A question on magical items and Use magic device.

[Hordak]

Does the activation of a magic items power always require a Use magic device roll?

For example a flaming sword? Does that need to be activated using UMD skill?

[Axl]

No.

See "Magic Items", section "Using Items".

[Skylancer4]

Hordak wrote:

Does the activation of a magic items power always require a Use magic device roll?

For example a flaming sword? Does that need to be activated using UMD skill?

UMD is a skill for using items you typically couldn't otherwise. If you know the command word to activate said flaming sword, no you wouldn't need to UMD it. However if you just picked up said sword and don't know the command word, a successful UMD roll would allow you to do so.

[Hordak]

But does that mean that Fighters, barbarians have no problems using wands and such as long as they know the command word?

[Dolanar]

There are a couple of different kinds of use activated Magic Items: Command Word- Where you only need to know the command word. Then there is also Spell Trigger, which means anyone who knows the spell (or has the ability to cast it at some point) can use the item with the proper command word. Wands fall into the second Category, Flaming swords into the first.

[Axl]

Wands are spell trigger items, not command word activated.

[Hordak]

Ok thanks for that clarification.