The magic item creation rules detail higher prices for items that are activated via "Command word" or that are "Use-activated or continuous."
Also, there are items that are listed as "on command" and "at will."
Cape of the Mountebank is given as the example of a "command word" activated item, and in the item description, the text says, "On command, this bright red and gold cape allows the wearer to use the magic of the dimension door spell once per day." So clearly "Command word" and "on command" are synonymous.
But there are two wondrous items in Core Raw that are not described as "on command," but instead as "at will" -- Hand of the Mage and Helm of Telepathy. (Leave aside the Obsidian Steed because it is the steed that can use powers at will, not the item owner ... it is more like an intelligent item.)
The question is, does an "at will" item require a command word to activate? Is it activated mentally? Or is it always on and continuous? If you are bound and gagged, or paralyzed, or baleful polymorphed, can you use your Hand of the Mage?
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"At will" just means no limitations on use, e.g., once per day or for ten rounds per day. Such items are typically command word activated. Hand of the mage and helm of telepathy are command word activated, even though it doesn't say so anywhere in the description, because wondrous items are either use-activated or command word by default, and neither item could be construed as use-activated (use-activated would be activated in the course of its normal use, such as a lantern of revealing functioning when lit).
It may not be RAW, but we have always treated the "helm of telepathy" to be entirely mentally controlled. I don't recall ever having the question come up on the "hand of the mage". It may well be command word activated by RAW, but I'd probably allow it to also be done by mental command.
In the last reading of command word (which was from UE) items without a set activation default to command words. Basically if it doesn't say what action it takes to activate, it uses command word activation.
wondrous items may well default to being just use activated or command word activated,
but if the items directly state they are are at-will,
i am going to use the same definition of that as for at-will abilities elsewhere in the rules.
to rule otherwise would directly conflict with the specific rules text for those items.
wondrous items may well default to being just use activated or command word activated,
but if the items directly state they are are at-will,
i am going to use the same definition of that as for at-will abilities elsewhere in the rules.
to rule otherwise would directly conflict with the specific rules text for those items.
It isn't a matter of wonderous or otherwise, the command word rule set has all items under its umbrella (weapons, wonderous, rods, staves, rings etc.). At will just means without limit (not limited to number of rounds per day, number of activations per day, etc.). There's is no "specific rules text for those items" to conflict with.
wondrous items may well default to being just use activated or command word activated,
but if the items directly state they are are at-will,
i am going to use the same definition of that as for at-will abilities elsewhere in the rules.
to rule otherwise would directly conflict with the specific rules text for those items.
It isn't a matter of wonderous or otherwise, the command word rule set has all items under its umbrella (weapons, wonderous, rods, staves, rings etc.). At will just means without limit (not limited to number of rounds per day, number of activations per day, etc.). There is no "specific rules text for those items" to conflict with. 'Command word' activated is detailed, 'at will' means you can activate the item as many times as you want and can attempt to.
Thanks for the feedback. But if "at will" means "on command at any time," I wish it would say that!
Thanks for the feedback. But if "at will" means "on command at any time," I wish it would say that!
It does! As long as you read the book from cover to cover and have all the pertinent information ;) lol. Though it is a PITA sometimes I will agree, occasionally things hinge on a sentence someplace you never would have thought to look for it.