Need some help on figuring out how these SRD magic items were priced

[Hypersmurf]

I think I remember you mentioning that one ... Wasn't there a colony of monstrous centipedes living in the "strange, unidentified ooze creature"?

That's the one

-Hyp.

 

[Diirk]

Really?

Yes, really. If a +1 shield was a use activated item as you claim, and thus only activated when you 'used' it (interposing it to block a blow, per your example) then that would imply that it WASN'T a +1 shield the rest of the time. Which is absurdly false.

Its continuous, not use activated.

That statement just allows for the possibility of shields that have other functions that ARE use activated. Like say, the shield that automatically death wards you the first time you get hit by a death attack each day (as an example).

 

[Kem]

Yes, really. If a +1 shield was a use activated item as you claim, and thus only activated when you 'used' it (interposing it to block a blow, per your example) then that would imply that it WASN'T a +1 shield the rest of the time. Which is absurdly false.

Its continuous, not use activated.

That statement just allows for the possibility of shields that have other functions that ARE use activated. Like say, the shield that automatically death wards you the first time you get hit by a death attack each day (as an example).

A shield that you are not using is still a +1 shield.

Just like a Scroll of Detect Magic is still a scroll of detect magic, and boots of speed are still boots of speed. Even when you aren't using them.

 

[Diirk]

Ok, sorry, I worded that badly. What I meant was if it was use activated, then it would only be granting you the +1 shield enhancement bonus to ac when you actually got hit. So your ac wouldn't always be 19... it would be 18 most of the time, but 19 when you got attacked.

Of course that sounds really silly, and there's nothing to support it in the rules anyway. Patryn's quote simply says a shield could have a use activated enchantment on it.. not that all magical shield are use activated magic items.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

What I meant was if it was use activated, then it would only be granting you the +1 shield enhancement bonus to ac when you actually got hit.

Not correct.

It means that it's only granting you a +1 enhancement to its shield bonus to AC when you're actually using it. You know, wearing it, trying to defend yourself with it?

Hey, I didn't write the rules text. It says magic swords and shields are use-activated.

Use Activated: This type of item simply has to be used in order to activate it. A character has to drink a potion, swing a sword, interpose a shield to deflect a blow in combat, look through a lens, sprinkle dust, wear a ring, or don a hat. Use activation is generally straightforward and self-explanatory.

 

[Jack Simth]

But one of the Spoons was broken, and instead of activating when placed in an empty container, it activated at about a quarter to five every evening. Wherever it happened to be. (Hence the chambers full of century-old porridge.)

So on occasion, when the PCs would get distracted, quarter to five would come and go without them realising... and the rogue would find her backpack full of gruel...

-Hyp.

Must be pretty grueling in your campaign.

 

[Diirk]

Hmm, nevermind, it seems that while I was considering use activated and continuous items to be seperate categories, the magic items section appears to define continuous items as merely a subset of use activated items.