It just lets you activate items as if you had that class feature. The bolded bit makes me doubt this trick, but I haven't looked into it that deeply.
SageBahamut 12-13-06, 01:17 AM	Is it possible to UMD to simply emulate being a particular class? Like how certain items only work for one class or another. AFB atm.
Vaelan 12-13-06, 03:45 AM	If you read the statement that a character that can prepare spells can prepare spells out of it as an ability of the item, as opposed to a use of the aforementioned ability, then yes. This would be, of course, one of the more ridiculous "interpretations" I have seen here.