Custom Crafted Items [Archive] - Wizards Community

Custom Crafted Items [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Platrat
10-10-07, 09:40 AM I'm sure this isn't anything new to the boards, but was wondering..

I was looking over the Creating Magical Items stuff, and was thinking of a idea..

If I was to make a continuous spell item, like let's say Ring of True Strike.

Caster Level 1 x Spell Level 1 x 2000gp = 2,000 GP + cost of the ring.

Or a Use-activated, say True Strike on a weapon (would go off each time it is used)..

Caster Level 1 x Spell Level 1 x 2000gp = 2,000 GP + cost of +1 Weapon.
T_Stalker
10-10-07, 10:46 AM You're right, it's not new.
Do a search on True Strike ( google: "of True Strike" site:wizards.com)

There is actually an official item that does this ... or was that just an article on the site, anyway, IIRC the price was about 300-430 k gp.
InkBlot
10-10-07, 02:29 PM First of all, that's not how the guidelines work. If an item gives a bonus to hit, damage, saves, armor class, or a skill then you price it according to it's bonus -- not the spell it's based on.

Second, the magic item creation guidelines are just guidelines. There's no concise set of formulas that can cover every effect imaginable. You have to judge an item according to what level you want the player characters to be able to obtain it at, and set the price accordingly.

Going by the bonus (+20 to hit) the ring should cost 20^2 * 2000 = 800,000 gp. Going by comparisons, this ring is better than a +10 sword and so shouldn't cost less than 200,000 gp. Worst case scenario, which always needs to be considered, a two-handed power attacking fighter can turn the +20 attack bonus into +14 to attack and damage bonus. A +14 weapon costs 392,000 gp, so this ring should cost at least that but probably a good deal more since it stacks with almost everything including a magic weapon.

Six or seven hundred thousand sounds right to me.
T_Stalker
10-11-07, 03:18 AM > Going by the bonus (+20 to hit) the ring should cost 20^2 * 2000 = 800,000 gp.

Not entirely correct, True Strike gives +20 to hit, not to damage.

edit: here's the link (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20050118a)

So, what would our example ring of true strike be worth? Insight bonuses aren't included on Table 7-33, but a weapon bonus has a cost equal to the bonus squared x 2,000 gp, so a +20 weapon would cost 800,000 gp. One can argue that the ring isn't quite as good as a +20 weapon because it doesn't provide a damage bonus. That, however, ignores the very potent ability to negate most miss chances. Also, the ring's insight bonus works with any sort of attack the wearer makes. On top of all that, the insight bonus stacks with any enhancement bonus from a magic weapon the wearer might wield. Still, 800,000 gp is a lot of cash and the lack of a damage bonus is significant, so some price reduction is in order. A 50% reduction might be in order, or 400,000 gp for the ring.
InkBlot
10-11-07, 08:36 AM Not entirely correct, True Strike gives +20 to hit, not to damage.
That's what I said.

And I'm glad to see that I came to roughly the same conclusion as WotC's professional game designers did.
mvincent
10-11-07, 02:32 PM Obligatory notes regarding the "Estimating Magic Item Gold Piece Values" section in the DMG:
This section contains rough guidelines only. It is not balanced for all circumstances, and it isn't intended to be freely used by PC's. Unfortunately, the section isn't clearly represented this way, but any DM that allowed free use of it would quickly find his game becoming unbalanced beyond control. As mentioned, there are considerable abuses available, like a sword truestriking mentioned here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20050118a).

