Spell Scroll

• Category: Scroll
• Rarity: Varies

A Spell Scroll bears the words of a single spell, written in a mystical cipher. If the spell is on your spell list, you can read the scroll and cast its spell without 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 scroll crumbles to dust. If the casting is interrupted, the scroll isn't lost.

If the spell is on your spell list but of a higher level than you can normally cast, you make an ability check using your spellcasting ability to determine whether you cast the spell. The DC equals 10 plus the spell's level. On a failed check, the spell disappears from the scroll with no other effect.

The level of the spell on the scroll determines the spell's saving throw DC and attack bonus, as well as the scroll's rarity, as shown in the following table.

Spell Level	Rarity	Save DC	Attack Bonus
Cantrip	Common	13	+5
1	Common	13	+5
2	Uncommon	13	+5
3	Uncommon	15	+7

Spell Level	Rarity	Save DC	Attack Bonus
4	Rare	15	+7
5	Rare	17	+9
6	Very Rare	17	+9
7	Very Rare	18	+10
8	Very Rare	18	+10
9	Legendary	19	+11

Copying a Scroll into a Spellbook. A Wizard spell on a Spell Scroll can be copied into a spellbook. When a spell is copied in this way, the copier must succeed on an Intelligence (Arcana) check with a DC equal to 10 plus the spell's level. On a successful check, the spell is copied. Whether the check succeeds or fails, the Spell Scroll is destroyed.

Tactical Applications

Spell Access: Provides access to any spell without material components for one-time casting. Exceptional for spell diversity, emergency magic access, and obtaining spells outside your normal repertoire.

Class Synergies:

• Any Class: Universal utility for spell access regardless of class or spellcasting ability
• Non-Casters: Perfect for martial characters wanting occasional magical abilities
• Spellcasters: Essential for accessing spells outside your known/prepared list
• Utility Specialists: Excellent for characters requiring diverse magical solutions

Build Considerations: Consumable items with varying rarity and power levels. Most valuable for expanding spell access and providing emergency magical capabilities.

Acquisition Methods

Crafting Requirements: Requires spell transcription, magical ink, and appropriate parchment. Creation cost varies by spell level (50-5,000 gp) and takes 1-10 days.

Common Sources:

• Spell scribes and magical scholars
• Treasure hoards of wizards and magical researchers
• Commission from scribes specializing in spell transcription
• Found in magical libraries and spell collections
• Sometimes discovered in wizard towers or obtained from spellcasting creature encounters

Alternative Acquisition: Often found in locations with strong connections to magical research and spell study.

Value & Trade

Estimated Value: 25-25,000 gp depending on spell level, with demand varying by spell utility and rarity.

Trade Considerations: Popular among all adventurers for expanding magical capabilities and emergency spell access.

Character Integration

Roleplay Elements: Suggests experience with magical study, spell research, or professional roles requiring diverse magical knowledge.

Character Concepts:

• Magical scholar with spell collection expertise and arcane research experience
• Practical adventurer using scrolls for utility and emergency magical solutions
• Character with extensive experience in magical environments requiring diverse spell access
• Spell collector combining scroll magic with traditional spellcasting techniques

Adventure Hooks

The Spell Emergency: Crisis scenarios where specific scrolls provide the only magical solution to critical problems.

The Magical Research: Scholarly missions where scroll collections enable spell study and arcane investigation.

The Utility Challenge: Problem-solving situations where diverse scroll magic determines creative solution success.

The Spell Hunt: Adventures seeking specific scrolls for unique magical requirements and rare spell access.

Variants & Customization

Enhanced Spell Scroll (Higher Rarity): Improved casting statistics and enhanced spell effects with better reliability.

Reusable Spell Scroll (Very Rare): Limited-use scrolls that regenerate after extended periods.

Master's Spell Scroll (Varies): Scrolls created by legendary casters with enhanced power and unique effects.

Specialized Variants:

• Combat Spell Scroll: Optimized for battle with enhanced damage and tactical spell effects
• Utility Spell Scroll: Specialized for problem-solving with enhanced utility and practical applications
• Emergency Spell Scroll: Enhanced for crisis situations with improved reliability and rapid activation

Lore & History

Origins: Created by ancient scribes who needed reliable methods for preserving and sharing magical knowledge.

Historical Significance: These scrolls enabled the preservation of magical knowledge and the democratization of spell access.

Cultural Impact: Represent the importance of magical literacy and the sharing of arcane knowledge across cultures.

Magical Craft: Demonstrates understanding of spell transcription and the complex processes required for magical preservation.

Balancing Notes

Introduction Timing: Appropriate for all levels with scroll power scaling to match character capabilities and spell access needs.

Campaign Impact: Provides flexible spell access balanced by consumable nature and varying costs.

Magic Focus: Most valuable in campaigns featuring diverse magical challenges requiring varied spell solutions.

Encounter Design

Recommended Challenges:

• Problem-solving scenarios where specific scrolls enable unique magical solutions
• Emergency situations where scroll magic provides crucial assistance and spell access
• Utility challenges where diverse spell access determines creative problem resolution
• Resource management encounters where scroll conservation becomes strategically important

Scroll Adjustments: Encounters should account for temporary spell access and the consumable nature of scroll magic.

Related Items

Magical Items: Other items that enhance spell access and provide magical capabilities.

Scholarly Equipment:

• Items that improve magical research and spell study effectiveness
• Equipment for spell transcription and magical preservation
• Tools for arcane research and magical knowledge collection

Complementary Equipment: Items that enhance spellcasting abilities or provide additional magical benefits.

Roleplay Opportunities

Magical Scholarship: Characters develop expertise in spell research and arcane knowledge collection.

Spell Trading: Scroll collection creates opportunities for magical commerce and spell exchange networks.

Arcane Excellence: Spell access enables impressive demonstrations of magical versatility and scholarly preparation.