UMD and Level Requirement.

[Stephen_Zuckerman]

Okay. So. Let's look at UMD again. I'm sure the topic has come up before, but I hope that some new ideas can be put forth.

My first idea is this. UMD isn't as useful on Layo as it is in PnP. In PnP, UMD is one of the Rogue's single most powerful skills. It rivaled Sneak Attack in what made the Rogue great. It was also there for Bards, lending power to a class that lacked heavily in it.

Now, I know this isn't PnP. However, I do know that UMD is only really useful for the following in Layo:
Using items with alignment, class, or race restrictions
Using scrolls (not something that is terribly feasible at low-and-mid levels due to the way NWN rolls that)
Using Wands

Now, there really aren't that many items on Layo that have race, class, or alignment restrictions. Admittedly, those that do are nifty, however... By the time a Rogue can usually use such an item (when his UMD is high enough), he can get items that are unrestricted by class, race, or alignment that are more powerful.

There is one restriction that UMD cannot, at present, overcome.

Level Requirements.

Is there a way to easily alter the current level requirement system so that a character with UMD can use an item with the level requirement, of, say, his/her UMD check minus two? In my case, with Pyyran, there would be no change; he's got +12 UMD at level 10. However, a character with, say, a 10 CHA who maxed out UMD would be able to use items one level higher. With more charisma, higher levels.

Admittedly, this gives Bards something of an edge. With CHA through the roof, and access to UMD as well, they would be able to possibly use items (at first level!) up to five levels higher than thier current level, and incresing as they acquired items which boosted thier CHA and UMD.

Perhaps this ability could be limited for Bards? For example, if they recieved a -5 to the UMD vs level requirement check...

[Faldred]

I like the general concept (use UMD to overcome level requirements).  Another possible way to do this would be to allow the character to use an item that is not restricted to him/her by class, race, or alignment (i.e., only unallowed by level) that is both A) valued at a price that his/her UMD check says he/she can use, and B) has a level requirement no more than "N" levels higher than the character's level.  ("N" could be a constant value, such as 2 or 3, or vary by class level or modified UMD skill.)

The ability to use class, race, or alignment restricted devices at an earlier level would probably be much more complicated.

[SuperMunch]

UMD should be attached to Inteligence, not charisma.  You have to be smart, not charming, to be able to use an item that isn't made for you.

As an RP tool, Freldo hasn't used his l33t UMD skill (+22, 15 points on it and a +7 Cha bonus).  Then again, I haven't asked to so it is my fault, I'm usually enjoying watching the charaters play off of each other and bang their heads against the wall to remember that Freldo might have something to contribute.    BTW, Freldo has over 30 points in Lore (adding all bonuses), yet he doesn't explore it to much, he doesn't like being a show off.  *giggles*

About the level limit, I think it's a good thing.  Imagine all the lower level bards (because of the Cha bonus, but a mid-level rogue fits in this category) walking around with overpowered items.  Imagine Freldo, right now, walking around with armor, weapons and items made for epics.  I can hear a shudder from a few players as they imagine that...

UMD is great for breaking class barriers as Freldo's most precious items are from other classes and he uses them constantly.  However, allowing it to break level barriers is risky in my opinion.

[Stephen_Zuckerman]

Then perhaps it should be limited to ranks in the skill. *He shrugs.* Just tossing out ideas.

[Acacea]

I don't think it should be used to break level barriers, and that UMD is largely underappreciated, but think it is likely moot as I also don't think NWN is flexible enough with them to allow for it.

[SuperMunch]

I'll have to focus my chi to try to use UMD in the next quest Freldo is on...

i.e. write it down in big letters on my notepad.

Looking back, Freldo could have used it a few times in his past quests, oh well, better luck remembering to use it next time..

[Harlas Ravelkione]

Charisma does not only measure your looks and ability to charm and lead others, in my humble opinion at least. Consider sorcerors, whose control of the weave is based on their charisma as well. I use charisma on my quest at times for empathy-rolls for instance - things you cannot point your finger on, but still you have a bad feeling about this.

[darkstorme]

Plus, CHA is properly tied to the UMD category, though I'd agree that INT is required as well.  If you're dealing with an alignment-restricted magic item, it measn that the rudimentary intelligence granted the item by its enchantment rejects the personality of the user.  A high CHA score allows for a sort of mystical "persuade" check, or for the user to simply overwhelm the inherent personality, and say "blast you, I'm using you anyway!"

Scrolls, in contrast, are more the INT side of UMD, in that the user need only carefully emulate the procedures they know a mage would take in invoking the inscribed spell.

[Dorganath]

I'm not entirely sure this is anything we have control over, to be honest. In terms of equiping items that are above one's level requirement, then that is something that the game server enforces. We could turn off that restriction, but then we'd have to write code to re-establish it and do checks for rogues. This in itself would add lag to everyone.  
  I guess I tend to agree with the sentiment that UMD already allows one to bypass class/racial restrictions on items. Add level restrictions to that mix and I think the whole ability becomes unbalanced.