UMD and wands.

[Alexander123]

Which classes can use a wand without a UMD check and which classes need one? More specifically, I want to buy a wand of true strike for my cleric and I wanted to know whether she could use it without a UMD check.

 

[Nagol]

A character can use a wand without an UMD check if the spell exists on his class list.

For clerics this includes the base cleric list and the domain lists the cleric is schooled in. If True Strike appears in those lists, you don't need Use Magic Device.

 

[Veven1290]

Nagol is right. True Strike however, is not on the cleric list or on that of any core domains. The easiest way to solve this would probably be the divine magician alternative class feature from complete mage. It lets you trade one domain for a sort of do it yourself sorc/wizard domain of Divination, Abjuration, or Necromancy schools. True strike is divination so take it with divine magician and viola, you can use it in a wand.

 

[Alexander123]

It is on the Time domain from PgtF.

 

[Greenfield]

Alternatively, you could run a Cleric whose deity grants the Magic domain. That lets you act as a Wizard a few levels lower than your Cleric level, IIRC. At least with regards to items.

<edit> Per the SRD, the Magic Domain includes the granted power to "Use scrolls, wands, and other devices with spell completion or spell trigger activation as a wizard of one half your cleric level (at least 1st level). For the purpose of using a scroll or other magic device, if you are also a wizard, actual wizard levels and these effective wizard levels stack."

So that answers your question directly. </edit>

The next alternative would be to have a special item made, something that can cast a given spell X number of times per day/week/year, and isn't class restricted. A Hat of Disguise is a fair example of such an item, and it's pretty much made right by the price guide.

Of course, custom items are an issue in a lot of games, and prices don't have to follow the hard price guides listed in the DMG. The DM is supposed to price the item according to its relative power, not necessarily the spell in it.

In any case, True Strike is a spell that many DM's won't allow to be placed in a wand or potion, since the spell normally can't be cast on someone else. There may be a hard rule written down someplace on the subject as well.

 

[Nagol]

<snip>

In any case, True Strike is a spell that many DM's won't allow to be placed in a wand or potion, since the spell normally can't be cast on someone else. There may be a hard rule written down someplace on the subject as well.

Spells with a target of Personal can't be made into potions. A wand and scroll are still both legal, however.

 

[Nagol]

It is on the Time domain from PgtF.

So if your cleric has the Time domain or Magic domain then True Strike wand use is trivial.

 

[Greenfield]

Spells with a target of Personal can't be made into potions. A wand and scroll are still both legal, however.

Not challenging you or anything, but do you have a source on that? I looked in the SRD and couldn't find anything explicit for either one. I could have missed it though. Still, a hard source I can point to when the issue comes up in my own games.

 

[Dandu]

Creating Magic Items

Spells with a range of personal cannot be made into potions.

 

[Greenfield]

Thanks. I must have looked at that text a dozen times, and for some reason I kept missing that line.

My eyes are fine, but some days I think I need to get my brain checked.