Using a scroll of Mage Armor

[silentspace]

3.5 DMG finally states explicitly that scrolls suffer Arcane Failure, too.

-Hyp.

That means wearing armor right? So... reading scrolls has a somatic component then?

 

[silentspace]

Interesting. It says "Using a scroll is like casting a spell for purposes of arcane spell failure chance (such as from armor)."

I don't know if it ever says it anywhere explicitly, but I always thought it takes two hands to use a scroll. One at the top and one at the bottom I wonder what part of you does the somatic bit

 

[Hypersmurf]

That means wearing armor right? So... reading scrolls has a somatic component then?

It always has done.

"Spell Completion: This is the activation method for scrolls. A scroll is a spell that is mostly finished. The preparation is done for the caster, so no preparation time is needed beforehand as with normal spellcasting. All that’s left to do is perform the finishing parts of the spellcasting (the final gestures, words, and so on)."

But because it didn't say "Scrolls suffer arcane failure", people insisted it didn't. (Despite the fact that the "Caster's Shield" item had a special power that let you read the scroll with no arcane failure chance due to the shield...)

Now, in 3.5, it specifically says they do. So even though they always did, now it can't be argued

-Hyp.

 

[MerakSpielman]

Is there a rules-requirement for the number of free hands required to use a scroll? After all, if you're holding it in one hand and making gestures with the other...

 

[silentspace]

I'm just saying that in movies or tv people always use two hands to read a scroll. That's all.

As far as I know (and I haven't checked), there aren't any requirements to use a scroll. You need some sort of action to take one out, but it seems like you don't even need a free hand to use one.

When I DM I figure you need one hand free, just like when you cast a somatic spell. But it's different because your free hand isn't actually free, it's holding the scroll. I also assume that your other hand, even if it's not free, is doing something to somehow help you hold the scroll open.

I'm not arguing about the rules. Frankly, I don't care. Pretty much no one worries about the number of free hands, and I don't either. Hypersmurf's observation just made me wonder, that's all. I'm glad he pointed that out. If it ever becomes an issue, now I'll know the answer! (Even if it doesn't make any sense)

 

[Hoser]

So the spell wouldn't work for anyone wearing armor, right?

But the cleric could use the scroll so long as they have access to the magic domain.

 

[FireLance]

So the spell wouldn't work for anyone wearing armor, right?

But the cleric could use the scroll so long as they have access to the magic domain.

I guess you could scribe a spell metamagicked with Still Spell, so you wouldn't have any arcane spell failure chance for reading a scroll in armor.

While you're at it, you might as well scribe the spell metamagicked with Silent Spell too, so you wouldn't have to say anything to activate the scroll, either.

Imagine:
Wizard unrolls scroll.
Wizard glares at paper.
Opponent is fireballed.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Imagine:
Wizard unrolls scroll.
Wizard glares at paper.
Opponent is fireballed.

For that rudeness, lout, l think l'll turn you into a bat! Might teach you some manners to hang upside down for an hour or two. ... no, that's a recipe for hot fudge sauce. lt'll have to be a goose - fat, and ugly!

Ergo the Magnificent, Krull.

-Hyp.

 

[Thanee]

So the spell wouldn't work for anyone wearing armor, right?

Not exactly. The spell works, but the +4 armor bonus doesn't stack with the armor bonus of the worn armor, only the higher will count, so if the cleric wears chainmail (+5 armor bonus), it'll still be +5, Mage Armor or not.

There is, however, another benefit still.

Mage Armor is made of force and therefore helps against incorporeal touch attacks, which regular armor does not. So if fighting ghosts or spectres, for example, a Mage Armor on top of regular armor will give you the +4 armor bonus, since the regular armor will come out as +0.

But the cleric could use the scroll so long as they have access to the magic domain.

Yes, they can only use the scroll, if they have the Magic domain, or another way to use arcane scrolls (like the Use Magic Device skill).

Bye
Thanee

 

[Darklone]

I guess you could scribe a spell metamagicked with Still Spell, so you wouldn't have any arcane spell failure chance for reading a scroll in armor.

While you're at it, you might as well scribe the spell metamagicked with Silent Spell too, so you wouldn't have to say anything to activate the scroll, either.

Imagine:
Wizard unrolls scroll.
Wizard glares at paper.
Opponent is fireballed.

I prefer the variant with Quicken. Wizard rips scroll from his belt, opponent is fireballed, wizard drops the paper parts.