So interesting question came up last session: the party found a scroll with revivfy, but none of the players have that spell in their spell list. Now per the basic rules it states that the scroll is unintelligible if it is not a spell in your spell list.\
However, in the Dungeon Master Guide under spell scrolls it states "any creature that can understand a written language can read the arcane script on a scroll and attempt to activate it."
It doesn't give any rules for what "attempt to activate means". Part of me wants to assume that it works the way that casting a higher than your level spell scroll does but I don't like making assumptions...
So, anyone know which one is right? Every literate character being able to try and cast a scroll or do you have to have it on your spell list?
It seems you have gotten confused by what the different sections that mention scrolls are.
Page 139 of the DMG is talking about scrolls as a category of magical item, like how ring or staff is a category of item. That's where it says that anyone that can read a language can read the arcane script and attempt to activate it.
Page 199 of the DMG has scroll of protection which is a specific type of scroll, and can be activated by anyone that can read it (because it doesn't contradict page 139's establishment of the general rule).
Page 200 of the DMG is where spell scroll is found, and states clearly within the description "If the spell is is on your class's spell list, you can use an action to read the scroll and cast its spell without having to provide any of the spell's components. Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible." (this being able to be different than the general rule because it is a specific rule, and specific beats general.)
AaronOfBarbaria wrote:
While I agree with Aaron, I rather liked how the DM basic rules allowed anybody to use a scroll, but they had to roll their arcana skill of it wasn't on their list at a level they could cast. Interesting indeed. But not RAW.
The basic rules don't match the DMG? I thought they were supposed to match. Any idea how many other things don't match?
Jamwes wrote:
My ruling amongst my party:
If you can cast the spell you can cast it off a scroll.
If you cannot cast the spell you make an arcana check DC: 10+spell level (cantrips are 0)
If you cannot cast the spell but it is on your class spell list make an arcana check DC: spell level
On the arcana checks the scroll is destroyed regardless of wether or not the spell is cast.
AaronOfBarbaria wrote:
From the DMG pg 200. This means that only spell casters can cast the spells and the spells have to be in your class spell list to do so. You cannot even read it if its not in your list.
Weird how there's a difference between "magic item scrolls" and "spell scrolls."
Clutchbone wrote:
AaronOfBarbaria wrote: