D&D 3E/3.5 Convert Staff of Defense to D&D 3.5

[anthr]

We will run a short DnD 3.5 campaign and I don't remember anything of the rules.

I need to convert an 5E item to 3E5: the Staff of Defense.

It basically let you cast Mage Armor and Shield.
But it also gives the wielder a +1 AC.
What sort of bonus should the AC be?

 

[Alzrius]

I'd say a shield bonus.

 

[Voadam]

There is a 3.5 staff of defense. Page 244 of the 3.5 DMG and in the SRD as well.

Defense: The staff of defense is a simple-looking staff that throbs with power when held defensively. It allows use of the following spells:
• Shield (1 charge)
• Shield of faith (1 charge)
• Shield other (1 charge)
• Shield of law (3 charges)
Strong abjuration; CL 15th; Craft Staff, shield,shield of faith, shield of law, shield other, creator must be lawful; Price 58,250 gp.

 

[Voadam]

3.5 magic staves come in two flavors, holding 50 charges and able to cast a couple of different spells for various charge values, and straight magic weapon enhancements (as double weapons with two possible different enhancements).

I found the multi wand option staves really expensive and not worth the opportunity cost of the price. You can get higher level spells than on a wand and using caster level instead of paying for each level in the cost but there are much better bangs for your buck as a caster if you are shopping or crafting.

If you just wanted AC a staff +4 defending as a magic weapon for example can give +4 untyped AC every round as a free action for a similar 50,000 gp cost for a +5 weapon equivalent. Wands of the staff of shielding spells would generally be much cheaper, 750 for shield, 750 for shield of faith, 4,500 for shield other, and shield of law not being possible due to being too high level for a wand.

I forget the rule for combining items and how much it increases the cost (double or 1.5 for one of them?) but adding say a weapon enhancement of defending to a staff of defense could be really expensive I'd think.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

We will run a short DnD 3.5 campaign and I don't remember anything of the rules.

I need to convert an 5E item to 3E5: the Staff of Defense.

It basically let you cast Mage Armor and Shield.
But it also gives the wielder a +1 AC.
What sort of bonus should the AC be?

If you want it to stack with Mage Armor and Shield, a deflection bonus might be the best fit.