Creating Intelligent Items

[Pielorinho]

I've got the Craft Wonderous Item feat, and I've got an item that functions similarly to a prayer bead of (+4 spell level, whatever it's called). The item supposedly contains the spirit of an ancient dwarven cleric heroine and, given some money and downtime, I thought it'd be fun to improve the item by awakening the cleric spirit and making it an intelligent item.

I know there are rules on pricing magical items; is it assumed that a PC can make an item magical by having the Craft (appropriate magic) feat and spending the money to do so? I wasn't able to find rules on this.

As a secondary question, I've got roughly 30,000 gold to spend. The item's powers should be along the theme of a lawful-good cleric of Moradin. I'm a dwarven druid, so I'd prefer powers that don't overlap too closely with mine. What would your suggestions be on how to spend this 30K?

Daniel

 

[Alzrius]

I've got the Craft Wonderous Item feat, and I've got an item that functions similarly to a prayer bead of (+4 spell level, whatever it's called). The item supposedly contains the spirit of an ancient dwarven cleric heroine and, given some money and downtime, I thought it'd be fun to improve the item by awakening the cleric spirit and making it an intelligent item.

I know there are rules on pricing magical items; is it assumed that a PC can make an item magical by having the Craft (appropriate magic) feat and spending the money to do so? I wasn't able to find rules on this.

According to the section on making magic items in the DMG (page 283) an item that isn't a weapon, armor, or shield can be made magical, it doesn't have to be masterwork. Likewise, it says on page 288 that you can add new abilities to an existing item, so you can further enchant your magic item (whatever it is). In order to add further abilities to the item, you do need to have the necessary feat, be able to cast the necessary spells, and spend the necessary gold, and XP.

As a secondary question, I've got roughly 30,000 gold to spend. The item's powers should be along the theme of a lawful-good cleric of Moradin. I'm a dwarven druid, so I'd prefer powers that don't overlap too closely with mine. What would your suggestions be on how to spend this 30K?

Check out the tables on intelligent items, starting on DMG page 269. First you need to decide the level of intelligence you want, and check that off of your gold accordingly. Then check what lesser and greater powers (and, if applicable, what dedicated power) the item will have. That should let you set up a fairly good price range.

 

[Jack Simth]

Umm... doesn't making an intelligent item require that the item have the same alignment as the creator?

Mind you, easily hand-waived if the spirit is already there.... but still.....

 

[kanithardm]

Umm... doesn't making an intelligent item require that the item have the same alignment as the creator?

Mind you, easily hand-waived if the spirit is already there.... but still.....

Well technically it is intelligent, just dormant

 

[Alzrius]

Umm... doesn't making an intelligent item require that the item have the same alignment as the creator?

Maybe I just can't find it, but there doesn't seem to be any mention of such a rule in the DMG.

 

[Pielorinho]

According to the section on making magic items in the DMG (page 283) an item that isn't a weapon, armor, or shield can be made magical, it doesn't have to be masterwork. Likewise, it says on page 288 that you can add new abilities to an existing item, so you can further enchant your magic item (whatever it is). In order to add further abilities to the item, you do need to have the necessary feat, be able to cast the necessary spells, and spend the necessary gold, and XP.

Yeah, I've seen all of that--I was just looking for confirmation that Intelligence was one of the options that can be added at a PC's whim to a magic item (granted that the item is permanent, not consumable). You're saying that it is, right?

Check out the tables on intelligent items, starting on DMG page 269. First you need to decide the level of intelligence you want, and check that off of your gold accordingly. Then check what lesser and greater powers (and, if applicable, what dedicated power) the item will have. That should let you set up a fairly good price range.

Yeah, I've looked at those, too. I'm thinking of going for the three minor/one major option, with the major power being Magic Circle Against Evil at will, and two of the minor powers as the bless spell and 10 ranks in Knowledge: Religion, with the third one to be determined later. I was interested in hearing what other folks' ideas were, if there might be a cooler setup.

Thanks!
Daniel

 

[Jack Simth]

Maybe I just can't find it, but there doesn't seem to be any mention of such a rule in the DMG.

I'm probably getting confused with the notes under weapon abilities such as Holy....

 

[Alzrius]

Yeah, I've seen all of that--I was just looking for confirmation that Intelligence was one of the options that can be added at a PC's whim to a magic item (granted that the item is permanent, not consumable). You're saying that it is, right?

Correct. The example intelligent items listed in the DMG seem to confirm that also.

Yeah, I've looked at those, too. I'm thinking of going for the three minor/one major option, with the major power being Magic Circle Against Evil at will, and two of the minor powers as the bless spell and 10 ranks in Knowledge: Religion, with the third one to be determined later. I was interested in hearing what other folks' ideas were, if there might be a cooler setup.

