Activate Two Magic Items? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Activate Two Magic Items? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
b3jsd73jfx
07-19-07, 11:19 AM I'm wondering if there's a feat (or some other manner) that allows you to activate two magic items in one round (ex: two rods, one in each hand). Preferably out of these books if you can:
PHB
PHB II
DMG
Any "Complete" Book
tui
07-19-07, 11:28 AM I'm wondering if there's a feat (or some other manner) that allows you to activate two magic items in one round (ex: two rods, one in each hand). Preferably out of these books if you can:
PHB
PHB II
DMG
Any "Complete" Book

Well, there's Double Wand Wielder from CA.
Dheran
07-19-07, 11:38 AM The most straightforward way I know of is to craft the magic item yourself:Command Word

If no activation method is suggested either in the magic item description or by the nature of the item, assume that a command word is needed to activate it. Command word activation means that a character speaks the word and the item activates. No other special knowledge is needed.

A command word can be a real word, but when this is the case, the holder of the item runs the risk of activating the item accidentally by speaking the word in normal conversation. More often, the command word is some seemingly nonsensical word, or a word or phrase from an ancient language no longer in common use. Activating a command word magic item is a standard action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Craft the item, choose a "real" word as the activation command, and speak the word whenever you want:Speak

In general, speaking is a free action that you can perform even when it isn’t your turn. The next n posters are probably all going to chime in and say that the sentence I highlighted in the rules is actually "flavor" text with no intended rule content. But it's part of the rules, and I take it as written to represent two different types of command words.
b3jsd73jfx
07-19-07, 11:44 AM Actually, read the last line in the first part you posted:
Activating a command word magic item is a standard action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity.
Still a standard action... But thanks. And I'll look at Double Wand Wielder
CreepingCharly
07-19-07, 11:53 AM There is a new item in the MIC that gives you extra actions (move, standard, & full) as well. I think it is Belt of Battle, or something similar.

Plus if one item has a Swift Action activation and the other has Standard Action, you could use both at them at the same time...

--Charly
tarkin
07-19-07, 12:00 PM The most straightforward way I know of is to craft the magic item yourself: Craft the item, choose a "real" word as the activation command, and speak the word whenever you want: The next n posters are probably all going to chime in and say that the sentence I highlighted in the rules is actually "flavor" text with no intended rule content. But it's part of the rules, and I take it as written to represent two different types of command words.

Wow, you know casting a V only spell only involves speaking too, so all spells should take a free action, RIGHT?

Wrong. Command word is definitely a seperate kind of speaking, not regular speaking.

Specifically it requires concentration and effort. Thus it is a Standard Action, unless you house rule a lot.
Dheran
07-19-07, 12:01 PM Still a standard action... But thanks. If you follow that rule all the way there are some significant problems. For instance, you are forbidden to ever activate or deactivate any command word item outside of combat, because there are no standard actions until initiative is rolled. :confused:
Dheran
07-19-07, 12:05 PM Command word is definitely a seperate kind of speaking, not regular speaking. Uh, what part of speaking the word in normal conversation isn't "regular speaking"?
jaelis
07-19-07, 12:08 PM If you follow that rule all the way there are some significant problems. For instance, you are forbidden to ever activate or deactivate any command word item outside of combat, because there are no standard actions until initiative is rolled. :confused:

So you don't allow spell-casting outside of combat either? That generally also takes a standard action. And what about moving... by the same logic, there are no move actions outside of combat.

There's no rule that you can't perform actions outside of combat, you just don't track them in initiative order.
Dheran
07-19-07, 12:15 PM So you don't allow spell-casting outside of combat either? That generally also takes a standard action. And what about moving... by the same logic, there are no move actions outside of combat.
I really wish there were some standard convention, like using orange text, to denote sarcasm. It seemed pretty obvious when I was writing it.
jaelis
07-19-07, 12:18 PM Fair enough, sorry!
tarkin
07-19-07, 03:15 PM Where/who came up with the idea of using color to mark sarcasm? It sounds like a good idea, but I think it needs some more publicity before you can safely use it.
Pentar
07-19-07, 03:27 PM And if I may, orange is a very hard colour to look at. Something darker please! :)
penchant
07-19-07, 03:40 PM Put a color code in your sig so people know what they mean. But that's good. I've been writing my own emotes for a while now :grin:.

