Hellfire infusion for Hellfire Warlock [Archive] - Wizards Community

Hellfire infusion for Hellfire Warlock [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Annadeus
06-12-07, 12:06 AM I wonder if anyone might be able to help me solve this debate that I'm having with one of my players (who happens to be my husband!). His character is a 14th level Warlock (just leveled).

He likes the concept of the Hellfire Warlock, only we're adjusting it to be Electricity theme and damage instead of Hellfire. I think we've done a good job and plan to share the final product on the appropriate board when we've figured everything out. In the meantime we are disagreeing over the interpretation of Hellfire Infusion.

In the book (Fiendesh Codex II, Tyrants of the Nine Hells) on page 90 it's written as:

"Whenever you use a charged magic item (such as a wand or staff), you can apply one of the following metamagic effects to your next use of the item: empower, enlarge, widen, or energy substitution. These effects work just like the metamagic feats of the same name. Using hellfire infusion is a swift action. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum one)."

For ease of examples let's say he's going to use a Staff that has 4 charges of Wall of Fire left.

I interpret the description to mean that in one round (Round 1)he can use the Staff, ie set off the Wall of Fire as normal, and in that same Round 1, as a swift action he can Infuse the Staff, let's say with Energy Substitution to Electricity instead of Fire damage). So then in Round 2 he can use the Wand again, this time it's dealing the Electricity damage. Then in Round 3 he can use the Staff as normal again, and infuse again if he wants. In other words in Round 2 he can't use the wand with the Infusion, and also re-infuse it in the same Round 2.

He interprets that because it's a swift action he should also be able to re-infuse the Staff in Round 2.

While it seems correct on the surface because the Infusion is said to be a swift action, something just seems wrong there. Why would they write it up at all to describe the fact you have to use it once to infuse it for the next time. Why not just say that the character can at will as a swift action infuse the charged magic item since all they have to do is use it once a normal.

Any ideas?
Salla
06-12-07, 12:35 AM As a swift action prior to activating the wand or staff, he can infuse it with hellfire. You can take only one swift action in a round.

(You alternate between Staff and Wand during your example, is this intentional?)

Let's say he has a Charisma 14. This means that, twice a day, he can infuse a wand or staff with the Hellfire Infusion, as a swift action. He could do it on rounds 1 and 2 if he wanted to use them that quickly, or 1 and 3, 2 and 4 ... whenever he wants, so long as he observes his daily limit.
weasel0
06-12-07, 12:40 AM Why would they write it up at all to describe the fact you have to use it once to infuse it for the next time. Mayhaps becuase the warlock isn't really a caster so has to kinda "get the ball rolling" or "get a feel" for the wand or staff. I'd go with the RAW meaning as it's already limited by his charisma bonus. I'd also say that he'd lose the infusion if he goes to do anything else and has to release the wand or staff. Has to "get the ball rolling" again, so to speak.

Or they simply did bad editing again... they do that alot.
Salla
06-12-07, 12:42 AM Curious ... I just noticed that no duration is placed on the Hellfire Infusion, meaning you can activate it then let the wand sit idle for a week, but it's still infused when you finally do use it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Annadeus 06-12-07, 12:06 AM	I wonder if anyone might be able to help me solve this debate that I'm having with one of my players (who happens to be my husband!). His character is a 14th level Warlock (just leveled). He likes the concept of the Hellfire Warlock, only we're adjusting it to be Electricity theme and damage instead of Hellfire. I think we've done a good job and plan to share the final product on the appropriate board when we've figured everything out. In the meantime we are disagreeing over the interpretation of Hellfire Infusion. In the book (Fiendesh Codex II, Tyrants of the Nine Hells) on page 90 it's written as: "Whenever you use a charged magic item (such as a wand or staff), you can apply one of the following metamagic effects to your next use of the item: empower, enlarge, widen, or energy substitution. These effects work just like the metamagic feats of the same name. Using hellfire infusion is a swift action. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum one)." For ease of examples let's say he's going to use a Staff that has 4 charges of Wall of Fire left. I interpret the description to mean that in one round (Round 1)he can use the Staff, ie set off the Wall of Fire as normal, and in that same Round 1, as a swift action he can Infuse the Staff, let's say with Energy Substitution to Electricity instead of Fire damage). So then in Round 2 he can use the Wand again, this time it's dealing the Electricity damage. Then in Round 3 he can use the Staff as normal again, and infuse again if he wants. In other words in Round 2 he can't use the wand with the Infusion, and also re-infuse it in the same Round 2. He interprets that because it's a swift action he should also be able to re-infuse the Staff in Round 2. While it seems correct on the surface because the Infusion is said to be a swift action, something just seems wrong there. Why would they write it up at all to describe the fact you have to use it once to infuse it for the next time. Why not just say that the character can at will as a swift action infuse the charged magic item since all they have to do is use it once a normal. Any ideas?
Salla 06-12-07, 12:35 AM	As a swift action prior to activating the wand or staff, he can infuse it with hellfire. You can take only one swift action in a round. (You alternate between Staff and Wand during your example, is this intentional?) Let's say he has a Charisma 14. This means that, twice a day, he can infuse a wand or staff with the Hellfire Infusion, as a swift action. He could do it on rounds 1 and 2 if he wanted to use them that quickly, or 1 and 3, 2 and 4 ... whenever he wants, so long as he observes his daily limit.
weasel0 06-12-07, 12:40 AM	Why would they write it up at all to describe the fact you have to use it once to infuse it for the next time. Mayhaps becuase the warlock isn't really a caster so has to kinda "get the ball rolling" or "get a feel" for the wand or staff. I'd go with the RAW meaning as it's already limited by his charisma bonus. I'd also say that he'd lose the infusion if he goes to do anything else and has to release the wand or staff. Has to "get the ball rolling" again, so to speak. Or they simply did bad editing again... they do that alot.
Salla 06-12-07, 12:42 AM	Curious ... I just noticed that no duration is placed on the Hellfire Infusion, meaning you can activate it then let the wand sit idle for a week, but it's still infused when you finally do use it.