D&D 3E/3.5 [3.5] Weapon bonuses and special abilities

[Selaqui]

I don't know if this question has been answered before, and sorry if it did. But there're so many posts it's hard to find something specific.

My boyfriend and I are arguing about the cost for a quarterstaff +1/+1 with 2 effects (spell storing and shock). I think I need to spend 2000gp per end of the weapon to have the +1 bonus (following the rule that a quarterstaff is a double weapon and so each end has to be enhanced), then another 2000gp for each special I want to add (each special market cost mod is the same as a +1bonus); one of End A and the other one on End B for a total of 8600gp (600 to make it masterwork, 4000gp to make both end +1 and another 4000gp to add the specials to each end) But the boyfriend thinks it would cost more.

Are my calculation right or will it cost more?

 

[James the Newbie]

if you have a +1 bonus, and then another +1 bonus, your getting a +2 bonus which is 8000. For both ends that's 16000 for enchantments +600 for master-work so 16600 I think?

 

[Selaqui]

The thing is quarterstaff is a double weapon. When reading the note about it in dungeon master guide, it says the weapon have seperate magical bonuses for their different heads.
Which is why I kinda think of it as 2 "seperate" weapon for the purpose of enhancing it. So it would be 4000 to get a +1 with Spell storing on one head. (omiting masterwork cost for the moment)

 

[Sekhmet]

I agree with Selaqui. You enchant both ends separately - each head gets it's own +1 (2,000GP each). Furthermore, each head applies it's special ability modifier separately.
The difference between +1 and +2 is 6,000GP, so you're looking at spending 16,000GP for the lot.

Effectively, buying two +2 weapons.

 

[Selaqui]

Alright, thanks

 

[Greenfield]

One note: You don't have to pay Masterwork prices separately for the two ends. It's a "double weapon", so you pay for separate enchantments for the ends, but it's a single weapon for purposes of it being well made.

 

[Sekhmet]

[MENTION=6669384]Greenfield[/MENTION] What if each end is a different material? I always had them pay masterwork for each end in that case, but haven't seen RAW for it.

 

[Dandu]

Your boyfriend better learn that you are always right.

 

[Greenfield]

@Greenfield What if each end is a different material? I always had them pay masterwork for each end in that case, but haven't seen RAW for it.

You know, the axe I have at home has a different material on each end (wooden handle and an iron head), yet it's still one axe.

A quarterstaff is one item, a single weapon that can be used as a double weapon. Masterworked quality applies to the staff as a whole.

I mean, you can't have just one end with superb balance and well formed grip, can you?

 

[Sekhmet]

You know, the axe I have at home has a different material on each end (wooden handle and an iron head), yet it's still one axe.

A quarterstaff is one item, a single weapon that can be used as a double weapon. Masterworked quality applies to the staff as a whole.

I mean, you can't have just one end with superb balance and well formed grip, can you?

Regarding the axe - it isn't a double weapon. To make it a double weapon, you could put a small spike coming out of the bottom of it. If you made it that way by attaching a nail to it (hammering it into the side and bending it down), it doesn't make the rest of the axe any less "masterwork".

My rationale with double weapons requiring two masterwork components is along the same lines, one side can be less well made than the other. If one side of a quarterstaff is shod in cold iron, and the other is a warped, soft wood, only one end can be considered masterwork.

I haven't seen RAW to back my sentiment, though.