Scroll's caster level???
- Thread starter parinho7
- Start date
Whatever it says it is. I really don't mean to be coy. It is a magical device so as such it has its own magical capabilities and statistics infused into it in order to cast the spell it has written.
Flatus Maximus
First Post
Usually the minimum caster level needed to cast the spell (cheapest), though could be higher (e.g., for more damage dice).
Greenfield
Adventurer
It's the level the item was created at.
For example, let's say I'm writing a Scroll of Cure Light Wounds. It's a 1st level Cleric scroll, so I can scribe it as a 1st level scroll. My cost is Spell Leve (1) x Caster level (1) x 12.5 GP. That 12.5 gp, and 1 Exp.
It heals a D8 +1, no matter what level the person who reads it is.
I could create it at a higher level (presuming I am a higher level of course), if I'm willing to pay the price.
Say I Scribed it as being cast by a 2nd level caster. Now my cost is Spell Level (still 1) x Caster Level (now 2) x 12.5 gp. That's now 25 gp cost, and 2 Exp for a D8 +2 healing. Lousy investment, I admit, to double my cost for one extra point of healing, but there it is.
Say I scribed it as being 5th level caster, and a 3rd Level Cleric tried to use it.
The spell is definitely on his spell list, and it's still just a 1st level spell so if he has even an 11 Wisdom he's good to go on that point, but his caster level is lower than the scrolls. He needs to roll a D20 and add his level. His target DC is 16 (caster level of scroll(5) plus 11.)
One of the more confusing oddities of D&D was their use of the word "level" to describe just about everything. A 5th level caster throwing a 3rd level spell at a 9th level monster on the 4th level of a dungeon. And no two of those uses of "level" have the same meaning. Isn't that fun?
No? Well that's okay, practically nobody else thought so either.
For example, let's say I'm writing a Scroll of Cure Light Wounds. It's a 1st level Cleric scroll, so I can scribe it as a 1st level scroll. My cost is Spell Leve (1) x Caster level (1) x 12.5 GP. That 12.5 gp, and 1 Exp.
It heals a D8 +1, no matter what level the person who reads it is.
I could create it at a higher level (presuming I am a higher level of course), if I'm willing to pay the price.
Say I Scribed it as being cast by a 2nd level caster. Now my cost is Spell Level (still 1) x Caster Level (now 2) x 12.5 gp. That's now 25 gp cost, and 2 Exp for a D8 +2 healing. Lousy investment, I admit, to double my cost for one extra point of healing, but there it is.
Say I scribed it as being 5th level caster, and a 3rd Level Cleric tried to use it.
The spell is definitely on his spell list, and it's still just a 1st level spell so if he has even an 11 Wisdom he's good to go on that point, but his caster level is lower than the scrolls. He needs to roll a D20 and add his level. His target DC is 16 (caster level of scroll(5) plus 11.)
One of the more confusing oddities of D&D was their use of the word "level" to describe just about everything. A 5th level caster throwing a 3rd level spell at a 9th level monster on the 4th level of a dungeon. And no two of those uses of "level" have the same meaning. Isn't that fun?
No? Well that's okay, practically nobody else thought so either.
parinho7
First Post
Why plus 11?
StreamOfTheSky
Adventurer
Unless you custom make a scroll or order such or find one, it uses minimum possible CL. That means different things for different people.
A scroll of glitterdust requires CL 3 if made by a wizard, CL 4 if made by a sorcerer. Because those are the lowest levels those respective classes can cast level 2 spells. A scroll of animate dead would be lower CL if it was made by a cleric than if it was made by a wizard, since clerics get the spell at a lower level. And so forth.
As for what a random scroll the party finds should be, there's a general "preference order" to go down the list of to decide that:
[sblock]Several arcane spells are different in level for sorcerers and wizards than they are for bards. Such spells appear on the table at the level appropriate to a sorcerer or wizard (considered the default because bards typically don’t involve themselves in scribing scrolls).
Likewise, some divine spells are different in level for clerics and druids than they are for paladins and rangers. Such spells appear at the level appropriate to a cleric or druid (considered the default because paladins and rangers typically don’t involve themselves in scribing scrolls).
If a divine spell is cast at different levels by clerics and druids, it appears at the level appropriate to a cleric (considered the default choice between clerics and druids).
Many spells are either arcane or divine, depending on the class of the caster. Such spells appear on both lists at the level appropriate to the class of the arcane or divine caster.[/sblock]
Obviously certain situations unique to where/how the party finds the scroll can affect that. If I was DM and the party sacked a temple of clerics to an evil god, you bet all the scrolls will be divine and cleric made, even if the spell is also on the wizard list, for example.
EDIT: Further guidance on scroll preference order is found on footnote 1 of the table for prices by spell level: "1.These numbers assume that the creator is a cleric, druid, or wizard."
