Ring of Spell Turning question

[Yrkoon]

Hi,

can anyone share their view on the magical ring of spell turning.

How does it work ?!
Does it always turn spells (if it is activated) or do you, by activating it, get the spell Spell Turning cast on you.

It seems it's a VERY good magical ring if it always work, on the other hand if is perhaps not worth it's steep price of 150k gold if it aint working in that way...

 

[Kalanyr]

While worn it provides a Spell Turning spell with no maximum level of spells turned. It is a very powerful item doubtless that is why its so expensive. But remember it doesn't turn spells with a range of touch or area of effect spells.

 

[mkletch]

From the SRD, Magic Items (Rings)
Spell Turning

On command, this simple platinum band automatically reflects spells cast at the wearer, exactly as if spell turning had been cast upon the wearer.

Caster Level: 15th; Prerequisites: Forge Ring, spell turning; Market Price: 150,000 gp.

It clearly says on command. So by saying the command word, you get the effect of spell turning as cast by a 15th level caster, basically duration.

For a really high-powered campaign, we made a ring of continuous spell turning. Basically, for any spell, you rolled to see how many levels were blocked. This gave a chance that any spell above the minimum level could be only partially blocked. It was very powerful, but it was mitigated by two things: did not affect area or touch spells, and it was made/worn by the character who basically concentrated on ability scores and saves (he rarely missed a Will or Fort save anyway). The 'by the book cost for such an item would be only 182,000gp, a marginal increase over the on command version, but such an item would be hopelessly broken in most campaigns.

-Fletch!

 

[James McMurray]

Damn! I've wanted to post that for days now and couldn't get through!

 

[mkletch]

Damn! I've wanted to post that for days now and couldn't get through!

Me too. I had a bunch of replies that I C/P'd into notepad to save until things were working again. I thought it was my one PC that had the problem, until I saw the news post.

-Fletch!

 

[Yrkoon]

oki, thanx guys.

 

[kreynolds]

It clearly says on command. So by saying the command word, you get the effect of spell turning as cast by a 15th level caster, basically duration.

I know this has been argued over and over and over, but rings don't have a limited duration. That's the one unique quality of them compared to most other magic items. From CS (cause the damn Sage hasn't replied yet)...

Is a ring of invisibility continous, meaning is it active until you deactivate, and vice versa, or does it have a limited duration? How about a ring of blinking?

--They are not limited, so you just activate and deactivate them as you please.

Thanks!

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[ruleslawyer]

Don't know about that one, kreynolds.

From the SRD:

Activation

Usually, a ring’s ability is activated by a command word (a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity) or it works continually. Some rings have exceptional activation methods, according to their descriptions.

I'd be inclined to say that a ring of spell turning therefore works as a command-word activated item, meaning that it runs its duration (or blocks 7-10 spell levels) and then must be reactivated as a standard action. Monte Cook also has rendered this interpretation on his boards (the post, sadly, is long gone). In high-level campaigns, this is likely to match up to at least one spell per battle, which is pretty powerful.

 

[kreynolds]

I'd be inclined to say that a ring of spell turning therefore works as a command-word activated item

Well, it does, and I never said it didn't. Command-word activation doesn't govern duration, only the amount of time needed to turn it on. You use a standard action to turn it on, but it still doesn't have a limited duration, unless it reaches its limit in turning spells, then you have to turn it back on. A ring of invisibility will last forever, unless you turn it off, or you make an attack. If you make an attack, it shuts off and you have to turn it back on again with another standard action. Like I said, I know this has been argued before. I was just giving WotC's stance on this.

I never got a reply from the Sage, but then again, I haven't gotten a reply from him on last dozen or more different questions I've sent to him. I guess he's not checking email.

 

[James McMurray]

I agree with the camp saying it has a duration. The ring states it acts just as if you had the spell cast on you. It doesn't say "just as if the spell were cast, except for duration."

As for the sage, we all know he can be hit or miss at times. If he would cite reasons for his answers, I'd be much more inclined to pay attention tothem.