D&D 3E/3.5 3.5 Magic Item Creation help needed.

[Wasqa]

Hello all.

I hope here are veteran Magic Items crafters here who could give me a hand.

I am entering an existing High Magic campaign at 10th level. I was allocated 49,000 gp to spend on equipment. The only imitations are that I use Item Level rule (a.e. no one single item can has a market price higher then 6,500 gp) The only exception was I could get a Weapon with +2 bonus. As you can see I have plenty of cash for all sorts of Magic items. Also my DM does not limit us to the Magic Items from the books. If someone can make a custom magic item, then you could buy it at the Market Price.

I am trying to create some magic items and I think I am doing it wrong the Market Prices seem too low. I went over the Magic Item Creation in DMG like 300 times. Maybe you can help me figure it out on how to make it right.

For example:
I want to have an item that has a continuous Spell Effect of the spell level 1 Sorc/Wiz spell Shield. According to DMG Table 7-33 (p.285) The Market Price formula below:

Spell Effect
Use-activated or continuous => Spell Level x Caster Level x 2,000 gp => 1 x 1 x 2,000 = 2,000 gp.​

(There is a subscript stating, "If a continuous item has an effect is based on the spell with a duration measured in rounds, multiply the cost by 4. If duration of the spell 1 minute/level, multiply the cost by 2, and if the duration 10 minutes/level, multiply the cost by 1.5. If the spell has 24-hour duration or greater, divide the cost in half.")

So based on that I figured the Market Cost of the Rig of Shield would be 1 x 1 x 2,000 x 2 totaling 4,000 gp.

Would 4,000 gp be the correct price of the Ring or Bracer with the continuous effect of the spell Shield?

Here are some other items I am trying to figure out the Market Price:

• Gloves, Ring, or Bracer with a continuous spell effect of 1st level Sorc/Wiz spell "Fist of Stone" SC p.94.
• Ring or Bracer with a use-activated (3/day or unlimited use) spell effect of 2nd level Sorc/Wiz spell "Heroics" SC p.113.
• Belt of Enlarge Person - use activated (3/day or unlimited use)

Appreciate your help.

 

[Sekhmet]

First, we need to know what your build is. A +2 weapon isn't nearly as useful for a Wizard as it is for a Fighter, and a Bracer of AC +4 isn't viable for anyone who can wear light armor.

 

[Wasqa]

First, we need to know what your build is. A +2 weapon isn't nearly as useful for a Wizard as it is for a Fighter, and a Bracer of AC +4 isn't viable for anyone who can wear light armor.

My build does not relay matter. I do not ask for help to choose an equipment. I need help in determining the Market Value of the items I listed. My character does not have any crafting feats. But I can buy any magic item I can imagine at the market price. So I have imagined 4 magic items I listed. And want to find out if I am calculating the Market Value of these magic items correctly, since none of these magic items can be found in any books. These items are made based on my understanding of the Magic Item Creation in DMG.

Thanks again.

 

[Empirate]

The Ring of Shield is a poor example for the following reason: items which give bonuses to basic stats don't use the 'continuous spell effect' formula to determine their price. Rather, each kind of bonus (enhancement, armor, luck, deflection, natural armor, and most pertinently shield bonuses) has its own multiplier.
You could totally create a ring which grants a shield bonus of +4. But it would be very pricy.

 

[Sekhmet]

Well, alright then.


Ring, Fist of Stone: 0 + 0 2,000 * 2 = 4,000. As a DM, I'd make this half as expensive as a Belt of Giant Strength +6, as it gives the majority of the benefits of a heightened strength score. This would put it at 16,000.

Ring, Heroics (3rd level) (3/day): 0 + 0 + 12,000 / 1.6~ = 7,500.
Bracer, Heroics (3rd level) (Continuous) : 5 + 0 + 12,000 * 1.5 = 18,005

Belt, Enlarge Person (1st level) (3/day): 5 + 0 + 2,000 / 1.6 = 1,253
Belt, Enlarge Person (1st level ) (Continuous [bad idea]): 5 + 0 + 2,000 * 2 = 4,010.

These are the prices, including their figures, of the items stated. In a high magic campaign, they'd be alright to use as is.
Might I suggest a Ring of True Strike (Continuous) or Greater Mighty Wallop?

[MENTION=78958]Empirate[/MENTION] While true, it would basically create a Ring of Protection +4, Immunity to Magic Missiles (total cost about 63,000), it could also be argued that it is technically just a Ring of Shield (4,000). A Bracer would cost 50% more than that, (6,000) because it is an uncustomary body slot for that spell (you'd probably need to put it on the neck slot).

I'd charge the 63,000 (probably lower it down to 60,000 to be honest).

 

[Empirate]

Are Bracers of Armor +4 'technically' just Bracers of Mage Armor? Nope. So the 'continuous effect of a Shield spell' argument doesn't hold too much water IMO.
Concerning pricing: I'd rate a shield bonus slightly lower than a deflection bonus - it doesn't help against touch attacks, for example, which is a big deal. In fact, I'd rate a shield bonus only slightly higher than an armor bonus, since it's easy to come by a shield bonus from other sources (such as by equipping a shield...). I'd put it at approximately bonus squared times 1,200 gp, times 1.5 for bracers, plus an extra... say... 4,000 for the Magic Missile immunity. That's a total of 32,800 gp, which sounds more or less reasonable to me.

 

[Wasqa]

The Ring of Shield is a poor example for the following reason: items which give bonuses to basic stats don't use the 'continuous spell effect' formula to determine their price. Rather, each kind of bonus (enhancement, armor, luck, deflection, natural armor, and most pertinently shield bonuses) has its own multiplier.

Thanks, this makes sense. This was my biggest concern why would I pay 16,000 gold for the Gloves of Dexterity +4 if I could just make Gloves of Cats Grace with continuous spell effect for 12,000 using the Magic Item Creation formula.

Do you have a reference where I could look this rule up?

Thanks.

 

[the Jester]

Those pricing guidelines are just that, guidelines, not rules. They don't work as rules, because there are a lot of ways to 'cheat' the guidelines.

Check any custom item pricing with your dm.

 

[Sekhmet]

Are Bracers of Armor +4 'technically' just Bracers of Mage Armor? Nope. So the 'continuous effect of a Shield spell' argument doesn't hold too much water IMO.
Concerning pricing: I'd rate a shield bonus slightly lower than a deflection bonus - it doesn't help against touch attacks, for example, which is a big deal. In fact, I'd rate a shield bonus only slightly higher than an armor bonus, since it's easy to come by a shield bonus from other sources (such as by equipping a shield...). I'd put it at approximately bonus squared times 1,200 gp, times 1.5 for bracers, plus an extra... say... 4,000 for the Magic Missile immunity. That's a total of 32,800 gp, which sounds more or less reasonable to me.

Bracers of Armor (and Mage Armor) both grant Armor Bonuses, not Deflection bonuses. They don't help against touch attacks (except incorporeal attacks), which the spell Shield also mimics.
Bracers of Armor +4 are identical to Mage Armor in every way, except one is an item and one is a spell. This is why Mage Armor is the requisite spell to enchant the item.

As you said, a Shield bonus is better than an Armor bonus, but not as good as Deflection, therefor it should cost slightly more than an equivalent Armor bonus.

 

[Wasqa]

Those pricing guidelines are just that, guidelines, not rules. They don't work as rules, because there are a lot of ways to 'cheat' the guidelines.

Check any custom item pricing with your dm.

I think this is the best advise ever. Thanks