Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Alvoros Darkleaf 06-18-07, 02:27 PM	Considering the "Bloodstone" (MIC 29) ability, which gives you an empowered spell storing like weapon for the Vampiric Touch spell only. Now, the confusion I have is what spell caster level to use. Let's say I buy scrolls of Vampiric Touch and cast one into the sword. When the sword "casts" the spell on my attack, what do I use for caster level, etc. Is is 10 - the stated sword caster level? Is it 12 (as the ability says it function exactly like spell storing sword). Or is it 5 (minimum scroll level). Alvo
tarkin 06-18-07, 02:41 PM	The original enchantment (Spell storing), says it always uses the minimum for the spell. The Bloodstone would work like the sword, so it also uses the minimum. You get minimum caster level. 5 P.S. Magic Items NEVER cast a spell, unless they themselves are intelligent. They have magical effects that are similar to spells, they don't cast them. That is what is going on here. The spells are 'activated', they are not cast. That means among other things, that they can not be counterspelled.
Alvoros Darkleaf 06-18-07, 05:03 PM	The original enchantment (Spell storing), says it always uses the minimum for the spell. I don't see that anywhere. Looking at the DMG now, where is says "The spellcaster can STORE a spell in the weapon...which implies the spell retains the casters stats... P.S. Magic Items NEVER cast a spell, unless they themselves are intelligent. ...and then the spell storing ability states "The WEAPON can immediately cast the spell...." I see nothing in the description that says minimum or activation. It clearly seems to me that the spell is STORED (as originally cast) in the weapon, and that the WEAPON casts the spell. Would like to get this cleared up...still seems foggy to ME. Alvo Alvo
tarkin 06-18-07, 05:18 PM	Hm. I was remembering the Ring actually, which says: A minor ring of spell storing contains up to three levels of spells that the wearer can cast. Each spell has a caster level equal to the minimum level needed to cast that spell. In any case, the weapon acts the same way. A very generous DM might use the fact that the sword does not mention the minimum to let you use the caster level of the spell STORED in it, which in this case would be from the scroll. I have never seen a DM so generous to let you use the caster level of the weapon. That is just foolishness, based on the fact that they foolishly used the word cast, even though magic items do NOT cast spells. Yes it uses the word cast, but in other places they make it clear that it is wrong. The weapon STORES the spell, and then activates. It does not cast it. They should have said activated it. To cast a spell you need: 1. A mind. 2. High enough caster level 3. A high enough spell slot 4. to know the spell 5. The slot must either be prepared with the spell or be 'ready' the way a spontaneous caster's mind. 6. You must fullfill all the Components - verbal, somatic, Material, etc. 7. You must spend the action/rounds to cast the spell. 8. You must be in an area where magic works. ------- A spell storing item might be able to claim #2 and #5. But if it is not intelligent, it does not the rest, so it can not cast. Please note if you insist on having the sword cast the spell, it must take the STANDARD ACTION to do it (unless the spell is a Swift Action). That is the casting time of most spells and it does not matter who or what is casting them, it takes that time to do it.