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If you let everyone use spell scrolls? What do you do for Rogue Thief?

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Oamaje
Field Medic
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27 posts 4 Dec 2021 joined
10 Sep 2026 at 13:11 #1

Letting every class use any spell scroll is a popular houserule. But what do you do to replace or change rogue thief level 13 ability to use any scroll?

I think this depends also on how you implement spells for other classes, what check do you ask to thief and what to classes that normally can't cast that spell?

Oamaje - BF64s
PTFO or mute.

ultragtapiter
Field Medic
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23 posts 7 Oct 2019 joined
10 Sep 2026 at 13:11 #2

Honestamente não sei.
A habilidade de nível 13 do ladrão é muito única e exclusiva, acho difícil existir alternativa boas.

Talvez uma ação bônus adicional por turno

ultragtapiter - Server regular
If et-1 is up, I am up.

hello_1
Engineer
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43 posts 17 May 2026 joined
10 Sep 2026 at 13:11 #3

Nothing, i've never seen a 13 lvl rogue, let alone thief...

hello_1 - Trial / new blood
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Anonymous_40
Rifleman
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15 posts 7 Jan 2023 joined
10 Sep 2026 at 13:11 #4

Fast Hands means any general buff to spell scrolls is a huge buff to Thief. If one part of their level 13 feature doesn't do anything when they get it because they got it at the start of the game from a DM's houserule, then that's great for them.

Anonymous_40 - BF64s
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CapitanMurasa
Engineer
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37 posts 2 Nov 2021 joined
10 Sep 2026 at 13:11 #5

Overall, I think it’s fine.

They get their level 13 feature 10 levels early (no Wizard dip needed). Scrolls as a BA is fantastic for a Rogue.

CapitanMurasa - NA nights
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PartWelsh
Strat Caller
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132 posts 11 Mar 2018 joined
10 Sep 2026 at 13:11 #6

That's a popular houserule? Frankly, that's a terrible houserule in my opinion. How is some barely literate barbarian with no spellcasting ability going to read an arcane scroll written in the language of magic that he can't possibly comprehend, and successfully cast the spell?

My advice is to simply lose the houserule.

PartWelsh - Comp flex
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Jayzhy
Engineer
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38 posts 23 Mar 2021 joined
10 Sep 2026 at 13:11 #7

My thought exactly. This is asking for the solution to a niche problem because you caused a major dumbass problem. OP is on his way to becoming a renown middle manager.

Jayzhy - ET pubs
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no_wards
Field Medic
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23 posts 10 Jul 2022 joined
10 Sep 2026 at 13:11 #8

For starters, the game ends at lvl 10\~12, so it's not as if Rogue13 was ever going to be a problem, regardless of what's written. Second, Rogue is already the weakest class in the game anyway, so I really don't see how one would have an issue with it given they've put 13 lvls into it.

Either way, I don't change individual class/subclass abilities, only general rules / design quirks that would affect everyone.

no_wards - Old guard
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mishachi
Field Medic
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27 posts 8 Sep 2025 joined
10 Sep 2026 at 13:11 #9

Nothing since I’ve never seen a thief rogue or gotten past level 11 in any campaign 😔

mishachi - Axis defense
Do not walk my MG line twice.

CapitanMurasa
Engineer
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37 posts 2 Nov 2021 joined
10 Sep 2026 at 13:11 #10

As far as I understand, it causes “feels bads” for a lot of players when there is consumable loot that they can’t use.

The wizard can just cast fly. All the scroll is doing is saving them a slot. It’s much more valuable to the barbarian. Or, it would be, if they could use it.

CapitanMurasa - NA nights
I take the dead hours.

ZchrisZssjGod
Covert Ops
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56 posts 2 Jul 2023 joined
10 Sep 2026 at 13:11 #11

Tell your players not to play them 🤷‍♂️

If you add a house rule that nerfs a subclass youmhave a duty to warn your players about it.

ZchrisZssjGod - Axis defense
Do not walk my MG line twice.

SKIKOB
Engineer
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43 posts 8 Mar 2026 joined
10 Sep 2026 at 13:11 #12

Because it is fun. Who said that scroll is written like that? Wizard spends time, money and material to make the scroll why don't allow barbarian to cast?

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Minijudeu
Field Medic
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31 posts 22 Mar 2025 joined
10 Sep 2026 at 13:11 #13

It's a popular house rule because many people find it fun to have magic consumables that anyone can use (or try to) and whether or not the scroll is written in some complex language or has a simple trigger word (like many magic items) is down to the table.

I would imagine that part of the popularity is that the idea of spell scrolls being consumable and usable by anyone is very common in other media. Particularly video games with a notable example here being Baldur's Gate 3.

I've ran the houserule in most games and never had a problem with it. I've had wizards want to make scrolls more often when they can share it with the party compared to RAW.

Minijudeu - BF support
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JACOENILoficial
Field Medic
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33 posts 30 Oct 2020 joined
10 Sep 2026 at 13:11 #14

I mean if you're making the house rule you can decide how scrolls work in your world. Maybe the act of scribing the scroll does 95% of the magical work to cast the spell all thats left is to say the magic word which is written at the bottom in plain common. Or perhaps the scroll is literally a casting of the spell written down and sealed in parchment, and simply unraveling the scroll releases the magic.

That could also explain how a wizard could scribe the spell into their spell book. Seeing the scrolls magic release then looking over the arcane writing left behind gives them enough information to piece together how to replicate it for themselves.

JACOENILoficial - BF64s
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bahbahblacksheep9072
Engineer
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36 posts 29 Nov 2021 joined
10 Sep 2026 at 13:11 #15

If this came up at my table I would probably just go with an easy route of applying the effect from Charges on the same level: roll a d6 and on a 6 the scroll is not consumed.

Though, if anything, both Attunement and Charges from that level are good enough on their own merit. I would imagine a Thief of that level would have invested in a wand or two that they more regularly use over scrolls. A constant supply of scrolls can be expensive if you don't have a party member supplying them.

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