Reading Scrolls in armour

[mikebr99]

You don't just read scrolls the are spell completion items.

I'll let the SRD answer this one...

Activation
To activate a scroll, a spellcaster must read the spell written on it. Doing so involves several steps and conditions.
Decipher the Writing: The writing on a scroll must be deciphered before a character can use it or know exactly what spell it
contains. This requires a read magic spell or a successful Spellcraft check (DC 15 + spell level).
Deciphering a scroll to determine its contents does not activate its magic unless it is a specially prepared cursed scroll. A
character can decipher the writing on a scroll in advance so that he or she can proceed directly to the next step when the time
comes to use the scroll.
Activate the Spell: Activating a scroll requires reading the spell from the scroll. The character must be able to see and read the
writing on the scroll.
Activating a scroll spell requires no material components or focus. (The creator of the scroll provided these when scribing the
scroll.) Note that some spells are effective only when cast on an item or items (for example, Drawmij’s instant summons and
snare). In such a case, the scroll user must provide the item when activating the spell. Activating a scroll spell is subject to
disruption just as casting a normally prepared spell would be.
To have any chance of activating a scroll spell, the caster must meet the following requirements:
• The spell must be of the correct type (arcane or divine). Arcane spellcasters cannot cast divine spells from a scroll, nor
can divine spellcasters cast arcane spells in this manner.
• The user must have the spell on his or her class list.
• The user must have the requisite ability score.
If the user meets all the requirements noted above, and her caster level is at least equal to the spell’s caster level, she can
automatically activate the spell without a check. If she meets all three requirements but her own caster level is lower than the
scroll spell’s caster level, then she has to make a caster level check (DC = scroll’s caster level + 1) to cast the spell
successfully. If she fails, she must make a Wisdom check (DC 5) to avoid a mishap (see Scroll Mishaps, below). A natural roll
of 1 always fails, whatever the modifiers.

 

[Eccles]

But surely that doesn't actually answer the question.

It doesn't even mention attacks of opportunity. (Although I assume that we all agree that trying to read something in combat would result in AoO's).

But would the weight of wearing the armour reduce the mystical vibrations, etc, and thus cause a failure chance?

My p.o.v. is that the arcane spell failure chance is owing to the restraining nature of the armour, and this reduces somantic gestures.

But does this mean that a 'Stilled' spell would be immune to all arcane failure chances?

No, 'coz that would be silly.

Therefore the armour must cause the failure chance some other way. Probably by stopping the mystical energies collecting. Blame the iron, or something.

If you follow me so far, then surely a scroll-reader in armour must still be affected by the mystical interference and thus have the arcane spell failure?

 

[kreynolds]

But surely that doesn't actually answer the question.

A scroll is a magic item. Magic items are not subject to arcane spell failure, and scrolls are not the exception. You can house rule it any way you want, but that doesn't change the way it really works.

It doesn't even mention attacks of opportunity.

A scroll is a spell completion item. Activating a spell completion item provokes an AoO.

But would the weight of wearing the armour reduce the mystical vibrations, etc, and thus cause a failure chance?

I gotta tell ya'. I don't know what the hell you're talkin' about.

My p.o.v. is that the arcane spell failure chance is owing to the restraining nature of the armour, and this reduces somantic gestures.

Well, that surely is an interesting house rule, but your p.o.v. doesn't reflect the actual rules at all. If you wanna discuss the actual rules, well, that's different, now isn't it?

But does this mean that a 'Stilled' spell would be immune to all arcane failure chances?

No.

EDIT: The correct answer is "yes". See posts from others below. Chalk that one up to a brain fart. Doh!

No, 'coz that would be silly.

What's more silly? That or your "mystical vibration" idea?

Therefore the armour must cause the failure chance some other way. Probably by stopping the mystical energies collecting. Blame the iron, or something.

Armor simply "gets in the way". It's a bare-bones basic game mechanic.

If you follow me so far

Nope.

then surely a scroll-reader in armour must still be affected by the mystical interference and thus have the arcane spell failure?

No, they surely must not. Why? Because this whole "mystical interference" thing is your idea, something you cooked up. Scrolls are not subject to arcane spell failure chance, as they are not spells, they are scrolls, and a scroll is a magic item, and magic items are not subject to arcane spell failure chance.

 

[Eccles]

OK, OK, hold your horses.

As I said at the top, I'm of the 'not suffering from the failure chance' school of thought.

I'm just trying to argue the other way around.

However, please don't just say "it's a bare bones games mechanic" and leave it at that. I need some sort of justification. Most games mechanics are based on common sense.

However what part of the armour causes the arcane spell failure? It can't be the dexterity part of it, or else Still Spell would negate that.

So what is it? It can only be the 'mystical disruption' thing, surely?

Or is there some Godly rule that states "people in tin hats can't cast spells"?

 

[Caliban]

Um, a Stilled spell does ignore arcane spell failure from armor.

 

[Eccles]

Does it?

Darn. That means that everything makes sense.

Bother.

 

[Zenon]

Um, a Stilled spell does ignore arcane spell failure from armor.

I feel dumb stating the obvious, but Caliban (also known as the Almighty Rules Guru of EN World) is correct.

quotes to back this up:

From the SRD:

Still Spell [Metamagic]

Benefit: A still spell can be cast with no somatic components. Spells without somatic components are not affected. A still spell uses up a spell slot one level higher than the spell’s actual level.

Components:

S (Somatic): A somatic component is a measured and precise movement of the hand or some other part of the body. the character must have at least one hand free to provide a somatic component.

Spell Failure:

Spells also fail if the character's concentration is broken and might fail if the character is wearing armor while casting a spell with somatic components.

From the Armor section:

Arcane Spell Failure: Armor interferes with the gestures that are needed to make to cast an arcane spell.

Casting an Arcane Spell in Armor: When casting an arcane spell while wearing armor, a character must make an arcane spell failure roll. The number in the Arcane Spell Failure is the chance that the spell fails and is ruined. If the spell lacks a somatic (S) component it can be cast without making the arcane spell failure roll.

 

[Eccles]

Well that's an interesting idea.

A mage who uses stilled and non-somantic spells all the time.

And wears shed loads of armour and a shield.

Could be funny...

 

[Zenon]

Note that you still have to make a Concentration check if you're being grappled to cast even a Still Spell -

From the SRD:

Grappling or Pinned: The only spells the character can cast while grappling or pinned are those without somatic components and whose material components (if any) the character has in hand. Even so, the character must make a Concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell the character is casting) or lose the spell.

 

[radferth]

IMC spell completion magic items require the somantic components, and therefore are subject to arcane failure. I know this is not cannon. I have noticed that fighter-wizards with the still spell feat can be very effective, but the right AC enhancing spells can make your fighter-wizard even for effective than that.