Adding new abilities to specific magic weapons/armor

[atomn]

In regards to adding new abilities to a magic item the SRD says: "A creator can add new magical abilities to a magic item with no restrictions. The cost to do this is the same as if the item was not magical. Thus, a +1 longsword can be made into a +2 vorpal longsword, with the cost to create it being equal to that of a +2 vorpal sword minus the cost of a +1 sword."

Can a specific magic item, such as an Oathbow or Banded Mail of Luck, have any new abilities added to it? And if yes, how do you determine the specific item's effective bonus (enhancement plus special ability bonus equivalents) so that it doesn't go higher than +10 when the new ability is added? Thanks!!

 

[Cheiromancer]

This was hashed out a little while ago in this thread:

Cost to add +1 ability to Specific Weapon

It was rather contentious, but a fairly common conclusion (I am not sure if it constitutes a consensus) was that you ignored the special abilities/restrictions of the base item, and tried to boil it down to being a plussed item. The special abilities are a flat plus gp value.

For instance, a banded mail of luck is basically +3 banded mail which would cost 9,400 gp. The "luck" portion is thus 9,500 gp (The difference between its cost of 18,900 and that of the plain +3 banded mail). And so if you wanted to make banded mail of luck with a +5 bonus, work out the cost of +5 banded mail and add 9,500 gp.

I also got the impression that the improvement had to be made to the base item; you can't add the "of luck" property to chainmail, full plate, or whatever. It has to be banded mail. And you can't subtract out abilities you don't want (to get a cheaper sunblade for instance).

Some items are very problematic with this method. For instance, is the base weapon for a dwarven thrower a +2 warhammer, or a +3 returning warhammer?

 

[atomn]

Awesome, thanks!!

 

[Ender_rpm]

yup, thats what i did to an oathbow for a game this last weekend. Its a +2 Bane bow (+3 total) plus 7600 for being able to choose what the bane is on a case by case basis. I added ghost touch, shocking burst, and seeking. Expensive, but when only the best will do

 

[atomn]

yup, thats what i did to an oathbow for a game this last weekend. Its a +2 Bane bow (+3 total) plus 7600 for being able to choose what the bane is on a case by case basis. I added ghost touch, shocking burst, and seeking. Expensive, but when only the best will do

Slick! This will help me in adding the Halfweight property to Devilhusk.

 

[Ender_rpm]

I'm assuming thats some sort of armor? BTW, wher ein b'more you from? I'm in Tampa, FL, but spent the last 10 years in and around there, specifically Catonsville.

 

[atomn]

Yeah, it's a Medium weight armor that I wanted to be Light so a Reaping Mauler could use it.

I'm actually right in the city, in the Charles Village area. I don't care what our record says, Baltimore is a great city!! (Although I'm not too familiar with Catonsville.)

 

[Cheiromancer]

Slick! This will help me in adding the Halfweight property to Devilhusk.

You're still working on that?

Armor/Weapon Options and Unique Armor/Weapons .

Hope your DM lets you do it! (Halfweight is +3, isn't it? Does it do anything to skill penalties or max dex bonus?)

 

[atomn]

You're still working on that?

Armor/Weapon Options and Unique Armor/Weapons .

Hope your DM lets you do it! (Halfweight is +3, isn't it? Does it do anything to skill penalties or max dex bonus?)

Wow, that's terribly embarassing. That's practically the same exact question!! I'll do my best not to ask it for another year or so.