Calculating Large weapon prices [Archive] - Wizards Community

Calculating Large weapon prices [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dunamin
11-09-06, 09:16 AM If you purchase a masterwork Large longsword, for instance, do you first add the masterwork price to the price of a Medium or Small longsword, and then double the result to find what a Large version cost? (630 gp)
Or do you first double the price of a Medium or Small longsword to find what a Large version cost, and then add the masterwork price (360 gp)?

Similarly, if you purchase a Large adamantium longsword, do you first add the adamantium price to the price of a Medium or Small longsword, and then double the result to find what a Large version cost? (6030 gp)
Or do you first double the price of a Medium or Small longsword to find what a Large version cost, and then add the adamantium price (3060 gp)?
Spikes01k
11-09-06, 09:24 AM With all logic, sense they don't halve the cost of master working small weapons, there is no reason why they would double the master working of a large. That is my say on the mater.
runestar
11-09-06, 10:17 PM Masterwork adds a flat +300gp to a weapon's price, regardless of it size. You don't see small masterwork weapons getting a discount, do you?

So double the base price of the weapon first, then add 300gp for masterwork.:)

Not sure about adamantite though, but I think you will have to double the cost for making large armour from it...
draconic_swine
11-09-06, 10:21 PM While doubling the price of weapons/armour made out of special materials makes sense (and would probably make for a good houserule), like the masterwork price, the rules say it's a flat cost. I also wouldn't say this was an oversight, since with Small characters being fairly common, you'd think they'd have mentioned half the special material cost for Small weapons/armour.
mvincent
11-09-06, 10:49 PM Special material costs (like adamantine) are doubled. Masterwork costs are not.
mvincent
11-09-06, 10:52 PM the rules say it's a flat costThe rules say this for masterwork, but they do not for special materials. Indeed, the 3.5 FAQ says otherwise:
"On page 217 of the DUNGEON MASTER’s Guide, it states
that “the cost of the masterwork quality and any magical
enhancement remains the same” regardless of a creature’s
unusual size or shape. Adamantine and mithral both state
that items made from such material are masterwork quality
and the masterwork cost is part of the material cost listed.
How much would a set of mithral chainmail barding for my
warhorse cost?
A strict reading of the rules indicates that in such a case the
masterwork cost for armor should be subtracted from the
special material price before applying the multiplier for any
unusual size or shape of the intended wearer.
For example, according to the Armor for Unusual Creatures
chart on page 123 of the Player’s Handbook, a set of chainmail
barding for a warhorse (a Large nonhumanoid creature) would
normally cost 600 gp (four times the normal cost of 150 gp). A
set of mithral chainmail barding would cost 16,000 gp: 600 gp
for the chainmail barding plus 15,400 gp (the cost of mithral
medium armor [4,000 gp], minus the masterwork cost for
armor [150 gp], times 4)."

Note that the FAQ actually does make a small calculation error here, but you get the idea.
Dunamin
11-10-06, 03:45 AM Note that the FAQ actually does make a small calculation error here, but you get the idea.
You're referring to the fact that the masterwork cost is left out entirely? It should have been 16150gp, right?
draconic_swine
11-10-06, 08:58 AM Special material costs (like adamantine) are doubled. Masterwork costs are not.

I know the FAQ says that the cost is increased, but I can't seem to find any relevant text in the SRD. Is there any, or is this an FAQ ruling?
mvincent
11-10-06, 12:58 PM I know the FAQ says that the cost is increased, but I can't seem to find any relevant text in the SRD. Is there any, or is this an FAQ ruling?It was subject to some interpretation (which is exactly what the FAQ is meant to resolve), but evidence still lended more towards the FAQ's interpretation. A few points were:

