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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cheiromancer" data-source="post: 3158592" data-attributes="member: 141">Ok.  I'm going to try to draft my own formula for multi-function items.  I think there should be a discount for "putting all your eggs in one basket", even if it is only a small one.  And a function in a slotted location should never cost more than if it were unslotted.  How about we try this:If an item has one or more powers whose base prices are (from most to least expensive) P1, P2, P3, P4 etc., then the general formula for the price of the item depends on whether the item occupies a body slot or not.A slotted item whose best power is appropriate to the slot it fills is priced according to the formulaP1 + 2/3 x (P2 + P3 + P4 + ....) = item base priceIf its best power is *not* appropriate to the slot it fills it is priced according to the formula(1.5 x P1) + 2/3 x (P2 + P3 + P4 + ....) = item base priceIf an item has groups of powers that are not closely related to each other, price each group separately, according the appropriate formula, and add the results together.  If one power is appropriate to the slot and another one isn't, then they are not closely related.  In other words, powers that are weaker than, but related to, already priced powers get a 2/3 multiplier. A power that's stronger than any related power gets a multiplier of 1 if they are appropriate, and 1.5 if they are inappropriate to the slot.  Slotless items always have the cost of best power doubled. Powers unrelated to the best power are always priced with a 1.5 multiplier, just as if it were an inappropriate power in a slotted item.  Powers related to a better power are not discounted, but don't have their costs increased either; they have a multiplier of 1.Slotless ItemsExample 1: A pearl of power (1st) is a slotless item that costs 1,000 gp.  Its base price can be calculated to be 500 gp.  A pearl of power that works 3 times per day would cost(2 x 500) + 500 + 500 = 2000 gpThe best power is doubled, and the additional uses have a multiplier of 1. This item costs only 2/3 of the price of buying three separate pearls.  The discount is appropriate because separate items are more convenient to buy, sell, loan and trade than a single item, and so the single item has less utility.  Buy two, get one free.Example 2: A pearl of power (1st) that also gives a +1 resistance bonus to saving throws (like a cloak of resistance) would be an example of a slotless item that has two unrelated powers.  The base cost for a cloak is 1000 gp, and so it is the best power; it gets a multiplier of 2.  The next power is unrelated, so it gets a multiplier of 1.5. This combination would cost (2 x 1000) + (1.5 x 500) = 2750 gp.This is only about 250 gp (8.3%) less than the price of two such slotless items purchased separately.  The utility of a combo item is somewhat less than two items, but not significantly less.Example 3: A pearl of power (1st) that works three times per day *and* gives a +1 resistance bonus to saving throws is designed.  The first use is unrelated to the resistance bonus, so it gets a x1.5 multiplier, but the two additional uses of the pearl of power are similar (identical, in fact) to the first use, and so they are included at their base price, with a multiplier of 1.  The item costs(2 x 1000) + (1.5 x 500) + 500 + 500 = 3750 gp.Also 250 gp less than the two items purchased separately.Slotted itemsExample 4: A player wants his character to craft a belt that acts both as a belt of giant strength +6 and an amulet of health +6.  The DM is persuaded that a Constitution bonus is appropriate to the belt slot (it is a "physical improvement" and there is the precedent of a belt of dwarvenkind) and so he calculates the price of the belt of robust health +6 to be36,000 + (2/3 x 36,000) = 60,000 gpExample 5: The player in the previous example changes his mind; he wants the belt to give a bonus to Strength and Dexterity rather than Strength and Constitution.  The DM thinks this is stretching things a bit, and while Strength and Dexterity are both physical improvements (and so appropriate to the belt slot) he rules (somewhat arbitrarily) that they are not closely related.  The price of the belt of martial prowess +6 is 36,000 + 36,000 = 72,000The player complains that this is the cost of the pair of items purchased separately, and the DM asks him if he has the Additional Magic Item Slot (belt) feat.  He doesn't.Example 6: The player changes his mind yet again; now he wants the belt to improve Strength and Intelligence.  The DM says that Intelligence is not appropriate for a belt, and so the price of the belt of the warmage +6 would be36,000 +  (1.5 x 36,000) = 90,000 More examplesExample 7: The player decides he doesn't want it to be a belt; an ioun stone would "look cooler". The DM says that a slotless item that boosted Strength and Intelligence would count as having two unrelated powers and would cost(2 x 36,000) + (1.5 x 36,000) = 126,000Example 8: The player says that the DM is misunderstanding things (why does he have to be so mean?) He wants an Ioun stone that boosts Strength and Constitution.  The second function is related, and so is priced with neither a discount nor a premium.(2 x 36,000) + 36,000 = 108,000Example 8: A ring of wizardry that doubles all spells has multiple related powers.  It would cost810K + 2/3 x (640K + 490K + 360K + 250K + 100K + 70K + 40K + 20K) = 2,123,333 gpAvailable at level 44.A pearl that recalled four spells of each level (1 to 9) is just a bit over half as much as buying 4 pearls for each level.  The cost of an all-in-one pearl is 610,500.  A lot cheaper than the ring; but note that 4 pearls of power (1st) are a lot cheaper than a 1st level ring of wizardry.  4000 gp compared to 20,000 gp.  That's true all the way up; a 9th level pearl of power is only 10% the cost of a 9th level ring of wizardry.  So I think the price of an all-in-one pearl is fair.Perhaps this would be better in its own thread?</blockquote>

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