Cost of Enchantment--and reducing it [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cost of Enchantment--and reducing it [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
IrishRover
06-13-06, 10:07 AM The cost of the materials to make magic items is clearly defined in the DMG--and gets expensive indeed.
I'm wondering what this money is being spent on.
With a magical weapon, I'm thinking that most of it is spent on extra fine work on the weapon itself--inlays, jeweled hilts, etc.
With magic rings and such, it's obvious that a lot of it is going towards the ring itself.
How much of the cost do various players consider to be going for the item, and how much for rare components, etc.
This could be important, as some PC's in a campaign have earned a favor, and will get metalwork done at the cost of its raw materials, provided they can wait for down-time at the smithy. That 60,000 gp component for a 120,000 gp value metal magic item now costs them 20,000 gold. Esoteric oils, vestments, and purely magical supplies cost them full price, however.
I don't want to hose the PC's, but I also don't want to give the store away, either. Any thoughts?
Seeker95
06-13-06, 10:49 AM Instead of trying to make the favor returned in terms of money reductions, have it be accomplished in time reductions. The party can move to the front of the queue in getting their custom items made, and can get them in half the time 'cause the smith will bring in extra help.

If you need to make the favor returned in financial terms, I would just give a 10% discount. Way easier. Needs much less explanation.
tarkin
06-13-06, 11:34 AM I like the time idea.

In fact, new feat:

Magic Item assistance:

Pre req: Craft Wonderous Item and at least two other craft magic item feats.

Benefit: You may assist others in creating a magic item that you have at least one of the pre-reqs for and also have the Craft magic item feat. When you do so, you reduce the time to make the magic item, but do not affect the gold or xp cost. When doing so, you yourself can not pay the xp cost.

The reduction depends on how many people assist. The time reduction is found by dividing the number of people with this feat assiting by (3+the number of people assisting). So if one person assists, the time is reduced by 1/(3+1) = 25%. If two are assisting, 2/(3+2) = 40% reduction. If 3 are assisting, 3/(3+3) = 50% reduction, etc. etc. etc.
Seeker95
06-13-06, 11:56 AM tarkin, that is fantastic. I think I will use it without requiring it as a separate Feat. Rather, I will simply require that each participant have the relevant Feat for the item under construction. Your formula is perfect!
jaelis
06-13-06, 01:31 PM Just to complicate things, how would that interact with extraordinary artisan, or whatever the Eberron feat is that reduces crafting time?

I guess that if the person paying the XP cost has the artisan feat, you apply that reduction first and then go from there.
tarkin
06-13-06, 03:03 PM I would rule that only the primary crafter may use artisan and similar feats, and those must be applied before my reduction.

I could see doing it without using a feat, (well, not in a strict game, but in a loose/power game) but I would probably put in a few more restrictions.

I might say something like:

The assistant can not be supplying a pre-requisite or aiding the creation of the magic item in any other way.

(I.E. The "primary" crafter must already be capable of making the item without the assistant, that way we are sure the assistant's time would not be needed otherwise)
Seeker95
06-13-06, 03:25 PM Works for me. I don't allow additional contributors in the first place. Even a staff with both arcane and divine spells requires a multi-class creator or one using UMD.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
IrishRover 06-13-06, 10:07 AM	The cost of the materials to make magic items is clearly defined in the DMG--and gets expensive indeed. I'm wondering what this money is being spent on. With a magical weapon, I'm thinking that most of it is spent on extra fine work on the weapon itself--inlays, jeweled hilts, etc. With magic rings and such, it's obvious that a lot of it is going towards the ring itself. How much of the cost do various players consider to be going for the item, and how much for rare components, etc. This could be important, as some PC's in a campaign have earned a favor, and will get metalwork done at the cost of its raw materials, provided they can wait for down-time at the smithy. That 60,000 gp component for a 120,000 gp value metal magic item now costs them 20,000 gold. Esoteric oils, vestments, and purely magical supplies cost them full price, however. I don't want to hose the PC's, but I also don't want to give the store away, either. Any thoughts?
Seeker95 06-13-06, 10:49 AM	Instead of trying to make the favor returned in terms of money reductions, have it be accomplished in time reductions. The party can move to the front of the queue in getting their custom items made, and can get them in half the time 'cause the smith will bring in extra help. If you need to make the favor returned in financial terms, I would just give a 10% discount. Way easier. Needs much less explanation.
tarkin 06-13-06, 11:34 AM	I like the time idea. In fact, new feat: Magic Item assistance: Pre req: Craft Wonderous Item and at least two other craft magic item feats. Benefit: You may assist others in creating a magic item that you have at least one of the pre-reqs for and also have the Craft magic item feat. When you do so, you reduce the time to make the magic item, but do not affect the gold or xp cost. When doing so, you yourself can not pay the xp cost. The reduction depends on how many people assist. The time reduction is found by dividing the number of people with this feat assiting by (3+the number of people assisting). So if one person assists, the time is reduced by 1/(3+1) = 25%. If two are assisting, 2/(3+2) = 40% reduction. If 3 are assisting, 3/(3+3) = 50% reduction, etc. etc. etc.
Seeker95 06-13-06, 11:56 AM	tarkin, that is fantastic. I think I will use it without requiring it as a separate Feat. Rather, I will simply require that each participant have the relevant Feat for the item under construction. Your formula is perfect!
jaelis 06-13-06, 01:31 PM	Just to complicate things, how would that interact with extraordinary artisan, or whatever the Eberron feat is that reduces crafting time? I guess that if the person paying the XP cost has the artisan feat, you apply that reduction first and then go from there.
tarkin 06-13-06, 03:03 PM	I would rule that only the primary crafter may use artisan and similar feats, and those must be applied before my reduction. I could see doing it without using a feat, (well, not in a strict game, but in a loose/power game) but I would probably put in a few more restrictions. I might say something like: The assistant can not be supplying a pre-requisite or aiding the creation of the magic item in any other way. (I.E. The "primary" crafter must already be capable of making the item without the assistant, that way we are sure the assistant's time would not be needed otherwise)
Seeker95 06-13-06, 03:25 PM	Works for me. I don't allow additional contributors in the first place. Even a staff with both arcane and divine spells requires a multi-class creator or one using UMD.