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In Dragon 340's Bazaar of the Bizarre ("Items of the Zodiac"), there's an item called "Ettin's Club". It says, "when making an attack, the club's user may attack a random creature within his reach insteat of choosing..." this makes it sound like a trade-off: attack randomly and get the advantage, or attack a target and just get the normal features of the +2 greatclub.
However, then it goes on to say, "This ability activates automatically before each attack. The wielder cannot suppress this effect."
So, which is it? Can the user choose to attack randomly, or does the user ALWAYS attack randomly?
Thanks.
I would say that, due to the flavor text of the item, that the ability always activates - the character cannot choose which foe he attacks. Plus there's the fact that the item has rage as a prerequisite for creation. The "may attack a random creature within his reach instead of choosing the target of his attack" bit strikes me as something that the editors missed before publication.
TK
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The "may attack a random creature within his reach instead of choosing the target of his attack" bit strikes me as something that the editors missed before publication.
Well, there's certianly plenty of oopses in that article. Mike must have been having a bad day. For example, all of the items listed in that article require "Craft Wondrous Item", even the club, shield and ring. I'm a bit hesitant to use these items without going through the math for each one to make sure they're correct. Are there errata for these articles?
Contributor
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Can the user choose to attack randomly, or does the user ALWAYS attack randomly?
The choice is the attacker's. The description could have been rewritten better. For that I'll take the blame. It's ultimately a choice between following the implied flavor or the strict reading of the rules.
The strict application of the rules is as follows:
The key word in the first paragraph is "may." Every time the club's wielder attacks, he has the choice of attacking the foe he wants to with a normal +2 greatclub (the default effect). But he also MAY attack a random target with what essentially is a better weapon.
The second paragraph explains that the wielder always has this choice even if he doesn't want it (the second sentence of the second paragraph) and that the choice happens without him taking an action (hence the "automatic" part of the first sentence of the second paragraph). The automatic implies that it doesn't even require so much as a free action to make this choice. The choice is available as part of the act of attacking with the club.
Why wouldn't a character want this choice? Um... I'm sure there might be a situation...? Strictly speaking, the second paragraph isn't really necessary.
I would say that, due to the flavor text of the item, that the ability always activates - the character cannot choose which foe he attacks. Plus there's the fact that the item has rage as a prerequisite for creation.
This is also an excellent way of adjudicating the club. You can ignore the "may" in the first paragraph and make it automatic. This puts emphasis on the implied flavor of the weapon, and is a valid way of making the club work.
The "may attack a random creature within his reach instead of choosing the target of his attack" bit strikes me as something that the editors missed before publication.
Hey now, that hurts. This is, as described above, the actual intent of the weapon. It's the second paragraph that we should have cut. ;D
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The "may attack a random creature within his reach instead of choosing the target of his attack" bit strikes me as something that the editors missed before publication.Hey now, that hurts. This is, as described above, the actual intent of the weapon. It's the second...
I don't think any of us were poking fun or unhappy with the situation. We know stuff sneaks by sometimes.
Thanks for the clarification. I assume that I should also be changing the item creation feats to the expected types while I have my red pen out?