UMD Checks

[Tassafina]

I understand that you want to make UMD harder to use so that not everyone can just put one point in and use everything ?but currently its nearly impossible unless your exceedingly lucky, even for Rogues and Bards. UMD is supposed to be based on the value of the object you are trying to use. I tried using 22 gold Mage Armor spell, and I have pretty good UMD for my level, 7 for level 5 but the DC check is 26 so of course I failed since I would need to roll a 19. If your going to make it impossible for non-rogues to even have a chance to use UMD why not just make it like in NWN1 where only Rogues and Bards can use it, but remove the super high checks? As it is a 20th level Rogue with max UMD would still have a chance of failing casting a Mage Armor spell, now I haven?t checked higher level spells but I would guess that they have even higher checks.

[Blue_Wyrm]

Well personally (and I am also targetted at this, as I have a rogue level with Roger), I think this is a great thing because it prevents multiclassed rogues like me to do the toughest rogue-defining stuff, that is trying to fake the activation of magical items. I think that NWN1 and 2 gave a false impression that magic is at the reach of any criminal with the purse to afford mojo-papers, being a PnP player I am more comfortable with the DC being 25+Spell Level. Even a high-level pure rogue should only able to reliably use low circle buff scrolls, or else we end up with downgrading wizards and sorcerers to being rogues without backstabs, attack bonuses and armor proficiencies. :P

[Xanderleo]

It depends on which method is used...PnP, I believe (?) the scroll DC is 20 + caster level...items are more and dependent on other factors. I think NWN2 is using item value by default for both scrolls and items..hence being able to cast 9th level scrolls with a 6 UMD every time.

The DC for a 1st level scroll does seem high...here's why I think that is: (Devs can correct me if I'm wrong) - UMD penalties are stackable. Let's say I want to use a Mage Armor scroll...DC 21, but the spell is not on my spell list - so I need to make another UMD check to actually decipher the scroll...that adds +5 to the overall check which results in a 26 DC, which it is in game.

The only sight annoyance is that the scroll gets burnt if you fail. Normally, sticking with the above rules, it wouldn't be ruined, you could try it again. Only unless you roll a natural 1, in which case you cannot try again for another 24 hours....but that'd likely be a bitch to script..so.

[Satoshi]

Actually, on a failure to UMD in pen and paper, there's a chance of the scroll A.) doing nothing, B.) burning out and being useless, or C.) Exploding in your face for x magical damage/effect based on spell level.

[Xanderleo]

Gah, yeah, on a failure by 10 points or more. I remember a character in a PnP game attempted a blind activation and blew two of his fingers off. Good times!

[Aux]

Gah, yeah, on a failure by 10 points or more. I remember a character in a PnP game attempted a blind activation and blew two of his fingers off. Good times!

lol its the little things like that that make PnP games, i had a dwarf rogue that was so battered from UMD going wrong he had to start multiclassing as a fighter... or retire.

[Tassafina]

Well personally (and I am also targetted at this, as I have a rogue level with Roger), I think this is a great thing because it prevents multiclassed rogues like me to do the toughest rogue-defining stuff, that is trying to fake the activation of magical items. I think that NWN1 and 2 gave a false impression that magic is at the reach of any criminal with the purse to afford mojo-papers, being a PnP player I am more comfortable with the DC being 25+Spell Level. Even a high-level pure rogue should only able to reliably use low circle buff scrolls, or else we end up with downgrading wizards and sorcerers to being rogues without backstabs, attack bonuses and armor proficiencies. :P

Yes but its not just targeting people with one level rogue..its targeting pure rogues as well. I will be enough of a rogue that I will be able to have max umd the same as any pure one. A 20th rogue would need to roll a 3 to use a level one scroll...I can just imagine what a higher one would need. I dont think the intention was to remove this abilty from any usefullness but I dont see the point if its going to fail 80-90% of the time.

[Saulus]

UMD won't be touched as we don't have direct control over how its handled, it's hardcoded into the game.