D&D 5E Sane Magic Item Prices

[Matrix Sorcica]

So you do realize that utility will change based on location, right? A flying carpet in the underdark bazaar is going to cost you less than the heirloom one for sale in the desert by a noble who wants a bit of extra cash, but doesn't really need it, because the utility is going to be less that the one in the desert and a merchant who needs the money and has no attachment and the noble doesn't need the money and has an attachment. The desert carpet will cost more based on utility, but also based on circumstances. A well run game should consider both.

Did you read my post?
Stop talking about circumstances (which I agree are endless) and just assume a white room shopping list
Edit: Besides, I asked about other items as well. For the flying items, just assume a wildrness travelling/adventuring, with smaller to midsize dungeons between.

Edit edit: or even better, gold as meta currency.

 

[Maxperson]

Did you read my post?
Stop talking about circumstances (which I agree are endless) and just assume a white room shopping list
Edit: Besides, I asked about other items as well. For the flying items, just assume a wildrness travelling/adventuring, with smaller to midsize dungeons between.

Edit edit: or even better, gold as meta currency.

I'd put an Animated Shield(very rare) at a the low end at 5k. It's useful, but not fantastic. While an Amulet of the Planes(very rare) would be mid range at 20k. It's much more useful, but the downside to failure makes it risky and you have to have been to the plane you want to travel to prior to using the amulet. Without those downsides it would be worth more. The flying carpet(very rare) I'd list at 30k-50k, depending on size. Unlimited flying, with the larger sizes able to hold entire adventuring groups is pretty amazing. Heck, you can even fight on it, depending on how many people are on it.

 

[Matrix Sorcica]

And what should other flight enabling items then cost comparatively, based on their utility and power?
And the armor, amulet and gauntlets?

 

[Matrix Sorcica]

I'd put an Animated Shield(very rare) at a the low end at 5k. It's useful, but not fantastic

+2 to AC is not fantastic! And worth about 5000?

 

[Maxperson]

+2 to AC is not fantastic! And worth about 5000?

It's the same +2 they would get by buying a shield for 10g and just holding it. Now, if it was a +2 shield as well, that would be much different.

 

[tetrasodium]

1: Because it does lead to "3e ish" desire from the PCs to buy their own magical items.

1a: The existence of a price list is a rational conclusion that a magical item market (shops, regular auctions, guild mandated price, something) exist. Otherwise, how were the prices determined, in world? Value is determined by something, and that something is usually the market. I'm in a home right now. I could give you every detail of the home itself, and you would not be able to tell me its value... until you knew where the home was, then you could look up the market and see how much similar homes are being sold for in this part of town.

1b: Therefore, players will rationally conclude that such conditions exist.

1c: However, it is highly questionable that the existence of such a market does make sense. After all... who's paying for these magical items? Who keeps a price list?

2: Magical item pricing in this context is not a rational way to determine who should get what, item wise. If your party finds an axe +1, a pearl of power and a wand of fireball, and the party consists of a barbarian and a wizard... the wand and the pearl are worthless to the barbarian, but the axe she can use.

2b: Rational pricing of magical item is questionable because the utility of items is very specific and very circumstantial. Of course, a +2 weapon is worth more than a +1 weapon... but is a bag of holding worth more or less than a +1 shield?

3: It is up to the GM yes, but player expectations is a thing that exists.

Sure it is, here is how it would look given those items using 3.5 prices. I can remember splitting loot being reasonably common back then too. Here are the 3.5 prices for those

• +1 axe dmg221 ~2000gp
• Pearl of Power: They came in different slot level types but lets say a near 5e equivalent 3rd level slot for, dmg249/263 ~9000gp
• Wand of fireball(lets say caster level 5) for dmg246 ~11,250gp

A 2 person party of a barbarian & wizard is unusual both for party size as well as the class composition of such a limited party. It's also shockingly noteworthy that apparently they found zero in coins gems artwork etc. There are all kinds of studies you can dig up that how how humans handle egalitarianism as the group size goes up & it's a matter settled enough to just point out that it breaks down as group size goes up so lets fix up your example to make it into something that fits the reasons for doing things like splitting by value

• Add a cleric & a sorcerer
• Given the values, power of the items, & how they fit into the wealth by level chart your kind of applying 5e's monty haul or nothing treatment as some of those are going to be character defining magic items or the party is high enough level that nobody cares about the +1 axe
  
