Casting Spells from a Scroll

[Olaf the Stout]

Next session, for the first time in my game I'm planning on using a bad guy who will cast spells from a scroll. As such I want to get the rules right beforehand. Anyone care to answer some questions for me?

What type of action is it to remove a scroll from a scroll case? Does it provoke an AoO?

What type of action is it to remove a scroll from a scroll case and read it in the same action? Does it provoke an AoO?

Can you cast on the defensive by reading from a scroll?

Are there any other rules that I should be aware of regarding casting spells from scroll in combat?

Olaf the Stout

 

[Nail]

What type of action is it to remove a scroll from a scroll case? Does it provoke an AoO?

"Retrieve a Stored Item" => Move action

What type of action is it to remove a scroll from a scroll case and read it in the same action? Does it provoke an AoO?

Reading is a separate action => A Standard Action that provokes AoOs, unless....

Can you cast on the defensive by reading from a scroll?

Yep. Just like spell casting.

Are there any other rules that I should be aware of regarding casting spells from scroll in combat?

Only if the BBEG's CL is lower than the scroll's CL.....

 

[Olaf the Stout]

"Retrieve a Stored Item" => Move action

Reading is a separate action => A Standard Action that provokes AoOs, unless....

Yep. Just like spell casting.

Only if the BBEG's CL is lower than the scroll's CL.....

That's pretty much what I thought. So in his turn a caster can retrieve a scroll (a stored item) (which draws a AoO), and then cast a spell from it (which draws a second AoO) unless he casts on the defensive.

Am I correct in thinking that he would provoke 2 AoO's if he didn't cast on the defensive?

Olaf the Stout

 

[Infiniti2000]

Give the bad guy a handy haversack (really, everyone in the game should have one). That way, getting out the scroll does not provoke an AoO and with a good concentration check (every caster in the game should have max ranks) he will not provoke an AoO for reading it. If reading scrolls is this guy's shtick, then he should definitely have these two things.

 

[Dross]

I think that there is a FR item that allows scrolls to be grabbed as a free action, similar to potion belts and the like.

No idea what it is called though.

 

[Larcen]

Next session, for the first time in my game I'm planning on using a bad guy who will cast spells from a scroll. As such I want to get the rules right beforehand. Anyone care to answer some questions for me?

What type of action is it to remove a scroll from a scroll case? Does it provoke an AoO?

What type of action is it to remove a scroll from a scroll case and read it in the same action? Does it provoke an AoO?

Can you cast on the defensive by reading from a scroll?

Are there any other rules that I should be aware of regarding casting spells from scroll in combat?

Olaf the Stout

*Sigh* Is this the state the game is in?

A scroll in a case can prompt this many rules questions?

If this thread wasn't so sad, it would be funny.

This is NOT a knock on you Olaf.

But damn, it's a scroll. In a case.

Why can't the dude just, uh, pull it and use it... no rules needed?

(Sorry, been spending too much time involved with rules lite systems...)

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

But damn, it's a scroll. In a case.

Why can't the dude just, uh, pull it and use it... no rules needed?

But damn, it's a sword. In a scabbard.

Why can't the dude just, uh, pull it and use it... no rules needed?

 

[Infiniti2000]

Rules? We don't need no stinkin' rules!

 

[Larcen]

But damn, it's a sword. In a scabbard.

Why can't the dude just, uh, pull it and use it... no rules needed?

Exactly!!!

All I ask is that we all take a step back from all the rules. No. Further back.

Now reread this thread.

Should it really be this complicated to take a scroll out of a case?

Or a sword out of a scabbard?

As a RL simulation I think we can all agreed that D20 fails. So why bother with all that... simulatiing... and just have FUN?

Maybe this is not the topic or forum for this. It was just an observation I made.

 

[SlagMortar]

Some people (myself included) enjoy the tactical combat aspects of D&D, regardless of how well they simulate anything. You could as well ask why use a board in monopoly.
Edit: That could sound snarky. It is not intended as such. Just trying to point out that games run the spectrum between board game and completely free form story telling, with people's preferences falling whereever they do.