Magic Scrolls & Actions

[drewkitty ~..~]

1) all (15 sec to read)
2) you have to read the scroll out loud so only speed speaking would get you faster through the scroll.

[Khanibal]

The main advantage of scrolls is that anyone can cast a spell from one. As the skill and P.P.E. to cast has already been expended even a literate Russian full conversion Shocktrooper cyborg can cast the spell (provided it's written in a language he can read). Of course, scroll are also good for learning spells, but scroll conversion is very risky. Try casting Beat Insurmountable Odds first.
If it's speedy casting (especially for non-mages) you want, then you'll need a Talisman. One action to cast from a Talisman (unless someone knows different and corrects me).

[Nekira Sudacne]

It takes a single action to read a scroll, and so can't be reduced further.

[Khanibal]

I think I remember something about this from another thread.

"Speed reading is out because the spell is read aloud. You'd need speed speaking."
Was the gist of the answer given.
As far as actions. /shrug
I'd call it one round.

[Library Ogre]

I'd peg it at one per spell, or the casting time of the ritual.

[Khanibal]

I'd peg it at one per spell, or the casting time of the ritual.

Uh, 7-10 level spell rituals are 10 minutes (40 melee rounds) to cast, and 11-15 are 1D4x10+15 minutes. If you're gonna give me the choice of one (was that action or melee round?) or the ritual time, I'll pick the one (whatever).

[Library Ogre]

I'd peg it at one per spell, or the casting time of the ritual.

Uh, 7-10 level spell rituals are 10 minutes (40 melee rounds) to cast, and 11-15 are 1D4x10+15 minutes. If you're gonna give me the choice of one (was that action or melee round?) or the ritual time, I'll pick the one (whatever).

If the scroll is recorded as a ritual (getting the benefit of a 16 spell strength), it's cast as a ritual, and takes that amount of time. If it was recorded as an invocation (thus using whatever spell strength the caster was capable of), it's cast as an invocation, and thus only takes one action.

Smart-***.

[Library Ogre]

Even if it's a spell that would normally take more than one action?

Yes. Create Scroll is a pretty high level spell, and scrolls are the kinds of things that can be turned against you pretty easily. So, if someone has a scroll, and it was written as a invocation, I let it go in one action (especially since that's just to read the scroll... getting it out may take another).

[Khanibal]

If the scroll is recorded as a ritual (getting the benefit of a 16 spell strength), it's cast as a ritual, and takes that amount of time. If it was recorded as an invocation (thus using whatever spell strength the caster was capable of), it's cast as an invocation, and thus only takes one action.

Possibly allowing you to cast 6-15th level invocations for one action?
If you have the Talisman spell, it might be a better option for 1-8th level spells. Not only is it rechargeable, but you can also hand it to the illiterate dog-boy to use.

Smart-***.

When I was a child I knew I was destined to be an ***. My choices were dumb-*** or smart-***. I stand by my decision.

P.S. I didn't meet the minimum requirements for wise-***.

[Khanibal]

So how long does it take to create a ritual scroll? If I create a scroll of Resurrection, and it's going to take the end-user 35 minutes to cast, how long does it take me to make the scroll?

[Library Ogre]

So how long does it take to create a ritual scroll? If I create a scroll of Resurrection, and it's going to take the end-user 35 minutes to cast, how long does it take me to make the scroll?

I would say Create Scroll would, itself, have to be cast as a ritual.

[dark brandon]

I have two questions concerning the use of magic scrolls.

1. How many melee actions does it take to cast a magic scroll spell in your games? From what I have read, reference SoT book #6, pg. 123, casting a scroll spell takes four melee actions.

I'm gonna throw my opinion in here:

It takes as long as the spell normally would take. Spells 1-5 is 1 action. Spells 6-10 two and spells 11-15 are three.

My Justification: When a normal mage casts a spell, he has to invoke the words aloud. These same words are on the scroll (Except they also have the PPE to cast it), so it makes most sense to me that the time it takes for a mage to recite his wording, it takes the reader to read aloud.