Magic Item Activation Time [Archive] - Wizards Community

Magic Item Activation Time [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Howie23
01-31-07, 02:39 PM A side thread on a recent post re: activation times for magic items.

The time to activate a magic item is at least a standard action unless the spell in question normally has a longer casting time. Spell and spell trigger items both take the full casting time of the spell. This includes scrolls and wands, for instance.

So, a scroll or wand of enlarge takes 1 round to use, not just a std action. A scroll or wand of a swift/immediate spell would take the minimum time of 1 standard action. A scroll or wand of lesser restoration takes 3 rounds. A scroll or wand of identify would take one hour.

Command word items take 1 standard action. Wands are not command word items, they are spell trigger items.

Use activated items require no action. This includes potions and magic weapons/armor. Drinking the potion is an action; activating the potion is automatic.

Unless it is a use-activated item, a swift spell/immediate spell cast from a magic item will end up being a standard action. Can anyone identify a pocket case as an exception?

These are core rule mechanics. (DMG p. 213) It is explained further in the FAQ. (Dec, 2006 FAQ, p. 33) The only place that I see any wiggle room is that the FAQ says all command word items are 1 standard action, whereas the DMG says casting a spell from an item (even boots) takes the casting time of the item. A command word item that cast a spell that had a casting time of longer than 1 standard action then seems be a pocket case with conflicting rules.

This is commonly misplayed for wand of enlarge, per my experience, where players want to use a wand of enlarge w/a standard action, rather than a 1 round action. Probably because this item is fairly common.

David
Bob_the_Theurge
01-31-07, 02:43 PM A side thread on a recent post re: activation times for magic items.

The time to activate a magic item is at least a standard action unless the spell in question normally has a longer casting time. Spell and spell trigger items both take the full casting time of the spell. This includes scrolls and wands, for instance.

So, a scroll or wand of enlarge takes 1 round to use, not just a std action. A scroll or wand of a swift/immediate spell would take the minimum time of 1 standard action. A scroll or wand of lesser restoration takes 3 rounds. A scroll or wand of identify would take one hour.

Command word items take 1 standard action. Wands are not command word items, they are spell trigger items.

Use activated items require no action. This includes potions and magic weapons/armor. Drinking the potion is an action; activating the potion is automatic.

Unless it is a use-activated item, a swift spell/immediate spell cast from a magic item will end up being a standard action. Can anyone identify a pocket case as an exception?

These are core rule mechanics. (DMG p. 213) It is explained further in the FAQ. (Dec, 2006 FAQ, p. 33) The only place that I see any wiggle room is that the FAQ says all command word items are 1 standard action, whereas the DMG says casting a spell from an item (even boots) takes the casting time of the item. A command word item that cast a spell that had a casting time of longer than 1 standard action then seems be a pocket case with conflicting rules.

This is commonly misplayed for wand of enlarge, per my experience, where players want to use a wand of enlarge w/a standard action, rather than a 1 round action. Probably because this item is fairly common.

David

Actually, this makes for a secondary problem; scrolls of certain "swift-action", 1-round duration spells (golem strike, critical strike, grave strike) are functionally useless as has been ruled locally, having a "minimum" casting time of 1 Standard Action.
Howie23
01-31-07, 02:54 PM Actually, this makes for a secondary problem; scrolls of certain "swift-action", 1-round duration spells (golem strike, critical strike, grave strike) are functionally useless as has been ruled locally, having a "minimum" casting time of 1 Standard Action.

Shouldn't only be ruled locally, should be matter of course everywhere, as it is core rules.

Scrolls of swift/immediate actions serve the purpose of gaining access. They aren't useful on their own. I had the joy of purchasing an overpriced scroll of close wounds (priced on AR as 3rd level spell); on the plus side, I can resell it for half. :)

David
copper_wyrmling
01-31-07, 11:07 PM Scrolls of swift/immediate actions serve the purpose of gaining access.

