Scroll of Revivify

[Olaf the Stout]

On page 75 of the Rules Compendium, Chris Perkins talks about parties without scrolls of Revivify (Spell Compendium) being "woefully underequipped".

I thought about that for a few minutes and am wondering how exactly one would use a scroll of Revivify successfully. The Revivify spell has a range of Touch and has to be cast on the recently deceased within 1 round of their death.

If you are casting Revivify from a scroll I don't see how you can actually cast the spell in time unless:

- you are already standing next to the person who has been killed; or
- you already have the scroll in hand before the start of your turn

By my understanding, retrieving a scroll is a Move action and casting a spell from a scroll is a Standard action. You need to be able to cast the spell "within 1 round of the victim's death". By pulling out the scroll and casting it you've already used up all your actions for the turn. So unless you were already standing next to the person who has been killed (possible, but this won't happen too often) or you have spent the whole combat with the scroll in hand (very unlikely) you simply can't make it in time.

Am I missing something here or is Revivify a spell that you basically can't cast successfully from a scroll the vast majority of the time (an item Chris Perkins claims you are silly not to have on hand)?

Olaf the Stout

 

[krupintupple]

i'm drawing a blank.

i'd be interested to see what this thread turns up, because i've always found revivify to be a head-scratcher too.

 

[RangerWickett]

Isn't there an item that lets you draw a scroll as part of a move action?

 

[Kyrail]

Well, divine ward is one way.

Besides that I would think a readied item on a belt or some such could be pulled as far of a move action. Basically I allow anything as complex as drawing a weapon to be done while moving.

 

[Infiniti2000]

I'm sure there's a non-magical item somewhere that sells for 1cp that allows you to take a scroll from it as a free action. Scroll Belt?

Or, maybe he meant a scroll of revivify modified by Reach Spell so it isn't actually Touch, just Ranged Touch (Close).

 

[jaelis]

If you have a BAB of +1 or greater, then you can draw "weapon-like objects carried in easy reach" as part of movement. I think most DMs would let you put at least a couple scrolls in easy reach and let you use that rule, so you could draw the scroll while moving up to your ally and cast the spell, all in one round.

 

[Hypersmurf]

If you are casting Revivify from a scroll I don't see how you can actually cast the spell in time...

Carry a scroll of Revenance as well.

-Hyp.

 

[Hejdun]

Isn't there an item that lets you draw a scroll as part of a move action?

Infinite Scrollcase: page 162 of the MIC.

This is where the Belt of Battle comes in handy. Just blow as many charges as you need to do it in time.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I'm thinking that I might just change the spell description so that you have 2 rounds to get to the person. That gives the Cleric a little more time without having to worry about magical scroll cases or other magical items. It just seems like the easiest solution. And it is a spell to stop PC's from dying. I don't think there's a reason to be overly harsh when it comes to things like that.

Olaf the Stout

 

[eamon]

Carry a scroll of Revenance as well.

Best solution!

In all seriousness, I'd allow drawing a scroll as part of a move action if the player had stored the scroll handily. An infinite scrollcase is a fine way, but you could store a few items on a belt just fine too.

There's no need to change the spell to allow 2 rounds to pass.