Reading Scrolls in armour

[Eccles]

If a rogue passes his 'Use Magical Device' skill check and therefore uses a scroll to cast an arcane spell, does he still have to make an armour penalty check?

I'd have thought not, but it just occurred to me, and I wanted to get a second opinion.

 

[Dr_Rictus]

The check you're thinking of only applies to casting spells that have somatic components, not to using magic items.

 

[bensei]

So a sorcerer can wear full plate and cast spells from scolls without risk of failure?

 

[Dr_Rictus]

Yes.

 

[mikebr99]

From the d&d FAQ:

Is an armor-clad character who can use arcane scrolls
subject to the spell failure chance from armor when using
an arcane scroll? What about other magic items?
Arcane spell failure doesn't apply when you're activating a
magic item, not even a scroll.

 

[smetzger]

From the d&d FAQ:

I think the D&D FAQ is dead wrong on this. The DMG clearly states that casting from a scroll is like normal casting.

 

[kreynolds]

I think the D&D FAQ is dead wrong on this. The DMG clearly states that casting from a scroll is like normal casting.

The FAQ is correct. Besides, don't you have some polls to watch?

 

[mikebr99]

I think the D&D FAQ is dead wrong on this. The DMG clearly states that casting from a scroll is like normal casting.

Armour interferes with the gestures needed to cast some spells... ones with somatic components. You just read scrolls.

 

[Dr_Rictus]

The DMG clearly states that casting from a scroll is like normal casting.

No, I don't believe it really does "clearly" state such a thing. I believe it says the same thing as the SRD, that using a scroll is "basically like casting a spell." "Basically" can mean "fundamentally or inherently," and that seems to be how you're reading it. But in my experience it is much more commonly used to mean "generally, or for the most part." "Basically llike casting a spell," then, is only a descriptive simile to give you the idea of what a scroll does, not a statement that the rules for casting a spell supercede the normal rules for using a magic item in the case of scrolls.

 

[smetzger]

Armour interferes with the gestures needed to cast some spells... ones with somatic components. You just read scrolls.

You don't just read scrolls the are spell completion items. You must complete the spell, sans material components, that has been prepared on a scroll. Just like you complete a spell that you have previously prepared.

From the DMG "...the final gestures, words, and so on..."
Its more than just "reading" a scroll. It even provokes AoO just like normal spell casting.