Constructed Magic Items with Spell Effects ?????

[rsolow]

Some magic items have spell effects listed (like "Awaken Vine Men" for the unique item King of the Ivy King). Does this mean

a) that the wearer now has the ability to cast the spell but must have the requisit gems in inventory?

b) that the wearer now has the ability to cast the spell gem free?

c) that the spells goes off during melee and need not be "cast" by the wearer?

d) some other possible functioning that I cannot guess?


_bob_

[Shovah32]

Something like that, iirc means you can cast the spell for free every turn as a ritual where-as something such as a rod of the phoenix (which lets you cast incinerate) can only be used in battle. So i think the answer is B

[Taqwus]

For most such items, it's B. Usually you don't even need any magic skills, let alone skills sufficient to cast the spell -- although the description for the Broken Mirror tells me that it's possible for an item to have such a path requirement to work. Fatigue is also dropped to 5, IIRC, for item use, instead of the full fatigue for a non-assisted spell cast.

Note that because it's treated as a spell cast, it takes a full action -- ex. you cannot give four Rods of the Phoenix and Boots of Quickness to a Nataraja, and expect him to cast Incinerate 8x/turn.

Some items auto-cast at the beginning of battle -- ex. a Crystal Shield auto-casts Power of the Spheres, a Staff of Storms auto-casts Storm, et al. Others auto-cast each turn, ex. a Spirit Helm tosses lightning bolts without requiring the user's action.

[Talleyrand]

Thank you for that, Taqwus. I didn't know that either.

[Theonlystd]

Oooooo this makes some items much more wrothwhile..

[Arralen]

You must differentiate between ritual, combat spells and "self-cast" spells:

Combat Spells can be cast at a cost of "5" fatigue, the commander does not need any magical ability at all. The spells are cast with base values, if they are level dependant.

Self-cast spells are cast in combat by the item itself. Very few, mostly high-level ones do that. The commander might have to worry about the effects, but not about fatigue from casting or any requitements.

Ritual spells from items can be cast by commanders wich couldn't use those spells otherwise. But as its still the commander who casts the spell, gems will be subtracted from the nations treasury.