Choice of Int or Cha for arcane scrolls w/ UMD [Archive] - Wizards Community

Choice of Int or Cha for arcane scrolls w/ UMD [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
BeauJest
04-03-08, 11:54 AM Perhaps this is a no-brainer.

If a character wants to use an arcane scroll w/ UMD, I assume they use the higher of the two caster ability scores (Int or Cha). Is this correct? Are there any implications of which caster type they simulate?

I have an earth mephit familiar who has an Int of 9, Cha 15. Even if he's using scrolls I scribe (as a Wizard), I assume he could use his 15 Charisma to avoid ability checks up to 5th level spells.
M-bark
04-03-08, 12:04 PM For as far as I know, an arcane spellcaster can cast a spell only from arcane scrolls, and if it's on his list, he can cast it as normal. If it's not on his list of spells known, he uses a Charisma-based UMD check.
LSMFT
04-03-08, 12:09 PM Yeah, I suppose that would be fine.

Emulate an Ability Score
To cast a spell from a scroll, you need a high score in the appropriate ability (Intelligence for wizard spells, Wisdom for divine spells, or Charisma for sorcerer or bard spells). Your effective ability score (appropriate to the class you’re emulating when you try to cast the spell from the scroll) is your Use Magic Device check result minus 15. If you already have a high enough score in the appropriate ability, you don’t need to make this check. Int for wizard spells, Cha for sorcerer. But, scrolls themselves are "typed" beyond merely arcane/divine, so unless a spell appears only the wzard list and not the sorcerer, you should be fine.
Dheran
04-04-08, 09:45 AM If a character wants to use an arcane scroll w/ UMD, I assume they use the higher of the two caster ability scores (Int or Cha). Is this correct? You can use any "appropriate ability" from any class that could have scribed the scroll, because scrolls are only categorized as arcane or divine, and not specific to any particular class. So yes, Intelligence and Charisma are both options for Wizard/Sorcerer scrolls (except for the very few spells that are Wizard-only or Sorcerer-only). And Wisdom and Charisma are both possible options for Cleric/Favored Soul scrolls.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
BeauJest 04-03-08, 11:54 AM	Perhaps this is a no-brainer. If a character wants to use an arcane scroll w/ UMD, I assume they use the higher of the two caster ability scores (Int or Cha). Is this correct? Are there any implications of which caster type they simulate? I have an earth mephit familiar who has an Int of 9, Cha 15. Even if he's using scrolls I scribe (as a Wizard), I assume he could use his 15 Charisma to avoid ability checks up to 5th level spells.
M-bark 04-03-08, 12:04 PM	For as far as I know, an arcane spellcaster can cast a spell only from arcane scrolls, and if it's on his list, he can cast it as normal. If it's not on his list of spells known, he uses a Charisma-based UMD check.
LSMFT 04-03-08, 12:09 PM	Yeah, I suppose that would be fine. Emulate an Ability Score To cast a spell from a scroll, you need a high score in the appropriate ability (Intelligence for wizard spells, Wisdom for divine spells, or Charisma for sorcerer or bard spells). Your effective ability score (appropriate to the class you’re emulating when you try to cast the spell from the scroll) is your Use Magic Device check result minus 15. If you already have a high enough score in the appropriate ability, you don’t need to make this check. Int for wizard spells, Cha for sorcerer. But, scrolls themselves are "typed" beyond merely arcane/divine, so unless a spell appears only the wzard list and not the sorcerer, you should be fine.
Dheran 04-04-08, 09:45 AM	If a character wants to use an arcane scroll w/ UMD, I assume they use the higher of the two caster ability scores (Int or Cha). Is this correct? You can use any "appropriate ability" from any class that could have scribed the scroll, because scrolls are only categorized as arcane or divine, and not specific to any particular class. So yes, Intelligence and Charisma are both options for Wizard/Sorcerer scrolls (except for the very few spells that are Wizard-only or Sorcerer-only). And Wisdom and Charisma are both possible options for Cleric/Favored Soul scrolls.