help pricing magic item?

[Dingleberry]

Can any of you magic item pricing gurus offer your thoughts on this one (note 3.0)?

Venominous: a +1 greatsword with following additional abilities:
- when drawn, continual bane effect
- when gripped (whether drawn or not), wielder has continual deathwatch vision
- once per day, wielder can inflict a poison spell (DC 16) upon a creature struck by the blade (~dagger of venom)

I appreciate any input.

 

[der_kluge]

Do you care if I stat it out using the rules in the Artificer's Handbook?

Firstly, I'm not familiar with the ability "venomous", so I don't know what the equivalent cost for that is. Also, I'm guessing if you know what it is, and know that your sword is +1, figuring the cost out for that should be a piece of cake.

For the bane effect:
(continuous effect, 1st level spell, caster level 1; 2nd additional function)
10gp(1+1-1) * 17^2 = 2,890gp (creation cost)

For the Deathwatch effect:
(continuous effect, 1st level spell, caster level 1; 3rd additional function; -1 cost for "only active while gripping the blade")
10gp(1+1-1) * 15^2 = 2,250gp (creation cost)

For the Poison effect:
(1 use per day, use-activated, 4th level spell, caster level 7; 4th additional effect; -1 cost for "only activates when target struck by weapon")
10gp(4+7-1) * 12^2 = 14,400gp (creation cost)

market cost is creation cost * 2 =
2,890 *2 = 5,780
2,250 *2 = 5,500
14,400 *2 = 28,800

Total market cost: 40,080gp

I would just add this cost to the cost of the +2 (if venomous is a +1 ability) sword.

 

[Dingleberry]

Thanks. A clarification: the weapon isn't "venomous". Venominous is the name of the sword. Aside from the additional abilities, it's a standard +1.

I don't know the Artificer's Handbook prices the 2nd/3rd/4th additional functions, but the cost for the poison ability seems awfully high compared to the dagger of venom in the DMG.

 

[Dingleberry]

A bump for all seasons...

Any other thoughts out there?

 

[Dingleberry]

<a double post for all seasons...>

 

[der_kluge]

You're right. The way the system works in the Artificer's Handbook is that there is a cumulative cost for each additional effect in an item. The way it is supposed to work is that if there are multiple effects, the effect with the highest spell level should be counted first, and then decrease to the last effect. I did it backwards (in the order in which you described them).

Oh, and it's just a standard +1 sword. ok. That changes it a bit, too.

It should be as follows:
+1 sword = 900gp (creation cost)
10gp(4+7-1) * 7^2 = 4,900gp (creation cost)
10gp(1+1-1) * 17^2 = 2,890gp (creation cost)
10gp(1+1-1) * 15^2 = 2,250gp (creation cost)

Total: 10,040 x2 = 20,080gp market cost.

Technically, weapons have a x2 cost because they have a +1 to hit and to damage. (+1 weapon is twice the cost of +1 armor). I'm not sure I would be comfortable doubling the cost of all those abilities just because they are in a weapon.
But, the weapon is 1,800 (includes x2 cost), and the rest of the abilities are 10,040, so the total cost would be 11,840gp.


That's more reasonable.

 

[Dingleberry]

Excellent! Thanks for the clarifications, and your help. My gut ballparked it around 15K - glad to know I wasn't miles off.