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Activate the Spell

Activating a scroll requires reading the spell from the scroll. The character must be able to see and read the writing on the scroll. Activating a scroll spell requires no material components or focus. (The creator of the scroll provided these when scribing the scroll.) Note that some spells are effective only when cast on an item or items. In such a case, the scroll user must provide the item when activating the spell. Activating a scroll spell is subject to disruption just as casting a normally prepared spell would be. Using a scroll is like casting a spell for purposes of arcane spell failure chance.

To have any chance of activating a scroll spell, the scroll user must meet the following requirements.

• The spell must be of the correct type (arcane or divine). Arcane spellcasters (wizards, sorcerers, and bards) can only use scrolls containing arcane spells, and divine spellcasters (clerics, druids, paladins, and rangers) can only use scrolls containing divine spells. (The type of scroll a character creates is also determined by his or her class.)
• The user must have the spell on his or her class list.
• The user must have the requisite ability score.

If the user meets all the requirements noted above, and her caster level is at least equal to the spell’s caster level, she can automatically activate the spell without a check. If she meets all three requirements but her own caster level is lower than the scroll spell’s caster level, then she has to make a caster level check (DC = scroll’s caster level + 1) to cast the spell successfully. If she fails, she must make a DC 5 Wisdom check to avoid a mishap (see Scroll Mishaps, below). A natural roll of 1 always fails, whatever the modifiers.

So you can cast spells with a higher level than yours, if you feel lucky punk ;p

If you don't meet these requirement you have to use Use Magic Device skill:

www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/useMagicDevice...

BTW Artificers don't cast arcane nor divine spells. They cast infusions. So you better get really aquainted with the UMD rules. (also activate blindly is for unidentified items)

So you want to craft (scribe) scrolls now? You're screwed again. Artificer created scrolls are neither divine nor arcane. Your cleric or wizard can't use them, only with UMD skill (artificers get +2 to UMD checks with items they have a craft feat for making). Some "harsh" DMs would have the Artificer roll UMD checks to use his own scrolls that he created. This was done to prevent abuse by wizards scribing their Artificer buddy's scrolls into their spellbook and gaining any spell they wanted. My group houseruled otherwise. Instead of Artificer scrolls being not arcane nor divine, we decided that they contained a flaw that made them unscribable (to spellbooks as new spells). They still retained proper arcane or divine status in other ways and sell value too ;p

But let's get back to creating them. You get a +2 level bonus as Artificer when you craft (any) magic items. This means you can craft a Fireball scroll when you're 3rd level instead of 5th (for wizards). But you create a weak fireball with only 3d6 damage. Also you have to roll a UMD check to make the scroll. You can't use infusions to scribe scrolls, you can't make a scroll of Light even though you have a Light infusion in your spell list. Supposedly it's not the same(:/), so you have to fake it with UMD. You can fake all spells, and create any item that requires any spells. You just fake it. You only get 1 roll though per 1000gp of base value plus one last ditch attempt roll. If you fail... congrats you just wasted half the base value in gold (that's the total material cost) and some XP too for good measure. The only safe way early on is to get other casters, PC or NPC, to help you craft items. They cast the spells needed and you do the rest. Cooperation is nice. Some DMs even allow XP cost sharing.

www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/creatingMa...

Base Price of Potions is 50 × level of spell × level of caster (in gold pieces). Crafting a potion costs half that in gp and a character creating an item pays 1/25 the base price in experience points. Maybe you got confused with scrolls which are half that.

StevenO is right about the rest.

Craft Wondrous Item is a feat you get at 3rd level free as artificer. It's not a skill. It allows you to create any wondrous item. Crafting the mundane item (like bracers) is usually easy and subsumed in the gold pieces cost of the enchantment process (Magic Supplies Cost). These items are not always considered masterwork (usually most aren't), only weapons and armor and shields have to be masterwork quality. Most wondrous items require a low DC skill check as appropriate (crafts and professions usually), sculpting, sewing, jewlery, carpentry, etc. You can take 10 in craft skills so they're easy to make, or you can just have them made by a professional artisan. Most DMs subsume this cost into the Magic Supplies Cost.

PS: google for DnD3.5Index-Infusions-Artificer.pdf it made my life simple as a new artificer, currently lvl 3 >.<

Dec 24, 2012 -- 2:32PM, frost.fire wrote:

You can opt to take a 10 or even a 20 on a skill check provided time isn't a giant issue and you are not under pressure. Another way to boost it (although slightly cheesy) is an intelligent item familiar that's how you see artificers with checks well over 50 before the roll (generally you would do it for UMD)

You may need to check twice about using "take 20" with a craft skill.  I thought that if you rolled poorly enough you lose progress on the item and may even need to start over.  Now even if "take 20" IS allowed on a craft check you wll need to pay x20 more to use it.

Now "take 10" on a skill check should be a no-brainer assuming that is going to be enough to make most rolls and after just a few levels it probably should be.  What is there that is over DC 20 to craft?