Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Beware of Kobold 06-25-04, 02:35 AM	The best thing I can come up with to communicate long distance with people you know is to create a wonderous item based on the Sending spell. The cheapest way to do this would be to get a 7th level cleric to create it as a command word item, for a final cost of 50,400 gold (4th level spell x 7th level caster x 1,800). I am assuming this is the market price (does base price on table 7-33 in DMG = market price?) so it would cost half that to make; 25,200 gold and take 26 days to make. It would also be in the form of a hat (body slot affinities). Is this the best way to accomplish a long distance communication device like this, or is there a better cheaper way to do it? A crystal ball with telepathy in it only costs like 70,000 gold (35,000 to make one). It not only has 2 way communication, it also can spy on your enemies and has a suggestion feature too, so why is it only a little more expensive than my theoretical magic sending hat?
[GSV] Kirstar 06-25-04, 03:56 AM	telepathic bond or lesser telepathic bond Mind Stone. This small spherical crystal is made from the same material as a crystal ball. Unlike a crystal ball it cannot be used for scrying purposes. However as a standard action the user may create a telepathic bond to to another KNOWN Mind Stone holder. This telepathic bond conforms to the details laid out in the spell Telepathic bond. Moderate divination; CL 9th; Wonderous Item, Telepathic Bond; Price 90,000 gp or if based on the lesser bond Moderate divination; CL 5th; Wonderous Item, Lesser Telepathic Bond; Price 30,000 gp
Beware of Kobold 06-25-04, 04:18 AM	where is lesser telepathic bond from? and that still seems really expensive especially since a telepathic crystal ball is cheaper than the mind stone
[GSV] Kirstar 06-25-04, 05:23 AM	from psionics book i think. Telepathic Bond, Lesser Divination [Mind-Affecting] Level: Cleric 3, Mind 3, sorcerer/wizard 3 Components: V, S Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: 30 ft. Targets: You and one willing creature within 30 ft. Duration: 10 min./level Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: No You forge a telepathic bond with another creature with an Intelligence score of 6 or higher. The bond can be established only with a willing subject. You can communicate telepathically through the bond regardless of language. No special power or influence is established as a result of the bond. Once the bond is formed, it works over any distance (although not from one plane to another). ok 27,000 or 50 charges 11,250 gp
Thelon Fairblade 06-25-04, 08:05 AM	Alright, this is more expensive, but the proper way to do it is the psionic power "Correspond". It is 4th level, but allows two-way communication across planes. [from SRD:] Correspond Telepathy [Mind-Affecting] Level: Psion/wilder 4 Display: Mental Manifesting Time: 10 minutes Range: See text Target: One creature with an Intelligence score of 3 or higher Duration: 1 round/level Saving Throw: None Power Resistance: No Power Points: 7 You forge a passive mental link with a creature with which you have previously had physical or mental contact. The subject need not be within sight or even on the same plane as you are. The subject recognizes you, and you can mentally communicate with it for the duration (though nothing forces the subject to respond to you), exchanging messages of twenty-five words or less once per round. Receiving a message is not an action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity; however, sending a message is equivalent to a standard action that can provoke attacks of opportunity. Talking on your cell-phone draws attacks of opportunity! :-) Unfortunately, takes 10 minutes to place a call... Cost: 4*10*1800 (use activated) = 50400 base Can only be used to talk to other Cell-phones = -10080 (20% discount) Can only be used 3 times per day (limited battery charge) = 40% discount (3/5 charges). Final cost: 24192. Talk to anyone on any plane for up to 2 minutes per day (7 rounds per call), but the target must also have a cell-phone. Upgrade: 34560; 1 minute per call, 3 calls per day (Caster level 10). Unlimited Minutes package: 40320; 42 seconds per call, unlimited calls per day (remember, takes 10 minutes to place a call). Upgraded Unlimited Minutes: 57600; 1 minute per call, unlimited calls Super Cell: 36000; 1 minute per call, unlimited calls, can "call" people without cell phones; totally customized for your own personal use (50% discount). Universal Cell: 72000; 1 minute per call, unlimited calls, can "call" people without cell phones
shadowkiller5 06-26-04, 12:58 PM	Hey BoK, You're right, it is expensive to get what you want using the formula you have provided. My suggestion to you is to look in the Miniatures Handbook. There is a Ring of Communication in it for only 2,000 gp per ring. Granted, its range is only 1 mile, and the two rings that will communicate have to touch one another beforehand, a little work on your part could create something with more range without breaking the bank. Hope this helps.
