Post/Author/DateTime	Post
marcus_antonius 10-22-06, 09:35 AM	I'm currently having a problem with the crafting rules for magic items. In particular the part about combining 2 magic items. I have read the FOLLOWING: "If the item is one that occupies a specific place on a character’s body the cost of adding any additional ability to that item increases by 50%. For example, if a character adds the power to confer invisibility to her ring of protection +2, the cost of adding this ability is the same as for creating a ring of invisibility multiplied by 1.5." As i understand it this would mean: 8000 (for ring of protection +2) +20000 *1.5 (for ADDED ability of ring of invisibility) =38000 (8000+30000) BUT......her it comes... If i choose to do it the other way around. Lets see what happens: 20000 (my ring of Invisibility) +8000*1,5 (for the ADDED ability of a ring of protection +2 =32000 (20000+12000) 38000 vs. 32000 that can't be true can it ??? Can someone please enlighten me. I refuse to believe that the price depends the sequence of adding the abilities. Isn't there a rule that the most expensive or most inexpensive ability counts as the "base" ability... Thanks a Lot, Marcus (Also: a reference to a sage advice or any official source would be just graet)
risner 10-22-06, 10:48 AM	38000 vs. 32000 that can't be true can it ??? Can someone please enlighten me. I refuse to believe that the price depends the sequence of adding the abilities. Order matters. There is an example in the FAQ about making a sword two different ways and how the cost is different each way. This really only matters if you are adding abilities to existing items. If you are making it new, then use the lower cost order of adding abilities.
Grod_The_Giant 10-22-06, 11:13 AM	If you want a 'fluff' explanation, you can look at it like this: The price of an magic item is directly based on how strong the magic in the item is. The magic in a ring of protection is much weaker then that of a ring of invisibility. The extra cost of adding an ability is there because modifying the magic already in the item, anchoring the new enchantment. The reason it costs more to add a strong ability to a weak item is because you have to strengthen the enchantment already in the item, as well as add the new ability. Does that clarify things?
Tyler Do'Urden 10-22-06, 11:15 AM	If you were creating an item like that from scratch, you'd use the higher price, since you "multiply higher item cost by 2", at least according to table 7-33. But since it doesn't really scream that bit all over the page, you can probably get away with it. Remember kids; step one is craft the item with the most expensive single ability.
risner 10-22-06, 11:34 PM	since you "multiply higher item cost by 2", at least according to table 7-33. Errata fixed that error. It is 1.5 x additional.
Tyler Do'Urden 10-23-06, 05:38 AM	But it still says "the higher cost," right?
Nom 10-23-06, 07:26 AM	But it still says "the higher cost," right?No. You multiply less expensive abilities by 1.5. RAW, attempting to upgrade a (non-weapon or armour) magic item with more powerful abilities usually results in paying more than if the item was crafted from scratch. It's not an inherently broken house-rule to instead calculate the cost of each of the two items and just charge the difference, same as you do for weapons and armour.