Cost of items with ability check bonuses only?

[jaults]

    So, I wanna make a magic item that gives a bonus to a Strength check - not bonuses to damage, attack, Strength-based skills, or even carry... just to Strength checks.
    What would this cost?

Thanks,
    Jason

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

Interesting question.

Unless there has been something new in a book in the last month or two, there isn't any rule that actually covers this. That means that this thread should really be in House Rules. Moderators, please move us.

Getting to your question though.

An item that gives a bonus to skill checks has a cost of (bonus ^2 * 20 gp).

An ability check is very similar to a skill check that can only be attempted untrained. Looked at from one perspective, an ability check is less useful than a skill check, since they only arise under a few rare circumstances.

However, from the other perspective (Trigger Power) ability checks accomplish a lot more with a success than skill checks.

Taking both into consideration, I think that (bonus^2 *200 gp) would be a reasonable price. However, I still wouldn't let PC's take advantage of the TP/LBA infinte PP trick.

 

[jaults]

    Trigger Power/Animal Affinity is what I am looking for, not Body Adjustment... So bonus^2*200, huh? Hmm... more expensive than I was looking for...

Thanks,
    Jason

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

Like I said, there isn't anything even semi-official.

That's just where I would start the pricing if a player IMC wanted to get one.

After seeing how it played out, I would probably change the price. That number was pretty much off the top of my head.

BTW, in a campaign that didn't have Psi, I would definitely reduce the price a lot.

 

[jaults]

    Any other input?

Thanks,
    Jason

 

[strongbow]

From SRD:

Circlet of Persuasion

This silver headband grants a +2 com­pe­tence bonus to the wearer’s Charisma checks and Charisma-based skill checks.

Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, charm person; Market Price: 4,500 gp; Weight: -.

So there you go, an example for you.

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

But he doesn't care about the bonus to skills based off of that stat.

IMO, adding that limitation would reduce the price some, the question is just by how much.