Activating Wands [Archive] - Wizards Community

Activating Wands [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
masterofmayhem
12-19-05, 06:14 PM What are the requirements for being able to activate a wand? And, more importantly, where can I find this, so that I can look it up next week, when I forget again.

The only thing I could find on the subject was in the Use Magic Device skill.
Use a Wand
Normally, to use a wand, you must have the wand’s spell on your class spell list. This use of the skill allows you to use a wand as if you had a particular spell on your class spell list. This use of the skill also applies to other spell trigger magic items, such as staves.
Meloku
12-19-05, 06:34 PM It's right there in the quote. You must have the spell on your class spell list, or fake it with Use Magic Device. A staff and a wand are both the same type of object for activation - a spell trigger item.

-Meloku
masterofmayhem
12-19-05, 07:35 PM That's the only requirement? So a 1st level cleric could use a wand of Cure Critical Woundswithout any difficulties?

And I was somewhat leery of using the quote, because I found that in the Use Magic Device description, but could not find it anywhere else.
ReverendCow
12-19-05, 09:41 PM For higher level wands, you'd have to make some sort of caster level check. If you don't make it, it goes boom in your face.
masterofmayhem
12-19-05, 09:46 PM Ah, OK, so where does it say that? Because I know that is the case for scrolls.
ReverendCow
12-19-05, 09:52 PM Ok, I can't find it, so I may be wrong on that.
Moon-Lancer
12-20-05, 03:52 AM a level 1 wizard could cast level 9 spells from a wand without any checks. Wands only go up to leve 4l though. After that they are staves? wealth levels is the only balance for out of controle wand and staves use.

using a wand with umd is only a check of 20. This also is balanced by the prices of wands, and how expensive they are. The are consumed, so if they put to much money in wands, its going to seem like you are putting your gold into a black hole.
Seeker95
12-20-05, 08:50 AM A wand is a 50-charge spell trigger item for a single-spell of 4th level or lower.

A staff is a spell trigger item for at least two spells. No spell level limit. Uses Minimum CL of 8 or the wielder's CL, whichever is higher.

There is no CL check if the spell is on your class list.
There is a UMD check if it is not.
UMD cannot be used untrained.
masterofmayhem
12-20-05, 04:32 PM Perfect. Thanks, everyone. :D
Nom
12-20-05, 04:52 PM Spell trigger items also have a command word and require you to know the exact spell the item contains (DMG pg 213). The easy way to find this out is identify or having someone tell you. You can also determine it by hearing someone trigger the wand (gives you the command word) and successfully making a Spellcraft check to identify the spell.

Whether these count as "requirements" is a matter of terminology.

UMD "activate blindly" allows you to trigger the wand without the above information. If you also don't meet the "spell on class list" requirement, you would need two UMD checks: one to activate and one to fudge the requirements.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
masterofmayhem 12-19-05, 06:14 PM	What are the requirements for being able to activate a wand? And, more importantly, where can I find this, so that I can look it up next week, when I forget again. The only thing I could find on the subject was in the Use Magic Device skill. Use a Wand Normally, to use a wand, you must have the wand’s spell on your class spell list. This use of the skill allows you to use a wand as if you had a particular spell on your class spell list. This use of the skill also applies to other spell trigger magic items, such as staves.
Meloku 12-19-05, 06:34 PM	It's right there in the quote. You must have the spell on your class spell list, or fake it with Use Magic Device. A staff and a wand are both the same type of object for activation - a spell trigger item. -Meloku
masterofmayhem 12-19-05, 07:35 PM	That's the only requirement? So a 1st level cleric could use a wand of Cure Critical Woundswithout any difficulties? And I was somewhat leery of using the quote, because I found that in the Use Magic Device description, but could not find it anywhere else.
ReverendCow 12-19-05, 09:41 PM	For higher level wands, you'd have to make some sort of caster level check. If you don't make it, it goes boom in your face.
masterofmayhem 12-19-05, 09:46 PM	Ah, OK, so where does it say that? Because I know that is the case for scrolls.
ReverendCow 12-19-05, 09:52 PM	Ok, I can't find it, so I may be wrong on that.
Moon-Lancer 12-20-05, 03:52 AM	a level 1 wizard could cast level 9 spells from a wand without any checks. Wands only go up to leve 4l though. After that they are staves? wealth levels is the only balance for out of controle wand and staves use. using a wand with umd is only a check of 20. This also is balanced by the prices of wands, and how expensive they are. The are consumed, so if they put to much money in wands, its going to seem like you are putting your gold into a black hole.
Seeker95 12-20-05, 08:50 AM	A wand is a 50-charge spell trigger item for a single-spell of 4th level or lower. A staff is a spell trigger item for at least two spells. No spell level limit. Uses Minimum CL of 8 or the wielder's CL, whichever is higher. There is no CL check if the spell is on your class list. There is a UMD check if it is not. UMD cannot be used untrained.
masterofmayhem 12-20-05, 04:32 PM	Perfect. Thanks, everyone. :D
Nom 12-20-05, 04:52 PM	Spell trigger items also have a command word and require you to know the exact spell the item contains (DMG pg 213). The easy way to find this out is identify or having someone tell you. You can also determine it by hearing someone trigger the wand (gives you the command word) and successfully making a Spellcraft check to identify the spell. Whether these count as "requirements" is a matter of terminology. UMD "activate blindly" allows you to trigger the wand without the above information. If you also don't meet the "spell on class list" requirement, you would need two UMD checks: one to activate and one to fudge the requirements.