As far as 3.5 is concerned, it's more of a recommendation about when it's a typical piece of loot to find (around 12th level). If a DM decides to put it in earlier, it's usable by pretty much anyone who can swing an axe, subject to its other restrictions.
In the case of an axe of ancestral virtue, it's an adamantine dwarven waraxe even in the hands of a Chaotic Evil 1st-level commoner, has its basic magical abilities when wielded by anyone who meets the alignment restrictions, and has further relic powers for those who meet its relic requirements. None of these depend on its item level. The item level is primarily a tool to help DMs place treasure.
Ok. Good. I hate it when games make you reach a certain level in order to use an item such as an axe. "WTF? Why can't I swing this axe. it's just like mine." hmmm. Maybe there's some kind of explanation in the space time continum". Lol
Thanks Slagger_the _Chuul. Much appreciated.
You would still be able to swing it, but it wouldn't have as many (or any) magical effects, and may impose some penalties (usually alignment related).
But what if the weapon and I are in total agreement in everything about the battle/combat taking place & I meet all the requirements to use the weapon? Would that not allow me to use all of the weapons abilities? Or would I have to be stupid enough not to know? Lol. 
eyebreaker wrote:
StevenO wrote:
Why did a PRIEST put his soul into a BLADED weapon instead of a hammer? 
How do you actually make an intelligent item? Do you have to" bind" someone??
For the axe of ancestral virtue it says "one of Moradin's high priests volunteered to be bound"?
It also says that others were made but it doesn't say anything about "binding" others to make them?? "This priest's personality has been duplicated into the few copies of the weapon that have been forged since."
eyebreaker wrote:
I took the setup of the axe of ansestral virtue and changed it but I must be doing something wrong because I come up with a 16 ego for the katana and it has more powers than the axe with a 17 ego? What am I figuring wrong??
+1 ghost strike adamantine katana 1
(AL CN; 0
Int 10, 0
Wis 17, 3
Cha 17; 3
speech, 0
telepathy, 1
darkvision 120 ft; 0
hearing; 0
read language (common) 1
Ego score 16???
3 lesser & 1 greater (or one purpose)
3 lesser:
1] cure moderate wounds (2d8+3) on wielder 3/day 1
2] zone of truth 3/day 1
3] locate object 3/day 1
1 special purpose dedicated power
1] true resurrection on wielder, 1/month 4
Item purpose:
Defeat/slay undead
eyebreaker wrote:
Ah yes. You are corect sir. So that would be a +2 bonus making the ego 17 the same as the axe?
When I try to figure out the axe's ego I only come up with a 12 ego. I have to be doing something wrong??
Relics are stupid and ave no means of being priced.
The rules om intelligent magic item creation are in the DMG or http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/intelligentItems.htm
Captnq wrote:
eyebreaker wrote:
How do you actually make an intelligent item? Do you have to" bind" someone??
For the axe of ancestral virtue it says "one of Moradin's high priests volunteered to be bound"?
It also says that others were made but it doesn't say anything about "binding" others to make them?? "This priest's personality has been duplicated into the few copies of the weapon that have been forged since."
Using someone's soul/spirit/personality is pure flavour; there aren't any specific conditions that are required. It just depends on what the DM wants to have as the reason for a particular item's intelligence.
Ok thanks. Thought maybe there was someting out there that said something about it in perticular. 
Some of the "Special Purpose Item Dedicated Powers" don't list how many times some of the powers can be used. For example, ice storm, confusion, phantasmal killer, crushing despair and others. None of those say how many times they can be used. It can't be as often as you want right? That would just be crazy and OP.
It says "A dedicated power operates only when an intelligent item is in pursuit of its special purpose." Ok but that doesn't say how many times per day or week the item's "Special Purpose Item Dedicated Powers" can be used? Am I overlooking something somewhere?
eyebreaker wrote:
That's crazy. So if I go into a dungeon infested with undead I can spam the Ice storm as long as the weapon agrees? Wow! OP. Lol.
Thanks Tempest. Much appreciated 
Sorry forgot to post the item in question:
+2 ghost touch silver katana 3 (18,000 gp) (+9,000 gp base price modifier.)
