Intelligent items often have the ability to illuminate their surroundings at will (as magic weapons do); many cannot see otherwise.
However, this contradicts how light generation from magic weapons is handled in their own specific section.
Fully 30% of magic weapons shed light equivalent to a light spell. These glowing weapons are quite obviously magical. Such a weapon can't be concealed when drawn, nor can its light be shut off. Some of the specific weapons detailed below always or never glow, as defined in their descriptions.
I'm guessing the Intelligent Items section is in error? Holdover from 3.5, perhaps?
What is the contradiction? It's saying intelligent items often have the ability to generate light—which is a specific rule that overrides the general rule of "30% of magic weapons shed light."
What is the contradiction? It's saying intelligent items often have the ability to generate light—which is a specific rule that overrides the general rule of "30% of magic weapons shed light."
Magic weapons do not have this ability 'at will'; it cannot be suppressed by the item or by command of the user (it can only be sheathed).
Edit: I'm not saying this is a huge deal, just that the intelligent item text suggests something about magic weapons which the magic weapons text does not confirm.
Edit2: For a specific example where this is relevant, consider two +1 swords. One is intelligent, the other is not. The intelligent one could suppress its own light so its wielder could sneak with it drawn. The non-intelligent one would shine while wielded and prevent stealth (in most situations). The text suggests intelligent magic items and magical weapon light generation is the same ("_as_ magic weapons").
There is no contradiction. Intelligent items with light have the will to turn the light on or off, unintelligent items with light lack the will to control it and therefore are always on.
There is no contradiction. Intelligent items with light have the will to turn the light on or off, unintelligent items with light lack the will to control it and therefore are always on.
Edit: Re: Also, my assumption is that if there is an at-will power and something doesn't have a will it cannot activate it. So, I guess we are working on different assumptions there.
The intelligent item rule quoted in my OP makes a rules statement. It then parenthetically comments that another class of thing follows the same rules statement. That class of thing explicitly states a different set of rules than those from the quoted intelligent rule item.
The issue at hand is the 'at-will' part. Intelligent items create light as a light spell (that is how they are similiar to magic weapons which shed light). Intelligent items have another element to their light generation that magic weapons do not: that the light generation is 'at-will.'
I guess we are just disagreeing on how one should parse these sentences as English language statements.
Perhaps, or perhaps SKR is answering your question about a rule using poor syntax and he is telling you the correct interpretation.
The intelligent weapon can use its light "at will". The light generated otherwise follows the rules of other magic weapons that shed light.
Greg
Perhaps, or perhaps SKR is answering your question about a rule using poor syntax and he is telling you the correct interpretation.
The intelligent weapon can use its light "at will". The light generated otherwise follows the rules of other magic weapons that shed light.
Greg
I understand the response and see the difference in assumptions. It's certainly not the way I would have worded the intelligent item light generation rule, but that's not actually a measure of quality (since so far it seems like I am the only one who considers this an issue; on the other hands, most players I have encountered in my DMing time are totally unaware of the 30% light generation rule for magical weapons... so, yeah).
I consider the question pretty much closed and I appreciate the (rather quick) response.
Strangely, that is usually a first question asked upon discovering a magical weapon in my main group. "Does it shed light?" Most of them hope not :P
Greg