Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Darryl_Licke 01-22-08, 01:51 PM	We just sold a Lesser rod of silence. As a rogue that'd be cool *WHEN* i have enough ranks in UMD. So I figured I'd keep it until then. Well my DM said I can't use it so we sold it. Well I just looked d20srd and it said anyone can use a rod. So I'm confused. No worries as I upgraded from a regular rapeir to a keen +1 rapier.
Belkar 01-22-08, 01:55 PM	Anyone can use a rod, yes... but a metamagic rod applies specific metamagic feats to spells you cast... And you cast no spells. ;) You can cast spells from wands or scrolls with UMD, sure - but you can't apply a metamagic feat to spells cast from such sources. So, yes you can use it. But it's totally useless to you...lol... Does this make sense?
BruceLeeroy 01-22-08, 02:34 PM	There's a feat that allows you to apply metamagic feats to spell trigger items. Complete Mage, I think. Maybe Arcane. Anyways, it costs additional charges equivalent to the amount of additional spell levels the metamagic feat would adjust the spell, or in the case of a rod, none.
RobbyPants 01-22-08, 02:52 PM	Perhaps you're getting the lesser metamagic rod of Silent Spell confused with a wand of Silence. The former allows you to apply the Silent Spell metamagic feat to a 1st through 3rd level spell three times per day, without increasing the level of the spell slot required to use it. This would do a rogue with UMD no good. The latter has 50 charges of the Silence spell, allowing you to cast it 50 times. This could be used by the rogue with UMD.
AntiDjinn 01-22-08, 02:54 PM	That particular item lets you apply the feat Silent Spell to a spell of 3rd level or lower as you cast it. If you can cast spells then you don't need a UMD roll in any case. As mentioned above, there is a feat that allows you to apply metamagic feats to spells cast from items, not that you generally have to use verbal components to activate a wand, but it can be useful when casting from a scroll. Note that silent spell does not make a spell silent; it just negates the need for verbal components. A fireball still whooshes through the air and makes a Boom on detonation. The item also has no bearing on move silently rolls; it applies to cast spells only. It does not cast the spell Silence.
Darryl_Licke 01-22-08, 03:15 PM	ok. I was hoping to be able to cast spells silently from the shadows. Guess it's back to sniping like I planned.
jaelis 01-22-08, 03:32 PM	You could take one level in sorc or wizard, and pick up ray of frost. Lets you deliver sneak attacks with a ranged touch. Also means you wouldn't need to keep up your UMD skill.
Howie23 01-22-08, 05:21 PM	There's a feat that allows you to apply metamagic feats to spell trigger items. Yeah...combined with Heighten Spell, the feat becomes a bit problematical, though.