1) Most special material costs increase with size (in one way or another) anyways.
2) The rule for cost multiplication with size was a 'global' rule, with masterwork and magic enhancements noting themselves otherwise. Special materials were not so noted.
3) It just makes sense: i.e. a colossal set of adamantine plate-mail would likely cost more than an extra 15k gp, same with a colossal set of mithral plate-mail... which would cost a fraction of a colossal weapon because the latter is price per pound. Also, it wouldn't make sense for a PC to get a huge shortsword silvered for +20 gp (theoretically avoiding much of the cost of silvering a greatsword for +180 gp). etc.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dunamin 11-09-06, 09:16 AM	If you purchase a masterwork Large longsword, for instance, do you first add the masterwork price to the price of a Medium or Small longsword, and then double the result to find what a Large version cost? (630 gp) Or do you first double the price of a Medium or Small longsword to find what a Large version cost, and then add the masterwork price (360 gp)? Similarly, if you purchase a Large adamantium longsword, do you first add the adamantium price to the price of a Medium or Small longsword, and then double the result to find what a Large version cost? (6030 gp) Or do you first double the price of a Medium or Small longsword to find what a Large version cost, and then add the adamantium price (3060 gp)?
Spikes01k 11-09-06, 09:24 AM	With all logic, sense they don't halve the cost of master working small weapons, there is no reason why they would double the master working of a large. That is my say on the mater.
runestar 11-09-06, 10:17 PM	Masterwork adds a flat +300gp to a weapon's price, regardless of it size. You don't see small masterwork weapons getting a discount, do you? So double the base price of the weapon first, then add 300gp for masterwork.:) Not sure about adamantite though, but I think you will have to double the cost for making large armour from it...
draconic_swine 11-09-06, 10:21 PM	While doubling the price of weapons/armour made out of special materials makes sense (and would probably make for a good houserule), like the masterwork price, the rules say it's a flat cost. I also wouldn't say this was an oversight, since with Small characters being fairly common, you'd think they'd have mentioned half the special material cost for Small weapons/armour.
mvincent 11-09-06, 10:49 PM	Special material costs (like adamantine) are doubled. Masterwork costs are not.
mvincent 11-09-06, 10:52 PM	the rules say it's a flat costThe rules say this for masterwork, but they do not for special materials. Indeed, the 3.5 FAQ says otherwise: "On page 217 of the DUNGEON MASTER’s Guide, it states that “the cost of the masterwork quality and any magical enhancement remains the same” regardless of a creature’s unusual size or shape. Adamantine and mithral both state that items made from such material are masterwork quality and the masterwork cost is part of the material cost listed. How much would a set of mithral chainmail barding for my warhorse cost? A strict reading of the rules indicates that in such a case the masterwork cost for armor should be subtracted from the special material price before applying the multiplier for any unusual size or shape of the intended wearer. For example, according to the Armor for Unusual Creatures chart on page 123 of the Player’s Handbook, a set of chainmail barding for a warhorse (a Large nonhumanoid creature) would normally cost 600 gp (four times the normal cost of 150 gp). A set of mithral chainmail barding would cost 16,000 gp: 600 gp for the chainmail barding plus 15,400 gp (the cost of mithral medium armor [4,000 gp], minus the masterwork cost for armor [150 gp], times 4)." Note that the FAQ actually does make a small calculation error here, but you get the idea.
Dunamin 11-10-06, 03:45 AM	Note that the FAQ actually does make a small calculation error here, but you get the idea. You're referring to the fact that the masterwork cost is left out entirely? It should have been 16150gp, right?
draconic_swine 11-10-06, 08:58 AM	Special material costs (like adamantine) are doubled. Masterwork costs are not. I know the FAQ says that the cost is increased, but I can't seem to find any relevant text in the SRD. Is there any, or is this an FAQ ruling?
mvincent 11-10-06, 12:58 PM	I know the FAQ says that the cost is increased, but I can't seem to find any relevant text in the SRD. Is there any, or is this an FAQ ruling?It was subject to some interpretation (which is exactly what the FAQ is meant to resolve), but evidence still lended more towards the FAQ's interpretation. A few points were: 1) Most special material costs increase with size (in one way or another) anyways. 2) The rule for cost multiplication with size was a 'global' rule, with masterwork and magic enhancements noting themselves otherwise. Special materials were not so noted. 3) It just makes sense: i.e. a colossal set of adamantine plate-mail would likely cost more than an extra 15k gp, same with a colossal set of mithral plate-mail... which would cost a fraction of a colossal weapon because the latter is price per pound. Also, it wouldn't make sense for a PC to get a huge shortsword silvered for +20 gp (theoretically avoiding much of the cost of silvering a greatsword for +180 gp). etc.