Cost for a levitating weapon? Not "dancing" or "animated". [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cost for a levitating weapon? Not "dancing" or "animated". [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Nite_shade
07-12-07, 08:21 PM Hello,

This is probably not what you're expecting. I'm playing a Wizard character who carries the "iconic" Wizard's staff. And while, yes, I could simply strap it to my back or use it as a walking stick, I thought to myself: "How cool would it be if it floated lazily nearby in mid-air?"

It would confer absolutely zero mechanical bonus except that it would not count against my carrying capacity until I snatched it to fight with. No "dancing" qualities or anything like that. Just follows mystically in the air much like Tenser's Floating Disk, only higher. I definitely don't think it even warrants a + bonus of any kind. Probably a flat price modifier.

I remember a similar quality in Complete Arcane that allows your spellbook to stay suspended in air for +2,000 to the cost of the spellbook. But it only floated in a stationary position like an immovable rod.

Any comments, thoughts, and ideas would be appreciated. Thank you!
zorgling25
07-12-07, 09:34 PM Well, seeing as its easily within reach for you to grab, I would give it the benefit effectively of the quick draw feat.
What would be the cost of a weapon that gave the benefit of quick draw?
Nite_shade
07-12-07, 09:50 PM Thanks for the response!

Anyway, I wouldn't say it's any more in reach than a sheathed weapon by your side. While Quick Draw would be nice I wouldn't want it to inflate the cost unnecessarily.
Twylyght
07-13-07, 01:21 AM Could be done by working out the cost to have an always on unseen servant or mage hand spell, with a decent discount for only realy keeping it in reach and holding 4 pounds for you.
Colmarr
07-13-07, 01:32 AM I don't have any opposition to the proposed ability, but I should point out that it poses some rules issues:

Can you be disarmed of the item?
Can someone else just pick it up?
Does it count as attended or unattended for the purposes of saving throws?
Can you hang from the staff?
Can the staff hold any weight at all while levitating?
What sort of action is it to grab the staff?

The further away from "normal" you get, the more expensive the ability should be.
zorgling25
07-13-07, 01:33 AM Could be done by working out the cost to have an always on unseen servant or mage hand spell, with a decent discount for only realy keeping it in reach and holding 4 pounds for you.

Well, Hand of the Mage grants mage hand at will, and its only 900 gp. But technically, mage hand is not allowed to move magic items, which is why I didn't suggest this.
Pallin Rahl
07-13-07, 02:10 AM You could always discuss a non-item-based solution with your DM.

Were it my campaign, I would probably allow you to research/create a level 0 spell that lasts for 24 hrs (or 1hr per level, if you feel 24 hrs is too much) that essentially lets your staff float next to you, held by a couple-inch invisible clasp of force. Just word the actual spell in a manner that specifically states that "letting my staff float along next to me" is all that you could do with it.

Sound fine to me. ...just don't let it grant you any actual benefits (don't let it give you quick draw or anything).

Let it be treated in a manner similar to an ioun stone, as it floats next to you. i.e. an enemy could grab it and take it away from you, etc.

When it comes to "drawing your weapon" for combat... just treat it as if you had it sheathed/strapped to your back as it floats there.

Most of the details are common sense - if all you want it to do is float there to look cool (giving you no other benefits).

Honestly, I like this spell solution more than an item-based solution, stylistically. This way, you are the reason the staff is floating next to you (via your magic)... as opposed to the item floating of its own accord (floating as much for you, as the party's Barbarian).
Nom
07-13-07, 02:46 AM Easy pricing would be equivalent to a permanent Tenser's (2000 x 1 x 1). I realise that it's physically nothing like a TFD, but mechanically it's almost identical.

You might get a discount if it has no significant carrying capacity. But if it also flies (not subject to the 3 ft. restriction) then it probably balances out.
mvincent
07-13-07, 01:43 PM One method might be to make the staff mildly intelligent (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/intelligentItems.htm#intelligentItemAlig nment) (1,000 gp), and have a built-in, slotless Hand of the Mage (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#handoftheMage) (1800 gp). Since an intelligent item can activate it's own powers, this can provide even more benefits than merely following you around..
Stumpy_the_Tall
07-13-07, 03:00 PM I guess if I were your DM I would charge you a cantrip for the day. That's all you're really doing anyways right?

Floating weapon - Let's your weapon float within 4 ft. of you. This weapon is treated as equiped/sheathed for all other intensive perposes.
zorgling25
07-13-07, 06:17 PM One method might be to make the staff mildly intelligent (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/intelligentItems.htm#intelligentItemAlig nment) (1,000 gp), and have a built-in, slotless Hand of the Mage (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#handoftheMage) (1800 gp). Since an intelligent item can activate it's own powers, this can provide even more benefits than merely following you around..

