Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Scrolls for (almost) everyone

Larian has again introduced a new mechanic that doesn’t exist in 5E: the spell in the Blast Pendant is unlocked with the Arcana proficiency.

That got me thinking, could we not use the same logic for scrolls? That way everyone is capable of using scrolls, they just need a skill. This seems more intuitive for casual players than knowing what spells belong to what classes.

You could take it a step further and make divine spells unlock with Religion (like you’re reading a prayer). Maybe Druid spells could use Nature.

You could even make the skill check to successfully cast a higher level spell based off this relevant skill.

Right now I’m not a big fan of barbarians being able to somehow read and understand a mirror image scroll etc. Potions are a better way to cover single-use items that anyone can use.

I would certainly not mind if scrolls would be locked only for casters ...
Even tho i cant quite understand why, since if you dont like it all you need to do is litteraly anything else than casting from scroll as a non-caster ... and you should have exactly the experience you want.

This sounds like horrible idea ...
Yes im admiting it, im min-maxing and im not ashamed for it even a little bit ... but my Clerics, nor Druids never had and hardly ever will have high Intelligence score. :-/

If something simmilar should have ben implemented, then only (and strictly only) with alternative ability scores (Nature + Wisdom bonus).

This sounds a little too far ...
You would make skill check if you even can cast a spell ... and then you would do another roll for if that spell will even hit someone ... ? :-/

Which is precisely how 5e works.

Past editions/other games have a dedicated skill to Using Magic Devices, which I like. It has the flexibility of being allowed to cast magic from scrolls regardless of your class, but the costs of still having to put points into that skill and a chance of failure, so you don't step on other classes' toes as much. Even nonmagical classes could put points in the skill to use scrolls.

I'd be in favor of something like:
- DC 12 + spell level [Arcana/Religion] check to use an [Arcane/Divine] scroll if the spell isn't on your spell list (or you can't cast spells normally), restricted to those who have proficiency in those skills. A failure results in no effect and loss of the scroll.

Proficiency + a moderate ability score will give a bonus of +3-6ish, so characters will have a >50% chance of casting a cantrip or level 1 spell. Importantly, the chance needs to be low enough that I'd be willing to attempt it, but high enough that it's not practically guaranteed.

I didn't read the other comments so its probably already been said but previous editions of d&d had this, there was a skill check along with a DC to see if you could cast a spell from a scroll, artificer class had bonuses to this...don't quote me on the artificer part.

edit*
+1 to mrfuji3 comment

I'd like to ask for source then ... O_o

The source... he's not perfectly right.
https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/Spell%20Scroll#content
There is double check only for certain case.

Thanks Zellin, i shall look into it.

I’m not suggesting you need to make a check every time, just if the spell level is too high.

And what self-respecting Cleric doesn’t have religion anyway? Would give more reason to take those skills, they’re barely useful right now.

FWIW 5E does allow Wisdom (Nature) and Wisdom (Religion) - but barely anyone uses those rules.

Notably, the check made is an ability check using your Spellcasting ability (doesn't include Proficiency), not an Arcana/Religion check.

Edit for clarity: I'm just posting this ^ as a reference to exactly what 5e rules say about casting spell scrolls of a level you can't normally cast, since there was a question about the 5e rules above in the thread.

Mhmm that’s because you can only cast spells on your class list. We’re talking about a compromise between that and everyone being able to cast any scroll.

I definitely do not want to see Berserkers throwing Fireballs and casting Blur and Mirror Image from a scroll.

I wouldn't mind exact 5e rules with scroll use. At the very least the class restriction needs to apply.

Compromise ?

Anyones able to use at least 1 level 1 divine spell on his spell lit can cast divine scrolls.
Anyone able to use at least 1 level 1 spell of the other type of magic on his spell list can cast the other type of magic scrolls (don't know the EN name).
Characters that cannot use any level 1 spells cannot read scrolls.

So yes, a ranger can cast guiding bolt if he has a scroll and a warlock can cast chromatic orb.

Done.
This is what they should do. Scrolls for everyone is just ridiculous.

Sorry, I should have clarified that I was just posting the 5e rules for reference's sake, since there was discussion as to how 5e works above.

As I stated in my other post, I would like a system where characters could make ability checks to use spell scrolls. Maybe more difficult if they're not a spellcaster, but maybe not.

Edit: This isn't really a compromise? It is basically how 5e works, except you're lumping in all "divine" scrolls together instead of splitting scrolls that are specifically given to cleric/paladin/druid, which'll affect a handful of spells. I guess you're also removing the Spellcasting Ability check to cast scrolls of higher level, but that's fairly minor imo.

For better or worse, spells aren’t broken into divine and arcane groups anymore in 5E. It’s just whether a spell is on your class list or not (something you can’t look up in BG3). I should have said “cleric” spells in my OP, sorry it’s a habit from earlier editions.

So how do you feel about the new magic items that you need to be proficient with Arcana to use? In 5E items are typically restricted by class or if you’re a spellcaster.

I’m actually fine with giving Arcana, Religion, Nature more to do. Right now they pale in comparison to Stealth, Sleight of Hand, Athletics, Perception, Persuasion.