Bespoke Magic Items [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bespoke Magic Items [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Doug McCrae
10-09-04, 04:24 PM Using Craft Wondrous Item is it possible to make an item that can cast Magic Missile (or whatever spell) an unlimited number of times per day?

Using the DMG table 7-33:

Headband of Mucho Damago
On command, casts Magic Missile at level 5 (3 missiles, for 1d4+1 damage each)

Cost = 1 (1st level spell) * 5 (caster level) * 1800 = 9000gp or 4500gp and 360xp.

This seems much too good.
kSquared
10-09-04, 06:50 PM It's still subject to DM approval. And at the very least you'd need to multiply by 1.5 for an uncustomary space limitation; headbands don't have anything to do with damage or magic missiles. You could get almost 8 wands of (1st-level-spell) for the same price (400 charges). I'd rather have the wands.
Doug McCrae
10-09-04, 06:56 PM And at the very least you'd need to multiply by 1.5 for an uncustomary space limitation; headbands don't have anything to do with damage or magic missiles.Oh, but they do. Headband, helmet - Mental improvement, ranged attacks. DMG 3.5 page 288. See also the Circlet of Blasting on page 252.
Seeker95
10-09-04, 07:17 PM Oh, but they do. Headband, helmet - Mental improvement, ranged attacks. DMG 3.5 page 288. See also the Circlet of Blasting on page 252.Magic missile isn't a ranged attack. It has no attack roll. Subtle difference, but real.

And to the original question... not in my campaign. Your DM may be different. Of course, having an item that lets you throw a single 1d4+1 magic missile each round gets very less-than-useful by as little as third level.
Doug McCrae
10-09-04, 07:39 PM Magic missile isn't a ranged attack. It has no attack roll. Subtle difference, but real.I think the terms used in the Body Slot Affinities table are not intended to be technical rules terms but refer to broader concepts. Several of the terms used - 'quickness', 'destructive power', 'interaction', 'transformation' (rather than transmutation) - aren't D&D rules terminology at all.

Although it's true that 'ranged attack' is a proper rules term I don't think it's being used in that sense in this particular case. That's my interpretation, anyway.
kSquared
10-09-04, 08:30 PM 15k (or 10k, depending your interpretation of the affinities table) is quite fair. Consider the opportunity cost, as economists like to say. What are some of the things you deny yourself by giving up about 15k?

- a +4 AC enhancement bonus to armor
- an oathbow (+2 composite longbow, 1/day: +5 against sworn enemy)
- a nine lives stealer (+2 longsword; DC 20 Fort save on critical hit: kill a foe, 9 charges) and a +2 ring of protection
- sword of the planes (+1 longsword, +2 vs. elementals, +3 on Astral/Ethereal planes, +4 on all other planes)
- headband of intellect +4
- figurine of wondrous power, golden lions
- two bags of holding (type III)
- gloves of dexterity +2 and a cape of the mountebank

et cetera. Offensive items tend to become less valuable as you go up in level, but bags of holding and headbands of intellect never go out of style.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Doug McCrae 10-09-04, 04:24 PM	Using Craft Wondrous Item is it possible to make an item that can cast Magic Missile (or whatever spell) an unlimited number of times per day? Using the DMG table 7-33: Headband of Mucho Damago On command, casts Magic Missile at level 5 (3 missiles, for 1d4+1 damage each) Cost = 1 (1st level spell) * 5 (caster level) * 1800 = 9000gp or 4500gp and 360xp. This seems much too good.
kSquared 10-09-04, 06:50 PM	It's still subject to DM approval. And at the very least you'd need to multiply by 1.5 for an uncustomary space limitation; headbands don't have anything to do with damage or magic missiles. You could get almost 8 wands of (1st-level-spell) for the same price (400 charges). I'd rather have the wands.
Doug McCrae 10-09-04, 06:56 PM	And at the very least you'd need to multiply by 1.5 for an uncustomary space limitation; headbands don't have anything to do with damage or magic missiles.Oh, but they do. Headband, helmet - Mental improvement, ranged attacks. DMG 3.5 page 288. See also the Circlet of Blasting on page 252.
Seeker95 10-09-04, 07:17 PM	Oh, but they do. Headband, helmet - Mental improvement, ranged attacks. DMG 3.5 page 288. See also the Circlet of Blasting on page 252.Magic missile isn't a ranged attack. It has no attack roll. Subtle difference, but real. And to the original question... not in my campaign. Your DM may be different. Of course, having an item that lets you throw a single 1d4+1 magic missile each round gets very less-than-useful by as little as third level.
Doug McCrae 10-09-04, 07:39 PM	Magic missile isn't a ranged attack. It has no attack roll. Subtle difference, but real.I think the terms used in the Body Slot Affinities table are not intended to be technical rules terms but refer to broader concepts. Several of the terms used - 'quickness', 'destructive power', 'interaction', 'transformation' (rather than transmutation) - aren't D&D rules terminology at all. Although it's true that 'ranged attack' is a proper rules term I don't think it's being used in that sense in this particular case. That's my interpretation, anyway.
kSquared 10-09-04, 08:30 PM	15k (or 10k, depending your interpretation of the affinities table) is quite fair. Consider the opportunity cost, as economists like to say. What are some of the things you deny yourself by giving up about 15k? - a +4 AC enhancement bonus to armor - an oathbow (+2 composite longbow, 1/day: +5 against sworn enemy) - a nine lives stealer (+2 longsword; DC 20 Fort save on critical hit: kill a foe, 9 charges) and a +2 ring of protection - sword of the planes (+1 longsword, +2 vs. elementals, +3 on Astral/Ethereal planes, +4 on all other planes) - headband of intellect +4 - figurine of wondrous power, golden lions - two bags of holding (type III) - gloves of dexterity +2 and a cape of the mountebank et cetera. Offensive items tend to become less valuable as you go up in level, but bags of holding and headbands of intellect never go out of style.