Does it take time to activate a magic item?

[zot]

Can you activate items instantly, like dodging or defending or do you have to use a "cast spell" option to activate them?

Does "commanding" a flaming weapon to flame require a "cast spell" option?

What about activating a Reverse Missiles ring?

It seems a bit silly to me to have to concentrate for 5 seconds to activate a magic item but this issue obviously makes a huge difference with Reverse Missiles.

[hcobb]

My reading of ITL page 148: "Quickly, you will it to protect you (spending 1 ST) and charge at the crowd of footpads at the end of the alley."

Is that items are activated during the Renew Spells phase (page 102) and so can be combined with a charge attack on the same turn.

[zot]

Originally Posted by hcobb

My reading of ITL page 148: "Quickly, you will it to protect you (spending 1 ST) and charge at the crowd of footpads at the end of the alley."

Is that items are activated during the Renew Spells phase (page 102) and so can be combined with a charge attack on the same turn.

That's an excellent point -- I was thinking that it would be used like a defend or dodge option but that would essentially make it free for the first turn.

Also, I like that it requires you to make the decision before you know whether someone's going to fire at you, just like using the spell does.

[larsdangly]

Not clear in the rules, I would say, but I like the ruling that it is an activity equivalent to renewing spells (and not like dodging and defending, which clearly constitute your action during a combat turn)