Sharing Spells cast from wand with animal companion?

[green slime]

A druid with an animal companion has a spell-trigger device, a wand of cure light wounds. When he expends a charge on himself (animal within 5 ft.) can he share the spell with the animal, thus healing both of them for one charge?

Share spells works when the druid casts a spell, is that what he is technically doing with the wand here? Or is it more like a spell-like effect/ability being created?

We looked at some relevant page numbers:
pp. 36, 142 PHB
pp. 213, 245 DMG

But we couldn't reach a consensus. What is your opinion on this matter? How would you rule?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Nope. It only works on spells you actually cast.

As such, I might allow it to work when using a scroll, but never a wand, staff, or rod.

At the druid’s option, she may have any spell (but not any spell-like ability) she casts upon herself also affect her animal companion.

 

[Scharlata]

Nope. It only works on spells you actually cast.

As such, I might allow it to work when using a scroll, but never a wand, staff, or rod.

Hi!

I beg to differ!

Why would you suggest that a spell cast from a wand is something different than a spell cast from a scroll is something different than a spell cast by yourself (besides the level-dependent stats)?

IMHO, spells are not spell-like abilities, and it does not matter wherefrom you get the spells you cast, as long as they are real spells.

Kind regards

 

[Tetsubo]

Hi!

I beg to differ!

Why would you suggest that a spell cast from a wand is something different than a spell cast from a scroll is something different than a spell cast by yourself (besides the level-dependent stats)?

IMHO, spells are not spell-like abilities, and it does not matter wherefrom you get the spells you cast, as long as they are real spells.

Kind regards

I'd have to agree. A spell, is a spell, is a spell. Where it comes from really isn't important, so long as you (the druid in question) cast it.

I have a related question. If a druid has psionic abilities, do they also effect the animal companion?

 

[Shin Okada]

In my understanding, scrolls, wands and other magic items only produce spell or spell-like EFFECTS. And the use of such magic items are not actual spellcasting. So I say no.

Also, spell-like abilities are not spells.

Psionics are, in core-rule, spell-like abilities. Even if you use Expanded Psionics Handbook, powers are still not spells.

Warlock Invocations are not spells, too. They are spell-like abilities.

 

[Thanee]

Yep, I also think that only actual spellcasting is meant there.

It certainly becomes difficult to adjudicate at the point where they state in the wand activation description, that you cast spells from wands.

Bye
Thanee

 

[green slime]

In my understanding, scrolls, wands and other magic items only produce spell or spell-like EFFECTS. And the use of such magic items are not actual spellcasting. So I say no.

Also, spell-like abilities are not spells.

Psionics are, in core-rule, spell-like abilities. Even if you use Expanded Psionics Handbook, powers are still not spells.

Warlock Invocations are not spells, too. They are spell-like abilities.

I agree on the warlock abilities.

But page 245 in the DMG, regarding wands, talks about "...casting a spell from a wand is usually a standard action..."

Otherwise, if what you state were true, it would say "...producing a spell-like effect from a wand is a standard action...".

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Why would you suggest that a spell cast from a wand is something different than a spell cast from a scroll is something different than a spell cast by yourself (besides the level-dependent stats)?

Because they are, in fact, different.

A scroll works most similarly to actual casting, in that it is a Spell Completion item.

All the other item types - wands, potions, staves, rods - are Spell Trigger.

Specifically, RAW, the ability only works when you cast a spell, which means no items at all.

However, as I mentioned above, I might consider opening it up to scrolls because of the way in which they work.

 

[Plane Sailing]

You can't counterspell a wand, and that indicates that it is different to a spell IMO.

FOr flavour if nothing else I'd limit it to spells which the caster uses himself and not just ones he is the recipient of though.

Cheers

 

[Gez]

Note also that a staff, all spell-trigger that it is, uses your own caster level... A wand, not.