Re: (TFT) Rule of Five

[stan rydzewski <srydzews@ix.netcom.com>]

Pasha and or Rick Smith wrote:
> 
> 
>         I would stick with the first 5 items because otherwise
> you could turn off a cursed item by putting on 5 new items.

A good point.  I've actually been working on this matter, trying to
formalize some of Advanced Wizard's fast n' loose definitions 
regarding items.  Some extensions have proved necessary to nail down
a few vague points in the AW rules.  Here's a draft of what I've come
up with.

Activation Points
Magic Items have a natural "activation point" which is dependent on the 
item's *form*, regardless of what enchantments are on it.  For instance, 
a ring's activation point is on a finger.  Items that are at their 
activation point are referred to as "equipped" and may be used.  Other 
items (a ring in your pocket, a weapon in a scabbard, etc.) are "inert" 
and do not function.  

The rule of five is a limit on equipped items.  For instance, a 
character can carry around a dozen magic rings in a belt pouch.  As long 
as the rings are in the pouch they are inert and have no impact on the 
character's rule of five calculations.

A magical item that requires no ST expenditure to function, such as a 
blur ring, activates whenever it is equipped.  Items requiring ST 
expenditure to function must be equipped before such an expenditure is 
even possible (i.e., you can't spend ST to activate the spellsniffer 
ring in your pocket).  Items requiring a ST expenditure count against 
the rule of five limit even if no ST is currently being expended on 
them?the rule of five is a limit on equipped items, not activated ones.

Activation points are tied to the form of an item.  The enchanting 
wizard does not usually have any control over this, and can not, for 
instance, make a ring that only activates on a left hand or in someone's 
pocket.  

 Examples of activation points:
  jewelry, clothing, or armor: worn (properly...cloaks on your 
                           head or rings on your toes do not count)
  weapon, rod, tool, etc.: in hand and readied
  chair or carpet: sat upon
  misc. small item, such as a statuette: in hand

Missiles
Missiles and weapons that can be thrown are unique in that they have two 
activation points:  in the hand or in the AIR. An enchantment must be 
"assigned" to one point or the other.  Enchantments that activate "in 
the air" deliver the spell effect to their target.  For instance, if you 
want to make a Drop Weapon arrow you specify "activates in the air" when 
you put the Drop Weapon spell on it.  When the arrow is fired and hits, 
it will zap the target with a Drop Weapon effect.   Note that items 
activating "in the air" do not count against the rule of five limit of 
either the firer or the target.  The item is activating in the air; it's 
the effect is that is hitting the target--just as if a wizard had cast a 
spell.  The item only serves as a conduit to bring the spell to him. 


You could have a +1 to-hit arrow that additionally affects the target 
with a Drop Weapon spell.  In such a case the Weapon/Armor enchantment 
activates "in the hand" and the Drop Weapon "in the air". Note that such 
an arrow would count against the archer's rule of five limit, because of 
the Weapon/Armor enchantment?which always activates "in the hand".

Uncontrolled Items
A few items function constantly, even if not equipped by anybody.  Items 
enchanted by the Rope, Shadow, Dispel Illusions, Slippery Floor, and 
Sticky floor enchantments fall into this category, and are known as 
"uncontrolled items".  The item can also have normal enchantments, for 
which the normal activation point rules apply.  Note that enchantments 
which produce uncontrolled items have no corresponding Immunity 
enchantments.

Cursed and Trap Items
Items described as placing harmful spells on whoever equips them are 
annoying, but normally one can put down or take off the offending 
device.  There is an additional enchantment, "Can't Put It Down", that 
can be added to such items to make them more difficult to be rid of.  
CPID is an  $1100/25 ST/2 week/$50 ci  lesser item enchantment.  Like a 
Limiting Spell, the cost is the same regardless of the number of other 
enchantments on the item.

CPID can be added to any item (other than uncontrolled items), but of 
course it will generally be used to make "trap" items such as Slow 
Movement boots that won't come off.  An "in the air" activation point is 
obviously NOT COMPATIBLE with this enchantment?no one's holding the item 
when the activation occurs, so there's no one to afflict with "Can't Put 
It Down".  [Which is why a drop weapon arrow can be freely removed.]

Note that there's no exception to the rule of five for magical "traps" 
such as the Slow Movement boots mentioned above.  If you're stuck with 
wearing such boots, you can only equip four other items.  Conversely, if 
you had five items equipped when you put the boots on they would not 
activate; no magic item would. Note that equipping five items does not 
make you immune to the effects of items that activate in the air, as 
outlined above.

Items enchanted with the Curse spell do not need to have the CPID 
enchantment added, the effects of Curse include the inability of the 
owner to remove the item.
 
(That's it so far.  Any comments?)
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