Shrink Item

[Dandu]

The text for this spell states that a word of command can return the object to normal. What action would this be?

Incidentally, am thinking of taking a barrel with open ends, shrinking it into cloth, and tying it around a character's neck incase someone goes after his shrunken hat. The plan is to unbind the barrel to form cover. Any forseeable problems with this?

What about turning barriers into handkerchiefs and stuffing then up sleeves?

 

[Jimlock]

Objects changed by a shrink item spell can be returned to normal composition and size merely by tossing them onto any solid surface or by a word of command from the original caster

hmmm....

Even though...it isn't dismissible (D), perhaps it should be treated as such?

SRD

(D) Dismissible
If the Duration line ends with "(D)," you can dismiss the spell at will. You must be within range of the spell’s effect and must speak words of dismissal, which are usually a modified form of the spell’s verbal component. If the spell has no verbal component, you can dismiss the effect with a gesture. Dismissing a spell is a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

or perhaps like this?


Rules Compendium p84

Command
Command activation means that a user speaks a command word and the item activates. No other special knowledge is needed. The command word can be a real word, but when this is the case, the user runs the risk of activating the item accidentally by speaking the word in normal conversation. More often, the command word is a nonsensical word, or a word or phrase from a language no longer in common use.
A user can’t activate a command item in the area of a silence spell or if unable to speak.
Activating a command item takes the same amount of time as the casting time of the spell that the item’s power duplicates. If the power doesn’t duplicate a spell, activating the item is a standard action unless its description says otherwise. Command activation doesn’t provoke attacks of opportunity.

Rules Compendium p8

Actions in Combat

Command(2)=Standard Action, AoO=No

(2)Activating this sort of magic item takes the same amount of time as casting the spell the item’s power duplicates. If the power doesn’t duplicate a spell, activating the item is a standard action unless its description says otherwise. See note 16 for spells that have 1-round casting times.

....

Can't think of something else...

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Hope you don't get aphasia...or Tourette's.

 

[Jimlock]

Shrink Item=Trasmutation

Enlarge Person=(D)
REduce Person=(D)
Alter Self=(D)
Polymorph=(D)
Gaseous Form=(D)
Statue=(D)
Iron body=(D)
Polymorph Any Object=(D)
Shapechange=(D)

I guess they just missed it...

 

[Jackinthegreen]

A "word of command" is better put as just plain "command word." Speak the command word and it pops back to normal size. Speaking is a free action.

 

[Elephant]

A "word of command" is better put as just plain "command word." Speak the command word and it pops back to normal size. Speaking is a free action.

But pronouncing a Command Word for a Magic Item is a Standard Action...I think I remember reading that in the PHB...

 

[domino]

You are correct sir. Actions In Combat :: d20srd.org

 

[anest1s]

Why everyone thinks that a command word for shrink item is somehow equal with the command word for activating an item? I mean, you have already used a standard action to cast the spell...it would be logical that you just say the word without waiting for a spell effect to take place. Because it has already done so...

 

[Jimlock]

Why everyone thinks that a command word for shrink item is somehow equal with the command word for activating an item? I mean, you have already used a standard action to cast the spell...it would be logical that you just say the word without waiting for a spell effect to take place. Because it has already done so...

I think the question is the other way around. Why shouldN'T it be?

 

[Jimlock]

Why shouldN'T it be view as a (D) action? (all transmutations behave that way, read above)

Why shouldN'T it be view as a command word? I don't see any difference.


Mind you, both (D) & Command word are the same exact action:

A standard action that does not provoke AoO.

 

[anest1s]

I think the question is the other way around. Why shouldN'T it be?

Because we aren't talking about activating a magic item, neither dismissing a spell, we are talking about the effect a spell has.

Dropping the shrunk item is a free action, so is talking. Except if you want to throw it more than 5 ft away. I can't see why dropping it should work faster than saying the command word.

Also glove of storing both shrinks and unshrinks an item as a free action. Not sure that has any meaning though.

 

[Jimlock]

Since when is an unspecified action a free action?

I might be wrong, I'm just asking...


EDIT: Forgive me, since when is a command word a free action?

 

[anest1s]

Since when is an unspecified action a free action?

I might be wrong, I'm just asking...


EDIT: Forgive me, since when is a command word a free action?

Talking is, so talking a word should also be.

