Am I correct in thinking if you use Splitlip and try to pick up a hammer from the Books of Skulls using a free action you don't automatically succeed on the roll?

I'LL FORGE YOUR WEAPON, YOU $#@*&%: Friendly characters can use free actions instead of power actions to make a relic roll and modify their roll by +1 if not already modified by this effect.

Equipping a Character - At the beginning of each of your turns, you may remove a Hammer from The Book of the Skull and place it in the square of a friendly character that is at least 5 squares from any starting area. Also, once per turn you may give a character a power action and remove a Hammer from The Book of the Skull and place it in a friendly character's square that is at least 5 squares from any starting area. Whenever a Hammer is placed in a character's square, that character may immediately use Quake as a free action. If the friendly character is given a power action to place that Hammer on its character card this turn, the roll automatically succeeds and the Hammer is considered to be "equipped" to that character and that character can use its abilities as listed on the Hammer's card. Unless specified otherwise, a character may only be equipped with one Hammer. If the friendly character does not place the relic on its card this turn, then for the remainder of the game, it is a relic as described on its card.

I'm glad you posted this, I was just getting ready to do the same. Thanks for saving me the trouble!

Equipping a Character - At the beginning of each of your turns, you may remove a Hammer from The Book of the Skull and place it in the square of a friendly character that is at least 5 squares from any starting area. Also, once per turn you may give a character a power action and remove a Hammer from The Book of the Skull and place it in a friendly character's square that is at least 5 squares from any starting area. Whenever a Hammer is placed in a character's square, that character may immediately use Quake as a free action. If the friendly character is given a power action to place that Hammer on its character card this turn, the roll automatically succeeds and the Hammer is considered to be "equipped" to that character and that character can use its abilities as listed on the Hammer's card. Unless specified otherwise, a character may only be equipped with one Hammer. If the friendly character does not place the relic on its card this turn, then for the remainder of the game, it is a relic as described on its card.

I'd say that the part I bolded means that Splitlip will allow you to pick it up, as a free action, the same turn it is dropped. Its not that you don't roll, its that regardless of the result, it is a success.

edit: added the italicized for sake of clarity.

I would think it doesn't apply since you don't roll to pick up hammers.

You can always "equip" a hammer the same turn it's dropped. It's, in fact, the optimal thing to do.

Splitlip just allows you to have the "roll" be a Free Action instead of a Power Action.

Right. My post was in direct response to the OP.

I could/should have been more clear though.

The Books of Skulls says it automatically succeed if they were given a power action though, Splitlip says they can use free actions instead of power actions to pick up relics.

It says "the roll automatically succeeds". So there is a roll there, but most people skip it since it automatically succeeds. I think his ability would kick in and would allow you to pick up the hammer as a free action on any die roll.

But to drop a hammer, it does need to be in a friendly characters space at least 5 from the starting area so there's that...

Agreed with final outcome, but differ on how you get there.

The "equip" is actually referencing the same act as rolling to pick it up like a relic. Technically, you still have to roll a dice, it just automatically succeeds.

Why I agree with your final point, it is that the line on The Book of the Skulls specifically says So ask yourself, did you use a power action to pick up the hammer if you used a free action? No, then you don't get it automatically.

Splitlip doesn't rewrite every card that references relics, he simply allows you to break a rule written on the relic card about using a power action.

EDIT: As an addendum, it is important that Splitlip says you use a free action INSTEAD of a power action. That means you are not being given a power action at all. If he said "can use a power action AS a free action" then you might have something with it working with the Book.

Yes it does. Once the hammer is placed it is as it was the relic on the back of the card. It just says that the roll automatically succeeds

Right...and?

You normally would be given a Power Action to "equip" a dropped Book of the Skulls hammer. Splitlip just turns that Power Action into a free action. The Book of the Skull effect just allows that "equipping" to automatically succeed as opposed to having to roll for it to succeed.

You're combining multiple game effects to essentially "equip" a hammer as a free action and not having to roll for it.

But Splitlip doesn't say power action as a free actions, he says free action instead of a power action. So it seems like you wouldn't be given a power action, which is a the prerequisite to automatically succeed on the roll, and have it be considered equipped.

So if I'm reading this correctly, with Splitlip and the Book in play I may:

At the beginning of my turn, drop a hammer for free in a friendly character's square provided they are at least 5 squares from the starting area.

Immediately use Quake as a free action.

Make a relic roll as a free action from Splitlip to automatically succede on my relic roll and equip the hammer onto that character.

Charge/Running Shot/Whatever with that character with all the hammer's bonuses.

Right?

Sounds right to me... those are all free actions..

No, you cannot automatically succed when given a Free Action to equip a Hammer, you only automactically succeed when given a Power Action.