I've seen favor access to wands of golemstrike... :rolleyes: (i.e. a Core spell, and it doesn't even give a scribing source for wizards)

I think that was the same mod where all the arcane limited spells came in scroll form, and all the divine limited spells came in potion form, despite the fact that every caster we fought was divine (so it would've made a lot more sense to have divine scrolls they could actually read, and oils / potions of the arcane spells). My cleric was just a little annoyed about that, since the divine limited spells were very nice and totally inaccessible.
Howie23
01-31-07, 11:46 PM I've seen favor access to wands of golemstrike... :rolleyes: (i.e. a Core spell, and it doesn't even give a scribing source for wizards)

*Shakes head*

That serves no purpose at all, and likely due to oversight on the author's part, as well as the reviewers up the line.

Sad.

David
szwanger
02-02-07, 03:57 PM I've seen some judges rule that a potion of enlarge person takes 1 round to take effect, which doesn't make any sense to me.

Steve
pedr
02-02-07, 06:58 PM From the SRD:

Activation

Drinking a potion or applying an oil requires no special skill. The user merely removes the stopper and swallows the potion or smears on the oil. The following rules govern potion and oil use.

Drinking a potion or using an oil on an item of gear is a standard action. The potion or oil takes effect immediately. Using a potion or oil provokes attacks of opportunity.

Makes potions of lesser restoration very useful.
JJeff
02-11-07, 10:43 PM Sorry guys, a question on this topic, albeit not a LG one (since the other boards aren't answering this at all):

If I have an ability to quicken a spell-trigger item, similar to the FR Incantrix or the Eberron Artificer, and the Eberron Artificer states as an example the quickening of a wand as a swift action, can you actually pull it off?

Or is does the FAQ ruling supercede that, being the latest ruling?
boolean
02-12-07, 12:31 AM From the SRD:

Makes potions of lesser restoration very useful.

Yes and no.
Potions are like spells cast upon the imbiber. The character taking the potion doesn’t get to make any decisions about the effect —the caster who brewed the potion has already done so.
Lesser restoration dispels any magical effects reducing one of the subject’s ability scores or cures 1d4 points of temporary ability damage to one of the subject’s ability scores.

Which means that potions of lesser restoration come in twelve different flavours (dispel STR penalty, cure 1d4 STR, dispel DEX penalty, etc.)

They are useful, especially the dispel STR penalty flavour (for Ray of Enfeeblement), but it's a pain if you don't have the right one.
JJeff
02-12-07, 12:49 AM But, Boolean. All potions of Restoration that are usually in the modules do not have a flavour attached. Either they don't have flavours and 'heal' whatever it can heal on that person, but only one type. (ie, the character actually makes the choice) or you're leaving it up to the DM to see if he wants to screw the player by letting him declare what flavour it is.

Doesn't seem right.
thorinXXX
02-12-07, 02:14 PM The casting time for Swift action casting time wands and scrolls is covered in Complete Mage: 1 Standard action.

Potions state that it is a standard action. They do not have the language that scrolls do of increasing casing time if the base spell has a longer casting time.
zstinger
02-12-07, 09:44 PM The casting time for Swift action casting time wands and scrolls is covered in Complete Mage: 1 Standard action.

Have a page number?

Isn't it really strange for wands of golemstrike, gravestrike etc. to be explicitly listed on CAdv pg132? How should we account for their existence? Can't really blame authors for putting in inappropriate loot in mods when they actually appear in books.
JJeff
02-12-07, 10:47 PM Actually, YX, the correct page reference is SpC Pg 4. Or at least I can't find any reference in Comp Mage. Correct me if I'm wrong

