Questions about Pearl of Power

Greenfield · May 12, 2017

First, should this work for spontaneous casters? (I know it doesn't, just asking if it should.)

Second, after seeing that Pearl of Power is a fraction of the price of a Ring of Wizardry of the same level, what's the functional difference between a Wizard with several Pearls of Power and a Sorcerer?

The Wiz has to prepare spells that become his/her "known spells" list for the day, but after that they can cast any of those spell as many times as they like, up to the number of Pearls they have for the level, plus one.

Math wise: A Wiz can afford 20 1st level PoP for the price of a 1st level Ring of Wizardry. (PoP 1k, RoW 20k )
A wiz can afford 10 2nd level PoP for the price of a 2nd level Ring of Wizardry. (PoP 4k, Row 40 k)
A Wiz can afford 7 3rd level PoP for the price of a 3rd level Ring of Wizardry (PoP 9k, RoW 70k)
A Wiz can afford 6 4th level PoP for the price of a 4th level Ring of Wizardry (Pop 16k, RoW 100k)

I could continue, but Rings of Wizardry stop at 4th level, and Pearls of Power don't.

Ring of Wizardry double the spell slots for a given level, not counting bonus slots for ability. That generally means it can add up to four, since Wiz' don't get more than four spell slots at any spell level.

Third question: At what point do POP qualify as "Broken"?

Teemu · May 12, 2017

Think of it this way: The ring allows a wizard to boost his strength -- adaptability. With the pearls, you can cast more of the same few spells, but with the ring, you can cast a larger variety of spells and thus be more flexible in dealing with challenges. The difference between the sorcerer and the pearl wizard is gold. The wizard can become more spontaneous, but the sorcerer would have as much coin to spend on items too.

If you wanted to, you could use the memento magica costs for pearls of power. That's the spontaneous pearl, and it's more expensive.

Greenfield · May 14, 2017

I understand that the Pearls of Power don't fully replace the function of the Ring of Wizardry. The caster doesn't have the full breadth of choice that the Ring gives.

Bur for half the price or so (at least at the lower levels) they far outstrip the other function, the ability to stack favorite combat spells and, effectively turn them into "Cast at will" abilities.

Breadth of spell range can be easily handled with Scrolls for the utility and "just in case" spells casters often carry.

But, for what they do, and what they cn do when stacked five or six deep, they're a bargain. When stacked ten deep they're close to broken.

Michael Silverbane · May 16, 2017

The biggest advantage that the ring of wizardry has over the pearl of power is its impact (or lack of) on the action economy.

To use a ring of wizardry, you just wear it. To use a pearl of power, it is...

Round 1 - Cast a spell
Round 2 - Use the pearl of power to get your spell back
Round 3 - Cast your spell again

Also, even though they are often treated as such, the price of the pearl of power would suggest that they are not a slotless item, meaning that they need to be held during use... So the order of operations becomes.

Round 1 - Cast a spell
Round 2 - Get out the appropriate pearl of power
Round 3 - Use the pearl of power to get your spell back
Round 4 - Put away your pearl of power
Round 5 - Cast your spell again

That is quite a significant time investment.

If you think that they are broken, work out some way with your players to fix them...

Greenfield · May 16, 2017

Hmm. Interesting thought.

Per the DMG:

DMG Page 213 said:
Use Activated: This type of item simply has to be used in order to activate it. A character has to drink a potion, swing a sword, interpose a shield to deflect a blow in combat, look through a lens, sprinkle dust, wear a ring, or don a hat. Use activation is generally straightforward and self-explanatory.
Many use-activated items are objects that a character wears. Continually functioning items, such as a cloak of resistance or a headband of intellect, are practically always items that one wears. A few, such as a pearl of power, must simply be in the character’s possession (on his person, not at home in a locked trunk). However, some items made for wearing, such as a ring of invisibility, must still be activated. Although this activation sometimes requires a command word (see above), usually it means mentally willing the activation to happen. The description of an item states whether a command word is needed in such a case...

So this states that the Pearl of Power is both slotless and use-activated. No digging for it and no action required to activate.

I generally agree with you though, that a user should hold or handle the item, even if it is slotless. Think of a metamagic Rod. It's slotless, but still needs to be held and handled to use. Still, a string of pearls could be worn as a necklace or bracelet without using a neck or wrist slot. A pearl ring wouldn't use a Ring slot either. One could have them set in silver-and-pearl buttons for that matter.

