bondpirate
2010-09-14, 01:36 AM
1. Does 'Read Magic' remove the "Activate Blindly" and "Decipher a Written Spell" checks from your UMD rolls when activating a scroll?
2. How would this be resolved? A high level Wizard gives you a scroll and tells you it's 'Time Stop.' The DC checks for "Deciphering" and "Using" the scroll are 34 and 39 respectively, while a blind activation is just 25. Are scrolls exempt from blind casting the scroll, because this seems wrong that it would be harder to cast after you know what the spell is.
3. If I "Activate Blindly" a wand its DC is 25. Then after I figure it's a 'wand of magic missile' its DC drops to 20 right? Also, if a wizard identifies the wand before I use it does it make the DC 20 even though I've never used it?
4. The description is a little vague for 'Emulate an Ability Score.' If I have to emulate two ability scores on a magic item to use it, then do I roll the DC for each or am I only allowed to roll for one of the ability score checks?
5. In 'Emulating an Alignment' check, let's say my alignment is chaotic good, if I try to use an item which requires me to be lawful evil am I out of luck or do I do two DC 30 checks?
6. Would an Ogre/Giant offspring count as the 'Giant' race or the Ogre and Giant races (They are both under Giants in the MM)? If it's the latter, then a magical item requiring both races would be impossible for a halfling to emulate, right? Also, if she polymorphed into an ogre, then would all she have to emulate is the giant aspect, or would it still be impossible?
7. If I 'Emulate a Class Feature' and let's say I need to mimic lay on hands and turn undead can I do both or am I only able to do one DC check?
8. If my CG rogue finds a dagger which requires LG alignment to get a +5 enhancement bonus and has the ability to cast 'Searing Light,' then if she fails the Lawful emulation, can she still activate the searing light independent of that failed check? Or do the innate/passive requirements of an item trump active casting from an item or vise-verse?
9. Can a rogue ruin a spell tattooed on a caster using her UMD? Or ruining a spellbook by using all the spells with UMD (If the rogue snuck into an enemy camp, coming across the casters spellbook. She finds it's enchanted so it can't be burned, made wet or ripped/torn)? Can a rogue purposefully fail a UMD check? What sort of protections and resistances would she need to protect from all the failed spell effects? Is the possible 2d6 damage magic or a different type? Is there a minimum time component before I can fail or succeed a UMD? Would the tattooed caster take the damage (If that was the effect) or my rogue on a failed UMD?
Finally 10. Is there a way to increase a caster level on a spell or is a wand/scroll of fireball always CL5?
Phew, sorry for all the questions, but next campaign I decided to be a UMD focused PC since the party I play with does high magic modules and I had some questions looking over the skill.
PS: Was this the right board to ask questions like these on?
PPS: Any links to good UMD focused builds or their utility would be greatly appreciated.
2. How would this be resolved? A high level Wizard gives you a scroll and tells you it's 'Time Stop.' The DC checks for "Deciphering" and "Using" the scroll are 34 and 39 respectively, while a blind activation is just 25. Are scrolls exempt from blind casting the scroll, because this seems wrong that it would be harder to cast after you know what the spell is.
3. If I "Activate Blindly" a wand its DC is 25. Then after I figure it's a 'wand of magic missile' its DC drops to 20 right? Also, if a wizard identifies the wand before I use it does it make the DC 20 even though I've never used it?
4. The description is a little vague for 'Emulate an Ability Score.' If I have to emulate two ability scores on a magic item to use it, then do I roll the DC for each or am I only allowed to roll for one of the ability score checks?
5. In 'Emulating an Alignment' check, let's say my alignment is chaotic good, if I try to use an item which requires me to be lawful evil am I out of luck or do I do two DC 30 checks?
6. Would an Ogre/Giant offspring count as the 'Giant' race or the Ogre and Giant races (They are both under Giants in the MM)? If it's the latter, then a magical item requiring both races would be impossible for a halfling to emulate, right? Also, if she polymorphed into an ogre, then would all she have to emulate is the giant aspect, or would it still be impossible?
7. If I 'Emulate a Class Feature' and let's say I need to mimic lay on hands and turn undead can I do both or am I only able to do one DC check?
8. If my CG rogue finds a dagger which requires LG alignment to get a +5 enhancement bonus and has the ability to cast 'Searing Light,' then if she fails the Lawful emulation, can she still activate the searing light independent of that failed check? Or do the innate/passive requirements of an item trump active casting from an item or vise-verse?
9. Can a rogue ruin a spell tattooed on a caster using her UMD? Or ruining a spellbook by using all the spells with UMD (If the rogue snuck into an enemy camp, coming across the casters spellbook. She finds it's enchanted so it can't be burned, made wet or ripped/torn)? Can a rogue purposefully fail a UMD check? What sort of protections and resistances would she need to protect from all the failed spell effects? Is the possible 2d6 damage magic or a different type? Is there a minimum time component before I can fail or succeed a UMD? Would the tattooed caster take the damage (If that was the effect) or my rogue on a failed UMD?
Finally 10. Is there a way to increase a caster level on a spell or is a wand/scroll of fireball always CL5?
Phew, sorry for all the questions, but next campaign I decided to be a UMD focused PC since the party I play with does high magic modules and I had some questions looking over the skill.
PS: Was this the right board to ask questions like these on?
PPS: Any links to good UMD focused builds or their utility would be greatly appreciated.