Edward 06-26-04, 02:17 PM	The existing way to do it in the core books is permanency on Rary’s telepathic bond. This has a value of 13*5*10+2500*5+5*13*10=13150gp. Any item you create will have several advantages. Usable to more than one person (I assume that is what you wanted) Resistant to dispel magic. Transferable. In light of this it should be more expensive. Edward
Edymnion 06-27-04, 12:38 AM	Originally posted by shadowkiller5 My suggestion to you is to look in the Miniatures Handbook. Now thats something I would never do. ;) But the idea is right. Just price the final effect, not the spells that go into making it. Remember, the price of a magical item is STRICTLY to balance it with the Character Wealth per Level table. It doesn't matter if the pricing guidelines say it should cost 10 billion gold if all it does is tie your shoes, its only going to cost a dozen gold at most. Just like if the guidelines say you get +10 Billion damage per swing for only 12 gold, it doesn't mean thats how it should be done. I'd let you have the item for 1,000 gold, and just give it a range of a mile or so. Expensive enough to keep them out of the game early on, but not so expensive that people wanted them wouldn't take them.
Art_Tillary 06-27-04, 01:07 PM	Originally posted by Edymnion I'd let you have the item for 1,000 gold, and just give it a range of a mile or so. Expensive enough to keep them out of the game early on, but not so expensive that people wanted them wouldn't take them. I'm going to partially disagree here. If an item is cheap, then everybody in the world will consider getting one. At 1,000 GP for a device that allows instant, clear communications between points up to a mile away that sounds cheap. I'd think that each big city guard post would have one. City patrols will have one. Merchants in a caravan probably would have a set for the scouts, etc. I see a significant impact on an overall campaign. If the PCs can have it, then the NPC encounters should have access. Now, you can say this is a new item, hence only the PCs will have it for now. In that case I'd charge a bunch of money for R&D costs and then just the 1,000 gp for each additional one made. AT
Edward 06-27-04, 10:21 PM	Also as I pointed out there is a version already available in the form of permanent Rary’s telepathic bond. This has a market price of 13150gp. You should be balancing it against that as well. Edward
Kernith Hastings 06-27-04, 11:24 PM	the anser to any modern-goes-D&D is...... gnomes. They make too much crap and sell it for cheap or forget about it, who need magic when you have a 3' tall mechanical genius with a reputation for failed and often explosive experiments. Also everyone dislikes gnome due to the cousin who bought the automatic potato peeler/horse groomer that fried their uncle. Thus solving the problem of everyone having one. Noth that everyone would anyways. just because a flaming long sword is cheap doesn't mean every member of the city guard has one. or a potion of fire breath. though admittedly they do need some. just thought I'd give my 2 cents on the matter. You can get a gnome to turn them into a clock or something if you go another way.
[GSV] Kirstar 06-28-04, 03:40 AM	tinker gnomes are a dragonlance/krynn falacy. they dont exist in my world.
Kirin Corrigan 06-28-04, 06:52 AM	The answer to all problems of communication on a plane in a 100 miles radius is Ring Gates. Stick your face in one of them and talk directly to your pal carrying the matching ring. Stuff only partially pushed through the ring doesn't count towards the weight limit per day of the device, which means you can make countless "calls" and transfer up to 100 pounds of stuff when needed. And only for the low, low price of 40K gp! Alternatively, for the same price of a pair of Ring Gates I'd rather get rid of the "transfer materials" ability and make a set of four smaller rings (or mirrors) that show the image of the caller on the "called" ring, with a rune system to select the ring to "call" (pretty much à la Stargate). Et voilà, you have videophones! ;)
[GSV] Kirstar 06-28-04, 09:19 AM	the silly thing is they dont want you to communicate quickly. I remember dominating my own simulcrums so i could communicate directly to them. now if a 6th level spell allows you to control another for a day per level and communicate with them over any distance, but a 5th level spell allows you to send a 25 word telegram type message.... either sending is under powered or dominate is over powered. personally I think sending is underpowerd