I'm thinking of implementing a house rule to allow non-spellcasters to use spell scrolls; this way, the party can better utilize the scrolls they've been finding in loot. But I want to get the community's take on it first.
Non-spellcasters can use spell scrolls. However, you must succeed in an Arcana check, DC: 10+ scroll's spell level to do so. Succeed, the spell goes off as usual, and the scroll burns up. Fail, and the spell scroll is not spent, but your action is lost.
My goal is to make it possible, but it may be tricky for someone who doesn't have any or very few points in Arcana.
Thank you for these options, but they don't actually have anything to do with my house rule idea. Of course, there are some workarounds, but I'm thinking about implementing the suggested house rule and am looking for thoughts (both pros and cons).
Of course they are relevant to your house rule. They're existing ways non-spellcasters can cast spells. You can look at how those items work and compare to see if your rule is more or less restrictive. In this case, the existing options don't have the significant failure rate of your scroll rule.
Actions in combat are precious. To burn one on a ~50% chance to cast a spell - on top of the spell's own hit/miss/save chances - is just not something I would want to do in combat. And out of combat the rule is irrelevant because you just roll until you succeed. As a player, I don't think this would usually be useful to me, and options that are only rarely applicable are often forgotten in the few times they would be helpful.
On the other hand, this is free while those items are relatively rare and expensive. It's valid to want to make it a bit difficult, especially for characters with little understanding of Arcana.
For me, this would boil down to whether your group would use it or not. My group always has trouble remembering to their potions and scrolls, so I would lower the bar further as an incentive for them to do so. Maybe 8 + spell level, and give them advantage if they spent their last short rest studying the scroll, something like that. But other groups may not need that encouragement.
I'm thinking of implementing a house rule to allow non-spellcasters to use spell scrolls; this way, the party can better utilize the scrolls they've been finding in loot. But I want to get the community's take on it first.
Non-spellcasters can use spell scrolls. However, you must succeed in an Arcana check, DC: 10+ scroll's spell level to do so. Succeed, the spell goes off as usual, and the scroll burns up. Fail, and the spell scroll is not spent, but your action is lost.
My goal is to make it possible, but it may be tricky for someone who doesn't have any or very few points in Arcana.
Thoughts?
Ring of spell storing and Spellwrought Tattoo don't have the same limitations as a spell scroll
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Thank you for these options, but they don't actually have anything to do with my house rule idea. Of course, there are some workarounds, but I'm thinking about implementing the suggested house rule and am looking for thoughts (both pros and cons).
Of course they are relevant to your house rule. They're existing ways non-spellcasters can cast spells. You can look at how those items work and compare to see if your rule is more or less restrictive. In this case, the existing options don't have the significant failure rate of your scroll rule.
Actions in combat are precious. To burn one on a ~50% chance to cast a spell - on top of the spell's own hit/miss/save chances - is just not something I would want to do in combat. And out of combat the rule is irrelevant because you just roll until you succeed. As a player, I don't think this would usually be useful to me, and options that are only rarely applicable are often forgotten in the few times they would be helpful.
On the other hand, this is free while those items are relatively rare and expensive. It's valid to want to make it a bit difficult, especially for characters with little understanding of Arcana.
For me, this would boil down to whether your group would use it or not. My group always has trouble remembering to their potions and scrolls, so I would lower the bar further as an incentive for them to do so. Maybe 8 + spell level, and give them advantage if they spent their last short rest studying the scroll, something like that. But other groups may not need that encouragement.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
I shall think on this some more. Thanks.