Using magical items with spell effects

[GrimlinJoe]

So I'm fairly sure I'm reading this correctly (pg. 135 BFRPG core rules). If you acquire a magic weapon/item that has a spell associated with it, the user can use it as though they were a magic-user of that level. For example a wand of fireball, if I was say a level one MU and managed to find a wand of fireball (lvl 3 spell) I could use it as though I were a MU of that level. Though from what I can tell it would be once per day.

Now to that point could a PC that isnt a MU be able to use the same wand of fireball if they found it? Like say a fighter or other class who might be able to use a wand or whatever weapon falls under their allotted arsenal? Haven't jumped too far into the deep end of magic and spells so I'm still trying to get a grasp on it.

[Solomoriah]

I'm sorry, first of all, you say "of that level." What level are you talking about? Page 139 makes it clear that the spell is cast as if by a 6th level caster, or of the lowest level caster who can cast that spell if it's more than 6th. For example, a Wand of Polymorph is using a spell of the 5th level; a magic-user must be 9th level to cast 5th level spells, so that wand operates at the 9th level of power. A Wand of Fireballs operates at 6th, since 3rd level spells are gained at 5th level.

Fighters cannot use wands, period, nor can thieves or clerics, so the latter part of your question is irrelevant I'm afraid.

[Snarkythekobold]

I get what he's saying and I've often wondered this myself. Where exactly is it at in the rules that a lower level MU can use a wand that has a higher level spell? I've been a little bit confused by this myself but have allowed lower level MU'ers to use something like a Wand of Fireball if they found it (with minimal effect of spell)

[Solomoriah]

Oh, no. No, it says in the rules that the effect of the spell is either 6th level (for a wand) or the minimum level that the spell could be cast at if higher than 6th. A first level magic-user with a wand of fireballs is shooting off 6d6 fireballs. With a staff, you have an 8th level minimum, so 8d6.

[Seven]

6th level is a bit weird since one gets news spell at odd numbers.

So, to spell it out, when using a wand:
1st level spells are cast as by a level 6 MU.
2nd level spells are cast as by a level 6 MU.
3rd level spells are cast as by a level 6 MU.
4th level spells are cast as by a level 7 MU.
5th level spells are cast as by a level 9 MU.
6th level spells are cast as by a level 11 MU.

[Solomoriah]

Exactly so.

[Solomoriah]

6th level is a bit weird since one gets news spell at odd numbers.

It's tradition. Don't ask me, I don't know why.

[GrimlinJoe]

And this is why I stick to playing a fighter

I guess my overall question would be, if using a magical item that has a spell associated with it (still using fireball as an example) would a PC that is lower than the level at which that spell could be cast by, use that item or is there a level restriction to using an item that contains a spell that is higher than that PCs level?

[Solomoriah]

No, there is no level restriction. You must be a magic-user to use a wand of fireballs, or a staff of power, but that's the only limitation.

Have you looked at the ring of spell storing yet?

[GrimlinJoe]

No, there is no level restriction. You must be a magic-user to use a wand of fireballs, or a staff of power, but that's the only limitation.

Have you looked at the ring of spell storing yet?

RING OF SPELL STORING?!?!? Oh now that is a fun item.