Correct Market Price Modifier For A Magic Ability, Please Help [Archive] - Wizards Community

Correct Market Price Modifier For A Magic Ability, Please Help [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Senko
06-16-04, 11:52 PM In the masters of the wild book theres an armor property called wild that allows them to retain all its benefits when wild shaped. I'm rather curious about adding a similar property for weapons and shapechanging as it would allow the higher level wizards and naturall shapeshifters to also get some benefit from equipment in alternate forms as opposed to just those who have the wild shape ability. For instance I will have a high level enemy wizard watching them from time to time and it would be really useful if he had access to some of the properties of his staff while in the form of a bluejay on a nearby branch.

In the book purchasing the wild ability costs the equivilent of a +3 bonus for amor so I was thinking the same for wild shape weapons and +5 for shapechaning/polymorph as they would be more common and therefore the item price should increase. I was wondering if people could tell me what they think about this and whether I'm judging the prices wrong.
BlackSmith
06-17-04, 06:36 AM what kind of powers we are talking about?
you could always just drop the weapon and pick it up after changing spahe.

or if you want to use some ability from the weapon (once per day a fireball) you could use it still. it is melted in your new shape but it can not enhance your new forms fighting abilities.
Senko
06-17-04, 08:30 AM > what kind of powers we are talking about?

In this case a staff is necessary for a magic user to cast spells without horrific penalties so they need to be able to use it. However specific examples aside any item properties are what I'm mainly looking at such as a +5 enhancement on a longsword.

> you could always just drop the weapon and pick it up after
> changing spahe.

The problem with this is the PC's would probably notice the bluejay carrying around a 6 foot staff. I want it to allow subtle observation.

> or if you want to use some ability from the weapon (once per
> day a fireball) you could use it still. it is melted in your new
> shape but it can not enhance your new forms fighting abilities.

So from this I take it that special properties of an item can still be used even when the item has been included in a polymorphing spell to say turn someone into a kitten? If so what I'm trying for is a property that would allow all magical qualities to be accessed in the new form with a few obvious exceptions such as a throwing weapon since a kitten throwing its paw is a little silly.
Seeker95
06-17-04, 10:00 AM Well... wild is a +3 equivalent ability. It can only be put on armor that is already at least +1. The price difference between +4 armor (+1 wild armor) and a +1 armor is 15,000gp.

So, if you want your magic items to be wild, make them cost an extra 15,000gp.
tarkin
06-17-04, 10:30 AM There is already a magic ability applied to weapons that does this.

It is called "Opposable" If I remember correctly. It lets creatures that do not have opposable thumbs use weapons.

So an Owl could use their wings to wield a sword, or a snake could use it's body to wield a bow.

I do not remember the price., but it was a +1/+2/+3 thing, not a +10,000gp thing.
Seeker95
06-17-04, 01:39 PM Opposable as a +1/+2/+3 thing does not help for items besides weapons and armor. It does not help price a wand or pair of boots that you can use in wild shape.
Senko
06-17-04, 06:58 PM I appreciate the responses but I think I must not be making myself clear. The question I have here is what would be a suitable modifier for an ability on equipment and weapons that would allow their properties to be used when form changed by a means other than wildshape e.g. polymorph any object. What I want is to have a powerful mage observing the party from the shadows for awhile without their realizing it and because several of the areas they'll be travelling in prevent viewing from a distance and the mage wants to be ready to keep them alive if they get in too deep she'll need to be in a form they aren't going to notice.

I'm wondering whether +5 is a suitable modifier for an ability that allows the item to be used when polymorphed or shapechanged not wildshaped.

Opposoble thumbs doesn't work because its too obvious the party will be highly suspicious about that owl watching them while holding a staff in its magical gloves.
Seeker95
06-17-04, 08:08 PM Originally posted by Senko
The question I have here is what would be a suitable modifier for an ability on equipment and weapons that would allow their properties to be used when form changed by a means other than wildshapeSame as wild. Wild shape is the druid version of polymorph. Or, you could say that polymorph is the wizard form of wild shape.