As for working with the player to see how broken it is: In this case, I'm the player.

The Ring adds a max of four spell slots, so one Pearl of Power isn't broken. Two Pearls of Power aren't broken. Ten Pearls of Power, for the same level, on the other hand...

Michael Silverbane · May 16, 2017

Greenfield said:
Per the DMG:

So this states that the Pearl of Power is both slotless and use-activated. No digging for it and no action required to activate.

It would be handy if that text was in the description of the pearl of power, rather than, you know, elsewhere.

If you think it is broken, you should work with the other players (of which the DM is one) to fix it.

Teemu · May 16, 2017

A pearl of power does require a standard action to activate. It even says in the description, "once per day on command." The spontaneous version of the item, memento magica, specifies a standard action command word as the activation type (no slot though, so you just have to have it on your person). Makes sense that a pearl of power would work identically. Thus, you could have as many pearls of power on your person as you could fit in your pouches and whatnot, and activate one with a standard action command word (so each pearl would have a separate word).

Greenfield · May 16, 2017

Michael Silverbane said:
It would be handy if that text was in the description of the pearl of power, rather than, you know, elsewhere.

Well, let's look at the item description in the DMG:

DMG Page 263 said:
Pearl of Power: This seemingly normal pearl of average size and luster is a potent aid to all spellcasters who prepare spells (clerics, druids, rangers, paladins, and wizards). Once per day on command, a pearl of power enables the possessor to recall any one spell that she had prepared and then cast. The spell is then prepared again, just as if it had not been cast. The spell must be of a particular level, depending on the pearl. Different pearls exist for recalling one spell per day of each level from 1st through 9th and for the recall of two spells per day (each of a different level, 6th or lower). Strong transmutation; CL 17th; Craft Wondrous Item, creator must be able to cast spells of the spell level to be recalled; Price
1,000 gp (1st), 4,000 gp (2nd), 9,000 gp (3rd), 16,000 gp (4th),
25,000 gp (5th), 36,000 gp (6th), 49,000 gp (7th), 64,000 gp (8th),
81,000 gp (9th), or 70,000 gp (two spells).

Per the highlighted text above, the Pearl need merely be possessed, not held or wielded.

The "On command" part is misleading though. That implies that it's command activated, rather than Use activated.

Greenfield · May 16, 2017

Teemu said:
A pearl of power does require a standard action to activate. It even says in the description, "once per day on command." The spontaneous version of the item, memento magica, specifies a standard action command word as the activation type (no slot though, so you just have to have it on your person). Makes sense that a pearl of power would work identically. Thus, you could have as many pearls of power on your person as you could fit in your pouches and whatnot, and activate one with a standard action command word (so each pearl would have a separate word).

The description does imply something that contradicts the earlier description.

But Momento Magica didn't exist when the DMG was written (as far as I can tell), so I'm pretty sure the book wasn't referring to that.

<EDIT>Momento Magica is from Races of the Dragon, which is a 3.5 book, and clearly post-dates the Dungeon Master's Guide</EDIT>

My thoughts: The DMG text on Use Activated does include mention of operating on a spoken or even a mental command. So apparently "On command" doesn't always imply "Command activated". On the whole though, I would have read it the same way you did.

Teemu · May 16, 2017

Memento magica is from Magic Item Compendium, which clarifies magic item activation and body slot rules. A memento magica is exactly the same as a pearl of power, except that it's specifically for spontaneous casters (since the pearl is only for preparing casters), plus it's a little bit more expensive. A memento magica has a body slot entry of "--" and an activation entry of "standard (command)", and an item called vest of the archmagi from the same book says, "that it allows him to recall up to three arcane spells that he had previously prepared and cast (as a pearl of power, except that it can be used for any spell up to 9th level and activating it requires only a swift action)."

All that strongly suggests that a pearl of power is activated with a standard action command word, and you simply carry them somewhere on your person.

Questions about Pearl of Power

Greenfield

Adventurer

Teemu

Hero

Greenfield

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Michael Silverbane

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Greenfield

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Michael Silverbane

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Teemu

Hero

Greenfield

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Greenfield

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Teemu

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