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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Amal Shukup" data-source="post: 1370262" data-attributes="member: 6291">The UMD 'function' of emulating a particular Ability Score or Caster Level is only relevant to Spell Completion Items, such as scrolls. Note, these 'emulated' abililities only determine whether the Spell can be 'completed' or not. The specific ability or CL emulated has no impact on the DC or the effect of the spell in question. All of that is determined by the creator of the scroll and the mechanics of storing a spell in that fashion. Spell Trigger Items are another kettle of fish entirely, IMHO. A particular Ability Score or Caster level does not determine whether a Spell can be 'triggered' or not. In most cases it has no impact of any sort. The only criteria for 'triggering' is the presence of the spell in the character's Spell Lists. In the special case of Staffs, a high CL or Ability Score CAN provide additional power that the staff draws upon to enhance the spell's effects or DCs. I do not think this can be 'emulated' - the additional power is either there or it isn't. Note also that high CL or Ability merely modifies the DC of the spell or the spell's effects if the caster level is higher than that of the staff's (Staff of Evocation = CL13).  A Rogue (or anybody else) with a 12 Int 'Triggering' a Fireball from a Staff of Evocation would need to make a UMD check vs DC 20 (as with a Wand) to get the staff to work. His CL would be 13 (the minimum for the staff) and his INT mod to the DC would be +1. If he had an Int of 8, the mod would be -1. In neither situation does his own CL (0) or his Int Mod affect whether he succesfully uses the Staff. Of course the staff is more potent in the hands of a 20th level Wizard with a 30 Int. More power for the staff to draw on. Now. The INTERESTING question is whether a 20th Level Cleric would get to use their CL to determine the staff's effects... Is 'power' simply 'power' or does one wish to make a distinction between Divine and Arcane Power in this context? What about Mystic Theurges? I'm tempted to say power is power...  A'Mal</blockquote>

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