Rod slot? [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Rod slot? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Cobra1117
03-13-07, 12:07 PM All,

I've been thinking about making some new rods for my NPCs, but I can't figure out if they count as using a magic item slot, or if they get the x2 cost adjustment for "no space limitation". Also, if they do use a slot, what is their "body slot affinity"? (e.g. "hats" are used for "interaction" unless you take the x1.5 adjustment, according to DMG/SRD).

Thanks!
olshanski_home
03-13-07, 12:50 PM There is no rod slot to speak of, you can carry as many as you'd like.

Generally, in order to use a rod, it must be in your hand, which means that if you need one hand to hold a rod, and another hand to make your somatic spell components... so you cannot also be carrying a weapon or heavy shield or wand.
I play that readying a rod is like drawing a light weapon.
Cobra1117
03-13-07, 05:07 PM There is no rod slot to speak of, you can carry as many as you'd like.

Generally, in order to use a rod, it must be in your hand, which means that if you need one hand to hold a rod, and another hand to make your somatic spell components... so you cannot also be carrying a weapon or heavy shield or wand.
I play that readying a rod is like drawing a light weapon.

Hrm... ok... so do you always assume that the item fits the body slot affinity? Or do you always increase the price by x1.5?

For example, I was considering cloning the rod of Ray of Frost from Neverwinter Nights (rod that allows you to use Ray of Frost once per round, any number of times per day). The starting price would be:
1/2 * 1 * 1800 (command word) = 900 gp

Is this the final cost, or do you multiply it by x2 (doesn't use a body slot) or 1.5 (uses a slot, but doesn't fit the affinity)?

Thanks!
Merestil Haye
03-13-07, 05:25 PM Rods don''t actually store spells - they have odd effects. If the thing is storing a spell then make it a wand or staff.

They are always slotless items. Also, since they are not wondrous items, the body slot affinity rules don't apply. Only wondrous items use that rule at all.
ElIsRa
03-13-07, 06:25 PM Rods don''t actually store spells - they have odd effects. If the thing is storing a spell then make it a wand or staff.

They are always slotless items. Also, since they are not wondrous items, the body slot affinity rules don't apply. Only wondrous items use that rule at all.
Wondrous Rods!
olshanski_home
03-14-07, 12:03 AM I don't think you are understanding.

Is a sword a slotted item? Do you have a "sword" slot on your body? What slot does a wand use? What slot does a potion use? When you answer those, then you know what slot a rod uses. Basically a rod isn't an item that requires a "slot", because you have to hold it in order for it to work, that is self-limiting and makes up for the fact that you aren't wearing it on your body.

If you are going to craft an item like a rod that you hold in your hand in order to cast the spell ray of frost, then I wouldn't charge for it being non-slotted, since it is using up a free hand.
If you are going to craft an item that you don't need to hold in your hand, but simply posessing it gives you the ability, then you need to charge extra for it not using a slot. That is actually a x2 price for NO SLOT rather than X1.5 for uncustomary slot. An uncustomary slot would be a rod that you wear on your feet like boots, and that would cost x1.5.

I would strongly suggest against making an unlimited use, never discharged item.
Rods: A rod is a scepter-like item with a special power unlike that of any known spell.

If you really wanted to make a rod that when held in hand gave you unlimited ray of frost, I'd make it a command-word item and it would cost 900 gp. (1800gp (command word) x1(caster level) x .5(spell level))

If you want to make a rod that you can leave in your backpack that somehow gives you the ability to cast ray of frost as a command word, it would cost 1800 gp.

If you want to make a rod-like item that you wear on your feet like boots, or on your hand like gloves, that gives you the ability to cast ray of frost as a command word, it would cost 1350 gp.

If this were a fully charged wand of ray of frost, it would cost 375 gp. So even your cheapest unlimited-use rod is about the same as 2 or 3 fully charged wands. From a balance perspective, it is probably fine. Nobody is going to use 100 charges from a wand of ray of frost... by the time they've been in about 50 combats in which they've used a wand 2x per combat, then they are already 5th level or so, and at that point a ray of frost is useless in combat.
Cobra1117
03-14-07, 10:18 AM Basically a rod isn't an item that requires a "slot", because you have to hold it in order for it to work, that is self-limiting and makes up for the fact that you aren't wearing it on your body.

Ah.. ok... this is what I didn't get. Many thanks.

I would strongly suggest against making an unlimited use, never discharged item.

In general I agree, but 1d3 damage per round isn't unbalancing, so this particular item is ok for me.

