D&D 5E About spell scrolls table

[Mateus Vilasboas]

Hi everyone,

I was reading the DMG and then a doubt came to me. In page 200, there is a spells scrolls table just like that:



What is it for? I can't understand the relevance of this table, and it is really bugging me. I would be really thankful if someone enlight me.

 

[MARCVS AVRELIVS]

Right above the table...

"The level of the spell on the scroll determines the spell's saving throw and attack bonus, ... as shown in the Spell Scroll table."

So if you read that Scorching Ray (2nd level spell) scroll, you make your attack rolls with a +5 attack bonus, instead of whatever your regular spell attack bonus would be. And that Polymorph (4th level spell) scroll uses the Save DC 15, instead of your usual save DC.

 

[Mateus Vilasboas]

Right above the table...

"The level of the spell on the scroll determines the spell's saving throw and attack bonus, ... as shown in the Spell Scroll table."

So if you read that Scorching Ray (2nd level spell) scroll, you make your attack rolls with a +5 attack bonus, instead of whatever your regular spell attack bonus would be. And that Polymorph (4th level spell) scroll uses the Save DC 15, instead of your usual save DC.

so if I have spellcasting bonus +5, and I cast a 1st level spell, do I get another +5 for the roll?

 

[Rya.Reisender]

No. You use the bonus on the scroll INSTEAD of your usual bonus. If you have spellcasting bonus of +5 and use a 1st level spell scroll, it makes no difference.

But if you had a +10 bonus and use a 1st level spell scroll your bonus becomes +5 instead of +10. So basically using scrolls is only good if your own spellbonus is really bad, otherwise better use them to try to copy them into your spellbook.

 

[BoldItalic]

Think of it this way: the power of the spell is coming from the scroll, not from your head. It doesn't matter how good or bad you are at spellcasting, it's the scroll that's doing the work. So it's the scroll's stats, not yours, that determine the MAM or the SaveDC.

 

[Rya.Reisender]

Think of it this way: the power of the spell is coming from the scroll, not from your head. It doesn't matter how good or bad you are at spellcasting, it's the scroll that's doing the work. So it's the scroll's stats, not yours, that determine the MAM or the SaveDC.

Yeah I always thought of it like that too. Though I wonder if you would craft a scroll yourself shouldn't it have the bonus and DC from you at the time you crafted it?

 

[BoldItalic]

Yeah I always thought of it like that too. Though I wonder if you would craft a scroll yourself shouldn't it have the bonus and DC from you at the time you crafted it?

Not sure. It could backfire on you, if enemies do the same.

Suppose Merlang, the evil 20th level wizard (attack bonus +11) goes into business making Fire Bolt scrolls and gives them to the evil 1st-level wizard apprentices who are guarding his evil wizard's tower. Any 1st-level wizard apprentice can use a cantrip scroll and it's a common magic item so it only costs 50gp and 2 days' work to make one. He can make lots. But now, instead of their own attack bonus of maybe +4, the apprentices will be getting +11 on all their attacks, and suddenly they are round about CR5.

Now there's a thought ... (evil cackle)

 

[Mateus Vilasboas]

Oh ok, it makes sense...

thank you guys, you're awesome. :3