Crazy Thought- Alternative Wands? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Crazy Thought- Alternative Wands? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Chrono Nexus
10-04-06, 04:08 PM Is it conceivable to have a sword or other item that comes with charges like a wand, and is activated as a wand? Would you allow this, why or why not?
Dalthbar
10-04-06, 04:12 PM Since there's no way to actually recharge wands, I don't see why this would be a problem.

Just add the base wand price + 50% to the price of the weapon when creating it. The creator would need Craft Arms & Armor and Craft Wand to do it.
Thomar_of_Uointer
10-04-06, 04:44 PM Yes. Wands are simply spell trigger devices with charges, following the normal rules for such items. You simply apply a spell triger effect with charges to whatever item you're using. I think the price would actually be lower, due to the way magic item enhancements stack up. That's one part of the rules I'm fuzzy on.
tarkin
10-04-06, 05:30 PM Activating like a wand? As in command word, standard action?

That is fine.

Activating on a hit/use activated would be very powerfull.
Chrono Nexus
10-04-06, 05:35 PM Activating like a wand? As in command word, standard action?

That is fine.

Activating on a hit/use activated would be very powerfull.
I meant standard action. Activation on hit would be the spell storing quality.

Edit: In the case of a charge container that is a weapon or armor, does the weapon or armor itself need to be magically enhanced?
Dalthbar
10-04-06, 05:55 PM Edit: In the case of a charge container that is a weapon or armor, does the weapon or armor itself need to be magically enhanced?
I don't see why it'd have to be since wands, themselves, are only magical when you have charges in them.

I would say that the item itself would need to be of masterwork quality, however.
Jhaelen
10-04-06, 07:57 PM Activating like a wand? As in command word, standard action?

That is fine.It would still be better than a wand since you don't have to switch items to switch between attacking and using a charge. You also continue to threaten the area and could make AOOs.
So, I would be careful to allow it.
Jay_Ibero_911
10-04-06, 09:17 PM It's kinda of silly aying wands can't be re-charged. The rules should say that wands can't be re-charged until fully spent. Because once fully spent the wand become a non-magical stick once again, and I don't see any reason that non-magical stick couldn't be used as the material base for a new wand. By the rules you are technically making a new wand, but in another sense you ARE recharging an old wand. The problem with this idea is that if you can you the non-magical stick of a spent wand to make a new wand, then it would stand to reason that if you allow any item to be charged as a wand, there's no reason that after the charges are fully spent that that item could not be charged again. But then again, considering the long term costs, and the fact that it is still spell trigger (requiring that you have the spell on your list, or DC 20 UMD, and a standard action at least in either case), the concept seems hardly broken.
Chrono Nexus
10-04-06, 09:31 PM Yes, the rules for recharging wands are very strange. It wouldn't be the first time something in DnD didn't make sense though.

In the games I DM, I allow wands to be recharged, since any given character will just make a new wand if they can't recharge an old one anyway.

The reason I want to make an unusual wand is because I am playing an elven wizard. I hate staves, so I want to make a long sword that stores charges instead. But the problem is, I am only 2nd level, and I don't have nearly enough wealth to create a spellstoring sword.
Jay_Ibero_911
10-04-06, 09:59 PM Ultimately, charging other items as if they were wands would not be RAW, but would make a nifty house rule. I would make both Craft Wand AND Craft Magic Arms & Armor a pre-requisite to charge weapons and armor as if they were wands. I had an interesting idea for an Arcane Trickster using this variant, if the charged items were treated as wands with regards to feats like double wand wielder, you could give yoursefl two daggers charged with scorching rays and be able to point them at some enemy to incinerate them. Certainly stylish.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Chrono Nexus 10-04-06, 04:08 PM	Is it conceivable to have a sword or other item that comes with charges like a wand, and is activated as a wand? Would you allow this, why or why not?
Dalthbar 10-04-06, 04:12 PM	Since there's no way to actually recharge wands, I don't see why this would be a problem. Just add the base wand price + 50% to the price of the weapon when creating it. The creator would need Craft Arms & Armor and Craft Wand to do it.
Thomar_of_Uointer 10-04-06, 04:44 PM	Yes. Wands are simply spell trigger devices with charges, following the normal rules for such items. You simply apply a spell triger effect with charges to whatever item you're using. I think the price would actually be lower, due to the way magic item enhancements stack up. That's one part of the rules I'm fuzzy on.
tarkin 10-04-06, 05:30 PM	Activating like a wand? As in command word, standard action? That is fine. Activating on a hit/use activated would be very powerfull.
Chrono Nexus 10-04-06, 05:35 PM	Activating like a wand? As in command word, standard action? That is fine. Activating on a hit/use activated would be very powerfull. I meant standard action. Activation on hit would be the spell storing quality. Edit: In the case of a charge container that is a weapon or armor, does the weapon or armor itself need to be magically enhanced?
Dalthbar 10-04-06, 05:55 PM	Edit: In the case of a charge container that is a weapon or armor, does the weapon or armor itself need to be magically enhanced? I don't see why it'd have to be since wands, themselves, are only magical when you have charges in them. I would say that the item itself would need to be of masterwork quality, however.
Jhaelen 10-04-06, 07:57 PM	Activating like a wand? As in command word, standard action? That is fine.It would still be better than a wand since you don't have to switch items to switch between attacking and using a charge. You also continue to threaten the area and could make AOOs. So, I would be careful to allow it.
Jay_Ibero_911 10-04-06, 09:17 PM	It's kinda of silly aying wands can't be re-charged. The rules should say that wands can't be re-charged until fully spent. Because once fully spent the wand become a non-magical stick once again, and I don't see any reason that non-magical stick couldn't be used as the material base for a new wand. By the rules you are technically making a new wand, but in another sense you ARE recharging an old wand. The problem with this idea is that if you can you the non-magical stick of a spent wand to make a new wand, then it would stand to reason that if you allow any item to be charged as a wand, there's no reason that after the charges are fully spent that that item could not be charged again. But then again, considering the long term costs, and the fact that it is still spell trigger (requiring that you have the spell on your list, or DC 20 UMD, and a standard action at least in either case), the concept seems hardly broken.
Chrono Nexus 10-04-06, 09:31 PM	Yes, the rules for recharging wands are very strange. It wouldn't be the first time something in DnD didn't make sense though. In the games I DM, I allow wands to be recharged, since any given character will just make a new wand if they can't recharge an old one anyway. The reason I want to make an unusual wand is because I am playing an elven wizard. I hate staves, so I want to make a long sword that stores charges instead. But the problem is, I am only 2nd level, and I don't have nearly enough wealth to create a spellstoring sword.
Jay_Ibero_911 10-04-06, 09:59 PM	Ultimately, charging other items as if they were wands would not be RAW, but would make a nifty house rule. I would make both Craft Wand AND Craft Magic Arms & Armor a pre-requisite to charge weapons and armor as if they were wands. I had an interesting idea for an Arcane Trickster using this variant, if the charged items were treated as wands with regards to feats like double wand wielder, you could give yoursefl two daggers charged with scorching rays and be able to point them at some enemy to incinerate them. Certainly stylish.