activating scrolls for pal/rang under 4th lvl [Archive] - Wizards Community

activating scrolls for pal/rang under 4th lvl [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
mostholy2
07-25-07, 01:13 PM For classes that do not gain spells until 4th lvl it states that:Through 3rd level, a paladin has no caster level. At 4th level and higher, her caster level is one-half her paladin levelThe description for ranger is identical.

Does this mean that rangers/paladins cannot activate scrolls before 4th lvl because they have NO caster level (and therefore cannot make the caster level check to activate a scroll that is a higher CL than the scroll)? Or does it mean that they should be considered as 0 CL for the purposes of activating scrolls?

Considering rangers/paladins can activate any wand on their spell list, suggests to me that they do have some level of spellcasting ability (even though they are not given spells) and should therefore be considered as 0 CL and be able to attempt to activate scrolls, so long as they meet all the other requirements for scroll activation (on spell list, divine/arcane, have requisite attribute score).

The stricter interpretation would be that pal/rangers have NO CL and therefore cannot make a caster lvl check to activate scrolls. How about Spellthief (CAdv)? The caster level description for spellthief does not specify that they have NO caster lvl before 4th lvl. What about a paladin who takes "practiced spellcaster" before 4th lvl?
tarkin
07-25-07, 02:02 PM I belive the FAQ specifically states that they CAN in fact activate wands.

I would take that to mean they can also try to activate a scroll, but they would have to make the attempt using a caster level of 0.
Howie23
12-10-07, 06:28 PM I belive the FAQ specifically states that they CAN in fact activate wands.

I would take that to mean they can also try to activate a scroll, but they would have to make the attempt using a caster level of 0.

They don't have a caster level of 0. They don't have a caster level at all. This is analogous to undead having no Constitution rather than having a 0 Con.
Legdiwena
12-10-07, 06:53 PM They have no spell list at that level, therefore they need to use UMD to activate scrolls.
risner
12-10-07, 09:10 PM Edit: double post
risner
12-10-07, 09:12 PM They can activate items with the spell without UMD so long as the spell is on their class list. It doesn't require they be able to cast spells to do so.

If a caster level is required for doing so, then use 0 instead since they have no caster level.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
mostholy2 07-25-07, 01:13 PM	For classes that do not gain spells until 4th lvl it states that:Through 3rd level, a paladin has no caster level. At 4th level and higher, her caster level is one-half her paladin levelThe description for ranger is identical. Does this mean that rangers/paladins cannot activate scrolls before 4th lvl because they have NO caster level (and therefore cannot make the caster level check to activate a scroll that is a higher CL than the scroll)? Or does it mean that they should be considered as 0 CL for the purposes of activating scrolls? Considering rangers/paladins can activate any wand on their spell list, suggests to me that they do have some level of spellcasting ability (even though they are not given spells) and should therefore be considered as 0 CL and be able to attempt to activate scrolls, so long as they meet all the other requirements for scroll activation (on spell list, divine/arcane, have requisite attribute score). The stricter interpretation would be that pal/rangers have NO CL and therefore cannot make a caster lvl check to activate scrolls. How about Spellthief (CAdv)? The caster level description for spellthief does not specify that they have NO caster lvl before 4th lvl. What about a paladin who takes "practiced spellcaster" before 4th lvl?
tarkin 07-25-07, 02:02 PM	I belive the FAQ specifically states that they CAN in fact activate wands. I would take that to mean they can also try to activate a scroll, but they would have to make the attempt using a caster level of 0.
Howie23 12-10-07, 06:28 PM	I belive the FAQ specifically states that they CAN in fact activate wands. I would take that to mean they can also try to activate a scroll, but they would have to make the attempt using a caster level of 0. They don't have a caster level of 0. They don't have a caster level at all. This is analogous to undead having no Constitution rather than having a 0 Con.
Legdiwena 12-10-07, 06:53 PM	They have no spell list at that level, therefore they need to use UMD to activate scrolls.
risner 12-10-07, 09:10 PM	Edit: double post
risner 12-10-07, 09:12 PM	They can activate items with the spell without UMD so long as the spell is on their class list. It doesn't require they be able to cast spells to do so. If a caster level is required for doing so, then use 0 instead since they have no caster level.