Ring of Invisibility

[Jimlock]

Invisibility
By activating this simple silver ring, the wearer can benefit from invisibility, as the spell.

Faint illusion; CL 3rd; Forge Ring, invisibility; Price 20,000 gp.

Magic Rings

Activation
Usually, a ring’s ability is activated by a command word (a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity) or it works continually. Some rings have exceptional activation methods, according to their descriptions.

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.


Ok... so if I get this straight, A ring of invisibility is activated by a command word (a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity) and then it affects the wearer as the spell for 3 minutes (1 min/lvl - CL 3rd). Upon striking an opponent the spell ends and the wearer has to spend another standard action (command word) in order to activate it anew, if he so wishes.

Also, the wearer has the option to speak the command word (standard action) any time during those 3min, so as to "recharge" the duration... as per

Same Effect with Differing Durations: When the same effect is cast more than once on the same target, the durations of the effects don’t stack. Each effect’s duration elapses normally.

Since Invisibility is Dismissible (D) as well as a spell that requires a verbal component, and since:

(D) Dismissible
If the Duration line ends with "(D)," you can dismiss the spell at will. You must be within range of the spell’s effect and must speak words of dismissal, which are usually a modified form of the spell’s verbal component. If the spell has no verbal component, you can dismiss the effect with a gesture. Dismissing a spell is a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

...the wearer has the option to dismiss the ring's powers by speaking those "words of dismissal" (another command word) by taking a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Now, I assume that when the user removes the ring from his finger, the effect ends. Another take on this would be that the effect ends once the duration expires, no matter if the user keeps on wearing the ring. RAW does not specify what happens in such a case, even though it seems more logical that the effect ends upon removing the ring from the finger.

The action it takes to wear/remove rings, is not specified either, although it is probably a move action [like drawing/sheathing a weapon - Switch hands with an item (RC, p8)] that does not provoke an AoO (like switch hands with item).


...is this ok or am I missing something?

 

[Greenfield]

Most people play that the ring's effects don't expire in three minutes.

The key is that you "benefit from invisibility, as the spell", rather than actually having the spell cast on you.

It simplifies things a lot.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I've always seen it played correctly. As in, it expires every three minutes. And you can refresh it early while still invisible by overlapping the durations (actually not a bad idea to give some buffer against dispelling, too...). You just have to yell out "Command Word!" Well, whatever the command word is, but for almost a decade that's been a running joke in my groups that the command word for any magic item is "Command Word!" yelled really loudly.

 

[Jimlock]

Most people play that the ring's effects don't expire in three minutes.

It is true that a lot of people play it like that, this is why I started this thread...

The key is that you "benefit from invisibility, as the spell", rather than actually having the spell cast on you.

The way I see it, "as the spell" means what it means... which is that you abide to the spell's descriptions. If there there was something different in respect to the spell they would have mentioned it, as they do for other magical items.

 

[Greenfield]

Some magic rings, such as Spell Turning, specifically state that they allow you to cast the spell on yourself.

Most others grant the power either for a specified period, specified number of uses, or they function continuously once activated.

You're the first person I've ever encountered who read that one as having a duration.

But I can see your reading. I read it as "benefit from invisibility", as in you gain the benefits of Invisibility, as distinct from "when activated, the spell casts Invisibility on you".

I guess that's why there are horse races.

 

[Ahnehnois]

It's a murky area. I've played the duration as indefinite (until the user attacks anyway). Beyond trying to read into the rules text, I see two reasons to do this.

1. The thing costs 20,000 gp.
(Keeping in mind the default cost is around 11,000 gp by the always-an-adventure pricing rules). For 20k, you shouldn't have to reup every 3 minutes.

2. Constantly repeating the command word seems silly and antidramatic.

I would allow the user to dismiss it, and I would end the effect with the removal of the ring, but that's just me.

Rings

A ring is a circular metal band worn on the finger (no more than two rings per wearer) that has a spell-like power (often a constant effect that affects the wearer).

This text from Magic Item Basics seems to suggest the indefinite duration was intended, but it's hardly conclusive. Notice the word "spell-like" which gives a lot of leeway in interpreting whether the ring is casting a spell or not.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

I've always seen it played correctly. As in, it expires every three minutes. And you can refresh it early while still invisible by overlapping the durations (actually not a bad idea to give some buffer against dispelling, too...). You just have to yell out "Command Word!"

Yes, this.

"As the spell" + "Spell = 1 minute / CL" + "CL 3" = 3 minutes per command word activation.

Funny bit about the command word.

I figure the upcharge vs. the 3 * 2 * 1,800 price is because invisibility is just damn useful to have at will.

 

[anest1s]

Just wondering, what would you do with lets say, a ring of silence?

 

[Sekhmet]

Having an at-will ability with a duration seems annoyingly irrelevant. One round prior to the end of the duration, you just have to refresh it. You're never in combat during that time, the round spent is always an irrelevant factor in whatever you're trying to do.
Also, according to the very horrible magic item creation lists, a use activated or continuous Ring of Invisibility would cost 24,000 (2nd level spell x 3rd level caster x 2,000 GP x 2 for a spell measured in 1minute/level increments = 24,000gp), which is right about what the book charges for it's Ring of Invisibility, as opposed to the 10,800gp it would be if it were just a command word activation, which is nearly half of what the book charges.

Just wondering, what would you do with lets say, a ring of silence?

I made a Ring of Silence as a cursed item once. Muted the user without the user being aware of it when he attempted to use meaningful words (ie: cast a spell, give a motivational speech, etc). Caused quite a bit of confusion for a short while.

 

[Dandu]

Just wondering, what would you do with lets say, a ring of silence?

Activate it after the Silence has worn off?