  Spoiler: WBL chart

  
• Lets say the party is level 10 as that's a reasonable level to find the PoP/wand of fireball in a treasure trove from the bbeg The party also found 7000gp because WotC's post treasure point debacle no coin adventuring is just bizarre & past editions nicely explain why it's problematic
• Three players are drooling over the PoP & everyone in the group points out that the limited charge not recharging wand of fireball should go to the wizard or sorc to use in case of emergencies.
• The barbarian agrees with the consensus about if the wand should go to the sorcerer blaster or crowd control/buff/debuff wizard who both mostly agree & aren't too concerned about ho gets the "oh naughty word stick". Not only that he acts selfishly & suggests the wand come out of the party share rather than arcane caster who gets it because if it comes out of the party's share rather than Bobs hhe has more say in how& when it gets used as a member of said party. Lets say it goes to the sorcerer because it sets up an interesting conundrum on the PoP
• The cleric says he should get the PoP since it means more heals, The wizard says he should because it means more buff/debuff/cc to mitigte the risk & maybe even remove the need for that healing. Both make a good point.
• As the party treasurer the barbarian isn't sure if he likes the wizard's buffs more than the heals or vice versa & certainly doesn't want to piss of either & doesn't like the idea of randomly assigning it by die rolls so he looks at the party coffers & points out that the wizard has very few expenditures beyond his share while the cleric is sporting that fancy suit of ghost touch plate (a +3 item) that was an 18,000gp (dmg218) buying for him a while back.
• The cleric agrees with the barbarian & the PoP goes to the wizard
• Between the axe, the 700gp & the PoP it adds up to 18,000gp. Split 4 ways that is a 4500gp cut each.
• The wizard is 4500gp in the hole & the barbarian might note that or just note that an amazing 3rd level slot 9000gp PoP was awarded
• The cleric might be due 4500gp or some fraction of it might go to the barbarian & sorcerer because he's still so far in the hole. but with only 9000in gold/sellable trash that divides 3 was into 3k each with the barbarian/sorcerer getting between 3k & 4500gp

I deliberately got a bit overly detailed showing the kinds of influences such a practices & benefits split by coin value can enable. At the end of the day it doesn't matter who does the pricing but rogues often enjoy it since it gives them a chance to go fence things & such. The actual item distribution ussually wasn't handled all that different from 5e parties doing it mid session unless there was debate over who gets a given item. The important part is that everyone felt the treasurer was using fair reasonings when they give bob a cup worth 75gp alice a bag of 400gp dave a painting worth150gp takes his cut of this undead bane dagger & puts the rest in the party treasury for when there is a need for something.

Using 5e style

• The sorcerer has a freaking epic grade wand of fireball that gives 1d6+1 fireballs per day for life.
• the cleric probably got the PoP for more healing word & spirit guardians because LWQF is a thing in 5e & nobody really cares about his (de)buffs or crowd control
• everyone splits the 9k for 2250 gp
• the wizard/barbarian are still in the hole from when the cleric pushed them into helping him buy that sweet set of armor the gm didn't expect the party to be capable of affording

For all the complaints made by 5e's defenders about how past editions had player running around as walking christmas trees high magic or whatever it' hard to overstate just how far over level & often deep into epic grade legendary gear 5e's forever recharging magic items are

 

[Matrix Sorcica]

It's the same +2 they would get by buying a shield for 10g and just holding it. Now, if it was a +2 shield as well, that would be much different.

Do two-handed weapons ring a bell?

 

[Maxperson]

And what should other flight enabling items then cost comparatively, based on their utility and power?
And the armor, amulet and gauntlets?

I don't know what armor, amulet and gauntlets you are talking about, but I'll do the flight items and then be done. You aren't going to trick me into making your price list

1. Winged Boots: 4 hours of flight that can be broken up into 240 one minute blocks, doesn't have to be carried around with bulk, like the carpet, doesn't have the same space issues the carpet has, but only for one person. 45K.

2. Wings of Flying: 1 hour of flight, but faster than the boots. Also just one person. 30k

3. Broom of Flying: bulkier than the two above. Doesn't allow much combat to happen as you have to balance yourself on a stick while you fight. Fighting on it is a great way to die from splat. Speed is in-between the two above. However, the flight is unlimited and the broom can be summoned to you from up to 1 mile away. No attunement. Still only 1 person. 35k.

4. Cloak of the Bat: 40 fly speed, but takes both of your hands and has to be in dim light or darkness, which greatly reduces its utility. You can polymorph into a bat, though, while in dim light or darkness and retain your mental stats. Unlimited night/dark flight. 25k.

5. Potion of Flying: 1 use for 1 hour at probably 30 speed. 2500.

6. Ring of Air Elemental Command: 100k It has much more than just flight, which is unlimited and not visibly the reason for the flight like the wings, broom, carpet and boots.

 

[Maxperson]

Does two-handed weapons ring a bell?

Yep. You get to do a some more damage if you hit. That's why the price is 10k and not less. If two handed weapons with the great weapon master feat weren't a thing, it would be a novelty and not worth more than 1000, if that.

 

[Matrix Sorcica]

And where is that? I (and I think others are too) am very interested in some examples. Especially since I find it very hard.
How about some flight items comparatively, a +2 chain shirt, and a +1 scale mail vs a +1 plate. Throw in a amulet of health to get us started.
Thanks.

I don't know what armor, amulet and gauntlets

The ones I asked you to price like 80 posts ago.

Not counting +2 to AC in for two handers for special in a system with bounded accuracy is baffling.