Can non-divine characters wear a holy symbol?

[boar]

Can a character that isn't a cleric (or a paladin, etc) wear and gain the benefits of a holy symbol? Of course, since most holy symbol powers trigger on making an attack, most holy symbols would be useless to a character who can't use them as an implement. However, there are a few notable exceptions, such as the Symbol of Hope from the PHB:

Symbol of Hope
Power (Daily): Immediate Reaction. You can use this power when you or an ally within 5 squares of you is hit by an effect that a save can end. You or the ally gains a +5 power bonus to saving throws against the effect.

This would be useful to anybody, especially since it goes in a "free" item slot. It seems "wrong" to let a Wizard or something wear this thing and use it, but the CB lets it be equipped and I can't find anything against doing so in the rules. It's clear that the Wizard wouldn't be able to attack with the symbol, but is there anything in the rules against him wearing it and using the power?

 

[Alabast]

I believe not. Holy symbols are strictly implements, and you need to be able to use one as an implement in order to use it in any way. They have no item slot (neck, head, etc), and thus cannot be "worn" (in a gamist sense) by characters who can't use them as implements.

 

[boar]

Ack, how did I miss this!

PHB 236: Members of other classes gain no benefit from wearing or holding a holy symbol.

Okay, never mind -- answered my own question.

 

[Neonchameleon]

Of course this doesn't prevent a bard grabbing multiclass feats and using both a holy symbol and ki focus despite having no powers to use them with.

 

[Hellzon]

Of course this doesn't prevent a bard grabbing multiclass feats and using both a holy symbol and ki focus despite having no powers to use them with.

And he can get Shadow Step (per encounter) and Healing Word (daily) out of it as well, so it's not like they're weak feats.

 

[keterys]

Yeah, I have two characters multiclassed into divine classes who don't have implement powers (though they have non-implement ones) who suddenly realized 'Oh, hey, I can have a holy symbol... hmm, any of them good?' and yeah, there's a couple of good ones. In addition to Hope, I think there was one for damage on APs, one for increasing radiant vulnerability... couple other good ones.

 

[DracoSuave]

Also, Invokers cannot use holy symbols despite their Divinity.


I don't know about Runepriests.

 

[oakbriar]

Oddly enough, when they statted out Drizzt (Dungeon 171 or 172 I believe) they gave him a Holy Symbol for some reason. None of his powers triggered off it IIRC.

 

[FireLance]

Oddly enough, when they statted out Drizzt (Dungeon 171 or 172 I believe) they gave him a Holy Symbol for some reason. None of his powers triggered off it IIRC.

You know, many people in both fantasy worlds and real life wear holy symbols even though they don't have powers that trigger off them.

 

[oakbriar]

You know, many people in both fantasy worlds and real life wear holy symbols even though they don't have powers that trigger off them.

no doubt. i know what you mean. one of my old characters carried around a flute even though he wasn't a bard. just to add a little flavour for him.

it just seemed weird to stat it out for an npc though. it didn't count as treasure (obviously, since they wouldn't let you kill him). at that point they might as well listed how many days of trail rations he had, or all the 10-foot poles he'd be running around with.