DM Q&A: Person uses Unknown Item

[ID10Tango]

Example: Person-A and Person-B are standing next to each other
Person-A uses Ring of Mage Armor and it might show up as such in Person-B's logs <-- How does that work? Who can see what? Does being in-party make any difference?


I'm using a common example, but there are uncommon and/or DM items in the game that show up in the logs with their Item Names so I'm curious how this all works.

[Munroe]

Apr 5, 2020 10:13:23 GMT -5 ID10Tango said:

Example: Person-A and Person-B are standing next to each other
Person-A uses Ring of Mage Armor and it might show up as such in Person-B's logs <-- How does that work? Who can see what? Does being in-party make any difference?


I'm using a common example, but there are uncommon and/or DM items in the game that show up in the logs with their Item Names so I'm curious how this all works.

If an item has a standard spell effect on it (including scrolls), the item's name shows up in the feedback window/log. (Examples: "Foxy Angelrose uses Wand of Cure Light Wounds." "Foxy Angelrose uses Circlet of Blasting." "Foxy Angelrose uses Horn of Goodness/Evil") The name of the item may not be descriptive of the spell being cast from it, and some items have multiple spells on them.

If an item has a Unique Power scripted ability on it, such as the dice bag or language widgets, its name does not show up in the feedback window/log. (Ex. "Foxy Angelrose uses item's unique power.")

If a character uses a special ability, such as a class ability, that also shows up in the feedback window/logs, but if they cast a spell that requires a spellcraft check to identify. If it's identified, it shows up in the feedback window by its name. If it's unidentified, it shows up as "unknown spell."

When speaking a language with a language widget, every time a character speaks a language the listening character also speaks (has the widget for), it is identified and translated in the feedback window.
When speaking a language with a language widget, if the listening character does not have the widget the game makes a Lore check to identify the language and will say either that they're speaking the language (on a successful roll), or that the language is unidentified (on an unsuccessful roll).

If you are concerned about an item's name being a spoiler of some kind (such as if you have an item named Tiamat's Blessing but don't want people to know you worship Tiamat), talk to a DM about it.