Inquisitor Bane

[hjs102]

Hello, I have a question that came up with the inquisitor's Bane ability. The ability reads: At 5th level, an inquisitor can imbue one of her weapons with the bane weapon special ability as a swift action. She must select one creature type when she uses this ability (and a subtype if the creature type selected is humanoid or outsider). Once selected, the type can be changed as a swift action. This ability only functions while the inquisitor wields the weapon. If dropped or taken, the weapon resumes granting this ability if it is returned to the inquisitor before the duration expires. This ability lasts for a number of rounds per day equal to the inquisitor’s level. These rounds do not need to be consecutive.

Our inquisitor was stunned and dropped her weapon. Based off the ability text were it says it resumes if retrieved "before the duration expires", does this mean the ability is still active after she drops it and consumes rounds?

Also what action is it to stop the ability?

[Murdock Mudeater]

hjs102 wrote:

Our inquisitor was stunned and dropped her weapon. Based off the ability text were it says it resumes if retrieved "before the duration expires", does this mean the ability is still active after she drops it and consumes rounds?

Also what action is it to stop the ability?

Says in the text:

Quote:

This ability lasts for a number of rounds per day equal to the inquisitor’s level. These rounds do not need to be consecutive.

Ability lasts for rounds, not turns, you could feasibly drop or throw your weapon and retrieve it in a single round.

As for the action to stop the ability, I'm uncertain, but I suspect it's a free action. Though from the text, you could also reasonably conclude that each round of use requires a new swift action to activate the ability for that round.

[Squiggit]

Quote:

Our inquisitor was stunned and dropped her weapon. Based off the ability text were it says it resumes if retrieved "before the duration expires", does this mean the ability is still active after she drops it and consumes rounds?

I don't see how you can argue that. "Only functions while the inquisitor wields it" means just that. If the weapon gets dropped, bane turns off and it turns back on when you pick it up again.

[hjs102]

The only comparison we had at the time was the paladin's divine bond, which is worded similarly. The difference is that the paladin's is on a limit per day while the inquisitor can break up the duration. Also, it is because it says in the ability "before the duration expires", which to me means the duration is not paused when the weapon is dropped/taken.

[Melkiador]

It probably works like the warpriest sacred weapon:
"These bonuses do not apply if another creature is wielding the weapon, but they continue to be in effect if the weapon otherwise leaves the warpriest’s possession (such as if the weapon is thrown). This ability can be ended as a free action at the start of the warpriest’s turn (that round does not count against the total duration, unless the ability is resumed during the same round)"

[BigNorseWolf]

The rule is meant to stop the inquisitor from handing the weapon off. As long as you're not doing that you're good.

[Murdock Mudeater]

BigNorseWolf wrote:

The rule is meant to stop the inquisitor from handing the weapon off. As long as you're not doing that you're good.

I've been under the impression it also prevents inquisitors from using thrown weapons with this ability. Could be wrong, but I recall an archetype or feat which allows this to function with thrown weapons too.

[BigNorseWolf]

Murdock Mudeater wrote:

BigNorseWolf wrote:

The rule is meant to stop the inquisitor from handing the weapon off. As long as you're not doing that you're good.

I've been under the impression it also prevents inquisitors from using thrown weapons with this ability. Could be wrong, but I recall an archetype or feat which allows this to function with thrown weapons too.

This ability only functions while the inquisitor wields the weapon. If dropped or taken, the weapon resumes granting this ability if it is returned to the inquisitor before the duration expires. This ability lasts for a number of rounds per day equal to the inquisitor’s level. These rounds do not need to be consecutive.

Wields is a badly defined term. Could mean anything

A thrown weapon is not dropped

A thrown weapon is not taken

Throwing weapons are so horribly unoptimized that there's no reason to restrict an inquisitor from using them