As already stated, the biggest issue with having it use Mage Hand is that Mage Hand is not usable on magic items, which means it could never use it on itself.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nite_shade 07-12-07, 08:21 PM	Hello, This is probably not what you're expecting. I'm playing a Wizard character who carries the "iconic" Wizard's staff. And while, yes, I could simply strap it to my back or use it as a walking stick, I thought to myself: "How cool would it be if it floated lazily nearby in mid-air?" It would confer absolutely zero mechanical bonus except that it would not count against my carrying capacity until I snatched it to fight with. No "dancing" qualities or anything like that. Just follows mystically in the air much like Tenser's Floating Disk, only higher. I definitely don't think it even warrants a + bonus of any kind. Probably a flat price modifier. I remember a similar quality in Complete Arcane that allows your spellbook to stay suspended in air for +2,000 to the cost of the spellbook. But it only floated in a stationary position like an immovable rod. Any comments, thoughts, and ideas would be appreciated. Thank you!
zorgling25 07-12-07, 09:34 PM	Well, seeing as its easily within reach for you to grab, I would give it the benefit effectively of the quick draw feat. What would be the cost of a weapon that gave the benefit of quick draw?
Nite_shade 07-12-07, 09:50 PM	Thanks for the response! Anyway, I wouldn't say it's any more in reach than a sheathed weapon by your side. While Quick Draw would be nice I wouldn't want it to inflate the cost unnecessarily.
Twylyght 07-13-07, 01:21 AM	Could be done by working out the cost to have an always on unseen servant or mage hand spell, with a decent discount for only realy keeping it in reach and holding 4 pounds for you.
Colmarr 07-13-07, 01:32 AM	I don't have any opposition to the proposed ability, but I should point out that it poses some rules issues: Can you be disarmed of the item? Can someone else just pick it up? Does it count as attended or unattended for the purposes of saving throws? Can you hang from the staff? Can the staff hold any weight at all while levitating? What sort of action is it to grab the staff? The further away from "normal" you get, the more expensive the ability should be.
zorgling25 07-13-07, 01:33 AM	Could be done by working out the cost to have an always on unseen servant or mage hand spell, with a decent discount for only realy keeping it in reach and holding 4 pounds for you. Well, Hand of the Mage grants mage hand at will, and its only 900 gp. But technically, mage hand is not allowed to move magic items, which is why I didn't suggest this.
Pallin Rahl 07-13-07, 02:10 AM	You could always discuss a non-item-based solution with your DM. Were it my campaign, I would probably allow you to research/create a level 0 spell that lasts for 24 hrs (or 1hr per level, if you feel 24 hrs is too much) that essentially lets your staff float next to you, held by a couple-inch invisible clasp of force. Just word the actual spell in a manner that specifically states that "letting my staff float along next to me" is all that you could do with it. Sound fine to me. ...just don't let it grant you any actual benefits (don't let it give you quick draw or anything). Let it be treated in a manner similar to an ioun stone, as it floats next to you. i.e. an enemy could grab it and take it away from you, etc. When it comes to "drawing your weapon" for combat... just treat it as if you had it sheathed/strapped to your back as it floats there. Most of the details are common sense - if all you want it to do is float there to look cool (giving you no other benefits). Honestly, I like this spell solution more than an item-based solution, stylistically. This way, you are the reason the staff is floating next to you (via your magic)... as opposed to the item floating of its own accord (floating as much for you, as the party's Barbarian).
Nom 07-13-07, 02:46 AM	Easy pricing would be equivalent to a permanent Tenser's (2000 x 1 x 1). I realise that it's physically nothing like a TFD, but mechanically it's almost identical. You might get a discount if it has no significant carrying capacity. But if it also flies (not subject to the 3 ft. restriction) then it probably balances out.
mvincent 07-13-07, 01:43 PM	One method might be to make the staff mildly intelligent (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/intelligentItems.htm#intelligentItemAlig nment) (1,000 gp), and have a built-in, slotless Hand of the Mage (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#handoftheMage) (1800 gp). Since an intelligent item can activate it's own powers, this can provide even more benefits than merely following you around..
Stumpy_the_Tall 07-13-07, 03:00 PM	I guess if I were your DM I would charge you a cantrip for the day. That's all you're really doing anyways right? Floating weapon - Let's your weapon float within 4 ft. of you. This weapon is treated as equiped/sheathed for all other intensive perposes.
zorgling25 07-13-07, 06:17 PM	One method might be to make the staff mildly intelligent (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/intelligentItems.htm#intelligentItemAlig nment) (1,000 gp), and have a built-in, slotless Hand of the Mage (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#handoftheMage) (1800 gp). Since an intelligent item can activate it's own powers, this can provide even more benefits than merely following you around.. As already stated, the biggest issue with having it use Mage Hand is that Mage Hand is not usable on magic items, which means it could never use it on itself.