Spell Scroll
Scroll, varies
A spell scroll bears the words of a single spell, written as a mystical cipher. If the spell is on your class's spell list, you can read the scroll and cast its spell without providing any material components. Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible. Casting the spell by reading the scroll requires the spell's normal casting time. Once the spell is cast, the words on the scroll fade, and it crumbles to dust. If the casting is interrupted, the scroll is not lost.
If the spell is on your class's spell list but of a higher level than you can normally cast, you must make an ability check using your spellcasting ability to determine whether you cast it successfully. The DC is equal to 10 + the spell's level. On a failed check, the spell disappears from the scroll with no other effect.
Once the spell is cast, the words on the scroll fade, and the scroll itself crumbles to dust.
-DMG pg. 200
A spell scroll bears the words of a single spell, written as a mystical cipher. If the spell is on your class's spell list, you can read the scroll and cast its spell without providing any material components. Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible. Casting the spell by reading the scroll requires the spell's normal casting time. Once the spell is cast, the words on the scroll fade, and it crumbles to dust. If the casting is interrupted, the scroll is not lost.
If the spell is on your class's spell list but of a higher level than you can normally cast, you must make an ability check using your spellcasting ability to determine whether you cast it successfully. The DC is 11. On a failed check, the spell disappears from the scroll with no other effect.
Once the spell is cast, the words on the scroll fade, and the scroll itself crumbles to dust.
A spell cast from this scroll has a save DC of 13 and an attack bonus of +5.
A wizard spell on a spell scroll can be copied just as spells in spellbooks can be copied. When a spell is copied from a spell scroll, the copier must succeed on a DC 11 Intelligence (Arcana) check. If the check succeeds, the spell is successfully copied. Whether the check succeeds or fails, the spell scroll is destroyed.
That's cool and all, but makes any scroll that can't be used boring as fuck. I think it's more fun if anyone can at least try to use a spell scroll they find. That means my commoner can meteor swarm the party. So here's my proposed (and joyfully accepted by the DM) change.
- Spell scrolls are usually written in a particular language for usage. If you can read the language, you can at least figure out what the spell is and what it does. Otherwise, you can make an Intelligence (Arcana) check to identify the spell scribed to the spell based on the formulas.
- All DCs for spell scrolls are equal to 10 + the spell's level.
- If the spell is on your Spells Known list, you can cast it. Generally, no issues.
- If the spell is on your Class's Spell List but not Spells Known, you can attempt to cast it with by making an ability check with advantage using your Spellcasting Ability.
- If the spell is not on your Class's Spell List, you can attempt to cast it by making an ability check using your Spellcasting Ability.
- Not a spellcaster, but really want to use that scroll? I hope you're proficient in Arcana because you can make an attempt with a straight Intelligence (Arcana) check at disadvantage. Good luck.
- If you fail an attempt to activate a spell scroll, the spell fades from the scroll. If you fail hilariously and I'm being an asshole, it might even backfire.
- Checking back in for anyone playing the Thief Subclass. At level 13, all spell scrolls count as being on your "Class's Spell List" because you're weird.
