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12 months ago ::
Jun 26, 2012 - 12:53PM
#1
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Date Joined:
Jun 14, 2006
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The Blackmarket post for Eclipse got me thinking...what are the available methods for deciphering a scroll attained via Rob Store?
Read Magic seems it might work, but does it take a full minute (as Read Magic lets you read one page a minute), or are scrolls smaller than a normal page and therefore take only a single round just as if you used Spellcraft? And can it be done before the fight via a prebuff, or must it be done after the fight begins?
Spellcraft also seems a possibility, but I don't think you'd be able to take 20, so it would be very difficult to be sure it would work since you can't retry. Similarly for Use Magic Device.
Ever want to try your hand at optimizing, but don't like excessive splatbook use? Come visit the Core Coliseum today, and give it a try.
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12 months ago ::
Jun 26, 2012 - 1:21PM
#2
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- Core Coliseum
- Heroic Dungeon Master
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I think the intent with Read Magic is that it only takes a round - like it does for Spellcraft. I certainly wouldn't want to waste a spell, when it would take much shorter time to use a skill. It is certainly debatable since Read Magic is explicit about you reading at a rate of 1 page/minute.
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).
Decipher a written spell (such as a scroll) without using read magic. One try per day. Requires a full-round action.
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12 months ago ::
Jun 26, 2012 - 7:27PM
#3
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Date Joined:
Jun 14, 2006
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I think the intent with Read Magic is that it only takes a round - like it does for Spellcraft. I certainly wouldn't want to waste a spell, when it would take much shorter time to use a skill. It is certainly debatable since Read Magic is explicit about you reading at a rate of 1 page/minute.
Hence why I raised it here. Do we need a vote?
And the problem with using Spellcraft is that it takes a substantial investment to get a decent chance of doing it your first try (and you have to do it your first try in the case of a stolen scroll, as you can't wait until the next day to try again.)
Also, can a stolen scroll be deciphered (by whatever means) before the fight starts, essentially prebuffing it?
Ever want to try your hand at optimizing, but don't like excessive splatbook use? Come visit the Core Coliseum today, and give it a try.
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12 months ago ::
Jun 27, 2012 - 2:57PM
#4
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Oh hell, I didn't even think of that.
Question - when do you rob the store? I mean, is there a store conveniently located on the way into the arena, but which is only there to steal things from since you can't buy mid-cycle? What I mean is, wouldn't you have time to decipher the scroll (take 20 or something) before entering. Actually, if you have to wait a day, even that wouldn't work.
Using Read Magic would be OK if it were allowed to be done in advance.
Otherwise, Robbing for scrolls (or power stones) seems like it's not going to be a serious option, even for Rogue/Wizard types or Bards.
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11 months ago ::
Jul 01, 2012 - 5:38PM
#5
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Date Joined:
Jan 20, 2007
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I think rob store takes place basically at round -1, the way I've always assumed it. So, yes, the Arena is the center of Gladius, it's prime real estate, there are tons of shops in and around it (think souvenier vendors at madison square garden, or whatever)
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11 months ago ::
Jul 02, 2012 - 2:37AM
#6
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I know Rob Store is designed for Rogues, but it's looking like robbing a scroll is completely out. Could we just say that if you expend a Read Magic, you can use a stolen scroll? 
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11 months ago ::
Jul 10, 2012 - 7:42AM
#7
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Date Joined:
Jun 14, 2006
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I think we'd better get an official ruling on this one.
Ever want to try your hand at optimizing, but don't like excessive splatbook use? Come visit the Core Coliseum today, and give it a try.
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11 months ago ::
Jul 10, 2012 - 8:15AM
#8
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- Core Coliseum
- Heroic Dungeon Master
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Rob scroll happens immediately before the fight (effectively round 0 if no other surprise or bonus rounds happen).
Prebuffing Read magic would only work if it lasted the duration of the time roll.
As to the question of if it takes a full minute or just one full round action - I'm inclined to say it is just a one round action. So - cast read magic, following round decipher the scroll and you are done. That's my opinion.
If you guys want to have a ruling on this - lay out your votes either way.
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11 months ago ::
Jul 10, 2012 - 8:28AM
#9
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Date Joined:
Jun 14, 2006
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I'll abstain on how long Read Magic takes (as I find it unclear myself), and would say that prebuffing Read Magic wouldn't let you decipher before the fight starts even if it does last the time roll (but if you had Read Magic prebuffed or otherwise active, you could start the deciphering as soon as the fight starts.)
Ever want to try your hand at optimizing, but don't like excessive splatbook use? Come visit the Core Coliseum today, and give it a try.
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11 months ago ::
Jul 10, 2012 - 3:41PM
#10
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I think by RAW, yes, you would have to rob the scroll (R0), cast Read Magic (R1), then begin reading, which it seems would take a minute per page.
However, that seems somewhat unworkable, and with the spellcraft thing means that robbing scrolls is essentially worthless (Rob Store Psion build coming up...). For the sake of that, I'm tempted to suggest houseruling it such that it's more as Telin suggested.
I think that, as a Rogue/Wizard or similar, having to spend a spell slot (albeit a L0 one) and two rounds just to be able to use your stolen scroll (it would take another round to actually use it) is a more than fair limitation to what they can do - it would be more than possible to find and start shooting them in this time (so the steal-a-scroll-of-Invis trick becomes... trickier). However it does seem that the one minute per page thing goes against this.
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