Magic item creation question for the DMs

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

"Use Activated" seems to be the one area that the system consistently gets into trouble. At least for items that generate a spell effect.

If you look at the standard use activated items, the cost tends to be much greater than 2000*SL*CL.

Ring of Invis,
Cloak of displacement, etc..

There may be some that fit, but most seem to not.

In my game, if you want gloves of true strike, the cost is 1800 gp times the number of uses per day divided by 5. Use activated gloves of true strike just don't happen.

That is the only area that I am clearly strict. Use activated can only be copies of official items. Most every other kind of item is fair game.

 

[CRGreathouse]

I'll also quote the SRD:

Use Activated

This type of item simply has to be used in order to activate it.

This is what Henrix is trying to prevent.

 

[kreynolds]

I agree, Axiomatic. When dealing with use-activated items, you (the DM) need to decide whether the item is more appropriately activated as a standard action or simply when "used". Most items fall into the standard action category. Just about the only items that fall into the "when used" category are weapons, or are not offensive items.

 

[kreynolds]

This is what Henrix is trying to prevent.

First of all, that's real nice, failing to fully quote the SRD to try and bend this argument in another direction.

Secondly, it isn't that difficult for a DM to adjudicate what kind of activation method a use-activated item is. Saying that you ban all low cost use-activated magic items, simply because you don't want to put the work into it, is like saying that you absolutely refuse to drive a car because some people die in car accidents.

And you still failed to answer my questions. Please, I truly am interested in everyone's opinion. I'm just trying to knock out some arguements that I think are bogus because so little though was put into it, such as partially quoting the SRD and leaving out the relevant contents.

 

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

Does it make sense to make these gloves activated as a free action? No. Would you allow it? No. Can you fix it? Yes. If you do fix it, have you bent the rules? No. So, what's the problem?

Sorry, but this time you have it wrong. It is explained well on page 176 of the DMG, as CRGreathouse referenced.

Whether the item requires a standard action or a free action depends on how the base item is used. It has nothing to do with the ability applied to the item.

If you enchant gloves to be use activated, they are functional whenever you are using the gloves. Therefore any use activated ability on the gloves would always be a free action if you have the gloves on.

An example of a standard action use activated item is a potion. regardless of the effect, it require a standard action just to use the potion (drinking it). Using gloves does not require an action, therefore, using the magic abilities of use activated gloves also does not require an action.

 

[kreynolds]

Sorry, but this time you have it wrong. It is explained well on page 176 of the DMG, as CRGreathouse referenced.

Sorry. I just disagree with your interpretation. I think it's limited. The SRD states that an example of a non-action activated use-activated item is swinging a sword. You don't swing your glove. Like I said, you are the DM and there is absolutely nothing wrong with you ruling that use-activated gloves are activated as a standard action. After all, some use-activated items are activated as a standard action, as per the SRD.

So gloves may not be appropriate for True Strike. So...just tell the player they can't put it on gloves and tell them to put it on something else. Or, let them make the gloves, at an extremely high cost, which they probably can't afford, thus the creation process fails.

 

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

sigh, wait a minute and I'll type out the entire relevant quote.

 

[kreynolds]

sigh, wait a minute and I'll type out the entire relevant quote.

I know what the DMG says. I'm looking at it right now. But I still think that there is nothing wrong with ruling that a use-activated magic item should be activated as a standard action. The DMG leaves this decision up to the DM.

 

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

DMG page 176:

"If the use of the item takes time (such as drinking a potion or putting on or taking off a ring or a hat) before a magical effect occurs, then use activation is a standard action. If the item's activation is subsumed in use and takes no extra time (such as swing a sword that has a built-in enhancement bonus), use activation is usually not even an action."

If you are wearing use activated gloves, then any ability of the gloves is subsumed in use.

 

[CRGreathouse]

So gloves may not be appropriate for True Strike. So...just tell the player they can't put it on gloves and tell them to put it on something else. Or, let them make the gloves, at an extremely high cost, which they probably can't afford, thus the creation process fails.

This is what I was getting at. If this is how I feel (let players make stuff, but DM can up the price beyond the guidelines as far as (s)he likes, or disallow certain items like gloves of true strike), how should I vote?