A scroll of glitterdust requires CL 3 if made by a wizard, CL 4 if made by a sorcerer. Because those are the lowest levels those respective classes can cast level 2 spells. A scroll of animate dead would be lower CL if it was made by a cleric than if it was made by a wizard, since clerics get the spell at a lower level. And so forth.
As for what a random scroll the party finds should be, there's a general "preference order" to go down the list of to decide that:
[sblock]Several arcane spells are different in level for sorcerers and wizards than they are for bards. Such spells appear on the table at the level appropriate to a sorcerer or wizard (considered the default because bards typically don’t involve themselves in scribing scrolls).
Likewise, some divine spells are different in level for clerics and druids than they are for paladins and rangers. Such spells appear at the level appropriate to a cleric or druid (considered the default because paladins and rangers typically don’t involve themselves in scribing scrolls).
If a divine spell is cast at different levels by clerics and druids, it appears at the level appropriate to a cleric (considered the default choice between clerics and druids).
Many spells are either arcane or divine, depending on the class of the caster. Such spells appear on both lists at the level appropriate to the class of the arcane or divine caster.[/sblock]
Obviously certain situations unique to where/how the party finds the scroll can affect that. If I was DM and the party sacked a temple of clerics to an evil god, you bet all the scrolls will be divine and cleric made, even if the spell is also on the wizard list, for example.
EDIT: Further guidance on scroll preference order is found on footnote 1 of the table for prices by spell level: "1.These numbers assume that the creator is a cleric, druid, or wizard."
parinho7
First Post
So if I am a level 10 wizard and I buy a gate scroll (the caster who scribed it, scribed it as a 20th level scroll) and decipher it then I make a 1d20 + 10 (my caster level) to cast the spell, will the DC for that caster level check be 21???? (scrolls caster level(20) + 1)????
Last edited:
StreamOfTheSky
Adventurer
Well, first you have to decipher it. IMO, that step should be automatic if you buy the scroll, but whatever.
"Decipher the Writing
The writing on a scroll must be deciphered before a character can use it or know exactly what spell it contains. This requires a read magic spell or a successful Spellcraft check (DC 20 + spell level).
Deciphering a scroll to determine its contents does not activate its magic unless it is a specially prepared cursed scroll. A character can decipher the writing on a scroll in advance so that he or she can proceed directly to the next step when the time comes to use the scroll."
So, you either cast Read Magic or make the check, DC 29 for a 9th level spell. CL of the scroll doesn't matter. Also, here is the line from Spellcraft regarding the action required and such:
"Decipher a written spell (such as a scroll) without using read magic. One try per day. Requires a full-round action."
You can (and should, if it means success) take 10 on the check, as there's nothing to threaten or distract you and no penalty for failure other than being unable to try again that day.
So then you go to activate it later. As you quoted,
"If the user meets all the requirements noted above, and her caster level is at least equal to the spell’s caster level, she can automatically activate the spell without a check. If she meets all three requirements but her own caster level is lower than the scroll spell’s caster level, then she has to make a caster level check (DC = scroll’s caster level + 1) to cast the spell successfully. If she fails, she must make a DC 5 Wisdom check to avoid a mishap (see Scroll Mishaps, below). A natural roll of 1 always fails, whatever the modifiers."
You would need to make a DC 21 CL check (scrolls's CL of 20 +1) since you are below the scroll's CL.
"Decipher the Writing
The writing on a scroll must be deciphered before a character can use it or know exactly what spell it contains. This requires a read magic spell or a successful Spellcraft check (DC 20 + spell level).
Deciphering a scroll to determine its contents does not activate its magic unless it is a specially prepared cursed scroll. A character can decipher the writing on a scroll in advance so that he or she can proceed directly to the next step when the time comes to use the scroll."
So, you either cast Read Magic or make the check, DC 29 for a 9th level spell. CL of the scroll doesn't matter. Also, here is the line from Spellcraft regarding the action required and such:
"Decipher a written spell (such as a scroll) without using read magic. One try per day. Requires a full-round action."
You can (and should, if it means success) take 10 on the check, as there's nothing to threaten or distract you and no penalty for failure other than being unable to try again that day.
So then you go to activate it later. As you quoted,
"If the user meets all the requirements noted above, and her caster level is at least equal to the spell’s caster level, she can automatically activate the spell without a check. If she meets all three requirements but her own caster level is lower than the scroll spell’s caster level, then she has to make a caster level check (DC = scroll’s caster level + 1) to cast the spell successfully. If she fails, she must make a DC 5 Wisdom check to avoid a mishap (see Scroll Mishaps, below). A natural roll of 1 always fails, whatever the modifiers."
You would need to make a DC 21 CL check (scrolls's CL of 20 +1) since you are below the scroll's CL.
Greenfield
Adventurer
From the SRD (and the first post in this thread):
So the short answer is, "Because that's the rule".
Every scroll I make is "custom made". Same for most others.Streamof the Sky said:
Any spell whose effects increase with caster level can be found at higher than minimum level. Look at the treasure tables in the book.
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