can you meta magic wands?

[kreynolds]

The usual link for newcomers: www.superdan.net/dndfaq3.html

That's all well and good, and I agree, but irrelevant if I'm not asking as a player.

 

[dcollins]

That's all well and good, and I agree, but irrelevant if I'm not asking as a player.

Well, since the original quote came from the PHB, that seemed to be the context of your question to CS. If you're the DM you can do anything you want as far as new content, and the rules don't really address supporting or restricting such items as far as I can tell.

 

[Pax]

No, Hyp. Fiery Burst, Acid Burst, Thundering, Shocking Burst, Force. IF yer gonna munchkinise, do it RIGHT, eh?

 

[kreynolds]

Well, since the original quote came from the PHB, that seemed to be the context of your question to CS. If you're the DM you can do anything you want as far as new content, and the rules don't really address supporting or restricting such items as far as I can tell.

I gotcha. The reason I asked was from a rules perspective though. I was starting to wonder if wondrous items were simply not meant to contain metamagic effects for strict game design purposes. The reply from CS about quickened spell effects seemingly unable to be placed on scrolls made me wonder if all quickened effects were meant to be entirely stricken from the game for balance purposes. With no answer forthcoming, I just have to assume that it was a botched reply that he forgot that you can indeed quicken a scroll.

I've been focusing on magic items as of late, for some reason.

 

[kreynolds]

Real cute reply from CS...

From: Wizards Customer Service
To: Reynolds,Kelly
Sent: 10/12/03 7:45 PM
Subject: RE: Quickened spells and wands....

Regardless of what meta-magic feats you put on a spell that you put into your wand, you cannot change the activation time of the magic item, which is a standard action (unless otherwise specified by the specific item as listed in the DMG).

**Please quote this e-mail in any reply.**
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Wizards of the Coast - Customer Service
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Feel like I'm conversing with a gorilla.

 

[Tilla the Hun (work)]

Real cute reply from CS...



Feel like I'm conversing with a gorilla.

Probably because you are - or a highly trained monkey trying to type out shakespeare

Unless you write that specifically into the item description, then no, because a lightning bolt would fall under the "casting time" clause, and require a standard action.

Then what 'use' of any magical effect that replicates a spells can be 'subsumed' into the magical effect such that no action is required?

The clause is there for a reason, I'm just trying to find out what they were thinking ... err, maybe smoking ?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Then what 'use' of any magical effect that replicates a spells can be 'subsumed' into the magical effect such that no action is required?

Check the Spell Storing Weapon Special Ability. It allows you to cast a spell as a free action.

Consider a Rod of Absorption. It's not replicating a spell effect, but it requires no action to use its ability.

If the DM created a magic item that acted as a Rod of Absorption that automatically discharged 5 charges as a Maximized Magic Missile at the caster of the spell that pushed it over the 5-charge limit, with no action required by the holder, then that would be a use-activated (by being held) item that replicates a spell (MMM), with no action required (overriding the "casting time of the spell" rule, since it's in the item description).

-Hyp.

 

[Tilla the Hun (work)]

Check the Spell Storing Weapon Special Ability. It allows you to cast a spell as a free action.

Consider a Rod of Absorption. It's not replicating a spell effect, but it requires no action to use its ability.

If the DM created a magic item that acted as a Rod of Absorption that automatically discharged 5 charges as a Maximized Magic Missile at the caster of the spell that pushed it over the 5-charge limit, with no action required by the holder, then that would be a use-activated (by being held) item that replicates a spell (MMM), with no action required (overriding the "casting time of the spell" rule, since it's in the item description).

-Hyp.

OOoo.. Hmm... So you could rig a 'hat' (wondrous item) that had a builtin trigger (when wearer is hit by sword), it discharges a lightning bolt at the person doing the hitting... right?

Or, more simply, what you are describing is a ring of counterspells, and what I'm describing is changing the trigger on the ring.


Does that one work? If so, I do believe I have a vicious idea or two for a coupla players

 

[Hypersmurf]

OOoo.. Hmm... So you could rig a 'hat' (wondrous item) that had a builtin trigger (when wearer is hit by sword), it discharges a lightning bolt at the person doing the hitting... right?

Potentially. I'd look at Fire Shield or Contingency as a place to start trying to figure out pricing. You might also consider the price of a one-charge item of Quickened Lightning Bolt.

Basically, the price of this effect can't be found by referencing the table. But the table might give you a ballpark place to start.

-Hyp.

 

[Pax]

Dragonlance Campaign Sourcebook has that very sort of spell, Hyp ... "Sparkshield".