D&D 5E What If Everyone Could Use Scrolls? (House rule)

[Yaarel]

My spouse said something similar. They suggested making the DC equal to (10 + double the spell level), because of the way that upcasting works in 5E. That way, a scroll containing a 1st level magic missile would be DC 12, and a scroll containing a 9th level magic missile would be DC 28. Cantrips, since they don't have a spell level, would always be DC 10.

I kinda like that approach.

I can see the logic of adding an Intelligence restriction, but I worry that if I do that, I'm pretty much guaranteeing that only the high-Int character in the party will ever use them. "Another scroll! Give it to the wizard, he's the only one who can use it." I'd rather impose Disadvantage or something rather than just saying Nope, so that low-Int characters have a shot (however unlikely).

For scrolls, I would make them skill checks. Healing magic requires Medicine check, elemental magic requires Nature check, summoning magic requires Religion or Arcana, and so on. It is ok for a scroll to be unique and flavorful.

 

[jmartkdr2]

I was in a game with a similar rule. Then everyone bought scrolls if fund greater steed.

Obviously you can just not let players get whatever scrolls they want, but you will need to watch out for exploits like that.

 

[CleverNickName]

I was in a game with a similar rule. Then everyone bought scrolls if fund greater steed.

Obviously you can just not let players get whatever scrolls they want, but you will need to watch out for exploits like that.

Yeah, exploits will always be a problem with my gaming group. I have started making a list of potential spells that could be problematic for my table but honestly? The problem isn't that anyone can use scrolls...the problem is letting the party have as many scrolls as they want, for any spell they want. That would be problematic even without my "everyone can use scrolls' house rule.

So I intend to avoid this issue the same way I always have: scarcity and time. Shops that sell magical scrolls will have a randomly-generated stock in limited quantities. Crafting custom magic items is a slow and expensive process, per the Downtime rules in "Xanathar's Guide to Everything." Buying a specific scroll is a slow and arduous process, per the Downtime rules for Buying a Magic Item (also in XGtE). As @Kobold Stew said earlier:

It's only a "factory" if you as DM have given the players so much cash that this is all they can do with it. That's fundamentally a separate problem.

As for find greater steed specifically? I think things will be fine. If I go with the higher spell DC (10 + double the spell level), and if I keep it strictly as an Intelligence (Arcana) check, it won't be a problem. It's a 4th level spell, so passing a DC 18 Intelligence (Arcana) check would be a challenge for most characters at my table--my players usually tank Intelligence. And a spell mishap with a summoned creature has some excellent potential for chaos.

"The griffon appears! But something is wrong...it's looking at you with hungry, angry eyes..."

 

[Stormonu]

Just as an aside, another potential abuse could be the spellcasters crafting scrolls for the non-spellcasters - or just for each other. By the rules, it would be way cheaper to scribe your own than go out and buy them - and depend on random chance at that.

Wiz: "Hey, that heal spell is pretty nice - could you make me a copy Mr. Cleric?"
Paladin: "Hey guys, I just finished all the find greater steed scrolls we talked about earlier. Let me know when I need to make another batch."

 

[overgeeked]

Yeah, exploits will always be a problem with my gaming group. I have started making a list of potential spells that could be problematic for my table but honestly? The problem isn't that anyone can use scrolls...the problem is letting the party have as many scrolls as they want, for any spell they want. That would be problematic even without my "everyone can use scrolls' house rule.

So I intend to avoid this issue the same way I always have: scarcity and time. Shops that sell magical scrolls will have a randomly-generated stock in limited quantities. Crafting custom magic items is a slow and expensive process, per the Downtime rules in "Xanathar's Guide to Everything." Buying a specific scroll is a slow and arduous process, per the Downtime rules for Buying a Magic Item (also in XGtE). As @Kobold Stew said earlier:


As for find greater steed specifically? I think things will be fine. If I go with the higher spell DC (10 + double the spell level), and if I keep it strictly as an Intelligence (Arcana) check, it won't be a problem. It's a 4th level spell, so passing a DC 18 Intelligence (Arcana) check would be a challenge for most characters at my table--my players usually tank Intelligence. And a spell mishap with a summoned creature has some excellent potential for chaos.

"The griffon appears! But something is wrong...it's looking at you with hungry, angry eyes..."

Just as an aside, another potential abuse could be the spellcasters crafting scrolls for the non-spellcasters - or just for each other. By the rules, it would be way cheaper to scribe your own than go out and buy them - and depend on random chance at that.

Wiz: "Hey, that heal spell is pretty nice - could you make me a copy Mr. Cleric?"
Paladin: "Hey guys, I just finished all the find greater steed scrolls we talked about earlier. Let me know when I need to make another batch."

Both great reasons to make casting from scrolls like 4E rituals. Long casting time and expensive components.

Something like a check to cast even as a ritual and 1000gp per spell level should about line up right.

You could even make rituals a mini game or skill challenge. Multiple rolls throughout the long casting time and you can to extra prep to get rerolls or advantage. Bring in something like DCC RPG ritual magic where you're spending extra resources for a reroll/advantage or making a bigger sacrifice or spellburn. There's a lot you can do to balance out magic. D&D does basically none of it by default.