Clerical Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Clerical Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Sethv007
02-08-05, 02:12 AM I just started a cleric and want to take advantage of the Scribe Scroll freebie feat as much as is humanly possible but i've hit on a bit of a snag. As a scroll, I should need Use Magical Device to cast from it and should have to make a check I would imagine. But it's my scroll. It seems as if I should not have to make a check to read what I wrote. Is there something that I missed about this? How do others play this? If I create a scroll myself can I use it with the UMD ability but with out a check or should a check be required or should I be able to read my own handwriting with out the UMD? Any points to printed material I may have missed greatly appreciated!

Seth
Gauze Fireforge
02-08-05, 02:36 AM You need to have a good read of the DMG p238.

To summarise it, you need to fulfill several criteria.

Firstly, to activate the spell, you must decipher what the spell is. Given that you have created the scroll, you will know what spell or spells are contained within (you can have more than one spells penned onto a single scroll).

You have to be able to read the scroll to cast it.

THe type of scroll (either arcane or divine) must be the same as what you are. Obviously if you made it as a cleric, it is a divine scroll so you fullfill that criteria.

You must have the spell on your spell list. Obviously since you cast the scroll, you can cast it as normal.

You must also have the pre-requisite ability score. Since you are a cleric who cast the spell in the first place, you obviously have a high enough wisdom score to cast it from the scroll.

And thats it. You fulfill all criteria so you can cast it if you have it in hand and can read from it. UMD does not come into this at all. UMD is useful for those who do not have the spell on their list (say a rogue) so that he can mimic with Magic device having that spell on his spell list and thus can cast the scroll. You do not need UMD for this

I hope that helps
Robert Craven
02-08-05, 02:37 AM A cleric does not need UMD to cast divine spells from a scroll.
Requirements to cast from a scroll:
* correct type (divine in your case)
* spell is on your spell list
* you have the required ability score (like WIS 15 for a 5th level spell)

You have to decipher scrolls you did not write yourself (Read Magic or Spellcraft DC 20 + spell level)
If your caster level is lower than the spell's caster level you need to make a caster level check.

Check out the magic items section of the SRD!

btw: Scribe Scroll is only free for wizards.
chocobochicken
02-08-05, 09:41 AM Robert's right. Clerics don't get Scribe Scroll as a "freebie." You can take it optionally as a feat, but I wouldn't recommend it.
edgelett
02-08-05, 05:56 PM The only class that uses "Use Magic Device" to read a scroll is the Rogue. all other magical classes (druid, ranger, wizard, bard, etc) can read scrolls of their type of magic (ie druids, clerics etc read divine scrolls, while wizards etc read arcane scrolls).

THe only check you need to make when reading a scroll is if you're trying to read a scoll of a higher level than you can cast - and your DM has info on how those checks work (it has nothing to do with UMD though).
Rallaster
02-08-05, 06:00 PM The only class that uses "Use Magic Device" to read a scroll is the Rogue.

I beg to differ. A bard also uses UMD to cast spells other than what he is.
Robert Craven
02-08-05, 06:45 PM The only class that uses "Use Magic Device" to read a scroll is the Rogue. all other magical classes (druid, ranger, wizard, bard, etc) can read scrolls of their type of magic (ie druids, clerics etc read divine scrolls, while wizards etc read arcane scrolls).

Not really. Any class can use UMD to use scrolls (or any other magic item)that he usually cannnot.
So a wizard could UMD to cast divine scrolls.

THe only check you need to make when reading a scroll is if you're trying to read a scoll of a higher level than you can cast - and your DM has info on how those checks work (it has nothing to do with UMD though).

Actually any caster needs to cast Read Magic or make a Spellcraft check DC 20 + spelllevel to decipher a scroll.
I allow to use Decipher Script to identify scrolls as well.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sethv007 02-08-05, 02:12 AM	I just started a cleric and want to take advantage of the Scribe Scroll freebie feat as much as is humanly possible but i've hit on a bit of a snag. As a scroll, I should need Use Magical Device to cast from it and should have to make a check I would imagine. But it's my scroll. It seems as if I should not have to make a check to read what I wrote. Is there something that I missed about this? How do others play this? If I create a scroll myself can I use it with the UMD ability but with out a check or should a check be required or should I be able to read my own handwriting with out the UMD? Any points to printed material I may have missed greatly appreciated! Seth
Gauze Fireforge 02-08-05, 02:36 AM	You need to have a good read of the DMG p238. To summarise it, you need to fulfill several criteria. Firstly, to activate the spell, you must decipher what the spell is. Given that you have created the scroll, you will know what spell or spells are contained within (you can have more than one spells penned onto a single scroll). You have to be able to read the scroll to cast it. THe type of scroll (either arcane or divine) must be the same as what you are. Obviously if you made it as a cleric, it is a divine scroll so you fullfill that criteria. You must have the spell on your spell list. Obviously since you cast the scroll, you can cast it as normal. You must also have the pre-requisite ability score. Since you are a cleric who cast the spell in the first place, you obviously have a high enough wisdom score to cast it from the scroll. And thats it. You fulfill all criteria so you can cast it if you have it in hand and can read from it. UMD does not come into this at all. UMD is useful for those who do not have the spell on their list (say a rogue) so that he can mimic with Magic device having that spell on his spell list and thus can cast the scroll. You do not need UMD for this I hope that helps
Robert Craven 02-08-05, 02:37 AM	A cleric does not need UMD to cast divine spells from a scroll. Requirements to cast from a scroll: * correct type (divine in your case) * spell is on your spell list * you have the required ability score (like WIS 15 for a 5th level spell) You have to decipher scrolls you did not write yourself (Read Magic or Spellcraft DC 20 + spell level) If your caster level is lower than the spell's caster level you need to make a caster level check. Check out the magic items section of the SRD! btw: Scribe Scroll is only free for wizards.
chocobochicken 02-08-05, 09:41 AM	Robert's right. Clerics don't get Scribe Scroll as a "freebie." You can take it optionally as a feat, but I wouldn't recommend it.
edgelett 02-08-05, 05:56 PM	The only class that uses "Use Magic Device" to read a scroll is the Rogue. all other magical classes (druid, ranger, wizard, bard, etc) can read scrolls of their type of magic (ie druids, clerics etc read divine scrolls, while wizards etc read arcane scrolls). THe only check you need to make when reading a scroll is if you're trying to read a scoll of a higher level than you can cast - and your DM has info on how those checks work (it has nothing to do with UMD though).
Rallaster 02-08-05, 06:00 PM	The only class that uses "Use Magic Device" to read a scroll is the Rogue. I beg to differ. A bard also uses UMD to cast spells other than what he is.
Robert Craven 02-08-05, 06:45 PM	The only class that uses "Use Magic Device" to read a scroll is the Rogue. all other magical classes (druid, ranger, wizard, bard, etc) can read scrolls of their type of magic (ie druids, clerics etc read divine scrolls, while wizards etc read arcane scrolls). Not really. Any class can use UMD to use scrolls (or any other magic item)that he usually cannnot. So a wizard could UMD to cast divine scrolls. THe only check you need to make when reading a scroll is if you're trying to read a scoll of a higher level than you can cast - and your DM has info on how those checks work (it has nothing to do with UMD though). Actually any caster needs to cast Read Magic or make a Spellcraft check DC 20 + spelllevel to decipher a scroll. I allow to use Decipher Script to identify scrolls as well.