Help with Magic Item Pricing

[hazmat]

+1 Shocking Grasp added to Ogre Power Spiked Gauntlets
Basically, one touch attack a round that does a 5th level shocking grasp.
10000 (Continual Shocking grasp) = Spell Lvl(1) x Caster Lvl(5) X 2000gp
2000 (+1)
( 7000 (4000 * 1.75 Multiple similar ability)
- 4000) (Cost paid for Gauntlets)
---------
15000gp x (.7 wizard only, lose 1 first level spell slot a day)

10500gp (base cost)

5250gp (creation cost [base price/2])
420xp (xp cost [base price /25] )


1. Did I do this right?
2. Would you allow this in your campaign?

 

[Nail]

Let's break it down:

• +1 spike gauntlets: 305 gp (MW Sp. Gaunt.) + 2000 gp (+1 Enhanc.) = 2305 gp
• +2 Enhancement to Strength: 4000 gp
• Shocking Grasp: C Lvl 5, 1/rd, Use activated; 5 * 1 * 2000 gp = 10,000gp
• Multiple Abilities, uses a "body slot": Use Multiple Different Abilities price adjustment, so 150% of the spike gauntlet's price and 150% of the Strength enhancement price.
• Limitation: Wiz class only, lose one 1st lvl slot per day: -40% (this is a guess!)

So, for the total price we have:
(10,000 + 4000*1.5 + 2305*1.5) * 60% = 11,674.5 gp
....round it to 12,000 gp, IMHO.

.....That's the formula price, anyway. Seems a bit cheap, especially given that 5d6 electrical damage touch attack (with an effective +5 to hit armored opponents!).

 

[Nail]

SRD on magic item pricing:

"Multiple Different Abilities: Abilities such as an attack roll bonus or saving throw bonus and a spell-like function are not similar, and their values are simply added together to determine the cost. For items that do take up a space on a character’s body each additional power not only has no discount but instead has a 50% increase in price."

This describes your item to a "t".

 

[hazmat]

Ok.. I was basing it on the body affinity sidebar which I didn't completely understand.

I restricted the number of times per round to 1 because I thought it could get really cheesy.

BTW, Thanks for the reply.

 

[James McMurray]

Don't forget the durational multiplier for the Shocking Grasp portion. I personally would never allow an instantaneous item to be made continuous, but at the very least it should be priced as a spell whose duration is measured in rounds. That gives it a x4 cost multiplier.

I also wouldn't grant a 40% discount for the restrictions. An item with a restriction that has little to no effect (such as being made for a party wizard and limited to sizards only) doesn't warrant a discount at all. In fact, it makes it harder for foes to use it on you if they manage to get their hands on it. That's worth a price hike in my book.

The loss of a single first level spell per day is a minor inconvenience, especially when you consider that the item doesn't so much cost one spell per day as it grants you an infinite uses of on spell per day. If the item were worded to force the wearer to memorize Shocking Grasp, but if they did they could cast it quickened once per round without using up the memorized slot, would it still sound like its worth a deiscount?

I would price the object as follows:

+1 enhancement: +3,305gp (2000 x 1.5 + 305 for mw gauntlet)
+2 strength: +3,000gp (2000 x 1.5)
Quickened Shocking Grasp: 90,000 (spell level 5 * caster level 9 * use activated 2000)

96,305gp

 

[Nail]

Don't forget the durational multiplier for the Shocking Grasp portion. I personally would never allow an instantaneous item to be made continuous, but at the very least it should be priced as a spell whose duration is measured in rounds. That gives it a x4 cost multiplier.

That might be appropriate. One of the major problems with the magic pricing system is the lack of direction in this area.

For this particular item, I might be tempted to look at the shocking grasp as a weapon enhancement. Perhaps +3, since it's much better than typical energy damage, but can only be used once per round. If so, then this weapon (discounting the Str enhancement power) would be:

+4 equivalent weapon: (4*4*2000) +305 = 32,305 gp

Then adding the +2 Str enhancement bonus ability, we get:

32,000 + 4,000 * 1.5 = 36,305 gp
(.....with the "restricted class" discount taken from that.)

James, I'm not sure where you're getting the 2,000gp cost of the Str enhancement from.

As for the Quickened Shocking Grasp....why on earth would you think that equivalent to what the poster asked for?

I also wouldn't grant a 40% discount for the restrictions. An item with a restriction that has little to no effect (such as being made for a party wizard and limited to sizards only) doesn't warrant a discount at all.

I disagree. If this item was usable by Fighters only, we might be in agreement. But this magic item does not play to the typical wizard's strengths. A discount is not only warranted, but it's asked for by the DMG rules text.

I assume you are house ruling that "discount for restricted class" text. That's great....but it's a house rule. Wrong forum.

 

[Nail]

Quickened Shocking Grasp: 90,000 (spell level 5 * caster level 9 * use activated 2000)

As written, this would allow a caster to cast Shocking Grasp from the gauntlet as a free action, once per round. This was not your intention, eh?

...still, this is a nice idea for a use-activated magic item. I might steal it!

 

[hazmat]

I've already passed it off to my DM to see what he thinks.

I actually based this item off of one in a Dragon issue. It was a cleric of Wee Jas only item that allowed a fifth level Inflict Light Wounds on a touch.

So 1d8+5 negative energy damage any time the wearer touched someone with the gauntlet. I also think the gauntlet attached itself to the wearer.

It's bas price was 6000 something.