You might want to think of having the last lesser power be cure moderate wounds. Also, perhaps the permanent detect undead for the major power. They seem thematically similar to clerical healing and undead turning, somewhat.

 

[brehobit]

Some ideas

30K, Dwarven Cleric, not overlapping with a druid too much....

Wis 17, Chr 17, Int 10 (I know high Chr for a dwarf, but she was a cleric. Makes more sense than the int...). Speach, 120' dark vision, hearing. 9,000GP

Bless 3/day 1,000GP
Cure moderate Wounds 3/day 6,500
deathwatch (cont). 2,700

Status at will (11,000) or Magic circle against (Evil, Chaos, or maybe CE only depending on how you read it. (16,000)

If you take that Status option you are looking at 30,200GP. If you take the circle you are at 35,200.

Things to think about and talk over with the DM.
* Do you or the item or both get the deathwatch and status abilities? (I'd say the item).
* How does the status work? Can the item keep throwing new ones at will forever, or does a new casting negate the old one? (As a DM, I'd probably agree on letting the item keep 3 or 4 folks under status). By RAW I'd say it could status 1 person per round (see below)
* What caster level are these abilities at. My reading is that they are at the minimum caster level.
* What does "opposed alignment" mean for the magic circle? I'd say you pick either chaotic or evil and stick with it, but RAW it may mean CE only.

Why:
Cure moderate as a free action (for you) is really handy in a fight.
Bless as a free action is great if you don't have a bard around.
Deathwatch is wonderful. It does the detect undead thing as well as keeping track of lots of other stuff.
120' darkvision is really nice to have in the party.
Status iffy for the cost, but it can be great if you ever tend to split the party.
Magic circle is huge. Really huge if you are fighting lots of evil opponents. And if a baddy drops it, it can come up next round.

+====================================================+
Other things things to think about:
* Knowledge religion may be appropriate. Also useful if you lack anyone with the skill.
Haste on owner might be nice if you tend to get in HtH at lot. (some druids do, others don't)
lesser globe is really nice, but doesn't make sense for your cleric-in-a-bead.

* Try to see if you and the DM can work something out with the item _being_ an NPC cleric.
Some options I'd suggest is that he make you take the leadership feat and the item be considered your follower. I'd give a +2 or +3 adjustment for "item". Maybe even higher. But a cleric-in-a-bead would be really very very very helpful, even if the item is only 3rd or 4th level.

* For a lesser or greater power, having the bead be able to turn undead might be something to talk to the DM about.

 

[Pielorinho]

Wis 17, Chr 17, Int 10 (I know high Chr for a dwarf, but she was a cleric. Makes more sense than the int...). Speach, 120' dark vision, hearing. 9,000GP

Sounds good, and might make sense. I'd planned on putting the 10 in Ch, but now that I think about it, that's just minmaxing on my part.

Bless 3/day 1,000GP
Cure moderate Wounds 3/day 6,500
deathwatch (cont). 2,700

Hmm....Knowledge Religion makes a lot of sense for her, so I think I'll do that. The Cure Moderate sounded really bad to me at first, but the more I think about it, the better it sounds. And I'll take a look at deathwatch--I'd not really considered that. Which of those two is likelier to be more useful, do you think? In any case, I'll probably need to add the third minor power on later.

Status at will (11,000) or Magic circle against (Evil, Chaos, or maybe CE only depending on how you read it. (16,000)

I'm definitely leaning toward Magic Circle. Way I read it, I can choose either evil or chaos and thereafter stick with it; that does seem the most reasonable way of handling it (neither too powerful nor too weak, and not giving any special bonus or disadvantage to a neutral good item).

Haste on owner might be nice if you tend to get in HtH at lot. (some druids do, others don't)
lesser globe is really nice, but doesn't make sense for your cleric-in-a-bead.

Yep--neither of these are cleric powers, and the DM asked me to keep in the spirit of the item, which I'm happy to do. (I'd considered lesser globe prior to his request).

* Try to see if you and the DM can work something out with the item _being_ an NPC cleric.
Some options I'd suggest is that he make you take the leadership feat and the item be considered your follower. I'd give a +2 or +3 adjustment for "item". Maybe even higher. But a cleric-in-a-bead would be really very very very helpful, even if the item is only 3rd or 4th level.

Now THAT's an intriguing thought. I'll hit 15th level soon, and I was struggling for what feat to take.

However, I've got a charisma of 8, and an animal companion; this would mean a pretty low-level cohort. An item cohort, if a spellcaster, would actually be more advantageous than a person cohort, inasmuch as items are far more difficult to harm.

Still, I'll think about it; it'd certainly be cool. Thanks for the great advice!

Daniel