Clarfication needed for Glove of Storing

[Dark Dragon]

Hi everybody,

just a simple question...assume a PC (halfling rogue), who is very enthusiastic using her light crossbow (with a rapid reload enchantment). To have the crossbow always ready to fire (and being to able to fire twice in the first round), she loads it with a bolt and then puts it into a Glove of Storing...so far, so problematic...

Our DM is a bit picky about the rules and says that putting a loaded crossbow into a GoS would mean to put two items into it (the crossbow and the bolt)...

As he is correct by the words (a GoS can hold only one item), I think he's a bit exaggerating. If he insists on ruling strictly word by word, a simple healing potion wouldn't go into a GoS, because it consist of a vial (glass, steel...), a stopper and the liquid (three items, to be very exactly), same for a lantern (made of steel, glass, oil, perhaps a mirror inside, and a wick....) or a spellbook (consists of many sheets of paper, clay, or copper...).

When I was DM, I ruled it that as long as there's an item in a GoS, you can't put in a second one. When the items are fixed together, they're one item (crossbow+bolt, sheets of paper for a spellbook, potion...), but that's just my interpretation.

Any ideas to handle it?

 

[hong]

Your DM is being silly. Beat him with a stick at the next session.


Hong "works on me" Ooi

 

[Mahali]

Double that for me. What about a torch? Wood, oil, flamable wrappings. Oh, it has a spider web on it... won't go.

 

[cptg1481]

Ugh...

Most rules are no substitute for thoughtful application of them within the faramework that the game is supposed to be fun.

I mean come on now, the DM gave the glove right, the PC came up with a cool way to use it, it's not unbalanced, it's fair and most of all it's a cool image (Whipping out the x-bow as a suprise for said nasties is cool.), besides it's like a one shot thing, it won't be able to be used more than once per combat.....duh.

I always allow my players to do something cool outside the rules if it adds a spark of uniqueness to their character's combat style and metods, heck I even give my monk a +1 to hit for any attack he gives a reasonable name like dragon tail sweep etc.

As a Dm always reward creative thinking with the willingness to bend the rules.

 

[Orm]

Your DM seems to be a little narrow minded. The x-bow itself consists of a whole set of items. The bow, the shaft, the string, the trigger -again some more single pieces- and so on. Now, ask him if he would allow a repeating x-bow, that -per description- holds five bolts. If he does, he should allow your rogue´s x-bow as well. If not, beat him with a stick. Or let his character suffer a tragic "hunting accident" with a x-bow involved (just kiddin´).


Orm

 

[mmu1]

I disagree with most people here, i think your DM needs to be smacked across the face with a hockey glove, then beaten with a stick (or ridiculed by all as a cur that he is if he refuses the challenge).

 

[shaeltin]

Tell your DM that they are a TOOL and should be beaten with a stick quite servely.

Also chase after them, threting them, they will came down after awhile and see the light!

 

[Keith]

I think the item description is a bit skimpy, for one thing. This seems so clearly an issue that will come up with this item, I think it should be referred to specifically. Like the lit torch; it works, we know, because it is mentioned.

I think the key factor is not whether an object is composed of multiple pieces, or sub-objects, like say the crossbow (or torch, if you like). I think the important factor is whether or not, in the mind of the person using the glove, the object they try to place in the glove is one object in terms of utility. I think it has to work that way- how would the glove know a single object from a composite object?

To support the loaded crossbow as an option, you need to have some mechanism for preventing, say, a shortsword being tied to the crossbow and “hey, it is one item now!” If you don’t, then I agree that the bolt has to be regarded as a separate object with its own utility. Two objects working well together is not enough of a reason to consider them one object.

One option would be to certainly allow a wound crossbow to be in the glove and remain taut, and rule that simply dropping a quarrel in place is a free action. After all, loading the quarrel itself is a very quick process, not a substantial part of the time between shots.

The loaded crossbow is a cool idea, and I think in line with the intent of the object (good, but no better than having a lit torch “handy” in a pinch…). I agree, though, that there is some doubt whether this would work. I think people may be too harsh about the DM standing in the way of something cool, when in this case they may have to.

Also: what do you do about spells cast on an item that goes in the glove? Maybe that is not relevant here, though.

Personally, I’d allow the loaded crossbow, but I am of the opinion that it is in the sprit of the rules while breaking the letter of them.

 

[Forrester]

I'd allow it. And I'm a Rat Bastard.

 

[Marius Delphus]

Another vote for "narrow-minded DM."

IMHO, for Glove purposes we pretty much have one discrete object here: "loaded crossbow." If you tried to store the crossbow and an *unloaded bolt*, they won't go in the Glove together. Same problem if you tied a sword to the crossbow; it's a case-by-case conceptual thing. A sword is always a discrete object with respect to a crossbow (unless, I guess, you melted it down and coated the crossbow with it; then you'd have one discrete object, "nonfunctional steel plated crossbow"), but not, say, to its scabbard.

There's a line somewhere between "sheathed sword" and "explorer's outfit," say, that lets you store the first in the Glove and not the second. And it's probably much closer to "sword" than "outfit." How about "box of dominoes"? "Stack of paper" (as opposed to "book")? "One meal's worth of dry rations"? "Quiver of arrows"? "Calligraphy kit"? "Pair of boots"? "Charm bracelet full of charms"? "Disguise kit"? "Bag of gold pieces"?

Of course very few of these things tend to make it to a Glove of Storing. I'm just saying that if we want a "bright line" rule it must make decisions regarding the above fairly obvious and quick... otherwise it's not a "bright line" rule and we're back to DM reasoning ("fiat"). But while we're at it, what about the Shrink Item spell?