RSP
2022-09-08, 12:25 PM
So I’m diving into the spell scroll rules, really for the first time and noticed an issue with their use.
For reference:
“A spell scroll bears the words of a single spell, written in a mystical cipher. If the spell is on your class’s spell list, you can read the scroll and cast its spell without providing any material Components. Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible. Casting the spell by reading the scroll requires the spell’s normal Casting Time. Once the spell is cast, the words on the scroll fade, and it crumbles to dust. If the casting is interrupted, the scroll is not lost.
If the spell is on your class’s spell list but of a higher level than you can normally cast, you must make an ability check using your Spellcasting ability to determine whether you cast it successfully. The DC equals 10 + the spell’s level. On a failed check, the spell disappears from the scroll with no other Effect.
The level of the spell on the scroll determines the spell’s saving throw DC and Attack bonus, as well as the scroll’s Rarity, as shown in the Spell Scroll table.”
So, first thing that jumps out at me is you probably need to use an item interaction to get the scroll in hand, so the majority of Reaction spells (Counterspell, Shield, AE, Hellish Rebuke, etc), don’t make for good Scrolls (as you can’t grab them out as part of the Reaction). Also, if you use your free item interaction on something else, you can’t use a scroll as well, that turn (barring something like a BA to do an interaction). I’m assuming you could use a Reaction scroll so long as you think ahead to already have it in hand, though.
I don’t see anything in the rules that states you can access the physical scroll as part of the Action to cast the spell from it, but I could be missing something. I see it as similar to your weapon not just popping into your hand when you attack: you need to use an interaction to draw it first.
That sound right?
For reference:
“A spell scroll bears the words of a single spell, written in a mystical cipher. If the spell is on your class’s spell list, you can read the scroll and cast its spell without providing any material Components. Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible. Casting the spell by reading the scroll requires the spell’s normal Casting Time. Once the spell is cast, the words on the scroll fade, and it crumbles to dust. If the casting is interrupted, the scroll is not lost.
If the spell is on your class’s spell list but of a higher level than you can normally cast, you must make an ability check using your Spellcasting ability to determine whether you cast it successfully. The DC equals 10 + the spell’s level. On a failed check, the spell disappears from the scroll with no other Effect.
The level of the spell on the scroll determines the spell’s saving throw DC and Attack bonus, as well as the scroll’s Rarity, as shown in the Spell Scroll table.”
So, first thing that jumps out at me is you probably need to use an item interaction to get the scroll in hand, so the majority of Reaction spells (Counterspell, Shield, AE, Hellish Rebuke, etc), don’t make for good Scrolls (as you can’t grab them out as part of the Reaction). Also, if you use your free item interaction on something else, you can’t use a scroll as well, that turn (barring something like a BA to do an interaction). I’m assuming you could use a Reaction scroll so long as you think ahead to already have it in hand, though.
I don’t see anything in the rules that states you can access the physical scroll as part of the Action to cast the spell from it, but I could be missing something. I see it as similar to your weapon not just popping into your hand when you attack: you need to use an interaction to draw it first.
That sound right?