Here are some other unbalanced examples from the tables:
• Ring of Cure Minor Wounds, always on (1,000 gp)
• Headband of Charm Person, always on (1,800)
• Ring of Mage Armor, +4 AC, always on (2,000 gp )
• Shield of Shield spell, +4 AC, always on (2,000 gp)

The tables are meant to simply give some guidelines to DM's wanting to create new items. But the DM is the final arbiter on the price for these new items, and needs to take balance into account. It is best to avoid them entirely unless you are very comfortable with such balance issues.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Platrat 10-10-07, 09:40 AM	I'm sure this isn't anything new to the boards, but was wondering.. I was looking over the Creating Magical Items stuff, and was thinking of a idea.. If I was to make a continuous spell item, like let's say Ring of True Strike. Caster Level 1 x Spell Level 1 x 2000gp = 2,000 GP + cost of the ring. Or a Use-activated, say True Strike on a weapon (would go off each time it is used).. Caster Level 1 x Spell Level 1 x 2000gp = 2,000 GP + cost of +1 Weapon.
T_Stalker 10-10-07, 10:46 AM	You're right, it's not new. Do a search on True Strike ( google: "of True Strike" site:wizards.com) There is actually an official item that does this ... or was that just an article on the site, anyway, IIRC the price was about 300-430 k gp.
InkBlot 10-10-07, 02:29 PM	First of all, that's not how the guidelines work. If an item gives a bonus to hit, damage, saves, armor class, or a skill then you price it according to it's bonus -- not the spell it's based on. Second, the magic item creation guidelines are just guidelines. There's no concise set of formulas that can cover every effect imaginable. You have to judge an item according to what level you want the player characters to be able to obtain it at, and set the price accordingly. Going by the bonus (+20 to hit) the ring should cost 20^2 * 2000 = 800,000 gp. Going by comparisons, this ring is better than a +10 sword and so shouldn't cost less than 200,000 gp. Worst case scenario, which always needs to be considered, a two-handed power attacking fighter can turn the +20 attack bonus into +14 to attack and damage bonus. A +14 weapon costs 392,000 gp, so this ring should cost at least that but probably a good deal more since it stacks with almost everything including a magic weapon. Six or seven hundred thousand sounds right to me.
T_Stalker 10-11-07, 03:18 AM	> Going by the bonus (+20 to hit) the ring should cost 20^2 * 2000 = 800,000 gp. Not entirely correct, True Strike gives +20 to hit, not to damage. edit: here's the link (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20050118a) So, what would our example ring of true strike be worth? Insight bonuses aren't included on Table 7-33, but a weapon bonus has a cost equal to the bonus squared x 2,000 gp, so a +20 weapon would cost 800,000 gp. One can argue that the ring isn't quite as good as a +20 weapon because it doesn't provide a damage bonus. That, however, ignores the very potent ability to negate most miss chances. Also, the ring's insight bonus works with any sort of attack the wearer makes. On top of all that, the insight bonus stacks with any enhancement bonus from a magic weapon the wearer might wield. Still, 800,000 gp is a lot of cash and the lack of a damage bonus is significant, so some price reduction is in order. A 50% reduction might be in order, or 400,000 gp for the ring.
InkBlot 10-11-07, 08:36 AM	Not entirely correct, True Strike gives +20 to hit, not to damage. That's what I said. And I'm glad to see that I came to roughly the same conclusion as WotC's professional game designers did.
mvincent 10-11-07, 02:32 PM	Obligatory notes regarding the "Estimating Magic Item Gold Piece Values" section in the DMG: This section contains rough guidelines only. It is not balanced for all circumstances, and it isn't intended to be freely used by PC's. Unfortunately, the section isn't clearly represented this way, but any DM that allowed free use of it would quickly find his game becoming unbalanced beyond control. As mentioned, there are considerable abuses available, like a sword truestriking mentioned here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20050118a). Here are some other unbalanced examples from the tables: • Ring of Cure Minor Wounds, always on (1,000 gp) • Headband of Charm Person, always on (1,800) • Ring of Mage Armor, +4 AC, always on (2,000 gp ) • Shield of Shield spell, +4 AC, always on (2,000 gp) The tables are meant to simply give some guidelines to DM's wanting to create new items. But the DM is the final arbiter on the price for these new items, and needs to take balance into account. It is best to avoid them entirely unless you are very comfortable with such balance issues.