Using magic item's special effect to dispel spells?

[Taakeshi]

Is it possible to use a wondrous item with some spell-like effect to dispel an opposite spell?

To be precise, I am wondering about Boots of Speed and Slow. The description of Boots of Speed says, that a wearer can click the heels as a free action and act as though affected by Haste spell up to 10 rounds per day.

The question is: suppose, the wearer got affected by Slow spell. Will activating the Boots dispel the effect on the wearer? Will it be suppressed for a round instead? Or some other outcome?

I am inclined to say that the effect is suppressed as long as boots are active (because boots' effect is opposite, but it's not a spell so won't completely disrupt the magic of Slow), but would be good to hear other opinions.

[Ryze Kuja]

In the spell description for Haste, it specifically says that it dispels and counters Slow. And Boots of Speed let the wearer act as if under the effects of Haste.

I would say Boots of Speed would not suppress Slow, but rather it would dispel it.

[Taakeshi]

Yes, but do Boots of Speed actually CAST Haste?

[Mysterious Stranger]

My opinion is that in this particular case the boots would counter slow, but only for the person wearing the boots. The boots are not actually casting haste just allow the wearer of the boots to act as if they are affected by haste. Haste and slow are designed to counter each other so this is a reasonable outcome. This is not the case with most other spells.

[Ryze Kuja]

Haste counters and dispels slow. Regardless of whether the Boots "cast" Haste or not, it still lets you act as if you were under the effects of Haste (therefore Slow is dispelled as soon as you gain Haste).

Boots of Speed wrote:

Boots of Speed

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Aura moderate transmutation; CL 10th; Slot feet; Price 12,000 gp; Weight 1 lb.

DESCRIPTION

As a free action, the wearer of boots of speed can click her heels together, letting her act as though affected by a haste spell for up to 10 rounds each day. The haste effect’s duration need not be consecutive rounds.

CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS

Craft Wondrous Item, haste; Cost 6,000 gp.

Haste wrote:

Haste

School transmutation; Level alchemist 3, bard 3, bloodrager 3, magus 3, medium 2, occultist 3, psychic 3, sorcerer/wizard 3, spiritualist 3, summoner 2, unchained summoner 3

CASTING

Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (a shaving of licorice root)

EFFECT

Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Targets one creature/level, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart
Duration 1 round/level
Saving Throw Fortitude negates (harmless); Spell Resistance yes (harmless)

DESCRIPTION

The transmuted creatures move and act more quickly than normal. This extra speed has several effects.

When making a full attack action, a hasted creature may make one extra attack with one natural or manufactured weapon. The attack is made using the creature’s full base attack bonus, plus any modifiers appropriate to the situation. (This effect is not cumulative with similar effects, such as that provided by a speed weapon, nor does it actually grant an extra action, so you can’t use it to cast a second spell or otherwise take an extra action in the round.)

A hasted creature gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves. Any condition that makes you lose your Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) also makes you lose dodge bonuses.

All of the hasted creature’s modes of movement (including land movement, burrow, climb, fly, and swim) increase by 30 feet, to a maximum of twice the subject’s normal speed using that form of movement. This increase counts as an enhancement bonus, and it affects the creature’s jumping distance as normal for increased speed. Multiple haste effects don’t stack. Haste dispels and counters slow.

[Daw]

Are you asking whether boots of speed can be used as the basis for a wizards "standard" counter-spell ability?

[Cevah]

When you counter Slow with Haste, you do not gain Haste effects afterward.
When you dispel Slow with Haste, you do not gain Haste effects afterward.

As a GM I would rule the boots let you act un-slowed for each round of use you use. You would not gain any hasted effect. I might allow you to dispel the Slow if the boots were fresh and lost their ability for a day.

/cevah

[Taakeshi]

Ryze: The problem is that when you cast Haste on a character already affected by Slow, it dispels the Slow effect, but does not grant Hasted condition at the same time. Boots, on the other hand, simply allow you to act "as though affected by Haste", which does not quite align with the dispel scenario.
And the whole "as though affected by <spell>" is often used to save authors from reprinting whole paragraphs of text, even though the ability is not a spell at all. For example, Adaros race has a "Rain Frenzy" natural ability, which lets them "act as though affected by Rage spell" in stormy or rainy weather.

Daw: not counter-spell, but using it as a dispel of an opposite.

Cevah: this is my understanding of the working. Boots do not dispel Slow, but combat it with their own speedup ability, effectively suppressing the effect while activated. I'm not sure if allowing to dispel the Slow is even remotely worthy, given that activation is a free action, so user can just do it each round on as-needed basis.

[Cevah]

Taakeshi wrote:

Cevah: this is my understanding of the working. Boots do not dispel Slow, but combat it with their own speedup ability, effectively suppressing the effect while activated. I'm not sure if allowing to dispel the Slow is even remotely worthy, given that activation is a free action, so user can just do it each round on as-needed basis.

Which is why I required all 10 rounds use. Basically shorting it out against the Slow spell.

/cevah

[Ryze Kuja]

Do you have a rule I'm not aware of for Boots of Speed suppressing Slow? Cuz if I'm wrong I'd like to fix that.

[Cevah]

Ryze Kuja wrote:

Do you have a rule I'm not aware of for Boots of Speed suppressing Slow? Cuz if I'm wrong I'd like to fix that.

No.

RAW, the boots do not affect Slow in any way.

I just gave my GM houserule.

/cevah

[Taakeshi]

Ryze Kuja wrote:

Do you have a rule I'm not aware of for Boots of Speed suppressing Slow? Cuz if I'm wrong I'd like to fix that.

Rule 0 at the moment, going by the logic (sic!) behind magic works and similar interactions between opposite spells (light and dark, mostly).

[Joesi]

Easy answer in my opinion: neutralizes slow on the wearer for the rounds that the haste effect is active. Definitely does not make sense to dispel slow entirely, but cancelling it out for the active rounds on the user makes perfect sense.