D&D 5E wands

[Gilwen]

LOL that's true...dang morning meetings!

 

[Runny]

Woot woot says Ned Took. Hello Cunning Action Magic Missiles.

 

[jadrax]

Woot woot says Ned Took. Hello Cunning Action Magic Missiles.

Apparently you can't use Cunning Action to Activate a Magical Item (probably for that very reason).

From Twitter:
@Hadan_Ashcroft : Rogue: Fast Hands (Use an Object) so every round I can drink a potion, use a scroll or wand as a bonus action?
@mikemearls : nope - use an object does not refer to magic items. i made an earlier tweet that was in error.
@mikemearls : magic items are separate.

 

[Paraxis]

Apparently you can't use Cunning Action to Activate a Magical Item (probably for that very reason).

From Twitter:
@Hadan_Ashcroft : Rogue: Fast Hands (Use an Object) so every round I can drink a potion, use a scroll or wand as a bonus action?
@mikemearls : nope - use an object does not refer to magic items. i made an earlier tweet that was in error.
@mikemearls : magic items are separate.

They need to add a new type of combat action in the DMG then, Use Magic Item. Because as written now "When an object requires your action for its use, you take the Use an Object action.", a cunning action to Use an Object does sound like you should be able to activate a wand or staff with it.

 

[jadrax]

They need to add a new type of combat action in the DMG then, Use Magic Item. Because as written now "When an object requires your action for its use, you take the Use an Object action.", a cunning action to Use an Object does sound like you should be able to activate a wand or staff with it.

I think a better solution would be the Magic Item requires the appropriate Action to the effect. So if you are using a Wand to cast a spell - the action you are taking is 'Cast a Spell' rather than 'Use an Object'.

 

[Runny]

I agree. Until it is errata'd Ned will be hurling bonus action magic missiles. Mearls's tweet has absolutely no foundation in the RAW.

 

[Runny]

Is the community treating Mearl tweets as Papal dictates?

 

[Astrosicebear]

Should've been labeled "Interact with Object" not "Use an Object". Too many interpretations on the latter... where are the former keeps the intention of the action.

 

[Paraxis]

Is the community treating Mearl tweets as Papal dictates?

I can't speak for the "community" but until the DMG comes Mr. Mearls has a very good inside track on what is considered RAW for all the rules in that book. Like this issue for instance, there could be a sentence that makes using a wand, scroll, staff a "Casting" action as mentioned as a possibility above.

So until the rest of the core books comes out, yes in my mind developer tweets are essentially rules previews of stuff we haven't seen before.

I still think a new action type Use Magic Item will be needed, I can see the casting thing for most but for things like potions as far as the rules go that falls clearly under Use Item to me.

 

[Runny]

I concur. Thing is, I bet they intended "Use an Object" to be the action that is used to activate a wand and only realized the effect of Cunning Action after the fact, which is why I am weary of the ruling.