| 3 people marked this as FAQ candidate. |
FAQ request:
Can you have multiple Magic items or enhancements proc from the same command word or Action?
For instance, can you have a shock and flaming quality activated by the same standard or same command? or two separate magic items. the later is probably no, but the former seems more vague, but I don't think you can do this either.
I don't feel this is properly clear enough, or is not explained.
I'm betting you could have any number of items with the same Command word, but you would only activate one of them per use of the command word.
Sean Reynolds says yes. At least for activating multiple enchantments on the same weapon with a single command word, but each does require a separate action.
He does day you have to speak the command at the item, so no activating multiple different items with the same word.
1. Activating an item's command word is a standard action. If your command word is "fire," and you're in initiative, you have to spend your standard action saying the word AT the sword with the proper inflection, you can't activate it for free (without spending an action).
2. You can give several actions the same command word, but that doesn't get around the standard-action-to-activate-each. It just means you only have to remember one word, not multiple words (which means your allies have an easier time using those items to save your life if you're bleeding to death).
3. Activating flaming doesn't deactivate any other abilities on the weapon. If your sword has three different command words, you can spend three standard actions activating each to have them all active at the same time. If the sword has the same command word for all three special abilities, you can spend three standard actions speaking that command word to activate the three special abilities, and have them activated at the same time.
"Until another command is given" means "... specifically to turn off that weapon special ability with the 'off' command." It doesn't mean "any command directed at the weapon turns off this ability" or "any command you speak turns off this ability" or "any command anyone in the world speaks at any time turns off this ability."
Unless specified as a unique item power, each power is activated separately.
As has been mentioned it requires a standard action, not merely saying a word. Otherwise the bad guys could just utter a word to turn your stuff off.
You can just leave them on now. As nonsensical as it seems you can safely keep a flaming sword sheathed.
FAQ request:
Can you have multiple Magic items or enhancements proc from the same command word or Action?For instance, can you have a shock and flaming quality activated by the same standard or same command? or two separate magic items. the later is probably no, but the former seems more vague, but I don't think you can do this either.
I don't feel this is properly clear enough, or is not explained.
If you have two magic items, one in each hand, and they both have the Command Word of "Shpadoinkle!" with the activation time of Standard Action, you may only activate one each turn.
If you have a sword that has both Flaming and Shocking on the command word of "THUNDERCATS, HO!" you can activate one, the other, or both.
A side note - most DMs will allow you to command your weapon to activate their elemental damage qualities as a Free Action. RAW this isn't the case, but both theatrically and logistically it makes the most sense (since you spending a Standard Action to give your weapon +1d6 Fire, while your caster attacks for 4d6 Fire at the same speed, just further nerfs martial classes).
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How about "Errata request: remove the nonsensical fluff about accidentally activating command word items so that questions like this don't keep popping up (or at least known command words)."
I'm going to hit the FAQ button not because I don't know the answer, but because the above referenced statement does lend to confusion.