Cost of Spell DC Increase

[kreynolds]

OK. Follow along here, this may get wierd.

Basically, I'm wondering what you guys and gals think a +1 bonus to spell save DC would cost. I've been lookin' at it like this. The obvious way to raise your spell save DC, if you're a wizard, is with an Intelligence bonus. A +2 bonus to intelligence will cost you a base of 4,000gp. Now, that 4,000gp gives you an intelligence modifier of 1, which gives you 1) spell save DC increase of +1, 2) Intelligence based skills get a bonus increase of +1, and finally, 3) you might get bonus spells.

So, what would you charge for just the save DC increase? Would you even allow it? I'm thinkin' bonus squared x 500gp. What about it?

 

[Crothian]

So we're talking about a magical item.

Just to throw it out there there are items that do this in the Players Guide to Kalamar. It only gives +1 DC and it costs 2000gp.

Also, it only helps either divine or arcane spells, not both. THere are two items, on for each.

 

[Catalyst]

First, would this stack with everything else? Could I buy a Headband of Intellect +6 and a Periapt of Spell Power +6 and get a total of +12? (+16 with Greater Spell Focus)? Or would the item act "as if the caster had Greater Spell Focus in all spellcasting schools while worn", thus duplicating (but not stacking with) the feat?

If stackable, I'd make them more expensive just because of how abusable they could be...I'd put a limit of +6 on the items and probably go closer to bonus squared x 750 or 1000 gp. I know you get other bonuses with stat-boosting items, but at the most they'd only grant a +3 to spell DCs. Your proposed items would get rid of other benefits but double this particular one. I'd take a higher spell DC than a (temporary) extra point to my INT skills any day, as a Wizard...

 

[Crothian]

I think the price needs to be a lot higher. At even bonus squared x 1000, that's only 36,000 for a +6 to DC for all your spells. That's huge. That's the equivelent of an Epic feat for all your schools of spells. That's a steal and I don't know of any character who wouldn't want one.

 

[kreynolds]

First, would this stack with everything else?

Right off the top of my head, if I did this, I would say no. It doesn't seem to me that the intent of the rules would allow it. Besides, I would just call it an enhancement bonus, thus it wouldn't stack with other enhancement bonuses, such as a +2 to your Intelligence.

 

[Crothian]

Right off the top of my head, if I did this, I would say no. It doesn't seem to me that the intent of the rules would allow it.

So, what does it stack with and what doesn't it stack with? As far as I've seen bonuses to increase DCs are unamed bonuses.

 

[kreynolds]

I think the price needs to be a lot higher. At even bonus squared x 1000, that's only 36,000 for a +6 to DC for all your spells. That's huge. That's the equivelent of an Epic feat for all your schools of spells. That's a steal and I don't know of any character who wouldn't want one.

How about this pricing scheme? bonus squared x 5,000gp. It would come out to: +1 (5,000gp), +2 (20,000gp), +3 (50,000gp), +4 (80,000gp), +5 (125,000gp).

How's that look? Maybe even bonus squared x 4,000gp would work. That would give you 4,000gp on the low end and 100,000gp on the high end. Too high a price if they don't stack?

 

[kreynolds]

So, what does it stack with and what doesn't it stack with? As far as I've seen bonuses to increase DCs are unamed bonuses.

Oh cool! I just found something in The Demon God's Fane by Monte Cook, which is probably where I got this idea from, and it does exactly what I want it to do. Basically, it increases the DC of all spell-like and supernatural abilities inherent to a creature's race (not those earned by training or gained by being of a specific class or prestige class). It's priced as: +1 (1,000gp), +2 (4,000gp), +3 (9,000gp), +4 (16,000gp), and +5 (25,000gp).

Maybe this is what I'm lookin' for.

 

[Crothian]

Maybe this is what I'm lookin' for.

Okay, that forces me to ask: What are you looking for? Is this for the same NPC your asking about Dragon feats for?

 

[Crothian]

How about this pricing scheme? bonus squared x 5,000gp. It would come out to: +1 (5,000gp), +2 (20,000gp), +3 (50,000gp), +4 (80,000gp), +5 (125,000gp).

How's that look? Maybe even bonus squared x 4,000gp would work. That would give you 4,000gp on the low end and 100,000gp on the high end. Too high a price if they don't stack?

I think bonus squared times 5000 is about right. High DCs are not that hard to get and one magical item that increases all your spell DCs is huge.