>There needs to be something there. For items without an
>invokable ability, something like "You sense nothing from X as
>you attempt to draw forth its power." For items with an
>invokable ability, but where the wrong keyword/phrase is used,
>something like, "Your skin tingles momentarily as energy
>flickers and fades within X."

I don't really see this as possible, unless you want to see that echo for every piece of gear you have when you invoke something unsuccessfully, and every piece of gear you have minus one when you invoke something successfully.

>"Use" also could use some kind of work here. Something to let
>you know that even if you are trying to do something
>incorrectly, you are at least on the right track. I don't
>think complete and utter vagueness helps anyone.

Most of the items that can be used that I've seen do this.