Caster level of Wands [Archive] - Wizards Community

Caster level of Wands [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Empathy_Man
03-19-07, 09:48 PM So I was wondering... When one uses a wand, does it have a set caster level or does it use the caster level of the user? Wand's like Magic Missile would lead me to believe the former, but there are many spells which effects are level based (say shocking grasp) that only have one entry.
Is there something official published about this?
Ariath Ska'Vhor
03-19-07, 09:51 PM I think it's the caster level of it's creator at the time of creation. I don't know what the DC's are though...
SALDAR
03-19-07, 11:20 PM It is the caster level of the creator. Wands found as treasure are at the minimum caster level needed to cast the spell, such as 5th level for Fireball or 1st for Magic Missile. This can be altered if the DM wants it to be more powerful or if a PC is creating it and wants it to be at their current level if it higher than the minimum (this will raise the costs though).
Gadren
03-20-07, 12:23 AM It is the caster level of the creator. Wands found as treasure are at the minimum caster level needed to cast the spell, such as 5th level for Fireball or 1st for Magic Missile. This can be altered if the DM wants it to be more powerful or if a PC is creating it and wants it to be at their current level if it higher than the minimum (this will raise the costs though).

This is exactly right.
Also, the DCs for random treasure wands are based off of the MINIMUM stat needed to cast that spell, making wands with saves nearly useless. (Unless you are using a will-save wand on a fighter class that decided to make Wis a dump stat, such as a typical DMG orc warrior.)

In simpler terms:
1st level wand: DC 11
2nd level wand: DC 13
3rd level wand: DC 14
4th level wand: DC 16
cwslyclgh
03-20-07, 01:46 AM Also, the DCs for random treasure wands are based off of the MINIMUM stat needed to cast that spellit is not just randomly determined wands, it is the save DC's for all magic items that are set as the minimum (although a staff user can substitute for the save DC based upon his feats and ability scores instead).
Empathy_Man
03-20-07, 02:18 PM Ok, I wasnt really wondering for purposes of save DC (thanks anyway!!) I was mostly wondering for damage purposes. Does say a wand of shocking grasp always do the same damage or does the damage increase as the wielder levels?
cwslyclgh
03-20-07, 02:23 PM a wands caster level is set at creation, and will always deal damage based upon that caster level.
tarkin
03-20-07, 02:45 PM Also note, a higher caster level means a higher price for buying/selling the wands.

If no caster level is listed, the default is to assume the caster level is the minumum neccesary to cast the spell.
Nom
03-20-07, 09:54 PM It is the caster level of the creator.Not quite. It is the caster level at which the wand (or scroll or potion) was created, which is always somewhere between the minimum caster level for the spell and the creator's caster level.

(note: certain classes, notably the artificer from ECS, can change how these limits are applied)
Honzo Hilltopple
03-21-07, 12:59 AM A 3d6 Wand of Shocking Grasp is my favorite back up weapon with my wizard. It is still cheap enough to afford, touch attack, standard action to activate, no concentration roll, and with reckless wand wielder from the complete arcane you can usually keep up with the fighters if you are forced into melee. Honestly though I hate getting tangled in melee and if possible use the 5ft step/ nuke tactic.
Empathy_Man
03-22-07, 08:31 PM Thats sort of what I figured... Where would I find the listed rules for this... I'm arguing the point with someone and they wont back down if I can't show them "official" written rules.
PhaedrusXY
03-22-07, 08:38 PM The rules. (http://www.d20srd.org/) The specific thing you're talking about is under Magic Item Basics. Caster Level

<SNIP>

For potions, scrolls, and wands, the creator can set the caster level of an item at any number high enough to cast the stored spell and not higher than her own caster level. For other magic items, the caster level is determined by the creator. The minimum caster level is that which is needed to meet the prerequisites given. I don't remember where it says that items have the minimum caster level, unless specified otherwise. But it's in there somewhere. :D

