Items Levels and UMD

[Syntax42]

I wasn't paying attention and bought an item with a racial restriction. The UMD score required to bypass racial restrictions is 20, no matter what. That does not make sense to me. With 10 Charisma, a player would have to reach level 17 before being able to use that item (assuming they max UMD), even if its minimum level required is only 2. By that time, they can acquire much better items.

Has a dev ever addressed this issue? I don't understand why UMD requirements have no relation to the item's actual level.

[Kralgnax]

I wasn't paying attention and bought an item with a racial restriction. The UMD score required to bypass racial restrictions is 20, no matter what. That does not make sense to me. With 10 Charisma, a player would have to reach level 17 before being able to use that item (assuming they max UMD), even if its minimum level required is only 2. By that time, they can acquire much better items.

Has a dev ever addressed this issue? I don't understand why UMD requirements have no relation to the item's actual level.

Most UMD-centric characters don't have a 10 CHA. My level 10 Bard, naked, has 22 UMD - a +Cha item, Golden cartouche, Good Hope & focusing chant get him up to 30, so he's got a decent shot at a Raise Dead scroll, though Heal is still a bit out of his league. With good gear at max level, bards - and even rogues, who usually have significantly lower charisma - can typically get UMD to the level to get no- (or very low)-fail Heal & Teleport scroll casts.

Even my level 9 Paladin (for whom it's a cross-class skill) has 11 unbuffed, so 14 with golden cartouche, 16 with Human versatility II. He'll be a ble to wear an ML 11 +6 STR belt (Halfling only, UMD 18) at level, with a little Human versatility III thrown in.

So, I don't think the numbers are that unreasonable - UMD takes effort, but is doable.

[MrCow]

Has a dev ever addressed this issue? I don't understand why UMD requirements have no relation to the item's actual level.

Actually, a randomly generated racially restricted item (and not an alignment restricted) has a relationship between Minimum Level and Use Magic Device score to equip:


If Weapon or Armor - UMD score = Minimum Level of item + 10
If Accessory or Jewelery - UMD score = Minimum Level of item + 7
Some small variances can occur at times

[Syntax42]

Actually, a randomly generated racially restricted item (and not an alignment restricted) has a relationship between Minimum Level and Use Magic Device score to equip:


If Weapon or Armor - UMD score = Minimum Level of item + 10
If Accessory or Jewelery - UMD score = Minimum Level of item + 7
Some small variances can occur at times


The item I had was a weapon with minimum level of 2 and UMD of 20. I don't consider 8 to be a "small" variance. It takes more UMD than I can expect to obtain by the time I find a better weapon, basically.

[Impatiens]

The item I had was a weapon with minimum level of 2 and UMD of 20. I don't consider 8 to be a "small" variance. It takes more UMD than I can expect to obtain by the time I find a better weapon, basically.

Are you sure it wasn't an alignment restricted item? Things like pure good and true chaos are always 20 UMD no matter what the level. A min level 2 race restricted item should have a lower UMD.