Manipulation and magic item use

[Ambrus]

I've flipping through the main book and failing to find anything detailing the specific conditions under which a character can activate/use a magic item. What I'm wondering is, must a character physically touch or manipulate an item (particularly scrolls, wands, rods or staves) to activate it? Might holding/manipulating/aiming an item with a mage hand spell (or other telekinetic effect) be sufficient if the user is in proximity to the item and can speak the command word freely? Could an ally hold a spell scroll up so that a caster could read a spell off of it? Could that same ally hold and aim a wand for the caster?

I'm just not seeing anything in the RAW concerning proximity and contact in regards to activating magic items. I'm left to wonder whether holding an item is simply an unfounded assumption or unstated RAI.

[Klebert L. Hall]

From the PRD.

Rods:
"Activation: Details relating to rod use vary from item to item. Unless noted otherwise, you must be holding a rod to use its abilities. See the individual descriptions for specifics."

Scrolls:
"Activation: To activate a scroll, a spellcaster must read the spell written on it. This involves several steps and conditions.

Activate the Spell: Activating a scroll requires reading the spell from the scroll. The character must be able to see and read the writing on the scroll. Activating a scroll spell requires no material components or focus. (The creator of the scroll provided these when scribing the scroll.) Note that some spells are effective only when cast on an item or items. In such a case, the scroll user must provide the item when activating the spell. Activating a scroll spell is subject to disruption just as casting a normally prepared spell would be. Using a scroll is like casting a spell for purposes of arcane spell failure chance."

Staves:
"Activation: Staves use the spell trigger activation method, so casting a spell from a staff is usually a standard action that doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity. (If the spell being cast has a longer casting time than 1 standard action, however, it takes that long to cast the spell from a staff.) To activate a staff, a character must hold it forth in at least one hand (or whatever passes for a hand, for nonhumanoid creatures)."

Wands:
"Activation: Wands use the spell trigger activation method, so casting a spell from a wand is usually a standard action that doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity. (If the spell being cast has a longer casting time than 1 action, however, it takes that long to cast the spell from a wand.) To activate a wand, a character must hold it in hand (or whatever passes for a hand, for nonhumanoid creatures) and point it in the general direction of the target or area. A wand may be used while grappling or while swallowed whole."

-Kle.

[Ambrus]

Heh. I don't know how I missed those. Kudos Klebert.

So it's a yes for using hands or appendages for wands and staves, vaguely holding it with something for rods and a no for having to hold scrolls to activate them.

[x93edwards]

Ambrus wrote:

What I'm wondering is, must a character physically touch or manipulate an item (particularly scrolls, wands, rods or staves) to activate it? Might holding/manipulating/aiming an item with a mage hand spell (or other telekinetic effect) be sufficient if the user is in proximity to the item and can speak the command word freely?

I see the main question was answered. As an aside, you can't use mage hand to pick up magic items.

[Ambrus]

x93edwards wrote:

I see the main question was answered. As an aside, you can't use mage hand to pick up magic items.

Huh. That's so weird. Odd that the moving stuff cantrip has limits while the all-purpose cantrip (prestidigitation) has no such limitations on what you can move around telekinetically.