How does UMD work?

[Shadoweaver]

I have two characters with the same level of UMD but scrolls seem to work differently. How is the DC set, and what other modifiers are there to UMD? Can you take 20 on the UMD roll?

Thanks,
Shad

[Unholy Carp]

Wikia to the rescue!

[joker]

There is currently an Obsidian bug that does not calculate the DC for scrolls correctly.

[Shadoweaver]

There is a custom script of some kind at work, for one of my characters at least the DC is listed as 25+ spell level (I tried 0, 1 and 2nd level spells). However it works should be put in the Faq.

Shad

[rustediron]

For some classes it's broken, and they don't need to roll.

[Saulus]

There is a custom script of some kind at work, for one of my characters at least the DC is listed as 25+ spell level (I tried 0, 1 and 2nd level spells). However it works should be put in the Faq.

Shad

There is no custom script at work for this nor is it possible to modify this functionality as it is hardcoded. The only change is in the campaign settings. This is again another case of an Obsidian bug.

[Kangleton]

Who cares if its hardcoded?

BAN UMD!!!1!!11

[joker]

I don't think it should be banned. However, it should be limited to Rogues and such.

[rustediron]

If it ever gets fixed, I wanna see some kinda bonus for bards.

[Shadoweaver]

For some classes it's broken, and they don't need to roll.

This must be the case for my wizard as he can use divine scrolls with no failure chance. What should I do about this? Use them at the 25+ spell level DC? not use them at all?

Shad

[Shadoweaver]

There is no custom script at work for this nor is it possible to modify this functionality as it is hardcoded. The only change is in the campaign settings. This is again another case of an Obsidian bug.

I was on a previous server and they made extensive changes to the DC of UMD for scrolls, and also switch it so you could use spellcraft for it. Would you like me to put you in touch with one of their devs?

Shad

[Kangleton]

I don't think it should be banned. However, it should be limited to Rogues and such.

lol, I was absolutely joking.

[Xanderleo]

I looks to be working correctly, as far as calculated DCs.

[ThePaganKing]

I say don't change it. If you really want to use high level scrolls, then you are going to have to put a bunch of stuff into UMD. Also, it was the able learner feat that really screwed things up anyway.

If I remember correctly, if you are not a mage that has the spell, then you always have a chance of failing your ability to read the magic correctly and discharge the spell. Even a mage can sometimes fail to scribe a scroll or memorize a spell.

A rogue or some other type that has UMD would have a hard time reading and intoning correctly, especially if they are high level spells. I remember in NWN1 rogues and such with high UMD using timestop scrolls. That was really ludicrous! That should be one of the hardest spells to cast even as a high level mage, so why should a rogue be able to do it?

[Tassafina]

I wish people would actually do some real testing before making judgements on this. I have and its pretty much a useless skill for Rogues at this time. The odds are just so low that people will never use it unless they have a couple of million to waste casting dud spells over and over. A level 1 spell has a DC of 25, that means a level 10 would have a 50% chance of casting a level 1 spell. The DC rating is supposed to be determined from the value of the object, which is not how scrolls are working now.