Wands & Scrolls -- Caster Level & Use Magical Device (UMD) ?

[Orion Pax]

Hello again. Another noobish question: Wands & Scrolls:

What is actually needed to use them?

1. Having the "caster level" in any casting class, that matches the wand/scroll's number?

2. Having the "caster level" in a casting class that can cast said spell, that matches the wand/scroll's number?

and/or

3. Having a Use Magical Device level matching the wand/scroll's number?


I've rarely used these in my limited play and am just wondering how much to invest in UMD points and for which characters. Many thanks.

[asame_akio]

Wands and scrolls can be used by any character with any levels in a class that can cast the spell without any check, no level limitations, full stop.

They can also be used by anybody who doesn’t have any levels in a class that can cast the spell, but this requires a UMD check. You have to beat a flat 20 to use any wand, and you have to beat a DC of 20 + the spell’s level (NOT caster level) to use a scroll.

In the P&P, attempting and failing to use a scroll or wand with UMD still uses up the scroll or a charge from the wand, but in Kingmaker, a failed attempt has no consequences other than time wasted.

[EolSunder]

some other things. Most scrolls are cast at minimal level, so usually offensive scrolls aren't really worth the effort due to the low damage they do except for a few types. Just remember to look at the scrolls, their level and duration to determine if they are worth using. Most can't sell for any money so scribe them with mages or use them as you need, i never consider them worth selling to a vendor.

Wands usually are cheaper in comparison to scrolls, which are cheaper than potions. So if you want to stock up to cast minimal fireballs you usually get more bang for the buck with a wand than a bunch of scrolls. Plus wands don't have "level" extra DC vs your UMD checks.

I usually don't put any UMD on most characters, mages and clerics etc can already cast not really a need for "more" casting. Most warriors are focusing on att/defense and not casting and again the few that can cast already can cast without UMD.

But there are a few characters who both have the extra skill points that you can put into UMD and the usefulness to benefit from UMD (high INT mages, bards, rogues, etc). Just skip UMD for the rest, i'd go with extra perception instead for your other characters or a skill that helps them when resting/sleeping.

[Orion Pax]

Ah very helpful thank you. Yes, am fiddling around with a Magus Sword Saint build, which gets a lot of bonus from INT. Was trying to figure out where to put all the skill points after Perception & Trickery.

[nshawmc]

There is a mod called Crafting Magic Items which lets you craft scrolls, potions and wands, as well as mudane and magical armor/weapons. I highly recommend this. For one: it makes alchemist craft potion feature actually do something. This is based on the pnp rules so it's not a cheat (unless you enact the cheat options within it)

Potion crafting and scroll crafting can be done with feat at 1st level. Wand crafting requires feat at 5th level.

There are options to adjust the costs with recommended prices based on pnp costs. High level wands will be very expensive to craft. This adds choice and strategy to the game for which characters to learn to craft wands/scrolls, and how to spend your gold.

This also will make UMD more important for additional character creation strategy.

The other crafting of weapons and armor gives a purpose for having the WORLD skill which will let you save some gold crafting things yourself instead of buying them. As you get a higher world skill you can craft special armor such as a Mithril Light plate so that your bard with low STR doesnt have penalties to her skills or encumbrance problems, for example.

This mod will encourage to build at least one character as your smith (high world skill), and one as a wand crafter (high arcana skill), and let the alchemist function as intended (as a potion crafter). You may even want a scroll crafter who can help make scrolls for your magus, elritch scoundrel, eldritch archer, alchemist to copy to add spells known to their spell list.