TOPIC: Re: Violet Prism question

<br />Ioun stones aren't written down on the party card?<br />

<br /><br />I've never seen them noted on there. ( for reference)

In True Grind, I used one against a Chain Lightning spell.  The DM allowed me to absorb my damage by using a charge but everyone else took their damage.  That seemed pretty fair to me (and I lived!).<br /><br />I can't imagine trying to make it work against spells that the player doesn't want it to work against, even bad ones. I'd bet the majority of people with one will only pull it out of their pocket when they want to burn a charge. Even against bad spells, if I'm hit with a magic missile while I have full health in the 4th round of combat, there is no point in burning a charge. Managing tokens and keeping track of them during a combat is hard enough without having to worry about accidentally burning charges off of a rare token. <br /><br />Keep it simple. When a player wants to burn a charge to prevent damage, let them.  Otherwise don't make it an issue.

As a DM, I do not want to see the Violet Prism Ioun Stone absorb helpful spells. The dungeon is already hard enough without something robbing players of those precious healing spells. In fact, if someone told me that the stone would prevent me from being healed, why would I ever wear one?

<br />As a DM, I do not want to see the Violet Prism Ioun Stone absorb helpful spells. The dungeon is already hard enough without something robbing players of those precious healing spells. In fact, if someone told me that the stone would prevent me from being healed, why would I ever wear one?<br />

<br />because Potions still work

<br />...and you can always remove it with a wave of the hand.

<br /><br />...and you can always remove it with a wave of the hand.<br />

<br /><br />Even more reason to not have it affect healing spells...

I think we've all been overlooking the fact that Jeff believes not every effect should necessarily be wholly positive.  This is speculation on my part, but he may have intended this to be one of those really good items with a drawback.

Even if that were the case (and I do not think it is, but let us say it is for argument's sake), if you can just remove it / replace it as free actions...what's the point?<br /><br />It would effectively be the same as simply telling the DM when you're using it, and you only need to communicate it once instead of multiple times (e.g. okay taking it off, okay putting it back up, etc. etc.).

<br />Even if that were the case (and I do not think it is, but let us say it is for argument's sake), if you can just remove it / replace it as free actions...what's the point?<br /><br />It would effectively be the same as simply telling the DM when you're using it, and you only need to communicate it once instead of multiple times (e.g. okay taking it off, okay putting it back up, etc. etc.).<br />

<br /><br />Except - I think only weapon changes are allowed as free actions.  Other token actions, like potions / scrolls, changing rings, changing Ioun Stones, etc. I think all take a round to do.  So, I believe as the rules stand now you'd have to take a round to remove the Ioun Stone and another after the spell to put it back.  Is that a correct reading of the rules?<br /><br />I still think that it's very unlikely a DM is going to make you use a charge and counter a beneficial spell, I'm just interpreting how the rules read. 

... changing Ioun Stones, etc. I think all take a round to do.

<br />

Is that a correct reading of the rules?

<br /><br />Good question, I don't know that anything was explicitly stated about ioun stones. We probably need a staff ruling on that and the original intention of the Violet Prism.

I will see what Jeff says and get back to you.  <br />

As much as we would like to be evil.  No, the violet prism will not absorb wanted spells.  I thnk the wording will be something like The player must inform the DM when a charge from the prism will be used.<br /><br />