Vow of Poverty and a 'party' Cure wand

[carborundum]

The (3rd level) party is: Mage, Barbarian, Fighter, Spellthief and Druid. The Druid has taken a Vow of Poverty. The wizard, well, the rest of the party, want to buy a Wand of Cure Light Wounds. No problem.

The thing is though - only the VoP druid can use it properly. They want to keep it themselves and (of course) take it out of its bag after fights for the VoP druid to use it on them (and possibly on himself)?
Would either of these two actions affect his Vow?

 

[frankthedm]

Would either of these two actions affect his Vow?

Yes! Activating the item will violate his vow and he will never again benefit from that Vow again.

Now some may say that is not the intent of the VOP to prevent the character from healing others. To that I say 'then the VOP character should object to any item being bought by the party if they intend to use it on him'.

Special: To fulfill your vow, you must not own or use any material possessions, with the following exceptions: You may carry and use ordinary (neither magic nor masterwork) simple weapons, usually just a quarterstaff that serves as a walking stick. You may wear simple clothes (usually just a homespun robe, possibly also including a hat and sandals) with no magical properties. You may carry enough food to sustain you for one day in a simple (nonmagic) sack or bag. You may carry and use a spell component pouch. You may not use any magic item of any sort, though you can benefit from magic items used on your: behalf —you can drink a potion of cure serious wounds a friend gives you, receive a spell cast from a wand, scroll, or staff, or ride on your companion's ebon fly. You may not, however, "borrow” a cloak of resistance or any other magic item from a companion for even a single round, nor may you yourself cast a spell from a scroll, wand or staff. If you break your vow, you immediately and irrevocably lose the benefit of this feat. You may not take another feat to replace it.

Having a character in the party who has taken a vow of poverty should not necessarily mean that the other parry members get bigger shares of treasure! An ascetic character must be as extreme in works of charity as she is in self-denial The majority of her share of party treasure (or the profits from the sale thereof) should be donated to the needy, either directly (equipping rescued captives with gear taken from their fallen captors) or indirectly (making a large donation to a temple noted for it’s work among the poor. While taking upon herself the burden of poverty voluntarily, an ascetic recognizes that many people do not have the freedom to choose poverty, but instead have it forced upon them, and seeks to better those unfortunates as much as possible.

 

[Canaan]

It's not the Druid's property. He doesn't own it. Even if the text of the rule states "you cannot possess anything," I think prohibiting the Druid from holding/possessing/using the wand purchased by others for his use of it on others conflicts with the spirit of the rule.

The VoP is taken to show spiritual enlightenment. It is a Sacred Feat to show, at least indirectly, the sacrifice one makes (for others) to reach enlightenment. Curing others as the only person in the party who can do so, can be a selfless act. While a cynic would look at it as the Druid preserving his own arse by keeping his companions up, that is really a meta-game approach to the issue. Rather, the Druid's act of healing is in essence consistent with the Druidic philosophy of protecting and serving all of nature's creatures. If I were running the game, I would allow it. Rules be damned.

 

[frankthedm]

The VoP is taken to show spiritual enlightenment. It is a Sacred Feat to show, at least indirectly, the sacrifice one makes (for others) to reach enlightenment. Curing others as the only person in the party who can do so, can be a selfless act.

On others is a reasonable change to the VOP, but in turn the loophole of allowing others to spending XXXXgp on expendable items on the VOP character should be closed. Requiring the VOP to refuse to allow the party to use items on his behalf for the abilty to use magic items on other allies is an equtiable trade and very much in 'spirit' of ther VOP.

 

[Jack Simth]

As written?

Sorry; very definite no-go.

However, shouldn't the spellthief have Use Magic Device? Sure, he can't use the wand "properly", but even before a 1 is a success, he's got a 95% chance of being able to try again - and you don't get a Wand of Cure Light for in-combat healing, just out of combat healing.

 

[carborundum]

Thanks! Didn't have the book with me - I forgot it was also forbidden to use items. I remembered he could accept help from others and got mixed up. I'l propose the "use it on others if they can't help you back."

I reckon it'll be up to the spellthief now

 

[irdeggman]

Don't forget that the druid's share of any treasure ends up going away - either he gives it to charity or to some other place - but the party does not get a bigger share because of it. Far too many groups with a VoP character in their mix think they can just claim his part of the booty.

 

[frankthedm]

Don't forget that the druid's share of any treasure ends up going away - either he gives it to charity or to some other place - but the party does not get a bigger share because of it. Far too many groups with a VoP character in their mix think they can just claim his part of the booty.

I posted the relevant parts on that already...

 

[Tarek]

So.... one party member is dying, you have a VoP and you're out of healing spells. The only way to get your party member to survive is to dig out his potion of healing and pour it down his throat.

This counts as "possessing a magic item" for a single round and "using a magic item" and therefore causes you to lose all the benefits of your VoP?

That's a pretty... interesting... take on what a VoP is.

 

[Nifft]

If you cut off your thumb to save the universe, you have lost a thumb.
If you use a wand of cure light wounds to save your companion, you have lost your Vow of Poverty.

Self-sacrifice is a trait of Good people.
Sucks to be you, -- N