So I was reading through the DMG (not all the way through yet) and on page 139 in the Treasure/Magical Items section it says this about scrolls:
"Any creature that can understand a written language can read the arcane script on a scroll and attempt to activate it."
Does this mean that Joe the Fighter can just pick up a bunch of scrolls and start slinging fireballs? I noticed that UMD is gone except for one Rogue style. Doesn't this just negate the uniqueness of that special ability? It says "attempt to activate". Does that mean only the Rogue's UMD? Should there be a check? (Arcana, Religion, DC 15? +spell level?) Should it matter if the scroll is on their spell list? (DC 10, or free to cast?)
Have I missed something elsewhere? I haven't had a chance to actually play 5E yet, so it's been a while since I read through the PHB, so maybe I missed something there?
KN
You missed the item description of the spellscroll in the list of magic items, there it states the spell has to be on the spelllist in order for it to be cast.
In this edition there are also magical scrolls that don't let you cast spells. The DMG only has one example of those, the scroll of protection. Scrolls like that follow the main rule that any creature that can understand a written language can read it and attempt to activate it, although those might have their own rules as to whether the attempt will be succesfull.
I allow my players to use a spell scroll if they read the flavor text I put on them. I don't heap out the spell scrolls and if a PC wants to buy one, they are a little expensive. Yeah.. we are also giant Final Fantasy Tactics geeks haha.
Thanks. I hadn't gotten that far in the DMG yet. Great! Makes more sense!
KN