Using magic items

[atomn]

Hi everybody! I need some help with how using magic items works. When do you know which magic items you can use freely and which you need to make a Use Magic Device check with? The SRD table for the UMD skill makes it look like you only need to use it when you use a wand or scroll and you aren’t of the correct class. Are wands and scrolls the only types of magic items that need a UMD check? For a random magic item that has an activation word or switch, could a fighter use it or would they need to make a UMD check because they’re not the correct class? Thanks for any help!

 

[Tiberius]

Weapons, armor, shields, wonderous items, rods and rings may be used by anyone (within certain restrictions set by the items themselves). Staves and wands (spell trigger items) require that the person using the item have the spell to be cast on their spell list, even if they can't yet cast it. Scrolls (spell completion items) require that the user have the spell on their class list in the appropriate format (e.g. bards can't cast Cure Light Wounds off of a divine scroll).

 

[Pinotage]

As a general guide, wands, staffs (both spell trigger items) and scrolls (spell completion item) can only be used by a character who has the spell on his class spell list. Potion, weapons, armor, wondrous items, rods, etc. can generally be used by any character. So, yes, only for wands, scrolls and staffs are UMD checks generally required, although certain other items are restricted by alignment or race for example, and there's no strict item type for those.

Pinotage

 

[frankthedm]

Depends on the Item.

Potions work by chugging them. oils by smearing them.
Armor, sheild and continual bonus items work by wearing the item
Weapons work by swinging them
Scrolls, wands and staves work only for spellcasters
Other items work by command, sometimes verbal, sometimes mental.

 

[KarinsDad]

As mentioned, Wands, Scrolls, and Staves would require a UMD roll from a character who could not normally use the item.

Also, Fighters can use Command Word and Use Activated items that are not limited in some way (e.g. race, class, alignment). Fighters are only limited from using Wands, Scrolls, and Staves (or other similar Spell Completion or Spell Activation items from other source books) unless the character has UMD.

 

[Artoomis]

To make it really, really simple:

Any item the character could not normally use freely needs a UMD check to use it.

For example:

A scroll for a non-spellcasting class.
A LG weapon for a CE character (using UMD to avoid the negative level).

etc., etc.

 

[starwed]

Also, command word items do need a specific command word. Finding that command word is part of identifying the item, so normally it doesn't matter. But if you find a random magic item lying around, and you there are no clues on how to activate it, you can use the UMD skill to "activate blindly."

Here it's not your class, race, or alignment that requires UMD, but just your lack of knowledge about the item.

 

[atomn]

Awesome, thanks everyone! That's what I thought the rules were but I wasn't positive. I've been thinking of different magic items that my grappling specialist fighter could use creatively (necklace of adaptation, boots of levitation, etc.), and wanted to make sure he could use them.