Command word a free action??

[Dristram]

I'm at work so I can't reference my rule books.

First, isn't activating a magic item something like a standard action? Even if it's activated by a command word? Since a command word is considered "speech", and speaking is a free action, how come activating a magic item (like flaming for a sword) isn't a free action? Or is it?

tanx,

 

[dcollins]

DMG p. 175 ("Command Word", 2nd paragraph):

Activating a command word magic item is a standard action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

 

[Dristram]

Ah, you know...I think I get it now. The saying the command word isn't a standard action. It's free. But it takes a standard action for the item to activate.

Sound right?

Thanks!

 

[AuraSeer]

Activating a command-word item is a standard action. Seethis page.

In rules terms, this is a balance concern. If speaking a command word were a free action, you could activate any number of magic items in a given round. Command-based items would be far more useful than other item types, and their market price would need to be higher.

If you want an in-game explanation, then activating a magic item requires more than just speaking the sounds. You must also will the item to activate, which takes a few seconds to do. (This would also be why a Magic Mouth cannot activate items with a command word, and also why you can't extinguish your enemy's flaming sword just by repeating his command.)