I'm not sure which classes of items qualify, but if you simply pay for quickened items, then it should work, especially if your lower level choice is something you want to use alot. Wands don't work simply because of the 4th level limitation (though 0 level quickened wands are possible... but why would you?).

As far as the command word problem, its been around for a while. The assertion that coding two items to the same command word will allow both items to be activated simultaneously has been around for several editions. Wands are not command word items but spell completion items so it won't work (or for any spell completion item at that). Wondrous items are generally what are considered command word items (or rods, weapons and armor that have wondrous qualities). For me, I would adjudicate it on a case by case basis. For instance if you had two rings of the ram and wanted to use both at the same time and had both constructed with the same command word, I would allow it to work. The limitation is that you have to have both hands free to do so. You cannot activate only one.
tarkin
07-19-07, 04:01 PM A command word is supposed to represent effort and concentration, not just a word. That is the entire reason why it takes a standard action.

As such, it makes no sense to me claiming that the same amount of effort/concentration can activate two different items.

But you can activate multiple abilities of the SAME item (see +1 Flaming, Shocking, Frost sword) with a single command word. It is part of a single item, and it takes the same amount of effort to activate no matter how powerfull the effet is.

If it is two different items, it is two different standard actions.

Similarly casting two different spells takes two different standard actions.
penchant
07-19-07, 06:40 PM I disagree. The reason that it takes a standard action is not really specified. It could be simply that it takes a bit of time for an item to discharge. Like the ring of the Ram must be pointed and then activated. It takes a second for the charge to go off. Holding two rings sideby side at the same target would then take the same amount of time. Actions represent time, and not necessarily effort. You can take a full round action do nothing at all.

Also, with command word items a 1st level commoner with an intelligence of 3 can still use a command word item if he only knows its command. It would have to be one of his ten word vocabulary, of course but true none the less. So how much effort does it take?