AL CN; 0
Int 10, 0
Wis 17, 3
Cha 17; 3
speech, 0
telepathy, 1
darkvision 120 ft; 0
hearing; 0
read language (common) 1
Ego score 18
3 lesser:
1] cure moderate wounds (2d8+3) on wielder 3/day 1 (6,500 gp)
2] zone of truth 3/day 1 (6,500 gp)
3] locate object 3/day 1 (6,500 gp)
1 special purpose dedicated power
1] Ice storm 4 (50,000 gp)
Item purpose:
Defeat/slay undead
96,500 gp total
eyebreaker wrote:
Tempest_Stormwind wrote:
Table 7-30: Item Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, and capabilities has:
Two stats @ 14, one @ 10 it lists it with Speech (with a small 2 in the top of the word “speech”. The “2” says “Like a character, an intelligent item speaks Common plus one language per point of intelligence bonus. It can communicate telepathically with the wielder.”
Now the chart doesn't say that the sword has telepathy. That's for the weapons with two stats @ 17, and one @ 10. And these weapons don't even have the little “2” at the end of their “communication” listing.
Does the weapon with the two stats @ 14 have telepathy or not? I'm thinking it doesn't but I need to be sure before I go making something that does or doesn't do something I want or don't want.
This is all on page 269 of the DMG.
eyebreaker wrote:
Really? With ANYONE not just the wielder?! That's pretty sweet. So I could comunicate telepathicaly with the weapon and then the weapon relays what I said to someone else?
Thanks Tempest. Much appreciated! 
Which 2 stats would be best for an itelligent item? I'm thinking Int and Cha over Wis. The item doesn't need a Wis score does it? The Int would be for languages and the Cha would be to effect it's "mental state"? Does that make sense? Why would the item need a Wis score over one of the other 2 stats?
eyebreaker wrote:
Wis for senses. They have em. Includes sense motive.
Thanks Andarious. Forgot Wis effects some skills that the item might have.
How long do powers like faerie fire or fear last? / What level are they "cast" at? I'm assuming at minimum level that they can be cast at?
What about "wall of fire in a ring with the wielder at the center 1/ day"? How far out are the fire rings?
Generally speaking a magic item is considered to have each spell at the lowest available level to cast it unless otherwise noted in its discription. So a level 1 spell is at CL 1, and a level 2 spell is CL 2 (things get weird for non-standard spell advancements like Bard, and Ranger, as well as for PRC spells).
The level at which the spells are cast is not explicitly stated; I generally use the item's caster level (as required for its creation as a magic item).
As I recall, the caster level for an effect would normally default to the creature's Hit Dice/level when unstated, but intelligent items are a rare case of a creature with no Hit Dice (since they're a magical item that has gained status as a creature, rather than the reverse).
Does it cost any extra XP to create intelligent items? I don't see it anywhere saying it does so I'm assuming no?
What about "wall of fire in a ring with the wielder at the center 1/ day"? How far out are the fire rings?
eyebreaker wrote:
How / where did you find the range / radius to make the wall circular? I didn't see it in the spell description.
eyebreaker wrote:
Thanks Slagger. I missed that part. Sorry. Much appreciated. 
Under the "senses" it lists vision or darkvision. Is the vision / darkvision for the item or the wielder? How does an item "see"? I guess it would be great for "standing watch" right? Lol.
When figuring the items ego do you count the "Special purpos (and dedicated power) as just one time costing only 4? Or do you count each making it 8?
eyebreaker wrote:
Ok. Thanks Tempest. Much appreciated. 
1] Can you "upgrade" an items Int (Wis & Cha) later on just like you can "enhance" an item further magically? Or would that be a DM's call? I would think it can't be but just curious what your toughts are 
2] What would you consider the ego cost would be for a Lion's head shield (+2 heavy steel shield)? I'm guessing at least 4 because
+1 for being a magical shield
+2 for the bonus of the shield
and another +1 for it being able to attack??
Any input??
eyebreaker wrote:
Thanks Slagger_the_Chuul. Much appreciated.