AFB's, Magic Item Q's

[LiL KiNG]

Sorry, at work (away from books) and another guy and I are debating over magic item creation rules back in forth in email.

1) can anyone clue me in on or point me to the source that gives the max gold value of magic items? I know the max enchantment is +10 for arms and armor (200K and 100K gp respectively) - but isn't there a gold piece limit as well?

IE: +10 mithral fullplate, greater silent moves, greater slick, greater shadow, greater resistance, blueshined, and greater stamina would run something like; 100,000 + 10,500 +33,750 +33,750 +33,750 +66,000 +1,500 +8,000 = 287,250gp (numbers might be off slightly but you see what I mean)


2) adding additional enchantments to an item in an unusual location, how's the math work on this?
say you want to add +2 Str to Boots of Springing and Striding; from what we 'think' we know adding an additional enchantment should run x1.5 the cost.
Ok, simple enough.
But now adding an additional enchantment in an unusual location should be x2 the cost.
So how does D&D math work when adding and additional enchantment in an unusual location?
would it be the (4K x 1.5) x2 = 12K
or
(4K x 1.5) + (4K x 2) = 14K
or
([1]base + [.5]extra enchant) + ([1]base + [1]unusual loc) = [1]base + [1.5]extra & unusual = X2.5 total = 10K

...Thanks...

 

[cjosephs1s]

I've got no clue on the first. My first thought is as long as it doesn't exceed the standard +10 gp cost your fine. Although you could do it so that as long as it doesn't exceed a non epic +11 cost (getting creative here) then you're okay.

As for #2 I'd go with just a straight x2 cost. But generally I try to shy away from non traditional spots to avoid this conflict and extra cost.

Just out of curiousity is just theory or are you/a PC trying to actually do it? You can add numerous stats to a single item..there is no max number. So if you wanted you could have a Headband with +6 INT, +6 Wis, and +6 Cha if you're willing to pay for it.

 

[LiL KiNG]

Hmm... since I can't find an actual number (though I swear I've seen one) not exceeding the cost of a +11 item (or Epic) makes excellent sense. You still have wiggle room to make a suit of armor or weapon +10 with maybe another +gold piece ability or two as long as it doesn't go over the cost of creating a +11 item.

The other question, I've got two players who are adding additional enchantments to their rings - specifically adding Darkhidden to rings of protection +1 [darkhidden, just using the cost of +2000, x1.5 for being an add-on = 3,000gp to do]. But now I do have another player who wants to add a +2 Str bonus to his +2 amulet of natural armor - and possibly +2 deflection as in a ring of protection to the amulet as well - this is where the conflict of cost is coming into question because we see 3 different ways that formula could work out [as above].

 

[LiL KiNG]

wow - per the SRD +11 weapon/armor values are 2,420,000gp and 1,210,000gp respectively... am I reading that right???

seems like quite a jump from +10 at 200k/100k respectively to over a million...

 

[Hassassin]

Firstly, the rules for creating custom magic items are only guidelines and the table with the formulas is titled "estimating magic item gold piece values".

Regarding the first question, no I don't think there are any gp limits for non-epic items.

Regarding the other question, uncustomary space limitation is x1.5. Additional ability is "multiply higher item cost by 2" according to the table, but "additional power not only has no discount but instead has a 50% increase in price" according to a sidebar a few pages back.

In any case, multiplier rules say that multipliers are added unless otherwise specified, so that could apply here. Adding slotted powers A and B, that normally cost 1000 and 2000 gp, of which the latter is in an uncustomary space could cost any of:

• 1000 + 2x2000 = 3000 (sidebar)
• 2.5x2000 = 5000 (table, higher only)
• 1000 + 2.5x2000 = 6000 (table, add lower)

If you don't think the multipliers should be added here, since you wouldn't add the charge multipliers either, it would instead be:

• 1000 + 1.5x1.5x2000 = 5500 (sidebar)
• 1.5x2x2000 = 6000 (table, higher only)
• 1000 + 1.5x2x2000 = 7000 (table, add lower)

And those would all be just suggestions for the DM. Personally, I'd pick the highest first, then compare to similar items to see if its vastly underpowered.

 

[nijineko]

in the epic items srd download from wotc:

an epic item is defined as (among other things):

[FONT=&quot]a market price above 200,000 gp, not including material costs for armor or weapons, material component- or experience point-based costs, or additional value for intelligent items.[/FONT]

ergo, non-epic items have a 200k limit.

however, some items with "material, special material, intelligent items, and/or xp costs" can exceed the 200k limit, so long as all of the extra cost is in the listed exceptions.

hence items like staff of the magi, and similar.

 

[cjosephs1s]

wow - per the SRD +11 weapon/armor values are 2,420,000gp and 1,210,000gp respectively... am I reading that right???

seems like quite a jump from +10 at 200k/100k respectively to over a million...

Err...not quite what I meant. If a +10 bonus is where the cutoff ends for non epic (bonus squared x 2000 for weapons) then think 11 x 11 x 2000 or 242,000gp and 11x11x1000 or 121,000gp for armor. The item is still non epic so stick with non epic price guidelines or normal pricing even though its a +11.

It looks like the rules say you shouldn't do it, but I say that's up your DM (or you if you're the DM)

 

[LiL KiNG]

Err...not quite what I meant. If a +10 bonus is where the cutoff ends for non epic (bonus squared x 2000 for weapons) then think 11 x 11 x 2000 or 242,000gp and 11x11x1000 or 121,000gp for armor. The item is still non epic so stick with non epic price guidelines or normal pricing even though its a +11.

It looks like the rules say you shouldn't do it, but I say that's up your DM (or you if you're the DM)

Those were the numbers I came up with; 240K and 121K - but when I looked at the +11 enchantments under Epic they were in the millions...

However, one of my players just found and sent me an email where in the Magic Item Compendium at the beginning of the armor and weapons section there is text that says the arms/armor cannot exceed 200K in value for each.

Personally, I like the 240/121 better as it follows the formula already in use.

Thanks for all the replies people! Still very much interested in more opinions on the matter though - especially the cost multipliers questions