Anyway, this all makes sense now, so thanks for all your help!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Cobra1117 03-13-07, 12:07 PM	All, I've been thinking about making some new rods for my NPCs, but I can't figure out if they count as using a magic item slot, or if they get the x2 cost adjustment for "no space limitation". Also, if they do use a slot, what is their "body slot affinity"? (e.g. "hats" are used for "interaction" unless you take the x1.5 adjustment, according to DMG/SRD). Thanks!
olshanski_home 03-13-07, 12:50 PM	There is no rod slot to speak of, you can carry as many as you'd like. Generally, in order to use a rod, it must be in your hand, which means that if you need one hand to hold a rod, and another hand to make your somatic spell components... so you cannot also be carrying a weapon or heavy shield or wand. I play that readying a rod is like drawing a light weapon.
Cobra1117 03-13-07, 05:07 PM	There is no rod slot to speak of, you can carry as many as you'd like. Generally, in order to use a rod, it must be in your hand, which means that if you need one hand to hold a rod, and another hand to make your somatic spell components... so you cannot also be carrying a weapon or heavy shield or wand. I play that readying a rod is like drawing a light weapon. Hrm... ok... so do you always assume that the item fits the body slot affinity? Or do you always increase the price by x1.5? For example, I was considering cloning the rod of Ray of Frost from Neverwinter Nights (rod that allows you to use Ray of Frost once per round, any number of times per day). The starting price would be: 1/2 * 1 * 1800 (command word) = 900 gp Is this the final cost, or do you multiply it by x2 (doesn't use a body slot) or 1.5 (uses a slot, but doesn't fit the affinity)? Thanks!
Merestil Haye 03-13-07, 05:25 PM	Rods don''t actually store spells - they have odd effects. If the thing is storing a spell then make it a wand or staff. They are always slotless items. Also, since they are not wondrous items, the body slot affinity rules don't apply. Only wondrous items use that rule at all.
ElIsRa 03-13-07, 06:25 PM	Rods don''t actually store spells - they have odd effects. If the thing is storing a spell then make it a wand or staff. They are always slotless items. Also, since they are not wondrous items, the body slot affinity rules don't apply. Only wondrous items use that rule at all. Wondrous Rods!
olshanski_home 03-14-07, 12:03 AM	I don't think you are understanding. Is a sword a slotted item? Do you have a "sword" slot on your body? What slot does a wand use? What slot does a potion use? When you answer those, then you know what slot a rod uses. Basically a rod isn't an item that requires a "slot", because you have to hold it in order for it to work, that is self-limiting and makes up for the fact that you aren't wearing it on your body. If you are going to craft an item like a rod that you hold in your hand in order to cast the spell ray of frost, then I wouldn't charge for it being non-slotted, since it is using up a free hand. If you are going to craft an item that you don't need to hold in your hand, but simply posessing it gives you the ability, then you need to charge extra for it not using a slot. That is actually a x2 price for NO SLOT rather than X1.5 for uncustomary slot. An uncustomary slot would be a rod that you wear on your feet like boots, and that would cost x1.5. I would strongly suggest against making an unlimited use, never discharged item. Rods: A rod is a scepter-like item with a special power unlike that of any known spell. If you really wanted to make a rod that when held in hand gave you unlimited ray of frost, I'd make it a command-word item and it would cost 900 gp. (1800gp (command word) x1(caster level) x .5(spell level)) If you want to make a rod that you can leave in your backpack that somehow gives you the ability to cast ray of frost as a command word, it would cost 1800 gp. If you want to make a rod-like item that you wear on your feet like boots, or on your hand like gloves, that gives you the ability to cast ray of frost as a command word, it would cost 1350 gp. If this were a fully charged wand of ray of frost, it would cost 375 gp. So even your cheapest unlimited-use rod is about the same as 2 or 3 fully charged wands. From a balance perspective, it is probably fine. Nobody is going to use 100 charges from a wand of ray of frost... by the time they've been in about 50 combats in which they've used a wand 2x per combat, then they are already 5th level or so, and at that point a ray of frost is useless in combat.
Cobra1117 03-14-07, 10:18 AM	Basically a rod isn't an item that requires a "slot", because you have to hold it in order for it to work, that is self-limiting and makes up for the fact that you aren't wearing it on your body. Ah.. ok... this is what I didn't get. Many thanks. I would strongly suggest against making an unlimited use, never discharged item. In general I agree, but 1d3 damage per round isn't unbalancing, so this particular item is ok for me. Anyway, this all makes sense now, so thanks for all your help!