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As the thread title says do you need to touch a magic item to identify it using spellcraft?
This issue has come up several times in my games where particular items have magical effects on them, either a trap or touch based magical effect. Players always think twice when I ask them if they are touching a particular item.
Also, if an item is cursed you can't remove it without a remove curse spell. Does that mean that the curse affects the first person to touch the item or the first person to equip it?
They way I ruled it in my game, yes. Using detect magic to identify a magic item without holding the item can at best give the item's school of magic.
The identify spell specifically refers to identifying the properties of magic items in your possession as per detect magic with a +10 bonus on the roll. I take that to mean that you need to have the item in your possession to identify the items when merely using a cantrip.
Re: cursed items-- What triggers the curse is generally spelled out in the cursed item's description. Usually, cursed items appear to be beneficial to all tests, and the cuse manifests the first time it's used for real. You can usually pick up and drop a cursed item normally before the curse manifests. But again, check the item description
Or, use whatever works best for the story you want to tell!
As the thread title says do you need to touch a magic item to identify it using spellcraft?
Spellcraft: "Attempting to ascertain the properties of a magic item takes 3 rounds per item to be identified and you must be able to thoroughly examine the object."
Generally, I would assume 'thoroughly examining an object' would involve handling it and moving it around, but depending on the object and the situation, I can see circumstances where touching would not be required.
Because some items are cursed I would say no.
How many items encursify on touch? A runecurse comes to mind but how often do those show up?
How many items encursify on touch? A runecurse comes to mind but how often do those show up?
Probably no more than 1 or 2, but that does not prevent some from being made later, and the rules don't say touch. You can examine or manipulate an object without touching it.
Tongs and tweezers would allow it.
Cursed items are identified like any other magic item with one exception: unless the check made to identify the item exceeds the DC by 10 or more, the curse is not detected. If the check is not made by 10 or more, but still succeeds, all that is revealed is the magic item's original intent. If the item is known to be cursed, the nature of the curse can be determined using the standard DC to identify the item.
If you beat the DC by 10, you know it's cursed. If you beat the DC, but not by 10, you know what it otherwise looks like (magic helm or magic spear or whatever).
As Haladir says, simply handling or even attempting to identify a helm of opposite alignment or a backbiting spear isn't enough to trigger the curse. Actually donning the helm would trigger the curse. In the case of the spear, simply wielding it wouldn't even do it, you'd actually have to make an earnest attack with it.