Just stick with the +3 enhancement equivalent.
Senko
06-17-04, 10:09 PM Ahhhh thank you.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Senko 06-16-04, 11:52 PM	In the masters of the wild book theres an armor property called wild that allows them to retain all its benefits when wild shaped. I'm rather curious about adding a similar property for weapons and shapechanging as it would allow the higher level wizards and naturall shapeshifters to also get some benefit from equipment in alternate forms as opposed to just those who have the wild shape ability. For instance I will have a high level enemy wizard watching them from time to time and it would be really useful if he had access to some of the properties of his staff while in the form of a bluejay on a nearby branch. In the book purchasing the wild ability costs the equivilent of a +3 bonus for amor so I was thinking the same for wild shape weapons and +5 for shapechaning/polymorph as they would be more common and therefore the item price should increase. I was wondering if people could tell me what they think about this and whether I'm judging the prices wrong.
BlackSmith 06-17-04, 06:36 AM	what kind of powers we are talking about? you could always just drop the weapon and pick it up after changing spahe. or if you want to use some ability from the weapon (once per day a fireball) you could use it still. it is melted in your new shape but it can not enhance your new forms fighting abilities.
Senko 06-17-04, 08:30 AM	> what kind of powers we are talking about? In this case a staff is necessary for a magic user to cast spells without horrific penalties so they need to be able to use it. However specific examples aside any item properties are what I'm mainly looking at such as a +5 enhancement on a longsword. > you could always just drop the weapon and pick it up after > changing spahe. The problem with this is the PC's would probably notice the bluejay carrying around a 6 foot staff. I want it to allow subtle observation. > or if you want to use some ability from the weapon (once per > day a fireball) you could use it still. it is melted in your new > shape but it can not enhance your new forms fighting abilities. So from this I take it that special properties of an item can still be used even when the item has been included in a polymorphing spell to say turn someone into a kitten? If so what I'm trying for is a property that would allow all magical qualities to be accessed in the new form with a few obvious exceptions such as a throwing weapon since a kitten throwing its paw is a little silly.
Seeker95 06-17-04, 10:00 AM	Well... wild is a +3 equivalent ability. It can only be put on armor that is already at least +1. The price difference between +4 armor (+1 wild armor) and a +1 armor is 15,000gp. So, if you want your magic items to be wild, make them cost an extra 15,000gp.
tarkin 06-17-04, 10:30 AM	There is already a magic ability applied to weapons that does this. It is called "Opposable" If I remember correctly. It lets creatures that do not have opposable thumbs use weapons. So an Owl could use their wings to wield a sword, or a snake could use it's body to wield a bow. I do not remember the price., but it was a +1/+2/+3 thing, not a +10,000gp thing.
Seeker95 06-17-04, 01:39 PM	Opposable as a +1/+2/+3 thing does not help for items besides weapons and armor. It does not help price a wand or pair of boots that you can use in wild shape.
Senko 06-17-04, 06:58 PM	I appreciate the responses but I think I must not be making myself clear. The question I have here is what would be a suitable modifier for an ability on equipment and weapons that would allow their properties to be used when form changed by a means other than wildshape e.g. polymorph any object. What I want is to have a powerful mage observing the party from the shadows for awhile without their realizing it and because several of the areas they'll be travelling in prevent viewing from a distance and the mage wants to be ready to keep them alive if they get in too deep she'll need to be in a form they aren't going to notice. I'm wondering whether +5 is a suitable modifier for an ability that allows the item to be used when polymorphed or shapechanged not wildshaped. Opposoble thumbs doesn't work because its too obvious the party will be highly suspicious about that owl watching them while holding a staff in its magical gloves.
Seeker95 06-17-04, 08:08 PM	Originally posted by Senko The question I have here is what would be a suitable modifier for an ability on equipment and weapons that would allow their properties to be used when form changed by a means other than wildshapeSame as wild. Wild shape is the druid version of polymorph. Or, you could say that polymorph is the wizard form of wild shape. Just stick with the +3 enhancement equivalent.
Senko 06-17-04, 10:09 PM	Ahhhh thank you.