"Ring, engage the cloaking device" "Aye, aye, captain"

[moritheil]

Just like a summoned monster is.

Exactly.

That assumption breaks down, however, whenever one or the other decides to do something fancy.

I'm going to respectfully disagree, as it says intelligent items act like NPCs with the additional stipulation of fixing when they act, not like summoned monsters, which are their own case. It's reasonable to infer that it's the same thing, but it is not absolutely the same thing, and IMC I would rule that intelligent items must act when their owner acts.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

I'm going to respectfully disagree, as it says intelligent items act like NPCs with the additional stipulation of fixing when they act,

Exactly the same way it fixes the way summoned monsters act.

 

[moritheil]

Exactly the same way it fixes the way summoned monsters act.

Not quite. I read that to indicate that the summoned monster gets to act immediately, which is a unique effect that happens courtesy of a summoning spell.

Do you not roll initiative for summons after the first round?

 

[HeavyG]

Do you not roll initiative for summons after the first round?

Why would you ? :\

 

[moritheil]

Why would you ? :\

I suppose I've simply assumed that that was the way it should be done.

Hence my question.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

No. Once something is inserted into initiative order, you don't need to worry about initiative scores anymore.

 

[moritheil]

No. Once something is inserted into initiative order, you don't need to worry about initiative scores anymore.

By the rules, your position is supported.

It has interesting consequences, though. This encourages summoners to pick things that are slow, ponderous, and hard-hitting, (read: have negative Initiative modifiers, assuming that they gain some strengths elsewhere in return for that, a la earth elementals or golems) over things that are light, nimble, and agile (read: frail and have very good Initiative modifiers). On the other hand, it encourages the summoners themselves to pick up Improved Initiative.

 

[Corporal_Cupcake]

Well, if the ring's an NPC

If an intelligent item is treated as an NPC, and it participates in combat encounters, then it should receive a share of the XP award, right, just like if you brought an NPC fighter along? Whether or not the item itself can receive XP and "advance" (notwithstanding whatever book it was that allowed for magic items to "level" along with their user), the DM should adjust the encounters accordingly to take into consideration the "larger party size."

Or does this item which is functioning as a virtual member of the party not count when balancing encounters, meaning that the encounters will all be easier for the party than otherwise expected?

 

[moritheil]

If an intelligent item is treated as an NPC, and it participates in combat encounters, then it should receive a share of the XP award, right, just like if you brought an NPC fighter along? Whether or not the item itself can receive XP and "advance" (notwithstanding whatever book it was that allowed for magic items to "level" along with their user), the DM should adjust the encounters accordingly to take into consideration the "larger party size."

Or does this item which is functioning as a virtual member of the party not count when balancing encounters, meaning that the encounters will all be easier for the party than otherwise expected?

Except that the ring is treasure, and takes up party GP that could be going to scrolls, better weapons, etc.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

This encourages summoners to pick things that are slow, ponderous, and hard-hitting, (read: have negative Initiative modifiers, assuming that they gain some strengths elsewhere in return for that, a la earth elementals or golems) over things that are light, nimble, and agile (read: frail and have very good Initiative modifiers).

Unless, of course, you're summoning something that needs to be fast (like, it needs to catch up to something else).

In most situations, however, what you posit is true. However, note that a summoned Earth Elemental will never go before one which is present at the beginning of combat (barring, possibly, surprise).