USE MAGIC DEVICE, UMD, Neverwinter Nights 1, NWN1

Use Magic Device NWN

Use Magic Device aka UMD is a Bard- and Rogue-only skill in Neverwinter Nights. That is, Fighters can't take UMD as a cross-class skill: they must dip into Bard or Rogue to gain access to it. 

Along with Tumble NWN and Spellcraft NWN, UMD is one of the best skills to dump ranks into, regardless of NWN Build.

With a Use Magic Device score of 10, any build can wear the Robes of the Dark Moon for its on-equip Haste [nw_mcloth017].

In the OC, Boots of the Sun Soul +5 require a UMD score of 15 [Dodge AC +5, nw_it_mboots018-022].

For these NWN items, and many others besides -- including NWN spell scrolls -- it is usually a good idea to dip into Rogue or Bard for UMD.

Use Magic Device Skill

• Ability: Charisma.
• Requires Training: Yes.
• Classes: Bard and Rogue.
• Use: Automatically applied whenever a character attempts to use or equip an item normally unusable by his class, race, or alignment.

A successful Use Magic Device check allows the character to use a magic item as if he had a required class, race, or alignment.

Use Magic Device Check

Check: The base DC is determined by the value of the item, and modified by the type of emulation the character is attempting. If the character attempts to emulate a specific race, the DC increases by 5; if he attempts to emulate a specific alignment, the DC increases by 10. Emulating a specific class does not modify the base DC.

cf. Use Any Item BG2

Neverwinter Nights 1 (Index), Neverwinter Nights Best Builds.