Wand usage question

[Tatsukun]

Hi all, quick question.

If you have two (or more) mages standing next to each other, can they 'share' a wand. Meaning that Mage A uses the wand and then holds it out to his side. Mage B then takes it and uses it and holds it out for the next guy.

As far as I can tell, there is nothing stopping 50 mages in a line from passing a wand down and using all 50 charges in one round (assuming they got all the delayed actions right).

I hope there is a rule somewhere saying something along the lines of "A wand can be used once a round". If there isn't, our group will have to add one.

Thanks

-Tatsu

 

[moritheil]

Is it a move equivalent to pass an item, or what?

And if a party were facing fifty mages, I'd say they'd be screwed anyway unless they all had shield cast on them.

 

[Orm]

By the rules it´s possible, I think.

 

[TimSmith]

Well, your question could equally be applied to, say, a weapon! (Say the party needs to use the silver dagger against a were rat but only have the one dagger between them).

If you wanted to apply the rules at the expense of common sense, I suppose you could use the wand or attack (standard action) and then hold it out for the next person (move action at least). The next person then takes the item (move action) and triggers it or attacks (standard action). This would end the sequence with two people sharing.

However, the most pertinent rule in this situation is the one where we are reminded that actions are not really taken "in turn" but simply managed that way. Clearly the scenario you present is contrary to the spirit of the rules and patently absurd in a 6 second round.

You could always rule that passing an item is a standard action rather than a move action (after all, you have to take stock of what the other person is doing and hand the item to them- rather like an attack, except they want to be hit). If its a standard action, then they can't trigger the wand as well...

 

[moritheil]

Well, your question could equally be applied to, say, a weapon! (Say the party needs to use the silver dagger against a were rat but only have the one dagger between them).

If you wanted to apply the rules at the expense of common sense, I suppose you could use the wand or attack (standard action) and then hold it out for the next person (move action at least). The next person then takes the item (move action) and triggers it or attacks (standard action). This would end the sequence with two people sharing.

However, the most pertinent rule in this situation is the one where we are reminded that actions are not really taken "in turn" but simply managed that way. Clearly the scenario you present is contrary to the spirit of the rules and patently absurd in a 6 second round.

Actually, I just remembered. Readying an item for use in combat (wielding a dagger in the above case) is a move action. So even if you can receive the item without using a move action, you can't use it and then pass it on.

 

[Orm]

Use item (standard action), drop item (free action), next character picks up item (move equivalent action) uses it (standard action) drops it (free action). Rinse, repeat. Have them stand in line in order of initiative.
Must look funny to see a bunch of people making a wave during combat

 

[Liquidsabre]

Use item (standard action), drop item (free action), next character picks up item (move equivalent action) uses it (standard action) drops it (free action). Rinse, repeat. Have them stand in line in order of initiative.
Must look funny to see a bunch of people making a wave during combat

That only works if you are allowed to pickup an item in an adjacent 5-foot square. Characters that drop the wand, drop it into their own square.

So the character with the wand would have to use the wand (standard action), drop item (free action), and move out of the square (move action). The second character would then move into the square the wand was dropped into (move action) and pick up the wand (move action). It sure looks like that's all they can do.

 

[Orm]

That only works if you are allowed to pickup an item in an adjacent 5-foot square. Characters that drop the wand, drop it into their own square.

So the character with the wand would have to use the wand (standard action), drop item (free action), and move out of the square (move action). The second character would then move into the square the wand was dropped into (move action) and pick up the wand (move action). It sure looks like that's all they can do.

From the SRD

Dropping an item in your space or into an adjacent square is a free action.

Seems to be possible (emphasis mine).

 

[Space Coyote]

Well, I know there are a few things that this wouldnt work for. In my campaign a party member has a magical rod that states it can only be used once per round. So, even if the user gets multiple actions (such as version 3.0 Haste, for example), the rod can only be used ONCE per round.

Also, items like Rings of Energy resistance only absorb X damage per round, such as a Ring of Greater Fire resistance only absorbs 30 points per round. If someone used the ring and it absorbed 18 points of damage and "passed" the ring to someone else during that round, the ring would only absorb 12 points for the new wearer.

 

[werk]

I'd lean toward saying it can only be discharged once per round because the wand is effectively casting the spell. I make this assumption based on the fact that wands can cast spells that take longer than one round to cast.
So while the mages holding hands have actions left, the wand does not after the first use, so they are passing around a 'spent' wand until next round.

It just looks like an obvious attempt to work-around the rules text, refer to rule 0.