what is a caster level check?

[demon_jr]

this is in regards to trying to use a scroll that has a higher caster level than your character.

is it a straight d20 roll or is it modified by what class you are, like for wizard you add you int modifier or for sorcerer you add your cha modifier.

suppose you fail, but do not have a spell mishap. is the scroll still there or is it used up?

 

[Crothian]

d20 + caster level

 

[shilsen]

suppose you fail, but do not have a spell mishap. is the scroll still there or is it used up?

The scroll is not used up if you fail without a mishap. If you fail & do have a mishap, the spell is used up & has an unintended effect.

 

[CRGreathouse]

A caster level check is 1d20 + your caster level. Your caster level is your class level if you're a bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, or wizard; it's half your class level if you're a paladin or ranger of level 4+.

 

[reapersaurus]

umm.. does anyone else wonder why they made this "caster level Check" so trivially easy, with almost no risk?

The DC is scroll creater level +1.

So if you were a 1st level cleric trying to cast a Scroll of Harm to kill a huge monster, all you'd need is an 11 or better? (50% chance)

And if you failed, you could only lose the scroll if you rolled a 1 (assuming even a 12 Wis) (5% chance)

So you try next round at worst, and you kill the big baddie.

Doesn't anyone else see a problem with this mechanic?

 

[Crothian]

Ya, it is pretty simple, but is that really a bad thing?

 

[reapersaurus]

well, yes.

Unless you think a spellcaster should be able to pick up a much higher-level scroll and cast it with impunity ... ??

 

[Christian]

Unless you think a spellcaster should be able to pick up a much higher-level scroll and cast it with impunity ... ??

Why not? They can pick up a much higher-level wand or staff and use it without even a roll!

(Just a historical note, BTW-I don't know about 2nd Edition AD&D, as I didn't play it much, but the mechanic for this is precisely the same as in 1st Edition AD&D, other than being expressed in terms of a d20 roll rather than a d% roll.)