Concentration checks (magic items)

[Mystery Man]

When using a magic item such as a ring of spell storing, or wand, scroll etc. You need to make a concentration check correct?

 

[Starglim]

A ring, scroll and wand aren't the same thing, but none of them require a Concentration check.

A ring of spell storing is activated by a command word. Anyone who knows the command word can use it. It doesn't require a check.

To use a scroll, you must be able to cast spells of the correct type (divine or arcane), must have the spell on your class list, and must have a high enough ability score to cast the spell. If the spell is of a higher level than you can cast, you must make a level check.

It's not clear whether you can make a Concentration check, if you choose, to avoid attacks of opportunity due to reading a scroll. This is not listed as one of the uses of Concentration, but I'd probably allow it, seeing that the SRD states that reading a scroll is essentially like casting a spell.

To use a wand, you must know what spell is in the wand and have the spell on your class spell list. No check is required.

 

[Jdvn1]

It's not clear whether you can make a Concentration check, if you choose, to avoid attacks of opportunity due to reading a scroll. This is not listed as one of the uses of Concentration, but I'd probably allow it, seeing that the SRD states that reading a scroll is essentially like casting a spell.

Hm, I don't know about that. Using an item defensively? If you allow that, then would you allow using a bow defensively so as to not allow an AoO?

 

[Starglim]

"Read a scroll" is a specific action in the AoO table that, as I mentioned, is stated to be very close to casting a spell.

Firing a bow is an entirely different action.

Having said that, many people don't realise that you are explicitly permitted to "use defensively" a skill check that would otherwise provoke an attack of opportunity, so it's already broadly defined.

 

[Mystery Man]

For the ring of spell storing it says that there is no chance for arcane spell failure, I take that to mean that there are no armor check penalties etc. It doesn't say that using does not provoke an attack of opportunity.

In the Using Magic Items section it says that spell completion items do provoke at attack of opportuny. I treat scrolls, wands, amulets, rings, anything that you can program to cast a spell as a spell completion item. If it provokes a AoO you can make a concentration check just like casting a regular spell.

What I would like the astute board members to do if thay have the time and energy is to convince me I'm wrong. If you agree chime in as well.

 

[Li Shenron]

I am quite sure that using a scroll does require concentration and provokes an AoO.

If you are under distracting circumstances (such as violent motion or weather, suffering damage during the action, being targetted by a spell in the meantime) you are required a Concentration check to complete using the scroll.

You can use a scroll defensively just like you cast a spell defensively: no AoO anyway, but the spell fizzle if you fail the Concentration check.

I don't remember if these rules are in the PHB or FAQ or Sage Advice, but I think these issues were sorted out somewhere...

For spell trigger items I am not sure, perhaps they don't require concentration at all.

 

[dcollins]

From the current SRD under "Magic Items I: Using Items" (emphasis mine):

Spell Completion: This is the activation method for scrolls. A scroll is a spell that is mostly finished. The preparation is done for the caster, so no preparation time is needed beforehand as with normal spellcasting. All that’s left to do is perform the finishing parts of the spellcasting (the final gestures, words, and so on). To use a spell completion item safely, a character must be of high enough level in the right class to cast the spell already. If he can’t already cast the spell, there’s a chance he’ll make a mistake. Activating a spell completion item is a standard action and provokes attacks of opportunity exactly as casting a spell does.

Spell Trigger: (Note: DMG says "such as wands and staffs", snipped from SRD.) Spell trigger activation is similar to spell completion, but it’s even simpler. No gestures or spell finishing is needed, just a special knowledge of spellcasting that an appropriate character would know, and a single word that must be spoken. Anyone with a spell on his or her spell list knows how to use a spell trigger item that stores that spell. (This is the case even for a character who can’t actually cast spells, such as a 3rd-level paladin.) The user must still determine what spell is stored in the item before she can activate it. Activating a spell trigger item is a standard action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Command Word: If no activation method is suggested either in the magic item description or by the nature of the item, assume that a command word is needed to activate it. Command word activation means that a character speaks the word and the item activates. No other special knowledge is needed. A command word can be a real word, but when this is the case, the holder of the item runs the risk of activating the item accidentally by speaking the word in normal conversation. More often, the command word is some seemingly nonsensical word, or a word or phrase from an ancient language no longer in common use. Activating a command word magic item is a standard action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Therefore in regards to the assertion "I treat scrolls, wands, amulets, rings, anything that you can program to cast a spell as a spell completion item. If it provokes a AoO you can make a concentration check just like casting a regular spell." --

- Scrolls: Spell completion, AOO "exactly as casting a spell".
- Wands: Spell trigger, no AOO.
- Amulet, Ring, etc.: Command word, no AOO.

 

[Mystery Man]

From the current SRD under "Magic Items I: Using Items" (emphasis mine):



Therefore in regards to the assertion "I treat scrolls, wands, amulets, rings, anything that you can program to cast a spell as a spell completion item. If it provokes a AoO you can make a concentration check just like casting a regular spell." --

- Scrolls: Spell completion, AOO "exactly as casting a spell".
- Wands: Spell trigger, no AOO.
- Amulet, Ring, etc.: Command word, no AOO.

I think that is exactly what I was looking for. I had a sinking feeling that I was missing something, thanks dcollins!

 

[dcollins]

Glad to help.