Overlooked, underappreciated, magic items

[Hypersmurf]

Similarly, a Charm Person spell can have an effect upon items (Target: One humanoid creature, and "Say, can I borrow your knife?"), even though it cannot target them directly.

Gets into the "Can Flesh to Stone affect zombies?" question

And for some reason, I have an image of Robert Patrick saying "Say... that's a nice bike..."

-Hyp.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Kind of defeats the purpose of the non-magical part of the spell, yes?

Not really. The non-magical clause was put there to prevent you from messing with other people's magical stuff with a cantrip (setting off magic traps, stealing the powerful magic item, etc). Allowing someone to move their own stuff that they specifically prepared ahead of time does not defeat this.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Kind of defeats the purpose of the non-magical part of the spell, yes?

Not really. The BBEG drops his magic wand on the altar to pull out his greatsword - Mage Hand can't steal the wand.

The Gem of Awesomeness levitates thirty feet above the floor of the Star Chamber - Mage Hand can't pull it down.

Etc, etc.

-Hyp.

 

[d-pirate]

Well if mage hand can't work on magic items of any kind then we have a possibility of abuse.
Its basically a low level "detect magic" by default. Party finds a bunch of treasure and no detect magic spell? Use your hand of the mage on all those masterwork items and wallah the ones that move aren't magical.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Well if mage hand can't work on magic items of any kind then we have a possibility of abuse.
Its basically a low level "detect magic" by default. Party finds a bunch of treasure and no detect magic spell? Use your hand of the mage on all those masterwork items and wallah the ones that move aren't magical.

Huh? Mage Hand and Detect Magic are the same level...

 

[HeavyG]

Potions heavier than 5 pounds??? That's 5 pints or over a 5/8th gallon potion. Doubtful that any cork would weight that much, even made out of metal.

I think he meant that if a potion weighs a lot and you cast it on the cork, it'll open and the bottle will fall to the ground.

Besides, the spell doesn't necessarily generate what physics would call "force". Technically, with that interpretation, as long as your vial weighs less than 5 pounds, the liquid inside could weigh 15 tons and it would still follow. In fact, cast it on a small rock tied to a huge object and you pull really huge weights. Or, you could cast it on a nonmagical mithral heavy shield and use it as a flying platform (don't stop concentrating, though ).

 

[Hypersmurf]

Well if mage hand can't work on magic items of any kind then we have a possibility of abuse.
Its basically a low level "detect magic" by default. Party finds a bunch of treasure and no detect magic spell? Use your hand of the mage on all those masterwork items and wallah the ones that move aren't magical.

Unless they weigh more than 5 lbs.

And Detect Magic has a range of 60 feet, and also tells you aura strength and potentially school, and can detect auras through solid objects to an extent.

And a cantrip... Detect Magic is low-level.

(And it's 'voilà'. A 'wallah' is a person in charge of or employed at a particular thing.)

-Hyp.

 

[d-pirate]

The statement wasn't about strength of auras or comparable spell levels. Hand of the Mage costs what 900gp? Basically acting as a limited detect magic "at will" for objects yes that weigh less than 5 pounds. And I understand you may not get "all" the info a real detect magic does but what you do get is a quick check if it's magical and get to move it around the room to boot.

And the example earlier in the post about the potential magic item in the skull, try to move in with the hand if it moves then its not magical and move on.

 

[Lela]

The statement wasn't about strength of auras or comparable spell levels. Hand of the Mage costs what 900gp? Basically acting as a limited detect magic "at will" for objects yes that weigh less than 5 pounds. And I understand you may not get "all" the info a real detect magic does but what you do get is a quick check if it's magical and get to move it around the room to boot.

And the example earlier in the post about the potential magic item in the skull, try to move in with the hand if it moves then its not magical and move on.

Even then. . .why is that abuse?

 

[Shellman]

Ring of Telekinesis: Sure, it's expensive, but it brings the rogue into a whole new world of B&E. Worried that the trap controls have booby traps? Use the ring and manipulate them from around a corner!

Field Provisions Box: Never worry about food again for less than the cost of a +1 sword.

Magic Sleeping Bag: Be all warm and snuggly and save on healing expenses, for 1000 gp!

Travel Cloak: Keeps you warm when walking? Check. Keeps rain off you, even in the worst downpour? Check. All the day's food and drink you need? Check. Turns into a tent for the night? Check. And it's only 1200 gp!

Adamantine Dagger: Falling down near a wall and don't have Slow Fall? Use this to give yourself an easy handhold!

Golembane Scarab: "Wait, for 2500 gp, I can beat the (bleep) out of golems and not have to buy expensive adamantine weapons? All right!"

Brad

Brad,

I haven't see the Feild Provisions Box, Magic Sleeping Bag or Traveling Cloak. Where do I find them?

Thanks!