Use Magic Device - Spell Scrolls

[BraliusMelchior]

Can something be added in game, maybe in the quest journal, that explains the UMD system?

I've seen a couple ressurection scrolls go poof from my rogue before realizing how the system works.

Also, if anything could be done to prevent that from happening to people, when it's just going to be an automatic failure anyway... that'd be nice.

[Torin]

Nothing in the journal, but if you get a chance there's a UMD explaination board to the left of the start area. Just follow the 'Information / Guidance' sign post.

[BraliusMelchior]

I realized that after, thanks.

It still sucks to lose a couple ress scrolls because I didn't know I was 1 level away from being the proper level for UMD -_-

If some sort of block could be placed in to ensure nobody can even burn through a scroll of higher than allowed, I think that'd be more user-friendly, especially for newer players when they pop on and are used to the standard NWN UMD system.

I could only imagine this character... Hopeful Joe, saving up all his cash because he wants to show the world that he can create a Wail of the Banshee at level 1...

He finally gets his scroll, only to have it fizzle in his hands in front of a rightfully skeptical crowd. They all point and laugh at him, as he walks away in defeat. Hopeless Joe jumps to his death from Mount Hotenow after the embarrassment...

Doesn't everyone want to help poor Hopeless Joe? *puppy eyes*

[Diesel]

The same thing happened to me too today.

Someone died and we tried to raise her.. she had dropped two scrolls. So first, Kiva (a paladin) tried to raise her.. but it appeared she needed to be higher level. So then I tried (with UMD) but then I got the message "class restriction not met", or something like that.. I forgot because when I wanted to post this I crashed so couldn't look it up anymore. It didn't seem to roll a check either.

I guess I need more ranks in UMD.. but that's a bit confusing when you get that message.

Adding an explanation in the journal would really help.

[Kattze]

yar I was never quite fond of the UMD changes since it doesn't red out the scrolls.

[NWoutcast]

I think if you have a high enough umd you should be able to use the a scroll. Personally.

[theMannequin]

I do as well.  Shani, for instance has an 18.  And currently it's a hit or a miss with a raise dead scroll.  And earlier today, a rogue with a UMD of 10 couldn't cast a raise dead scroll.  It sitll used it, but said class requirements not met.

[jcly kite]

The reasons these changes are made were to prevent people from taking 4-5 rogue levels and suddenly having an entire arsenal of level 9 scrolls at their disposal.

If it says class restriction not met then you don't have enough total levels in your UMD classes. If you're not using UMD at all (paladins primarily) then you don't have enough levels in that class either. There is a more in-depth description in the OOC area, like others have said, but this is the overall idea in case you still didn't know what was going on.

[tsunami282]

For convenience, here's the current explanation of how our UMD works.

UMD Scroll Mechanics:

In order to make scrolls a friendlier, more balanced tool, the below system has been written to control their use.


Clerics, Druids, Sorcerers, and Wizards may cast any scroll written for them up to one level higher than they are already capable of casting without any rolls or checks. Spell levels higher than that are beyond their current studies, and may not be used.

[IE: A level 7 cleric can use scrolls level 5 and below.  A wizard level 6 can use scrolls level 4 and below.]  


Rangers may cast any scrolls written for them with a spell level up to half of their Ranger level. By these rules, all Ranger spells become available through scrolls to a Ranger of 8th or higher level. Druid scrolls have also been adapted to allow Rangers to cast any Druid scroll with a spell level up to half of their Ranger level. Druids may count Ranger levels towards their Druid levels when deciding what level scrolls they may cast.

[IE: A level 4 ranger can use ranger scrolls level 2 and below, and all first level druid scrolls. A level 8 ranger can use ranger scrolls level 4 and below, and druid scrolls level 2 and below]


Paladins may cast any scrolls written for them with a spell level up to half of their Paladin level minus 1. By these rules, all Paladin spells become available through scrolls to a Paladin of 10th or higher level.  Cleric scrolls have also been adapted to allow Paladins to cast any Cleric scroll with a spell level up to half of their Paladin level minus one. Clerics may count all but two of their Paladin levels towards their Cleric levels when deciding what level scrolls they may cast.

[IE: Paladins may use raise scrolls at level 11.  Raise is a level 5 spell castable by a cleric at 9.   Paladins add their levels minus 2, so a level 11 paladin as an effective casting level of 9.]


Bards may cast any scrolls written for them with a spell level up to half of their Bard level. By these rules, all Bard spells become available through scrolls to a Bard of 12th or higher level.


Assassins, Bards, and Rogues may cast any scroll using their UMD skill. However, they may not cast any scroll with a spell level higher than half of their cumulatively Assassin, Bard, and Rogue levels, no matter how high their UMD skill level may be. When casting a scroll using UMD, the character must make a UMD skill roll with a DC equal to ten plus the spell level times two [10 + spell level * 2] creating a possible DC range of 10 to 28. The character also receives a +1 bonus to the roll for every five ranks in Spellcraft.

[IE: A level 7 rogue, 3 assassin has 10 levels of a UMD capable class and may attempt to use scrolls of 5th level and below. A level 7 rogue, 3 warrior has 7 levels of UMD capable and may attempt to use scrolls of 4th level and below.]

Palemaster levels count towards Bard, Sorcerer, and Wizard levels for the purpose of deciding their highest spell level on scrolls written for them. They do not count towards determining the maximum spell level of a UMD check.

[IE: A level 7 wizard, 3 palemaster may use wizard scrolls of 5th level, but a level 7 wizard 3 rogue may use level 4 wizard scrolls, and make UMD attempts on other types of level 1 scrolls.]


We realize this system is complicated, but the general rule is if you can't cast it normally, you can't use the scroll. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask a DM for clarification.

[BraliusMelchior]

I like the UMD system... I believe it really helps for balance - but with how expensive scrolls are, it's really horrible when you don't understand or remember the rules of it and try to use a scroll.

Other than creating some sort of failsafe, I don't think anything should be changed. One idea to make understanding the rules easier to is to add some text for specific classes in the "Use Class Abilities" portion of the rest menu that will explain how the rules work for that specific classes scroll use. Then it can be easily accessed pretty much at any time, and you don't have to read up on everybody else's scroll use rules at the same time as well.

[jcly kite]

It would take like 2 seconds to copy and paste the information that tsu provided into a new journal entry, so that's probably what I'd do for simplicity's sake.