Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kalor11 03-07-07, 07:52 PM	Does the Use Magic Device skill allow a specialty wizard to cast prohibited-school spells from a scroll or wand? One of my players has a specialty wizard, and has been taking cross-class ranks in Use Magic Device at each level. I haven't thought much of it, since I myself have had characters with cross-class ranks in Use Magic Device (after all, being able to use a Scroll of Cure Moderate Wounds is useful when the cleric isn't around!). But after our most recent gaming session, my player told me that he was taking Use Magic Device so that he could cast prohibited spells from scrolls or wands. I'm in a quandary, because the rules in the PHB seem to contradict on this point. On page 57, in the side bar on school specialization, it says: "Spells of the prohibited school or schools are not available to the wizard, and she can’t even cast such spells from scrolls or fire them from wands." But under Use Magic Device, it seems to indicate that this limitation can be overcome. (After all, if a wizard can cast a divine spell from a scroll or wand with Use Magic Device, then why couldn't a specialist wizard cast a prohibited spell in a similar way?) I looked through the FAQ, but this one never came up. Maybe it's not that frequently asked? :)
Novacat 03-07-07, 08:11 PM	The player is correct. UMD allows you to use magic items that you normally can't, ignoring all restrictions (if you make a sufficient check).
runestar 03-07-07, 09:09 PM	Aye. Novacat is spot on.:)
Bedevere 03-08-07, 04:21 AM	If a chaotic evil rogue can dual wield holy avengers with UMD, then I think your specialist wizard can fire off a charge from a wand of a spell he cant use. :)
Vegepygmy 03-08-07, 12:24 PM	Does the Use Magic Device skill allow a specialty wizard to cast prohibited-school spells from a scroll or wand?Yes.