How do folks describe the base materials that are *consumed* in magic item creation?

[dead]

I've never given this much thought, but how do folks describe the base materials *consumed* in magic item creation?

You see, it can't be just mundane gems and 'erbs or what-not because the gp cost for base materials is usually far dearer than this sort of stuff.

The base materials would have to be more esoteric stuff like the blood of an ancient gold wyrm, the pristene waters from the peak of Mount Celestia, etc.

Has anyone done a list and gp value for strange stuff like this?

You see, a druid in my game was creating an Amulet of Energy Resistance and the base material cost was 3,000gp.

I said she had to pay for the following:

1) Silver necklace = 250gp

2) Assorted precious gems = 500gp

3) Brass, Bronze, Copper, and Silver dragon scales = 1,000gp

4) "Essense of the elements" = 500gp

5) 4 x purified crystal containers that hold the essense of the elements = 250gp

TOTAL = 3,000gp

Are other people working this stuff out? Or, do you just ignore it and say: "OK, it costs you 3,000gp".

Is the actual vessel (ie. necklace, masterwork sword, or whatever) included in the base material cost because this item is not consumed?

Thanks.

P.S. Imagine the base materials for a more expensive item. Let's say the base material cost was 50,000gp; surely you couldn't just *shop* for such stuff. You'd have to go on a quest to find such expensive materials . . . but then you'd be getting the materials for FREE!

 

[Rel]

Cross-posted from another recent thread:

The first house rule that I implemented with 3E was that you couldn't simply spin gold into magic items with the creation feats. You had to have components to do it. BUT then I (gasp) allowed the purchase of these components using the same general guidelines presented in the DMG for the buying and selling of stuff. In other words bit cities were places where it was easy to buy these components and little hamlets would likely have none for sale.

The effect this had on my campaign was that I had just created a new kind of treasure. So now I was in the position to say things like:

"Amid the Wizard's belongings you find some Wyvern Blood, Ground Wyvern Stinger and some Manticore Quills. The first two are worth 200 GP toward crafting magical Wands and the Quills are worth 75 GP toward scribing Scrolls."

"You find some strange flakes of metal that radiate faint magic. You believe (Knowledge - Aracana check) that if disolved in acid these might provide you with some components for crafting Magical Arms and Armor. That would require some time and an Alchemy check however."

"A search of the magical oak grove reveals some magical mushrooms (Knowlege - Nature/Wilderness Lore for knowing about their possible presence and finding them). If they were ground and boiled in a bit of Holy Water (Alchemy or Craft Brewing check) then they would be worth 150 GP toward brewing any sort of healing potions."

It would have required multiple pages of explanation and examples to add that kind of flavor in the PHB so it is (IMHO) better left out. But it isn't that hard to add it in and I think that a book giving these sorts of examples would be very useful for GM's old and new.

 

[Henry]

Listen to Rel. I've stolen from him before! (game ideas, that is.)

 

[dead]

Thanks for that.

I agree with Rel. A book with these sorts of creative examples (with gp values) would be very useful.