Costing magic items

[Paul Grogan]

I thought I'd got my head around the costing of magic items. Specifically, the cost to create an item that is command word activated and produces a spell effect a number of times per day.

Example: All characters in my Desert campaign have items that cast endure elements 1/day.

Cost of a command activated item is spell level (1) * CL (1) * 1800. = 1800.
Then divide by 5/charges per day. i.e /5 = 360gp. Not bad. Double that for a slotless item = 720gp, command activated, anyone can use it.

Or, you could have something which did a constant endure elements for 1,000gp. SL*CL*2000 and then /2 because the duration is 24 hours or more.


Fair enough. One of my players wants an item that can cast Darkvision once per day.

Not a problem. Spell level 2 * CL 3 * 1800 / 5 = 2,160.

The same item which did it continuously would be 3*2*2000 = 12,000

Nice and easy, dont think I have anything wrong there.

Then we come to lets say a set of gauntlets which are command activated which cast True Strike once per day. Takes up a slot, command activated. Cost should be 360gp?

Magic Item Compendium has such an item - True Strike Gauntlets, and the price = 3,500gp.

Now, I am aware that a GM should look at each item, compare its usefulness and powerfulness and use the prices as a guidline, but in this, I am out by a factor of almost 10.

Is there something overpowering about an item that once per day as a standard action gives you a +20 to hit that it costs 3,500gp?

 

[hong]

I'd personally make the true strike gauntlets usable unlimited no. of times per day.

Now the heartseeker amulet, on the other hand....

 

[Paul Grogan]

I'd personally make the true strike gauntlets usable unlimited no. of times per day.

Now the heartseeker amulet, on the other hand....

I was wondering if it was a mistake. Not sure how it compares to the amulet, which is 3x a day

 

[hong]

The amulet is 3x per day, but more importantly it's a _swift action_ to activate. That makes it far, far better than the true strike gauntlets, which require a std action.

 

[Jhaelen]

Is there something overpowering about an item that once per day as a standard action gives you a +20 to hit that it costs 3,500gp?

Yes.

 

[PallidPatience]

Please continue, Jhaelen. I would like to hear your reasoning.

 

[WhatGravitas]

Please continue, Jhaelen. I would like to hear your reasoning.

Power Attack. Suppose a Fighter of 5th level with a greatsword +1.

Previously:
Attack: +5 (BAB) + 1 (Weapon Focus) + 4 (Str) + 1 (enhancement)
Damage: 2d6 + 1 (enhancement) + 6 (Str of 18) + 2 (weapon specialization)
______________________________
+11 to hit, avg. 16 dmg.


Afterwards (power attacking for 5):
Attack: +5 (BAB) + 1 (Weapon Focus) + 4 (Str) + 1 (enhancement) + 15 (true strike)
Damage: 2d6 + 1 (enhancement) + 6 (Str of 18) + 2 (weapon specialization) + 10 (true strike power attacking)
_______________________________
+26 to hit, avg. 26 dmg.

That's not too bad, since against a easy to hit creature (like AC 20), you'll do 26 damage in two turns, instead of 2x 16 (32) in two turns. But now suppose (like AC 30) - now you have a considerably higher chance to hit AND do much more damage, and with every point of BAB, it gets more silly, since the True Strike is converted from "guaranteed hit" to "BABx2 bonus damage".

Now figure in charging, some good buffs, and other nifty tricks. This way it *may* become silly-stupid, especially compared to the usual price of a damage bonus, because usually, for 3,500 gp, I get, well, a +1 weapon and some nifties.

 

[PallidPatience]

Except that he had to give up a round of attacks for it. And he'll only hit with that one attack.

 

[Dross]

Rememebr that concealment is not a factor when True Striking. Among other things this allows rogues sneak attacks (skirmish etcs etc) when they otherwise wouldn't.

TS is one of those spells that go wonky when used in an item, especially for a constant use/ repeatedly activatable item. If I remember correctly, method taken to combat this is to calculate the price based of a +20 skill bonus (adding something for anti-concealment abilities) which made it cost more than 100,000gp.

A certain number uses a day (to me at least) would allow some different assumptions in calculating the item.

 

[hong]

Rememebr that concealment is not a factor when True Striking. Among other things this allows rogues sneak attacks (skirmish etcs etc) when they otherwise wouldn't.

... once. And like the fighter, they also had to spend the previous round activating the item.