Creating an item. Please double check and help. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Creating an item. Please double check and help. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tenken
04-08-06, 11:38 PM Hi, I'm trying to create a custom item use-activated/continous. I'm going by the example from the DMG. Here's what I know:

Spell level x caster level x 2,000gp

The example given was a Lantern of Revealing, and as far as I can tell, as long as it's on, it works all day long. So I checked out the requirements for the item, which was Invisibility Purge, a level 3 cleric spell, which requires a caster level of 5. So that means:

3 x 5 x 2,000gp = 30,000gp

This checks out correctly. Now I'm trying to apply it to the magic item that I'm making, and it seems insanely powerful. Say I want to make a crown, or a headband, or a bracer or whatever other wondrous item I can make. Now, I want the Lion's Charge spell from the Spell Compendium. It's a Ranger level 2 spell, which requires a caster level of 4 (Ranger 8). So the equation is:

2 x 4 x 2,000gp = 16,000gp

So for a mere 16k, my character can have the Lion's Charge to be usable all day long?!?!? Is this correct? I'm following the example, and it seems to check out, but I've gotta be missing something?
Bulletproof_Condom
04-09-06, 12:16 AM That little equation is a guideline. That's not the absolute price, that's just a starting point from which you increase or decrease the value until a balance is reached. I mean, a ring of true strike costs 2,000 gp according to that rule. Obviously a +20 to all attacks is way too powerful for 2,000 gp. It should be closer to 400,000 gp.

Personally, I'd push a wondrous item that granted a continuous lion's charge closer to 80 k, but that's a snap judgement. Such an item needs to be playtested.
Tenken
04-09-06, 12:29 AM Well, keep in mind that a charge attack is very situational, whereas True Strike is usable all the time. I was thinking that at the most, I would multiply it by 4, because at the bottom it says that any magic that is measured in rounds should be multiplied by 4. The only reason I didn't do it is because the Lantern example didn't multiply it by 2 like it's supposed to. I even checked the errata, so I wasn't sure what I should do. Still, 16,000 x 4 is 64,000gp, which, while much more expensive, still not that shabby I think. At level 15 or so, it would be extremely useful.
tarkin
04-09-06, 11:46 AM Magic Items are supposed to be priced on the POWER of the magic effect granted, not anything else.

The pricing method you describe, basing it on the spell choosen as a pre-req is acknoledged to be the worst one around. It should only be used if you can't find a better method, and definitely needs a lot of DM approval/modification.

The price of 64,000 seems reasonable to me. Compare it with a +1 weapon of Speed for 32,000 gp. Definitely seems in line power wise.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tenken 04-08-06, 11:38 PM	Hi, I'm trying to create a custom item use-activated/continous. I'm going by the example from the DMG. Here's what I know: Spell level x caster level x 2,000gp The example given was a Lantern of Revealing, and as far as I can tell, as long as it's on, it works all day long. So I checked out the requirements for the item, which was Invisibility Purge, a level 3 cleric spell, which requires a caster level of 5. So that means: 3 x 5 x 2,000gp = 30,000gp This checks out correctly. Now I'm trying to apply it to the magic item that I'm making, and it seems insanely powerful. Say I want to make a crown, or a headband, or a bracer or whatever other wondrous item I can make. Now, I want the Lion's Charge spell from the Spell Compendium. It's a Ranger level 2 spell, which requires a caster level of 4 (Ranger 8). So the equation is: 2 x 4 x 2,000gp = 16,000gp So for a mere 16k, my character can have the Lion's Charge to be usable all day long?!?!? Is this correct? I'm following the example, and it seems to check out, but I've gotta be missing something?
Bulletproof_Condom 04-09-06, 12:16 AM	That little equation is a guideline. That's not the absolute price, that's just a starting point from which you increase or decrease the value until a balance is reached. I mean, a ring of true strike costs 2,000 gp according to that rule. Obviously a +20 to all attacks is way too powerful for 2,000 gp. It should be closer to 400,000 gp. Personally, I'd push a wondrous item that granted a continuous lion's charge closer to 80 k, but that's a snap judgement. Such an item needs to be playtested.
Tenken 04-09-06, 12:29 AM	Well, keep in mind that a charge attack is very situational, whereas True Strike is usable all the time. I was thinking that at the most, I would multiply it by 4, because at the bottom it says that any magic that is measured in rounds should be multiplied by 4. The only reason I didn't do it is because the Lantern example didn't multiply it by 2 like it's supposed to. I even checked the errata, so I wasn't sure what I should do. Still, 16,000 x 4 is 64,000gp, which, while much more expensive, still not that shabby I think. At level 15 or so, it would be extremely useful.
tarkin 04-09-06, 11:46 AM	Magic Items are supposed to be priced on the POWER of the magic effect granted, not anything else. The pricing method you describe, basing it on the spell choosen as a pre-req is acknoledged to be the worst one around. It should only be used if you can't find a better method, and definitely needs a lot of DM approval/modification. The price of 64,000 seems reasonable to me. Compare it with a +1 weapon of Speed for 32,000 gp. Definitely seems in line power wise.