D&D 5E Spell Scroll Houserule - All scrolls usable by any spellcaster

[abirdcall]

So, I'm not a fan of spell scrolls only being able to be cast by a spellcaster who has that spell on their spell list. It's not fun to find scrolls that can't be used.

So here is the houserule I'm thinking of using:

To cast a spell from a scroll not on the character's spell list it must be of a level that they can normally cast. Then they make the ability check as normal (10 + spell level) using the ability that is associated with that spell list (eg. Wisdom for Cleric list, Intelligence for Wizard, etc.) If the spell appears on more than one list the character can choose which ability to use.

An additional houserule I'm contemplating is to add proficiency to all spell scroll checks if the character has the appropriate skill for the appropriate list:

Bard: Performance
Cleric/Paladin: Religion
Druid/Ranger: Nature
Sorcerer/Wizard/Warlock: Arcana


What do you think of the proposed houserules? Should I expand it to allow for non-spellcasters to make the attempt? If so, any ideas on that? Maybe if it is a higher level than they are able to cast they have disadvantage on the roll?

 

[Swarmkeeper]

Initial reaction to the first proposal is: not a fan. I like that some magic items are only usable by certain classes. A scroll that can't be used by a player or even an entire party might still be useful as a gift to a NPC in exchange for some information or other favor.

Would you also allow Wizards to add such non-Wizard spells to their spellbook? Slippery slope, etc etc

I kinda do like your houserule spell scroll check bonus based on proficiency though. That would give better access to higher level spells via scrolls earlier in a campaign

 

[Krachek]

DC 13 with disadvantage for a remove curse scroll.
Honest challenge.
A warlock with guidance + a bard with inspiration would have a fair chance to succeed.
I like it.

 

[jasper]

No problem. Sounds like a good idea. Hmm Didn't 1E have a chance to scroll cast and it backfire? If so, I would include that to. Bard performance + 6, wisdom +2. Spell 3 level what ever. DC 13. Fail dc 5. Rolls wisdom 2 + 2 =4. Fails to cast the spell correctly. Either use wild magic surge, or spell is cast on bard or party or create your own chart.

 

[CapnZapp]

It's not fun to find scrolls that can't be used.

Exactly!

That rule really serves no purpose other than to kill fun, imo.

I just treat other casters as level zero casters of the right kind; meaning no extra rules are needed, just follow the standard rule for casting high-level scrolls.

I would not extend this to non-spellcasters. It is rather easy to become a spellcaster in 5e, so there's nobody left out that you need to include - if a character isn't a spellcaster that's likely because the player wanted to not be a spellcaster.



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[abirdcall]

Initial reaction to the first proposal is: not a fan. I like that some magic items are only usable by certain classes. A scroll that can't be used by a player or even an entire party might still be useful as a gift to a NPC in exchange for some information or other favor.

This probably comes down to the magic item distribution in the campaign. It might just be the way I think about scrolls too. They're stored magic to be used by someone else who doesn't have the ability to use them. I suppose it just fits into my idea of the genre.

I'm not saying it's a bad default way to have Spell Scrolls. I'm sure it probably makes sense to most people.

This rule would still restrict many scrolls too. If it was a 5th level Druid spell and the party is 6th level and doesn't have a Druid no one would be able to use it still.

Would you also allow Wizards to add such non-Wizard spells to their spellbook? Slippery slope, etc etc

That is entirely different. I also wouldn't give Warlocks Metamagic, but that has nothing to do with this. Changing/creating magic items is not the same thing as adding or removing class features.

I also change the way charged items (like wands) work. They have a set amount of charges and don't regain them. That's not the same as giving a Fighter Sneak Attack.

DC 13 with disadvantage for a remove curse scroll.
Honest challenge.
A warlock with guidance + a bard with inspiration would have a fair chance to succeed.
I like it.

Yeah, there is that. Skill checks when there is no time pressure are pretty easy to have success with. I'm not sure that is a bad thing though.

Why the disadvantage? If it should be harder then I think the way to do that is to raise the DC. I save Dis/Adv as a circumstantial modifier.

No problem. Sounds like a good idea. Hmm Didn't 1E have a chance to scroll cast and it backfire? If so, I would include that to. Bard performance + 6, wisdom +2. Spell 3 level what ever. DC 13. Fail dc 5. Rolls wisdom 2 + 2 =4. Fails to cast the spell correctly. Either use wild magic surge, or spell is cast on bard or party or create your own chart.

Losing the scroll is not enough?

Wild Surge is mostly good or neutral effects so it would actually be beneficial.

 

[cbwjm]

Seems a fine houserule. I don't actually have a problem with the current rule but this seems a like a good idea to expand on people being able to use spell scrolls. If you want to expand it to non-casters, perhaps require that they have the appropriate skill to be able to cast a spell so that a barbarian want to cast a druid spell needs to have nature proficiency.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

This rule would still restrict many scrolls too. If it was a 5th level Druid spell and the party is 6th level and doesn't have a Druid no one would be able to use it still.



That is entirely different. I also wouldn't give Warlocks Metamagic, but that has nothing to do with this. Changing/creating magic items is not the same thing as adding or removing class features.

I think perhaps I wasn’t clear. If you give a 1st level Wizard the ability to read a 1st level Cleric scroll, for example, the logical extension of that is the Wizard asking to COPY that spell into their spell book. Would you allow the Wizard to roll a
Check to do so?

 

[Yunru]

I think perhaps I wasn’t clear. If you give a 1st level Wizard the ability to read a 1st level Cleric scroll, for example, the logical extension of that is the Wizard asking to COPY that spell into their spell book. Would you allow the Wizard to roll a
Check to do so?

Giving a guy a loaded gun doesn't mean he knows how to make one just because he can fire it. Why would scrolls be any different?

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[Swarmkeeper]

Giving a guy a loaded gun doesn't mean he knows how to make one just because he can fire it. Why would scrolls be any different?

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I see what you mean. Just because a fighter can swing a sword, doesn’t mean he can craft one. And just because a wizard can cast a spell from a scroll doesn’t mean he can add it to his spell book. Oh. Wait a second. That’s exactly what a wizard actually does under RAW. Which is why I posed the question to the OP.