Can 3.0ed Karma bead be used by a wizard? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Can 3.0ed Karma bead be used by a wizard? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
SamiPeikko
05-02-05, 07:10 AM Title more or less says it all. We are playing 3ed forgotten realms, now around 15 lvl. We just noticed again the Neclace of Prayer Beads, and there the bead of Karma. Party wizard used Polymorph any object to create one (from item with at least as high caster level and monetary value), and is using it.
Self-identification of the item and the name give me the impression that it was ment for divine casters only, but item description does not forbid using it by arcane caster.

Any comments, errata, official or unofficial rules, anyone?
Oso_Moore
05-02-05, 08:22 AM I have to wonder about your DM allowing you to polymorph something into a specific magic item, but I guess there's no accounting for DM magic.
In my own party, our cleric was allowed Karmic Beads but I, the wizard, was not. The ruling for that was because the description says "This item appears to be a normal string of prayer beads until the owner casts a divine spell". Later it says "The beads of blessing, smiting, and wind walking function as spell trigger items, the beads of karma and summons can be activated by any character capable of casting divine spells."
That right there pretty much rules out any use of the beads for arcane spells.
Granted, the wording leaves a loophole where an arcane caster with a level in a divine spell-casting class could activate them, but as DM I'd contend they only add to his levels of that divine class.
If you are looking for a bonus to your arcane casting, at your level nice options include the Robe of the Archmagi (+2 to CL for overcoming SR) and levels of Archmage so you can take Spell Power (+1 to CL). I took that five times, so I'm a +5 CL. I also have the Ioun Stone that adds another +1 to CL.
SamiPeikko
05-04-05, 04:21 AM What you say is true in 3.5 but I was asking about 3ed.
In 3.5 this item is Strand of Prayer Beads, slotless item, clearly only for divine casters to use.
In 3.0 it is Necklase of Prayer Beads, so it takes amulet slot, and comments about user are missing completely.
Heironymus_Vann
05-04-05, 09:18 AM Seeing as how they are "Prayer" beads, it's reasonable to infer that no, a wizard cannot use the the karma bead.

But it sounds like you have a VERY liberal GM (PAO a magic item?!) so it should be easy to persuade otherwise...

HV

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SamiPeikko 05-02-05, 07:10 AM	Title more or less says it all. We are playing 3ed forgotten realms, now around 15 lvl. We just noticed again the Neclace of Prayer Beads, and there the bead of Karma. Party wizard used Polymorph any object to create one (from item with at least as high caster level and monetary value), and is using it. Self-identification of the item and the name give me the impression that it was ment for divine casters only, but item description does not forbid using it by arcane caster. Any comments, errata, official or unofficial rules, anyone?
Oso_Moore 05-02-05, 08:22 AM	I have to wonder about your DM allowing you to polymorph something into a specific magic item, but I guess there's no accounting for DM magic. In my own party, our cleric was allowed Karmic Beads but I, the wizard, was not. The ruling for that was because the description says "This item appears to be a normal string of prayer beads until the owner casts a divine spell". Later it says "The beads of blessing, smiting, and wind walking function as spell trigger items, the beads of karma and summons can be activated by any character capable of casting divine spells." That right there pretty much rules out any use of the beads for arcane spells. Granted, the wording leaves a loophole where an arcane caster with a level in a divine spell-casting class could activate them, but as DM I'd contend they only add to his levels of that divine class. If you are looking for a bonus to your arcane casting, at your level nice options include the Robe of the Archmagi (+2 to CL for overcoming SR) and levels of Archmage so you can take Spell Power (+1 to CL). I took that five times, so I'm a +5 CL. I also have the Ioun Stone that adds another +1 to CL.
SamiPeikko 05-04-05, 04:21 AM	What you say is true in 3.5 but I was asking about 3ed. In 3.5 this item is Strand of Prayer Beads, slotless item, clearly only for divine casters to use. In 3.0 it is Necklase of Prayer Beads, so it takes amulet slot, and comments about user are missing completely.
Heironymus_Vann 05-04-05, 09:18 AM	Seeing as how they are "Prayer" beads, it's reasonable to infer that no, a wizard cannot use the the karma bead. But it sounds like you have a VERY liberal GM (PAO a magic item?!) so it should be easy to persuade otherwise... HV