Do unattended Necklaces of Fireball explode?

[Bovine Colonel]

If I were to enclose a large number of unattended Necklaces of Fireball in a small space with a Delayed Blast Fireball, would the necklaces detonate?

[Riverdance]

I don't think it makes a difference whether the necklaces are being worn or not, meaning they would just have to make saving throws (with +7 bonus). That sounds like a great recipe for disaster/fun/complete campaign derailing. Do it.

[Palanan]

This happened in one of our early 3.5 campaigns, in Heart of Nightfang Spire.

One of the tower's unsavory occupants had just tossed a fireball at our group, which was conveniently bunched up on a high column in the middle of a wide cavern. We survived the first hit, and our party's ninja decided to make a mighty leap to the ledge where the mysterious attacker was standing.

Meanwhile, our pyro-blaster wizard, feeling he'd been professionally insulted ("Throw a fireball at ME?!") decided to throw a fireball right back. Meaning, at the mysterious attacker on the ledge.

Where the ninja had just successfully landed.

And where, it turned out, the mysterious attacker was wearing a nearly-full Necklace of Fireballs.

The ninja was standing literally right next to him as the entire necklace cooked off--and somehow made four successful Reflex saves to avoid the chain detonation. He survived, although crispily.

By the time the rest of us made our way over, the ninja had gone ahead into the next chamber, where he found the severely crispified remnants of what would have been the next set of attackers.

And, among their remnants, he found a ring of protection from fire. Better late than never.

So yeah, multiple boom. :smallbiggrin:

[Jeraa]

By a strict reading of the item, unattended necklaces will not explode.


If the necklace is being worn or carried by a character who fails her saving throw against a magical fire attack, the item must make a saving throw as well (with a save bonus of +7). If the necklace fails to save, all its remaining spheres detonate simultaneously, often with regrettable consequences for the wearer.

No mention is made of what happens if an unattended necklace is hit by a fire attack, so the default would be what ever happens to any other magic item hit. It makes a save, and may take damage, but it won't explode.

[Funkyodor]

Thats because normally an attended item doesn't have to make a save when subjected to a magical fire attack. When it is unattended, then it defaults to normal unattended magic item rules.

[ericgrau]

The rules don't specify one way or the other but one can assume that successfully damaging the necklace with fire would detonate them.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

So... you give someone a necklace of fireballs and a helm of brilliance and... step back and start using Produce flame to poke him with fire damage and watch the fireworks?

[Sallera]

If rulings in modules count, Eyes of the Lich Queen does specify that an unattended necklace will still explode if hit (although it gets the usual save to avoid, of course).