And yes. No one said that the wands were very useful, just that they exist. They CAN be used given the correct obscure and extremely hard to produce methods:
- Use wand on yourself, share spell with familiar/animal companion that knows how to sneak, Familiar/Animal comp attacks.
- Familiar uses wand on you, you sneak attack
- You use wand on yourself, Quicken Celerity, Sneak attack, then go to bed to rest (dazed).
- You make it to sell to some idiot that doesn't think it is a useless item.
Timlagor
02-12-07, 11:47 PM Use wand and take one or more AoOs
JJeff
02-13-07, 03:21 AM Err... using wands don't provoke AoOs...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Howie23 01-31-07, 02:39 PM	A side thread on a recent post re: activation times for magic items. The time to activate a magic item is at least a standard action unless the spell in question normally has a longer casting time. Spell and spell trigger items both take the full casting time of the spell. This includes scrolls and wands, for instance. So, a scroll or wand of enlarge takes 1 round to use, not just a std action. A scroll or wand of a swift/immediate spell would take the minimum time of 1 standard action. A scroll or wand of lesser restoration takes 3 rounds. A scroll or wand of identify would take one hour. Command word items take 1 standard action. Wands are not command word items, they are spell trigger items. Use activated items require no action. This includes potions and magic weapons/armor. Drinking the potion is an action; activating the potion is automatic. Unless it is a use-activated item, a swift spell/immediate spell cast from a magic item will end up being a standard action. Can anyone identify a pocket case as an exception? These are core rule mechanics. (DMG p. 213) It is explained further in the FAQ. (Dec, 2006 FAQ, p. 33) The only place that I see any wiggle room is that the FAQ says all command word items are 1 standard action, whereas the DMG says casting a spell from an item (even boots) takes the casting time of the item. A command word item that cast a spell that had a casting time of longer than 1 standard action then seems be a pocket case with conflicting rules. This is commonly misplayed for wand of enlarge, per my experience, where players want to use a wand of enlarge w/a standard action, rather than a 1 round action. Probably because this item is fairly common. David
Bob_the_Theurge 01-31-07, 02:43 PM	A side thread on a recent post re: activation times for magic items. The time to activate a magic item is at least a standard action unless the spell in question normally has a longer casting time. Spell and spell trigger items both take the full casting time of the spell. This includes scrolls and wands, for instance. So, a scroll or wand of enlarge takes 1 round to use, not just a std action. A scroll or wand of a swift/immediate spell would take the minimum time of 1 standard action. A scroll or wand of lesser restoration takes 3 rounds. A scroll or wand of identify would take one hour. Command word items take 1 standard action. Wands are not command word items, they are spell trigger items. Use activated items require no action. This includes potions and magic weapons/armor. Drinking the potion is an action; activating the potion is automatic. Unless it is a use-activated item, a swift spell/immediate spell cast from a magic item will end up being a standard action. Can anyone identify a pocket case as an exception? These are core rule mechanics. (DMG p. 213) It is explained further in the FAQ. (Dec, 2006 FAQ, p. 33) The only place that I see any wiggle room is that the FAQ says all command word items are 1 standard action, whereas the DMG says casting a spell from an item (even boots) takes the casting time of the item. A command word item that cast a spell that had a casting time of longer than 1 standard action then seems be a pocket case with conflicting rules. This is commonly misplayed for wand of enlarge, per my experience, where players want to use a wand of enlarge w/a standard action, rather than a 1 round action. Probably because this item is fairly common. David Actually, this makes for a secondary problem; scrolls of certain "swift-action", 1-round duration spells (golem strike, critical strike, grave strike) are functionally useless as has been ruled locally, having a "minimum" casting time of 1 Standard Action.
Howie23 01-31-07, 02:54 PM	Actually, this makes for a secondary problem; scrolls of certain "swift-action", 1-round duration spells (golem strike, critical strike, grave strike) are functionally useless as has been ruled locally, having a "minimum" casting time of 1 Standard Action. Shouldn't only be ruled locally, should be matter of course everywhere, as it is core rules. Scrolls of swift/immediate actions serve the purpose of gaining access. They aren't useful on their own. I had the joy of purchasing an overpriced scroll of close wounds (priced on AR as 3rd level spell); on the plus side, I can resell it for half. :) David
