Magic of Incarnum question

[Serenity]

Does anybody know if the 'soul melds' from Magic of Incarnum are considered spell-like ablities, Ie. do they provoke attacks of opportunity when activated? I couldn't find the answer in the book. It was pointed out to me by 'Romers' that soul melds are affected by spells and spell likes but nowhere does it specifically say (that I could find) soul-melds are a spell-like ability.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[RigaMortus2]

Does anybody know if the 'soul melds' from Magic of Incarnum are considered spell-like ablities, Ie. do they provoke attacks of opportunity when activated? I couldn't find the answer in the book. It was pointed out to me by 'Romers' that soul melds are affected by spells and spell likes but nowhere does it specifically say (that I could find) soul-melds are a spell-like ability.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Once the soulmelds have been shaped, I do not beleive that using them is considered a Spell-like Ability. They work like magic items. Swinging a +1 Magic Sword is not a spell-like ability after all... Using Boots of Striding and Jumping is not a spell-like ability. Etc.

 

[Kurotowa]

Invocations are treated as SLA, and it's said so explicityly several times. Soulmelds are not. Each soulmeld describes what type of action is used with it, and I can't think of any off hand that provoke AoO. Which makes sense, given that most soulmelds are self-buffs and the classes are intended to spend a lot of time on the front line.

 

[Serenity]

What about Dimension Door?

I am more specifically wondering about the one that gives a dimension door ability. I forget the name. I will have to re-read it and see what I can find.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Kurotowa]

There are actually two soulmelds that do that. Blink Shirt and chakra bound Cerulean Sandals both give you Dim Door powers. Checking the book, both say they work as the spell and will end your turn after use. But neither metions AoO. Since it's not the spell but how the class casts it that provokes the AoO, and AoO are never metioned in reference to soulmeld use, I have to believe they do not provoke AoO to use.

 

[Serenity]

Kurotowa,

Thanks for the info. Reading your post I recognized that it is Blink Shirt that I was curious about. Since the description says it 'works as the spell' I would think that it is a spell-like ability. Spell like abilities provoke AoO while Supernatural and Extraordinary abilities do not. It just seems to powerful to be able to instantly escape from melee if it doesn't provoke any AoO.

 

[RigaMortus2]

Kurotowa,

Thanks for the info. Reading your post I recognized that it is Blink Shirt that I was curious about. Since the description says it 'works as the spell' I would think that it is a spell-like ability. Spell like abilities provoke AoO while Supernatural and Extraordinary abilities do not. It just seems to powerful to be able to instantly escape from melee if it doesn't provoke any AoO.

A Ring of Invisibility says it works "as the spell" as well. Do you think activating a Ring of Invisibility is a SLA, or that it should provoke an AoO?

FYI - A Ring is a Use Activated magical item (you have to put it on to use it) that works continuously once it is on. Unless stated otherwise, activating a use-activated magic item is either a standard action or not an action at all and does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

 

[Kurotowa]

Since the description says it 'works as the spell' I would think that it is a spell-like ability.

First rule of D&D, glossary terms have a precise technical meaning. Spell-Like Abilities are one of the three types of Special Abilities, the MM lists exactly how SLA work, and something is only a SLA if it is specifically stated as a SLA.

That's why I referenced Warlock Invocations. Invocations are a new class feature that are specifically and repeated stated to be a subtype of SLA. Soulmelds are not. Soulmelds are Soulmelds, and work by the rules governing Soulmelds as set out in MoI. And AoO are not given as result of using a Soulmeld. Now while Blink Shirt may have a power "to teleport (as Dimension Door)" it is NOT the spell or spell-like ability Dimension Door. It is a Soulmeld with a power that is mostly like Dimension Door.

 

[RigaMortus2]

MoI page 53 under Other Meld Information, 2nd paragraph describes what actions soulmelds take to use (found in the individual soulmeld description). Based on that, follow the usual rules for the specific actions.

 

[Serenity]

Kurotowa and RigaMortus2,

I don't own MoI and was curious as to how the soulmelds worked. Another player in my group is using them and I hadn't any idea as to how they functioned (other than a cursory perusal of the book in the hobby store).

Thanks for the clarification.