If you calculate the prices for the items listed in the DMG, you will see that most are priced using the minimum caster level required.
Empathy_Man
03-22-07, 08:44 PM Great! Thanks a lot!
LordRoberts
03-23-07, 10:40 PM I use the DC of the caster for the spell lvl. (Use magic iteam users use there Charisma mod.) Just to make it easier. A more skilled caster should be more effective then a weeker caster.
Nom
03-25-07, 07:25 AM Staffs work like that. They are a unique item type and you pay for the privilege. For everything else, it's a balance issue. A wand of X has the same utility no matter who uses it, which allows a fixed price. If the utility scales with the caster (or the creator), then you need to figure that into the pricing formulas.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Empathy_Man 03-19-07, 09:48 PM	So I was wondering... When one uses a wand, does it have a set caster level or does it use the caster level of the user? Wand's like Magic Missile would lead me to believe the former, but there are many spells which effects are level based (say shocking grasp) that only have one entry. Is there something official published about this?
Ariath Ska'Vhor 03-19-07, 09:51 PM	I think it's the caster level of it's creator at the time of creation. I don't know what the DC's are though...
SALDAR 03-19-07, 11:20 PM	It is the caster level of the creator. Wands found as treasure are at the minimum caster level needed to cast the spell, such as 5th level for Fireball or 1st for Magic Missile. This can be altered if the DM wants it to be more powerful or if a PC is creating it and wants it to be at their current level if it higher than the minimum (this will raise the costs though).
Gadren 03-20-07, 12:23 AM	It is the caster level of the creator. Wands found as treasure are at the minimum caster level needed to cast the spell, such as 5th level for Fireball or 1st for Magic Missile. This can be altered if the DM wants it to be more powerful or if a PC is creating it and wants it to be at their current level if it higher than the minimum (this will raise the costs though). This is exactly right. Also, the DCs for random treasure wands are based off of the MINIMUM stat needed to cast that spell, making wands with saves nearly useless. (Unless you are using a will-save wand on a fighter class that decided to make Wis a dump stat, such as a typical DMG orc warrior.) In simpler terms: 1st level wand: DC 11 2nd level wand: DC 13 3rd level wand: DC 14 4th level wand: DC 16
cwslyclgh 03-20-07, 01:46 AM	Also, the DCs for random treasure wands are based off of the MINIMUM stat needed to cast that spellit is not just randomly determined wands, it is the save DC's for all magic items that are set as the minimum (although a staff user can substitute for the save DC based upon his feats and ability scores instead).
Empathy_Man 03-20-07, 02:18 PM	Ok, I wasnt really wondering for purposes of save DC (thanks anyway!!) I was mostly wondering for damage purposes. Does say a wand of shocking grasp always do the same damage or does the damage increase as the wielder levels?
cwslyclgh 03-20-07, 02:23 PM	a wands caster level is set at creation, and will always deal damage based upon that caster level.
tarkin 03-20-07, 02:45 PM	Also note, a higher caster level means a higher price for buying/selling the wands. If no caster level is listed, the default is to assume the caster level is the minumum neccesary to cast the spell.
Nom 03-20-07, 09:54 PM	It is the caster level of the creator.Not quite. It is the caster level at which the wand (or scroll or potion) was created, which is always somewhere between the minimum caster level for the spell and the creator's caster level. (note: certain classes, notably the artificer from ECS, can change how these limits are applied)
Honzo Hilltopple 03-21-07, 12:59 AM	A 3d6 Wand of Shocking Grasp is my favorite back up weapon with my wizard. It is still cheap enough to afford, touch attack, standard action to activate, no concentration roll, and with reckless wand wielder from the complete arcane you can usually keep up with the fighters if you are forced into melee. Honestly though I hate getting tangled in melee and if possible use the 5ft step/ nuke tactic.
Empathy_Man 03-22-07, 08:31 PM	Thats sort of what I figured... Where would I find the listed rules for this... I'm arguing the point with someone and they wont back down if I can't show them "official" written rules.
PhaedrusXY 03-22-07, 08:38 PM	The rules. (http://www.d20srd.org/) The specific thing you're talking about is under Magic Item Basics. Caster Level <SNIP> For potions, scrolls, and wands, the creator can set the caster level of an item at any number high enough to cast the stored spell and not higher than her own caster level. For other magic items, the caster level is determined by the creator. The minimum caster level is that which is needed to meet the prerequisites given. I don't remember where it says that items have the minimum caster level, unless specified otherwise. But it's in there somewhere. :D If you calculate the prices for the items listed in the DMG, you will see that most are priced using the minimum caster level required.
Empathy_Man 03-22-07, 08:44 PM	Great! Thanks a lot!
LordRoberts 03-23-07, 10:40 PM	I use the DC of the caster for the spell lvl. (Use magic iteam users use there Charisma mod.) Just to make it easier. A more skilled caster should be more effective then a weeker caster.
Nom 03-25-07, 07:25 AM	Staffs work like that. They are a unique item type and you pay for the privilege. For everything else, it's a balance issue. A wand of X has the same utility no matter who uses it, which allows a fixed price. If the utility scales with the caster (or the creator), then you need to figure that into the pricing formulas.