antimagic field in an item [Archive] - Wizards Community

antimagic field in an item [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
rautapaavi
09-16-04, 09:42 AM Hullo. I was wondering, how much would cost an antimagic field item, that generated it's effect in a considerably smaller space. Currently, as per the SRD, an antimagic field is an emanation with a radius of ten feet, generating a volume of some 4000 cubic feet. I was thinking of an object that generated an effect no larger than two cubic feet, approximately the dimension of a largish sack.

Making the spell constant would cost 6 (spell level) * 11 (minimum caster level) * 2000 * 1.5 (for original duration in tens of minutes per level) = 198000, plus possible unslotting etc costs. Clearly, too much.

Now, what I need are ideas for a reasonable cost for the item.
wdarkk
09-16-04, 09:52 AM I'd price it by comparing the item to something that accomplished a similar purpose (I assume you have something you or someone else plans to do with this) and price it accordingly based on other items achieving a similar purpose.
Heron_Marked_Blade
09-16-04, 09:58 AM Clearly, too much.
Perhaps, but consider. This is like comparing a scalpel to a katana: Yes, the scalpel is smaller and not as useful in combat, but it's incredibly more useful in surgery than is the katana.

I certainly wouldn't reduce its price exactly according to its reduction in size (2 cubic feet from 4000 cubic feet is a reduction of 2000% = 99gp). However, I could see reducing the item's cost by as much as 90%.

19,800gp seems a pretty fair price for a small sack of antimagic. That might be a little low, though, once I spend some time thinking how my players would abuse it. ;)
wdarkk
09-16-04, 10:49 AM I'm sure there's something you can do with this, Ring Gates, Unseen Servants, and Permanency to duplicate the effect of the Epic feat Permanent Emanation (Antimagic Field).

Yeah, by my calculations you could get the ability to only be present in battle on your initiative, leaving the opponent to spend the rest of the time trying to find the ring before the servant appears and picks it up.

Never underestimate munchkins! They spend many hours trying to think up ways to hurt the game, and so do we!

J/K

Still, I'd really like to know what this will be used for. A Sword of Continuous True Strike wouldn't be half as onerous if Power Attack wasn't its intended use. Granted, half of a whole lot of stupid is still a great deal of stupid.

So what's it _really_ supposed to do?
obrysii
09-16-04, 10:53 AM The Draconomicon has an item that is a tower shield that can cast Antimagic Field...might wnat to check that out.
Archtyrant Terevoth
09-16-04, 12:54 PM In my campaigns I don't allow AMF items at all. If a caster wants to use it, then ok, but for a fighter, it's the most powerful item you can have, and I just flat out wouldn't allow it, at least not until epic levels where wizards actually have a chance to cast spells through it.
rautapaavi
09-17-04, 03:05 AM Thanks for the replies.

The item would be used to store harmful cursed items, as their magic would be suspended, not dispelled. Things like a periapt of foul rotting or an amulet of inescapable location, items that are harmful to the possessor if allowed to work.

The owner of the proposed antimagic sack would be a high-level rogue with an evil bent and a notably high Sleight of Hand skill, who would order cursed items from a wizard friend, and distribute them according to need.
wdarkk
09-17-04, 03:40 AM Ok, so you want a bag that negates cursed items.
I'd use Greater Dispel Magic as the base spell, then have it make caster level checks against each item to turn it off. Of course, since it would be made by the same mage as the cursed items presumably, the checks would always automatically succeed.

