On using flaws

[Shades]

Assume the following scenario.

I have the following magic item

1/day cloak fire
flaws:
1/2 damage from fire, double damage from ice.
must be held to be used.

The item in in my belt pouch. If I get hit with a flame bolt I cannot cloak it (to my understanding), but how much damage do I take? Would it be the same for an ice bolt?

 

[Polare]

In general, the guidelines in this ruling:

http://alliancelarp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=98&t=12416&p=152895&hilit=flaw#p152895

should guide when flaws and/or effects can be used. In other words, as long as you know that the flaw is there (which you should know in order to be using the effects of the item at all), you should expect to have it applied to you whenever it is in your possession. That said, the example quoted ("must be held to be used") is a somewhat vague example and could be worded better.

ARC encourages Plot teams to word flaws as precisely as possible in order to avoid this sort of question. Please note that the "Choose Flaw" ritual manipulation has this clause as an option:

"Require the item be worn or held or manipulated in a certain way"

A Plot team would be better served by wording the results of such a flaw to be something like "Any and all abilities of this item may only be used if held in one hand" than the more ambiguous "must be held to be used". As a player, ARC also encourages you to clarify the intent behind ambiguous flaws with the Plot team who put them in place.

Please see this post:

http://alliancelarp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=98&t=12963&p=142216#p142216

for more conversation on the topic of flaw transferability and suitability.

-Bryan Gregory
ARC