Casting from a scroll

[dark2112]

3.5 Main FAQ, p10.

If you do not succeed in activating a scroll spell, the spell is
not used up. If you suffer a mishap when you fail to cast the
spell, however, you activate the scroll after a fashion and the
scroll is wasted.

-Hyp.

Hrm, interesting. Thanks for the rules update. *ponders* Well, I guess that means as long as you have a couple of points in Wis, or you borrow the Cleric/Monk's Wis boosting item when overcasting, you could almost get away with taking 20 on that pesky caster level check, since at most you'd be having a 15% mishap rate, and more than likely closer to a 5% mishap rate... Darn. Now I want to play my wizard again and get my hands on a few meteor swarm scrolls...

 

[Telperion]

Hrm, interesting. Thanks for the rules update. *ponders* Well, I guess that means as long as you have a couple of points in Wis, or you borrow the Cleric/Monk's Wis boosting item when overcasting, you could almost get away with taking 20 on that pesky caster level check, since at most you'd be having a 15% mishap rate, and more than likely closer to a 5% mishap rate... Darn. Now I want to play my wizard again and get my hands on a few meteor swarm scrolls...

I think I'll stick with the "use it and lose it" method. Less chance for abuse and keeps the party wizard / cleric a bit on his/her toes. Of course it's going to hurt those characters who spent XP actually creating a scroll. The mishap chance is pretty non-existent, but it just makes those few times when a mishap does occur that much more memorable.

 

[Sir Whiskers]

Hrm, interesting. Thanks for the rules update. *ponders* Well, I guess that means as long as you have a couple of points in Wis, or you borrow the Cleric/Monk's Wis boosting item when overcasting, you could almost get away with taking 20 on that pesky caster level check, since at most you'd be having a 15% mishap rate, and more than likely closer to a 5% mishap rate... Darn. Now I want to play my wizard again and get my hands on a few meteor swarm scrolls...

Per page 238 in the DMG, when checking for mishap, a roll of "1" always results in a mishap.

Also, page 65 of the PH specifies that Take 10 and Take 20 cannot be used with caster level checks.

 

[kirinke]

that's why wands are soooo much better than scrolls.
1 you have 50 charges. (yes they're a bit more expensive, but well worth it)
2 you don't have that spell-check thingie.
3 you have 50, count em, 50 charges.
always have a wand of cure wounds (whatever flavor) as soon as you can afford it.

 

[dark2112]

If you do the math, 1 out of 20 is equal to 5 out of 100... or 5%, as I said above. Also, I said 'almost get away with taking 20'. I am aware that you can't take 20 when there's a possibility of failure, and caster level checks are a prime example of a check that has a chance of failing.

 

[irdeggman]

If you do the math, 1 out of 20 is equal to 5 out of 100... or 5%, as I said above. Also, I said 'almost get away with taking 20'. I am aware that you can't take 20 when there's a possibility of failure, and caster level checks are a prime example of a check that has a chance of failing.

Unless I'm mistaken taking 10 and taking 20 only apply to making skill checks. A level check of any kind is not a skill check so it is moot whether or not there is a mishap.