copper_wyrmling 01-31-07, 11:07 PM	Scrolls of swift/immediate actions serve the purpose of gaining access. I've seen favor access to wands of golemstrike... :rolleyes: (i.e. a Core spell, and it doesn't even give a scribing source for wizards) I think that was the same mod where all the arcane limited spells came in scroll form, and all the divine limited spells came in potion form, despite the fact that every caster we fought was divine (so it would've made a lot more sense to have divine scrolls they could actually read, and oils / potions of the arcane spells). My cleric was just a little annoyed about that, since the divine limited spells were very nice and totally inaccessible.
Howie23 01-31-07, 11:46 PM	I've seen favor access to wands of golemstrike... :rolleyes: (i.e. a Core spell, and it doesn't even give a scribing source for wizards) Shakes head That serves no purpose at all, and likely due to oversight on the author's part, as well as the reviewers up the line. Sad. David
szwanger 02-02-07, 03:57 PM	I've seen some judges rule that a potion of enlarge person takes 1 round to take effect, which doesn't make any sense to me. Steve
pedr 02-02-07, 06:58 PM	From the SRD: Activation Drinking a potion or applying an oil requires no special skill. The user merely removes the stopper and swallows the potion or smears on the oil. The following rules govern potion and oil use. Drinking a potion or using an oil on an item of gear is a standard action. The potion or oil takes effect immediately. Using a potion or oil provokes attacks of opportunity. Makes potions of lesser restoration very useful.
JJeff 02-11-07, 10:43 PM	Sorry guys, a question on this topic, albeit not a LG one (since the other boards aren't answering this at all): If I have an ability to quicken a spell-trigger item, similar to the FR Incantrix or the Eberron Artificer, and the Eberron Artificer states as an example the quickening of a wand as a swift action, can you actually pull it off? Or is does the FAQ ruling supercede that, being the latest ruling?
boolean 02-12-07, 12:31 AM	From the SRD: Makes potions of lesser restoration very useful. Yes and no. Potions are like spells cast upon the imbiber. The character taking the potion doesn’t get to make any decisions about the effect —the caster who brewed the potion has already done so. Lesser restoration dispels any magical effects reducing one of the subject’s ability scores or cures 1d4 points of temporary ability damage to one of the subject’s ability scores. Which means that potions of lesser restoration come in twelve different flavours (dispel STR penalty, cure 1d4 STR, dispel DEX penalty, etc.) They are useful, especially the dispel STR penalty flavour (for Ray of Enfeeblement), but it's a pain if you don't have the right one.
JJeff 02-12-07, 12:49 AM	But, Boolean. All potions of Restoration that are usually in the modules do not have a flavour attached. Either they don't have flavours and 'heal' whatever it can heal on that person, but only one type. (ie, the character actually makes the choice) or you're leaving it up to the DM to see if he wants to screw the player by letting him declare what flavour it is. Doesn't seem right.
thorinXXX 02-12-07, 02:14 PM	The casting time for Swift action casting time wands and scrolls is covered in Complete Mage: 1 Standard action. Potions state that it is a standard action. They do not have the language that scrolls do of increasing casing time if the base spell has a longer casting time.
zstinger 02-12-07, 09:44 PM	The casting time for Swift action casting time wands and scrolls is covered in Complete Mage: 1 Standard action. Have a page number? Isn't it really strange for wands of golemstrike, gravestrike etc. to be explicitly listed on CAdv pg132? How should we account for their existence? Can't really blame authors for putting in inappropriate loot in mods when they actually appear in books.
JJeff 02-12-07, 10:47 PM	Actually, YX, the correct page reference is SpC Pg 4. Or at least I can't find any reference in Comp Mage. Correct me if I'm wrong And yes. No one said that the wands were very useful, just that they exist. They CAN be used given the correct obscure and extremely hard to produce methods: - Use wand on yourself, share spell with familiar/animal companion that knows how to sneak, Familiar/Animal comp attacks. - Familiar uses wand on you, you sneak attack - You use wand on yourself, Quicken Celerity, Sneak attack, then go to bed to rest (dazed). - You make it to sell to some idiot that doesn't think it is a useless item.
Timlagor 02-12-07, 11:47 PM	Use wand and take one or more AoOs
JJeff 02-13-07, 03:21 AM	Err... using wands don't provoke AoOs...