Shrink Item Spell question

[Volkspanzer]

I looked at the description, and it details that the item becomes 1/16th in size (or 1/4,000th the original volume and mass). By either tossing the item on the ground or uttering a command word, it returns to it's original size.

Now, I understand the intent of this spell is probably to conveniently carry large items for long periods of time, but RAW, what were they thinking??? This spell is the stuff of all sorts of hijinks, insta-death the least of them.

Is that a seemingly medium-sized, spherical bullet lodged in an target's chest or stomach? Nope! It's now a cannonball that has torn and eviscerated itself out of the target's body as it returned to its original size.

Need to get a fellow party member on the inside of a prison to take out a criminal/enemy? Shrink his equipment and place it on a figurine meant as a gift to the player once he's in jail.

Enough ranting though, but is there anything about this spell that wouldn't allow it to be used in such ways?

[Randy Lockard]

The shrinking items for the PC in jail is in no way overpowered. It is clever. Each item would take a 3rd level spell however. Yes, it's doable but would be days and days to get his equipment shrunk down (as each takes a 3rd level casting)...and that is only if it is non-magical. How many 5th level and higher PC's have all non-magical gear?

How are you going to get the bullet into him? The rules don't have spent arrows, bullets, throwing daggers and the like sticking out of the victim. I suppose you could get the person to eat a shrunk down item, but that's another thing entirely.

A GM could easily say that as a touch spell, the command word must be spoken while touching the shrunken item. Even under the area where they talk about using Permanency, only the original caster can utilize the item. No where in the spell does it talk about OTHER people being able to resize the item. It DOES however say "YOU can shrink one item" and "YOU can change it into a clothlike one" and "a word of command by the ORIGINAL caster". Sure seems to imply that only the caster can restore the items. Maybe your jailed PC isn't going anywhere soon.....

[blackbloodtroll]

Shrinking giant sides of beef sound like a better tactic.

[Patterson]

My fav combo ive read on the 'boards is; use shape stone to make a bolder as big as you can roll with telekinisis, (and shape stone of course) shrink it, rinse and repeat til you have 1stone/ lvl.
Take out 1 shrunken stone / lvl. out of a bag, throw the stones, in mid air say the comand word (have the same word work for all stones) use telekinisis to roll them around onto people, like a God sized chess game...

Edited for clairity.

[Atarlost]

That sounds more like marbles.

Cloth fires, barrels of high proof alcohol, and twine would make lovely command detonated mines.

Need cold? Get high salinity water or high proof alcohol, chill it as cold as you can with eg. freezing sphere, scoop it into barrels with scoop, and cloth-ify them. Instant sub-zero liquid on command.

Acid, of course, is trivial if a bit expensive.

Need to block a corridor but don't have Wall of Stone prepared? Pull an ashlar out of your pocket and say the magic word.

Your Siege Mage having trouble getting his weapon of choice into position? Shrink Item.

Need to cross a desert without a divine caster? Shrink Item and a bunch of really big barrels.

Shrink Item is one of the only truly magical spells. You can do nearly anything with it if you plan right.