And again, command words are simply a single activation word (or phrase) while verbal spells are complex intonations that require years of training to intone properly. The fact that both are a standard action is, again, a reflection of time and not complexity. To put it differently, a deafened wizard has a spell failure chance because he might not get his pitches right, whereas a person can still use a command word item while deafened normally.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
b3jsd73jfx 07-19-07, 11:19 AM	I'm wondering if there's a feat (or some other manner) that allows you to activate two magic items in one round (ex: two rods, one in each hand). Preferably out of these books if you can: PHB PHB II DMG Any "Complete" Book
tui 07-19-07, 11:28 AM	I'm wondering if there's a feat (or some other manner) that allows you to activate two magic items in one round (ex: two rods, one in each hand). Preferably out of these books if you can: PHB PHB II DMG Any "Complete" Book Well, there's Double Wand Wielder from CA.
Dheran 07-19-07, 11:38 AM	The most straightforward way I know of is to craft the magic item yourself:Command Word If no activation method is suggested either in the magic item description or by the nature of the item, assume that a command word is needed to activate it. Command word activation means that a character speaks the word and the item activates. No other special knowledge is needed. A command word can be a real word, but when this is the case, the holder of the item runs the risk of activating the item accidentally by speaking the word in normal conversation. More often, the command word is some seemingly nonsensical word, or a word or phrase from an ancient language no longer in common use. Activating a command word magic item is a standard action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Craft the item, choose a "real" word as the activation command, and speak the word whenever you want:Speak In general, speaking is a free action that you can perform even when it isn’t your turn. The next n posters are probably all going to chime in and say that the sentence I highlighted in the rules is actually "flavor" text with no intended rule content. But it's part of the rules, and I take it as written to represent two different types of command words.
b3jsd73jfx 07-19-07, 11:44 AM	Actually, read the last line in the first part you posted: Activating a command word magic item is a standard action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Still a standard action... But thanks. And I'll look at Double Wand Wielder
CreepingCharly 07-19-07, 11:53 AM	There is a new item in the MIC that gives you extra actions (move, standard, & full) as well. I think it is Belt of Battle, or something similar. Plus if one item has a Swift Action activation and the other has Standard Action, you could use both at them at the same time... --Charly
tarkin 07-19-07, 12:00 PM	The most straightforward way I know of is to craft the magic item yourself: Craft the item, choose a "real" word as the activation command, and speak the word whenever you want: The next n posters are probably all going to chime in and say that the sentence I highlighted in the rules is actually "flavor" text with no intended rule content. But it's part of the rules, and I take it as written to represent two different types of command words. Wow, you know casting a V only spell only involves speaking too, so all spells should take a free action, RIGHT? Wrong. Command word is definitely a seperate kind of speaking, not regular speaking. Specifically it requires concentration and effort. Thus it is a Standard Action, unless you house rule a lot.
Dheran 07-19-07, 12:01 PM	Still a standard action... But thanks. If you follow that rule all the way there are some significant problems. For instance, you are forbidden to ever activate or deactivate any command word item outside of combat, because there are no standard actions until initiative is rolled. :confused:
Dheran 07-19-07, 12:05 PM	Command word is definitely a seperate kind of speaking, not regular speaking. Uh, what part of speaking the word in normal conversation isn't "regular speaking"?
jaelis 07-19-07, 12:08 PM	If you follow that rule all the way there are some significant problems. For instance, you are forbidden to ever activate or deactivate any command word item outside of combat, because there are no standard actions until initiative is rolled. :confused: So you don't allow spell-casting outside of combat either? That generally also takes a standard action. And what about moving... by the same logic, there are no move actions outside of combat. There's no rule that you can't perform actions outside of combat, you just don't track them in initiative order.
Dheran 07-19-07, 12:15 PM	So you don't allow spell-casting outside of combat either? That generally also takes a standard action. And what about moving... by the same logic, there are no move actions outside of combat. I really wish there were some standard convention, like using orange text, to denote sarcasm. It seemed pretty obvious when I was writing it.
jaelis 07-19-07, 12:18 PM	Fair enough, sorry!
tarkin 07-19-07, 03:15 PM	Where/who came up with the idea of using color to mark sarcasm? It sounds like a good idea, but I think it needs some more publicity before you can safely use it.
Pentar 07-19-07, 03:27 PM	And if I may, orange is a very hard colour to look at. Something darker please! :)
penchant 07-19-07, 03:40 PM	Put a color code in your sig so people know what they mean. But that's good. I've been writing my own emotes for a while now :grin:. I'm not sure which classes of items qualify, but if you simply pay for quickened items, then it should work, especially if your lower level choice is something you want to use alot. Wands don't work simply because of the 4th level limitation (though 0 level quickened wands are possible... but why would you?). As far as the command word problem, its been around for a while. The assertion that coding two items to the same command word will allow both items to be activated simultaneously has been around for several editions. Wands are not command word items but spell completion items so it won't work (or for any spell completion item at that). Wondrous items are generally what are considered command word items (or rods, weapons and armor that have wondrous qualities). For me, I would adjudicate it on a case by case basis. For instance if you had two rings of the ram and wanted to use both at the same time and had both constructed with the same command word, I would allow it to work. The limitation is that you have to have both hands free to do so. You cannot activate only one.
tarkin 07-19-07, 04:01 PM	A command word is supposed to represent effort and concentration, not just a word. That is the entire reason why it takes a standard action. As such, it makes no sense to me claiming that the same amount of effort/concentration can activate two different items. But you can activate multiple abilities of the SAME item (see +1 Flaming, Shocking, Frost sword) with a single command word. It is part of a single item, and it takes the same amount of effort to activate no matter how powerfull the effet is. If it is two different items, it is two different standard actions. Similarly casting two different spells takes two different standard actions.
penchant 07-19-07, 06:40 PM	I disagree. The reason that it takes a standard action is not really specified. It could be simply that it takes a bit of time for an item to discharge. Like the ring of the Ram must be pointed and then activated. It takes a second for the charge to go off. Holding two rings sideby side at the same target would then take the same amount of time. Actions represent time, and not necessarily effort. You can take a full round action do nothing at all. Also, with command word items a 1st level commoner with an intelligence of 3 can still use a command word item if he only knows its command. It would have to be one of his ten word vocabulary, of course but true none the less. So how much effort does it take? And again, command words are simply a single activation word (or phrase) while verbal spells are complex intonations that require years of training to intone properly. The fact that both are a standard action is, again, a reflection of time and not complexity. To put it differently, a deafened wizard has a spell failure chance because he might not get his pitches right, whereas a person can still use a command word item while deafened normally.