Since the most common "protection against cursed items" is a 1/day Mindblank item I'd make it exactly that expensive.
Gnarl
09-17-04, 04:07 AM Considering the limits, I would try working out some limitating factor of some kind with your DM (something like 1/10th of the price). It's pretty clear that you're not planning on shrinking everyone on the battle field and have them fight in your sack (although it most certainly would be fun trying). It wouldn't be a useless item though and would deserve a cost, but certainly not 196,000 gp.
I see lots of fun stuff to do with it: put your pet familiar in it, protection from magic would be nice, protecting the gear from dragon breaths and other annoying hazards, storing magical explosives without having them blast at your face and so on.
But not for 196,000 gp, that would be the price for a monk's best friend yes, but not for a simple usefull adventure gear.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
rautapaavi 09-16-04, 09:42 AM	Hullo. I was wondering, how much would cost an antimagic field item, that generated it's effect in a considerably smaller space. Currently, as per the SRD, an antimagic field is an emanation with a radius of ten feet, generating a volume of some 4000 cubic feet. I was thinking of an object that generated an effect no larger than two cubic feet, approximately the dimension of a largish sack. Making the spell constant would cost 6 (spell level) * 11 (minimum caster level) * 2000 * 1.5 (for original duration in tens of minutes per level) = 198000, plus possible unslotting etc costs. Clearly, too much. Now, what I need are ideas for a reasonable cost for the item.
wdarkk 09-16-04, 09:52 AM	I'd price it by comparing the item to something that accomplished a similar purpose (I assume you have something you or someone else plans to do with this) and price it accordingly based on other items achieving a similar purpose.
Heron_Marked_Blade 09-16-04, 09:58 AM	Clearly, too much. Perhaps, but consider. This is like comparing a scalpel to a katana: Yes, the scalpel is smaller and not as useful in combat, but it's incredibly more useful in surgery than is the katana. I certainly wouldn't reduce its price exactly according to its reduction in size (2 cubic feet from 4000 cubic feet is a reduction of 2000% = 99gp). However, I could see reducing the item's cost by as much as 90%. 19,800gp seems a pretty fair price for a small sack of antimagic. That might be a little low, though, once I spend some time thinking how my players would abuse it. ;)
wdarkk 09-16-04, 10:49 AM	I'm sure there's something you can do with this, Ring Gates, Unseen Servants, and Permanency to duplicate the effect of the Epic feat Permanent Emanation (Antimagic Field). Yeah, by my calculations you could get the ability to only be present in battle on your initiative, leaving the opponent to spend the rest of the time trying to find the ring before the servant appears and picks it up. Never underestimate munchkins! They spend many hours trying to think up ways to hurt the game, and so do we! J/K Still, I'd really like to know what this will be used for. A Sword of Continuous True Strike wouldn't be half as onerous if Power Attack wasn't its intended use. Granted, half of a whole lot of stupid is still a great deal of stupid. So what's it _really_ supposed to do?
obrysii 09-16-04, 10:53 AM	The Draconomicon has an item that is a tower shield that can cast Antimagic Field...might wnat to check that out.
Archtyrant Terevoth 09-16-04, 12:54 PM	In my campaigns I don't allow AMF items at all. If a caster wants to use it, then ok, but for a fighter, it's the most powerful item you can have, and I just flat out wouldn't allow it, at least not until epic levels where wizards actually have a chance to cast spells through it.
rautapaavi 09-17-04, 03:05 AM	Thanks for the replies. The item would be used to store harmful cursed items, as their magic would be suspended, not dispelled. Things like a periapt of foul rotting or an amulet of inescapable location, items that are harmful to the possessor if allowed to work. The owner of the proposed antimagic sack would be a high-level rogue with an evil bent and a notably high Sleight of Hand skill, who would order cursed items from a wizard friend, and distribute them according to need.
wdarkk 09-17-04, 03:40 AM	Ok, so you want a bag that negates cursed items. I'd use Greater Dispel Magic as the base spell, then have it make caster level checks against each item to turn it off. Of course, since it would be made by the same mage as the cursed items presumably, the checks would always automatically succeed. Since the most common "protection against cursed items" is a 1/day Mindblank item I'd make it exactly that expensive.
Gnarl 09-17-04, 04:07 AM	Considering the limits, I would try working out some limitating factor of some kind with your DM (something like 1/10th of the price). It's pretty clear that you're not planning on shrinking everyone on the battle field and have them fight in your sack (although it most certainly would be fun trying). It wouldn't be a useless item though and would deserve a cost, but certainly not 196,000 gp. I see lots of fun stuff to do with it: put your pet familiar in it, protection from magic would be nice, protecting the gear from dragon breaths and other annoying hazards, storing magical explosives without having them blast at your face and so on. But not for 196,000 gp, that would be the price for a monk's best friend yes, but not for a simple usefull adventure gear.