 

[Jimlock]

Talking is, so talking a word should also be.

You are correct sir.

I acknowledge that i failed to see the obvious.

By RAW, speaking a few words in a round is a free action indeed.

.....Now, something VERY interesting is this:

Shrink Item
Transmutation
Level: Sor/Wiz 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: One touched object of up to 2 cu. ft./level
Duration: One day/level; see text
Saving Throw: Will negates (object)
Spell Resistance: Yes (object)


(D) Dismissible
If the Duration line ends with "(D)," you can dismiss the spell at will. You must be within range of the spell’s effect and must speak words of dismissal, which are usually a modified form of the spell’s verbal component. If the spell has no verbal component, you can dismiss the effect with a gesture. Dismissing a spell is a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Now, since shrink item does not abide to to (D), does this mean that i can speak the word from wherever I want?

...Or do I have to abide to (D) as far as range is concerned? In this case, the caster can undo the spell only when touching it?

Since (D) is nowhere to be mentioned, the caster can undo the spell even if there are hundreds of miles separating him from the item! Insane right!!

 

[Dandu]

Instant Summons allows you to summon a prepared object to hand from many miles away.

 

[anest1s]

You are correct sir.

I acknowledge that i failed to see the obvious.

By RAW, speaking a few words in a round is a free action indeed.

.....Now, something VERY interesting is this:

Shrink Item
Transmutation
Level: Sor/Wiz 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: One touched object of up to 2 cu. ft./level
Duration: One day/level; see text
Saving Throw: Will negates (object)
Spell Resistance: Yes (object)


(D) Dismissible
If the Duration line ends with "(D)," you can dismiss the spell at will. You must be within range of the spell’s effect and must speak words of dismissal, which are usually a modified form of the spell’s verbal component. If the spell has no verbal component, you can dismiss the effect with a gesture. Dismissing a spell is a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Now, since shrink item does not abide to to (D), does this mean that i can speak the word from wherever I want?

...Or do I have to abide to (D) as far as range is concerned? In this case, the caster can undo the spell only when touching it?

Since (D) is nowhere to be mentioned, the caster can undo the spell even if there are hundreds of miles separating him from the item! Insane right!!

Exactly! You should be able to do it from anywhere. Except you don't undo the spell, you just unshrink the item, as an action described within the spells effect.

Edit: Now I am thinking combinations of Shrink Item with Alarm...^^

 

[Jimlock]

yeah well, you are talking about a 7th level spell that does just that, while shrink item is a 3rd level spell...

A lot of interesting uses pop into mind right now...

Since you can shrink fire, imagine going into the villain's castle, setting up a fire, then shrinking it, and then moving it under some flammable material. Then you leave, and from safe distance you speak the word and the castle bursts into flames! lol...

Same thing with dams... use a shrunk item as a part of a dam, leave, and then make the whole thing collapse from a distance!!

 

[Dandu]

Secret Chest allows you to retrieve and extraplanar chest just by concentration for one standard action and is 5th level.

I would say that being able to affect a spell like Shrink Item just by speaking the command word, from a great distance, has precedent in other spells.

 

[Greenfield]

I'm unsure that you could use a Shrink Item spell to do the dam buster thing. There's nothing in the spell to tell how much force the item exerts when resuming normal size.

How would you rule using Shrink Item on a keg of nails or caltrops, and sliding the rolled up cloth-like result into an iron pipe. Would it act like a pip-bomb when the Shrink Item spell ends? What burst area? What damage?

Would the pipe start shooting nails or caltrops out the ends? What speed? What range? Remember, the item has to come back to full size PDQ, so you need a way to accommodate 10 cubic feet of sharp pointy iron things inside a few cubic inches of unyeilding space, all in a round or less. Something's got to give.

I think you all know my interpretation: If there isn't room for it to expand, it doesn't. I take that from the Enlarge Person spell, in case anyone needs the reference.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I'm unsure that you could use a Shrink Item spell to do the dam buster thing. There's nothing in the spell to tell how much force the item exerts when resuming normal size.

Do it the other way around- include full-sized items that has been subjected to the spell inside some of the bricks, then speak the command to shrink them. The resulting void will be under the full pressure of the dam's mass, and should crumble in short order. Heck, apply the spell to the bricks themselves.

The same could be done with the keystone of an arch, a door, whatever.