Use Magic Device- just for spell casters?

[Constance Clochard]

After having read the description of Use Magic Device for the trillionth time I'm still confused as to who needs to make this skill check and when... specifically for scrolls.

It sounds as though when a spell casting character comes across a scroll of a spell that's not on their list (in their book, or in their list of chosen spells, maybe they didn't pray for it that day) they'd have to make 2 Use Magic Device rolls - one to first decipher the spell (taking up a minute) and the 2nd roll to actually cast the spell. Not very efficient (2 chances to muck it up) and it takes a long time. Would this really effect clerics trying to read a cleric scroll with a spell they didn't choose for the day?

I'm also wondering if a character who has no spell casting ability but a lot of points in Use Magic Device can go through the same process and attempt to dechiper and cast the spell? Yes? No? Does the scroll have to be dechipered right before the spell is cast or can a character do his homework and decipher it and then simply cast it at a later date?

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

UMD is mainly for people without spellcasting ability. For a spellcaster, if the spell is on your spell list, whether or not you know it or even have it prepared that day, you can cast the scroll just fine. I forget if it matters if the scroll is arcane or divine for those spells that appear on multiple spell lists. If you are too low of caster level to use the spell on the scroll, you roll a CL check to try and use it. The Read Magic spell and Spellcraft skill would be used for issues such as deciphering the arcane writing, and you can (and should, if possible, to save time in combat) decipher it before using it.

For a character with no spellcasting, or who does not have the spell on his class list, you would use the UMD skill. Thus, even though Bards are spellcasters, their UMD class skill is still useful, because the list of bard spells is rather short and limited compared to the other casters.

 

[Vegepygmy]

After having read the description of Use Magic Device for the trillionth time I'm still confused as to who needs to make this skill check and when...

You make a Use Magic Device check when you have no other way to activate a magic item.

specifically for scrolls.

Okay. Normally, to activate a scroll, (1) the spell on the scroll has to be the same type (arcane or divine) as your spellcasting class, (2) the spell has to be on your class spell list, and (3) you have to have the requisite ability score (for example, Intelligence 15 if you're going to activate a scroll with a 5th-level wizard spell on it). This is all explained in the DMG, page 238.

Use Magic Device allows you to activate a scroll even if you don't have the requisite ability score, the spell isn't on your class spell list, and/or the spell on the scroll isn't even the right type for you (perhaps because you aren't a member of any spellcasting class).

So yes, if you haven't deciphered the scroll, the first thing you have to do is make a Use Magic Device check to decipher it; this takes 1 minute, and the DC is 25 + the level of the spell you're trying to decipher.

Next, you make a Use Magic Device check to use the scroll as if you had the spell on your class spell list. The DC for this is 20 + the caster level of the spell.

Lastly, if you don't have the requisite ability score, you'll have to make a Use Magic Device check to emulate the requisite ability score. The DC for this is 15 + the score you need to emulate.

If you succeed on all these required checks, you activate the spell on the scroll.

 

[Herzog]

Just some additions for clarification that I thought ought to be added:

if you haven't deciphered the scroll, the first thing you have to do is make a Use Magic Device check to decipher it; this takes 1 minute, and the DC is 25 + the level of the spell you're trying to decipher.

Once you have desphered the scroll (by Use Magic Device or by Read Magic) you no longer need to make this check.

Next, you make a Use Magic Device check to use the scroll as if you had the spell on your class spell list. The DC for this is 20 + the caster level of the spell.

If you DO have the spell on your class spell list, you can skip this check.

Lastly, if you don't have the requisite ability score, you'll have to make a Use Magic Device check to emulate the requisite ability score. The DC for this is 15 + the score you need to emulate.

If you DO have the requisite ability score, you can skip this check.

Example:
You have used Read Magic to descipher a scroll and found it is a scroll of a spell not on your class list. You do, however, have the requisite ability score. You therefore only have to make the check to cast the spell. (DC:20+Caster level of the spell)

 

[FEADIN]

To add: You can substitute a Spellcraft check to decipher the scroll, full round action, DC 20+spell level.

 

[irdeggman]

You make a Use Magic Device check when you have no other way to activate a magic item.

Okay. Normally, to activate a scroll, (1) the spell on the scroll has to be the same type (arcane or divine) as your spellcasting class, (2) the spell has to be on your class spell list, and (3) you have to have the requisite ability score (for example, Intelligence 15 if you're going to activate a scroll with a 5th-level wizard spell on it). This is all explained in the DMG, page 238.

And your caster level must be at least equal to the spell's caster level.

Don't forget that part.

Scrolls are assumed to me the minimum caster level (arcane are assumed to wizard and divine are assumed to be cleric, unless otherwise specificed (or known)).

 

[Vegepygmy]

And your caster level must be at least equal to the spell's caster level.

Or you have to make a caster level check, and possibly a Wisdom check to avoid a mishap. Correct. (I didn't forget, I just didn't want to confuse the OP any further, since this requirement doesn't apply to UMD checks.)

 

[Dredan]

Everything stated above is correct, the best use of the skill UMD is for a Rogue. Since he has no spellcasting ability, he can make the check to cast the scroll as if he did. UMD would also be needed (as stated above), if a cleric wanted to use a Magic Missle scroll. My two cents..

 

[Nopal]

I played a game that consisted of a thief and a fighter. i was the fighter and my buddy played the thief we soon found that one monster was no problem but a large group of monster race charcters (group of bug bears) posed a huge threat so my buddy decide to try out the use magic device to ease the problem and it worked wonderfully so it is most defently not just a spell caster skill -- wand of fire balls