Hexing Runes item and Ward Hex (Witches)

[Kisarra]

Hi fellow gamers

I have a question about the Hexing Runes magic item and how it works in conjunction with the Ward Hex that Witches can take.

One of the abilities of the Hexing Runes item is:

"Additionally, once per day when she speaks the command word, the wearer gains the benefits of the ward hex as if cast by an 8th level witch."

So, this is great for a Witch as they can use this item to activate a Ward Hex on themselves even f they don't have the Ward Hex.

But how does this work if the Witch also has the Ward Hex ? Can they then also use their own Ward Hex on another party member ? Normally a Witch can only have ONE Ward Hex in operation at once ? Is this limit bypassed by using the Hexing Runes item ?

[DM_Blake]

I would suggest treating this item as if the character were actually an 8th level witch with the Ward Hex and cast the hex normally with all the normal rules for it, including the limitation of only having one.

The only difference is the source of the Ward Hex. This makes very little difference unless the witch is lower than 8th level (the ward from this item would be stronger than the ward the witch can cast). It might also make a difference if the ward is being suppressed (the item caster level is always 8 regardless of the witch's own caster level).

But otherwise, no difference.

[Kisarra]

DM_Blake wrote:

I would suggest treating this item as if the character were actually an 8th level witch with the Ward Hex and cast the hex normally with all the normal rules for it, including the limitation of only having one.

The only difference is the source of the Ward Hex. This makes very little difference unless the witch is lower than 8th level (the ward from this item would be stronger than the ward the witch can cast). It might also make a difference if the ward is being suppressed (the item caster level is always 8 regardless of the witch's own caster level).

But otherwise, no difference.

Thanks for the thoughts. At the moment my Witch is 6th level and doesn't have the Ward Hex. So with this item I'm thinking she would have no advantage in taking the Ward Hex as one of her chosen Hexes (unless of course she wishes to use it on another character) and indeed so long as she is happy to use this ability only to protect herself.

So according to your comments, if she did decide to take the Ward Hex at some point, using it on another character would cancel the Ward Hex on herself if she'd used the item to Ward Hex herself beforehand ?

[DM_Blake]

That's how I'd rule it.

I'd only rule in favor of two simultaneous Ward Hexes if the item specifically says it allows such an exception (in which case I wouldn't be ruling at all).

In fact, this is my generic approach to all "rulings" I make - if anything needs a ruling and it is similar to an existing rule, then I follow that rule as closely as possible and never assume any exceptions unless they are explicitly called out by the situation on which I'm ruling.

I don't see an explicit exception being called out here, so I wouldn't assume such an exception (to the limit of simultaneous Ward Hexes).