Demetrios1453
Hero
I've been reading the new DMG, and I've discovered something very interesting. Between the PHB and DMG, the wearing and use of magic items is usually precisely defined. But It's not for rings, for some reason. Here is are the relevant texts on the matter from both books:
PHB:
Using a magic item’s properties might mean wearing or wielding it. A magic item meant to be worn must be donned in the intended fashion: boots go on feet, gloves on hands, hats and helmets on a head, and rings on a finger. Magic armor must be donned, a Shield strapped to the arm, a cloak fastened about the shoulders. A weapon must be held.
In most cases, a magic item that’s meant to be worn can fit a creature regardless of size or build. Magic garments are made to be easily adjustable, or they magically adjust themselves to the wearer.
You can’t wear more than one of certain magic items. You can’t normally wear more than one pair of footwear, one pair of gloves or gauntlets, one pair of bracers, one suit of armor, one item of headwear, or one cloak. The DM might make exceptions.
Items that come in pairs—such as boots, bracers, gauntlets, and gloves—impart their benefits only if both items of the pair are worn. For example, a character wearing a Boot of Striding and Springing on one foot and a Boot of Elvenkind on the other foot gains no benefit from either."
And from the DMG:
For its magic to function, an item in the Ring category must be worn on a finger or a similar digit unless its description notes otherwise."
I've looked around elsewhere in the new PHB and DMG, but there's no exact limit given for number of rings that can be worn that I can find. They aren't listed in the PHB among the types of items that allow only one to be worn, and the DMG just states that they have to be worn on a finger or similar digit (in a sidebar it states that a ring might be worn on a tentacle, for example). The traditional limit has always been two (one for each hand) as far as I'm aware, but I'm not seeing that in the current revision. Has anyone discovered any limitations for magical rings worn, or can some rules-lawyer player come along and start wearing as many as they have digits (and then start talking about toes as well?)
PHB:
"Wearing and Wielding Items
Using a magic item’s properties might mean wearing or wielding it. A magic item meant to be worn must be donned in the intended fashion: boots go on feet, gloves on hands, hats and helmets on a head, and rings on a finger. Magic armor must be donned, a Shield strapped to the arm, a cloak fastened about the shoulders. A weapon must be held.
In most cases, a magic item that’s meant to be worn can fit a creature regardless of size or build. Magic garments are made to be easily adjustable, or they magically adjust themselves to the wearer.
Multiple Items of the Same Kind
You can’t wear more than one of certain magic items. You can’t normally wear more than one pair of footwear, one pair of gloves or gauntlets, one pair of bracers, one suit of armor, one item of headwear, or one cloak. The DM might make exceptions.
Paired Items
Items that come in pairs—such as boots, bracers, gauntlets, and gloves—impart their benefits only if both items of the pair are worn. For example, a character wearing a Boot of Striding and Springing on one foot and a Boot of Elvenkind on the other foot gains no benefit from either."
And from the DMG:
"Rings
For its magic to function, an item in the Ring category must be worn on a finger or a similar digit unless its description notes otherwise."
I've looked around elsewhere in the new PHB and DMG, but there's no exact limit given for number of rings that can be worn that I can find. They aren't listed in the PHB among the types of items that allow only one to be worn, and the DMG just states that they have to be worn on a finger or similar digit (in a sidebar it states that a ring might be worn on a tentacle, for example). The traditional limit has always been two (one for each hand) as far as I'm aware, but I'm not seeing that in the current revision. Has anyone discovered any limitations for magical rings worn, or can some rules-lawyer player come along and start wearing as many as they have digits (and then start talking about toes as well?)
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