Wizards Forbidden Schools

[Dimwhit]

OK, so a Wizard can't use spell completion or use activated items of a magical school forbidden to them. If Evocation is forbidden, a wand of fireballs is out.

What about magic items? Suppose Conjuration is a Wizard's Forbidden school. He can still use a Bag of Holding, right? (They require a Conj spell to create.)

My reading on forbidden schools is that they can't manipulate those magics. But you don't have to do that with an already-made magic item.

Am I correct in all this?

 

[DreamChaser]

I think of it this way: A forbidden school removes those spells from the wizard's spell list. Because spell completion items are only useable if the spell is on your spell list, forbidden spells cannot be used. Other items can be used regardless of spell list so they are not affected. (A fighter cannot use a wand of fireballs but can use a bag of holding).

DC

 

[Destil]

The restriction only applies to spell trigger and spell completion items. An evocation banned conjurer can use a necklace of fireball just a well as a fighter can. (remember, magic items almost always have nothing to do with the spells needed to create them, unless that's listed in their description).

 

[Wolf72]

just clarify a bit ...

but a wizard who took evocation as her/his banned school would not be able to use a wand of fireballs ... or magic missles.

 

[Dimwhit]

Thanks all. That's all as I suspected, or at least hoped. Just wanted to be sure.

 

[Staffan]

just clarify a bit ...

but a wizard who took evocation as her/his banned school would not be able to use a wand of fireballs ... or magic missles.

There is a way around this, though - multiclassing. If the specialist wizard has the spell on his list from another class (e.g. sorcerer, or maybe he's a cleric with the right domain), he can still use the item. He might have trouble with scrolls though, since he'd have to use his other class's caster level to employ the scroll.

In other words, a Conjurer 5/Sorcerer 1 with Evocation as his forbidden school could use a Wand of Fireball without problems, and a 5th-level Scroll of Haste as well, but he'd have to roll d20+1 vs. DC 6 to use a 5th-level scroll of Fireball.

 

[Destil]

There is a way around this, though - multiclassing. If the specialist wizard has the spell on his list from another class (e.g. sorcerer, or maybe he's a cleric with the right domain), he can still use the item. He might have trouble with scrolls though, since he'd have to use his other class's caster level to employ the scroll.

In other words, a Conjurer 5/Sorcerer 1 with Evocation as his forbidden school could use a Wand of Fireball without problems, and a 5th-level Scroll of Haste as well, but he'd have to roll d20+1 vs. DC 6 to use a 5th-level scroll of Fireball.

He would, however, require a 13+ Cha in order to do this. Ability score requirements are a main way that single level casters are kept in check (aside the caster level checks for high level things).

 

[drnuncheon]

He would, however, require a 13+ Cha in order to do this.

For a scroll, you are correct (barring such things as Use Magic Device).

For a wand (or other spell trigger item such as a staff), there is no stat requirement.

J

 

[Wolf72]

or ...

take lvls in rogue with use magical device, right?