Skills/Use Magic Device

Use Magic device is a skill utilized in the activation and general use of a magic item. Unlike other skills you cannot take a 10 on Use Magic device checks, nor can you aid another a use magic device check.

Read Magic or Activate Magic Item
You can use this skill to read a spell (usually contained within a scroll), or to activate a magic item.

If you lack the ability to normally activate a wand or scroll you may instead make a Use magic Device check each time you attempt to activate such a device.

Use Magic Device lets you use a magic item as if you had the spell ability or class features of another class, or as if you were a different race.

The DCs for various tasks involving Use Magic Device checks are detailed below:

Activate Blindly: When an item has an activation requirement such as a word, thought, or action; you can instead attempt to blindly activate the item as if you knew the requirements to activate it. Activating blindly requires a DC 25 Use Magic Device check, you gain a +2 bonus to this check if you’ve successfully activated the item using this ability before. Failure by two degrees causes a mishap dealing 2d6 damage to yourself, usually untyped, though it may take on a type if the item normally deals damage of a specific type or element.

Decipher a Spell: This usage works just like deciphering a spell within a spell source with the Knowledge(Arcana) skill, except that the DC is 5 points higher. Deciphering a written spell requires 1 minute of concentration with the spell source.

Use a Scroll: To cast a spell from a scroll you must have all the components of the spell known already, such as the spell, or any talents associated with the final spell scribed onto the scroll. Use Magic Device allows you to use the scroll without having all the components of the spell. The DC is 10 + the BCB of the spell within the scroll. If you do not possess the base spell of the scroll the DC of this check is increased by 10; for each component such as talents, meta talents, or other similar components, that are not the base spell, you do not possess, the DC increases by an additional 2

Cast a Ritual: To cast a ritual without the required affinity talent you must make a DC 15 use magic device check. In addition you may use your ranks in use magic device for BCB requirements of rituals, in addition to using use magic device ranks in place of SPB.

Action
Use magic Device is made as part of the action to activate the magic item (usually a standard action, though may vary based on the item).

Retry?
Yes, but if you fail and cause a mishap, you cannot attempt to activate that item again for 24 hours.