Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Marcia_S 03-19-06, 09:26 AM	Can someone please help me with a rules citation to clarify how many uses of the various "Dusts" you get with a single item? I had always assumed that a Dust (e.g. Dust of Appearance/Disappearance) was a one time use item. However, one of the players at a recent game insisted that the item had no such limitation and that he could use it as often as he wanted. To me, it seems "obvious" based on the cost and description that it is intended as a one-shot, BUT it does not actually have those words in the item description. Is there some rule external to the item description that says something to the effect of "unless otherwise stated, a magic item can only be used once"? Since he got this off an AR, this could come up at other tables he plays (or GMs) at and we could find this replicated by other players. I really don't want to see the players having unlimited usage of a 3500 gp item that gives you BETTER than a Greater Invisibility spell (can't be detected by See Invis, True Seeing, or Invis Purge), but I need to put some "teeth" into my ruling. Thanks, Marcia
King Kashue 03-19-06, 04:25 PM	I would agree with you, since it seems utterly logical, except the rules don't say anything of the sort...In fact, all the items that are single use are specifically stated as such...
JohnduBois 03-19-06, 05:22 PM	Marcia, I didn't suggest this on the Yahoo thread (because I don't doubt that more than one of the infinite monkeys would have called for my head for it), but have you e-mailed Customer Service about it? While it doesn't have the weight of an errata or FAQ, it would certainly have enough weight to back you up in a rules dispute.
zigspatty 03-19-06, 07:03 PM	I had always assumed that a Dust (e.g. Dust of Appearance/Disappearance) was a one time use item. However, one of the players at a recent game insisted that the item had no such limitation and that he could use it as often as he wanted. To me, it seems "obvious" based on the cost and description that it is intended as a one-shot, BUT it does not actually have those words in the item description. A LOT of magic items neglect to specify that they are one use items, though I've never known anyone to claim that a potion or elixer can be used multiple times - one potion or elixer is one dose and it's used up in a single use or it's ineffective. The wondrous item description doesn't say that Dust of Disappearance is sold in multiple-use packets, so I think the key for your player is the 2d6 round duration of his dust. Since the dust is stored in a silk packet or hollow bone tube, once the packet or tube is opened/activated, it's only good for a very short while and covers a defined area (10 foot radius). Even if he could collect up all the dust he scattered, it would then be inert. The burden should then be upon the player to show you where in the description that it says that his dust regenerates when its duration runs out - If he wants regenerating magic items, he'll need to play Mark of Heroes instead... maybe that's where he got the idea that consumables weren't necessarily consumed in their use? Patty