Using a scroll of Mage Armor

[tennyson]

Hi Everyone,

An issue came up in our game the other night:

Our cleric had a current AC of 20, and he also had a Mage Armor scroll. He cast the scroll on himself, upping his AC to 24. I was under the impression that the AC bonus from the spell didn't stack with existing armor, but I wasn't sure. We allowed the high AC and kept playing.

Additionally, does a Shield spell work the same way to add onto a physical shield's AC bonus, or do they not stack? I know these are basic questions, but I can't seem to find the answer anywhere! Thanks!

 

[Halivar]

Mage armor does not stack with armor bonuses.

Shield creates a hemispherical force effect that does stack with all other AC bonuses.

 

[Thanee]

And how did the cleric use the scroll in the first place? Magic domain?

Normally, clerics can only use divine scrolls with spells they have on their spell list.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Staffan]

Shield creates a hemispherical force effect that does stack with all other AC bonuses.

Version difference: Shield v3.0 gives a +7 cover bonus to AC. This does not stack with the bonus from actual cover.
Shield v3.5 gives a +4 shield bonus to AC. This does not stack with the bonus from using a shield.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Version difference: Shield v3.0 gives a +7 cover bonus to AC. This does not stack with the bonus from actual cover.
Shield v3.5 gives a +4 shield bonus to AC. This does not stack with the bonus from using a shield.

Plus the "half the battlefield" rule only applies to 3E.

-Hyp.

 

[maddman75]

One of the rules I'd recommend for anyone who is playing "mostly 3.0". Its not so much for the balance fix as it is for not having to mess with figuring out which way the shield is facing every frikken round.

 

[tennyson]

And how did the cleric use the scroll in the first place? Magic domain?

Normally, clerics can only use divine scrolls with spells they have on their spell list.

Bye
Thanee

The scroll was created by the wizard in the party. Perhaps that is where we went wrong? Maybe the cleric shouldn't have been able to cast it at all...

 

[BSF]

That would be one place that you may have been a bit too liberal.

Divine spellcasters can only use scrolls with Divine Magic.

Arcane spellcasters can only use scrolls with Arcane Magic.

Non-spellcasters cannot use scrolls of any sort.

Except when using the Use Magic Device skill.


As for how bonuses stack - Page 21 of the 3.5 DMG explains bonuses and how they stack. (Page 176 & 177 in the 3.0 DMG) Bonuses of the same type generally do not stack. Mage Armor provides an Armor bonus. Spell descriptions will mention the type of bonus that applies (such as Armor, Shield, Morale, etc). So, you need to keep the bonus type in mind when you read the spell and then determine if it stacks or overlaps with other bonuses that the character may have in play.

 

[Halivar]

Except when using the Use Magic Device skill.

This has never made sense to me. Scrolls are magical writings, not a device. But that's just me.

 

[Hypersmurf]

This has never made sense to me. Scrolls are magical writings, not a device. But that's just me.

Yeah, and people with the Deflect Arrows feat can use it on darts and thrown daggers! What's up with that!?

-Hyp.