Complex Item Creation [Archive] - Wizards Community

Complex Item Creation [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ltwally
09-19-05, 12:50 PM For some time I've been curious about the rules for creating items with multiple abilities... but both the 3.0 & 3.5 DMG's are somewhat vague about this topic. Hopefully someone out there will have some experience (even better would be citing official WoTC material on the subject).

Let's say, for example, I want to create a circlet.
We'll call it the Circlet of Observation, and it will have the following powers put in it over several years, in this particular order:

True Seeing, as the spell. Continuously on.
Detect Undead, 3/day. Command-word activated.
Arcane Sight, 3/day. Command-word activated.
Detect Thoughts. Continuously on.

The above example is purposefully created with the spell levels out of order. Also of curiousity is the caster level of the item...??

If anyone can post the formula to derive the price of this item in as much detail as possible, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks
ltwally
09-19-05, 01:15 PM I figure I would post my own price apart from the original post, just to keep it neat.

Following the rules found on WoTC's website: Making Magic Items (Part Seven) (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20050118a), I computed the above circlet as follows:

True Seeing, as the spell. Continuously on. (6 x 11 x 2,000gp) 132,000gp
Detect Undead, 3/day. Command-word activated. (1 x 1 x 1,800gp x 1.5) 2,700gp
Arcane Sight, 3/day. Command-word activated. (3 x 5 x 1,800gp x 1.5) 40,500gp
Detect Thoughts. Continuously on. (2 x 3 x 2,000gp x 1.5) 18,000gp

Circlet of Observation
This circlet provides the wearer with the constant abilities of detect thoughts and true seeing, as the spells. It also confers arcane sight and detect undead, each available three times per day, activated via command word.
Moderate divination; CL 11th; Craft Wondrous Item, true seeing, detect undead, arcane sight, detect thoughts; Price 193,200gp; Cost 96,600gp + 7,728 XP; Weight 1 lb.
ninja1
09-19-05, 01:38 PM I don't have much time, so here's just a few observations:

There's another price modifier for the continuous use effects:

"If the duration of the spell is 1 minute/level, multiply the cost by 2..."

So the True Seeing and Detect thoughts would cost double.

Also, your calculation for True Seeing uses a Sorcerer or Wizard. If it was cast by a Cleric, the spell level would drop to 5 and caster level would drop to 9.

(5 x 9 x 2,000 x 2 = 180,000)

Edit: IIRC, the 3.0 divine splat book had a continuous True Seeing helm. I do not believe it was reprinted in 3.5, but I could be mistaken.

If it was reprinted, I would base the price for True Seeing off of that instead of the equation guidelines.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ltwally 09-19-05, 12:50 PM	For some time I've been curious about the rules for creating items with multiple abilities... but both the 3.0 & 3.5 DMG's are somewhat vague about this topic. Hopefully someone out there will have some experience (even better would be citing official WoTC material on the subject). Let's say, for example, I want to create a circlet. We'll call it the Circlet of Observation, and it will have the following powers put in it over several years, in this particular order: True Seeing, as the spell. Continuously on. Detect Undead, 3/day. Command-word activated. Arcane Sight, 3/day. Command-word activated. Detect Thoughts. Continuously on. The above example is purposefully created with the spell levels out of order. Also of curiousity is the caster level of the item...?? If anyone can post the formula to derive the price of this item in as much detail as possible, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks
ltwally 09-19-05, 01:15 PM	I figure I would post my own price apart from the original post, just to keep it neat. Following the rules found on WoTC's website: Making Magic Items (Part Seven) (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20050118a), I computed the above circlet as follows: True Seeing, as the spell. Continuously on. (6 x 11 x 2,000gp) 132,000gp Detect Undead, 3/day. Command-word activated. (1 x 1 x 1,800gp x 1.5) 2,700gp Arcane Sight, 3/day. Command-word activated. (3 x 5 x 1,800gp x 1.5) 40,500gp Detect Thoughts. Continuously on. (2 x 3 x 2,000gp x 1.5) 18,000gp Circlet of Observation This circlet provides the wearer with the constant abilities of detect thoughts and true seeing, as the spells. It also confers arcane sight and detect undead, each available three times per day, activated via command word. Moderate divination; CL 11th; Craft Wondrous Item, true seeing, detect undead, arcane sight, detect thoughts; Price 193,200gp; Cost 96,600gp + 7,728 XP; Weight 1 lb.
ninja1 09-19-05, 01:38 PM	I don't have much time, so here's just a few observations: There's another price modifier for the continuous use effects: "If the duration of the spell is 1 minute/level, multiply the cost by 2..." So the True Seeing and Detect thoughts would cost double. Also, your calculation for True Seeing uses a Sorcerer or Wizard. If it was cast by a Cleric, the spell level would drop to 5 and caster level would drop to 9. (5 x 9 x 2,000 x 2 = 180,000) Edit: IIRC, the 3.0 divine splat book had a continuous True Seeing helm. I do not believe it was reprinted in 3.5, but I could be mistaken. If it was reprinted, I would base the price for True Seeing off of that instead of the equation guidelines.