Post/Author/DateTime	Post
JustKim 06-17-07, 05:04 PM	In the UMD skill under wands, it says that this particular use of the skill also applies to the use of staffs. However, the DC is a flat 20 and wands have their own caster level built in. A staff needs a caster level from its wielder. I've seen it said that using a staff is DC 20 plus your desired caster level, perhaps stemming from the "emulate class feature" use of the skill. However, the skill itself does not refer you to emulating a class feature and putting it under the DC for using wands, which is always going to be lower, seems contrary. Where does the idea that UMD allows you to scale caster level for staffs come from? If it's untrue, how can you use a staff with the UMD skill at all? And perhaps most importantly.. If you can use the UMD skill to imitate spellcasting as a class feature, including caster level, can you also use it to activate a runestaff? The section on emulating a class feature shows Lidda virtually expending a turn undead attempt to power a magic item, and a runestaff requires you to expend a spell to power it. Does this mean the UMD skill enables you to use runestaffs for free daily spells?
Bob Loblaw 06-17-07, 05:11 PM	The wielder of a staff can use either the Caster Level of the staff or his own, whichever is higher. Since you don't have a Caster Level when using Use Magic Device, then you would use the staff's Caster Level. Using a staff does not require a class feature (spellcasting, but that is included as part of the Use Magic Device skill's DC 20). I know that some people believe that you can use the Emulate Class Feature to determine your Caster Level, but I personally believe that is beyond the scope of the skill. I don't think there's anything that specifies one way or the other.