How much would you pay for a Helm of Protection from Evil?

[Pielorinho]

Pretty straightforward. I and another player have been kicking this idea around recently, and are interested in getting y'all's opinions on how much a helm of constant Protection from Evil would be worth.

I'm thinking it'd be somewhere in the neighborhood of 15,000 to 20,000 gp. Although you could rule that it's roughly equivalent to slippers of spider climbing (a 2,000 gp item that gives you a constant 1st-level spell), I'm thinking you should look at the four benefits it has:

1) +2 deflection bonus to AC. I think this is worth 8,000 gp right here.
2) +2 resistance on saves. This is only effective against evil creatures, but is otherwise equivalent to a cloak of resistance +2, worth 4,000. Then we double it as a secondary effect, going to 8,000.
3) Protection from all charm spells and all compulsion spells that provide continuous control. This is a biggie: I'd say it's at least worth 2,000. Double this as a secondary effect, and you're at 4,000.
4) Total protection from all evil (or is it all nongood?) summoned creatures' melee attacks. These are gonna constitute the vast majority of the summoned creatures you fight. I'd value this at least at 1,000, and maybe higher. Double as a secondary effect; you're at 2,000.

So we're at 22,000. You could reduce the cost by 20%, since efects 1 and 2 are effective only against evil creatures, and effect 4 is only effective against nongood creatures. That gets you down to 17,600.

Am I figuring this right? What would y'all charge for such an item? I think the main balancing factor of PfE is its short duration (especially compared to charm spells); making it a constant bonus looks pretty hairy.

Daniel

[edit: I learned to count]

 

[trentonjoe]

I think 15,000 is fair. You have a lot of relatively minor abilities but nothing game breaking.


I would compare this to some minor artifacts or unique magical items that are in supplements.

 

[Bean 2.0]

A minor artifact is priceless you can't compare it to anything pricewise thats why it an artifact

 

[Khaalis]

Which side of the fence?

I say it depends on which side of the fence you reside on.

* If magic is rare and incredibly expensive in your game, go with the figures you created where ever "effect" of the Protection from Evil spell is considered as a different spell.

* If magic is not that uncommon, rare, and/or expensive: figure the item as what it is by the standard "creation table". A Wondrous Item created as a Use Activated (have to wear the helm) Item, 1st level spell cast at 1st level (makes it much easier to effect with Dispel and Antimagic however) = 2000gp.

Yes it has its uses, but I only see it as a 15,000gp item if EVERYHTING the PC ever faces is Evil. Against many creatures and many opponents this item is useless. Just like Slippers of Spider Climb have a very limited use (usually only comes into play 5-10% of the time).

Just my humble $0.02 worth.

 

[LostSoul]

It depends if it's art or not.

 

[shilsen]

2) Protection from all charm spells and all compulsion spells that provide continuous control. This is a biggie: I'd say it's at least worth 2,000. Double this as a secondary effect, and you're at 4,000.

Prot. from Evil prevents the use of mental control, so it does not apply to charm-type spells.

I think 15,000 gp sounds good.

 

[Pielorinho]

Re: Which side of the fence?

* If magic is not that uncommon, rare, and/or expensive: figure the item as what it is by the standard "creation table". A Wondrous Item created as a Use Activated (have to wear the helm) Item, 1st level spell cast at 1st level (makes it much easier to effect with Dispel and Antimagic however) = 2000gp.

2000 gp is way off. Compare the two basic powers -- +2 deflection bonus to AC and +2 resistance bonus to saves -- to similar items that provide these same abilities. A ring of protection +2 is worth 8,000 gp; a cloak of resistance +2 is worth 4,000 gp. Even if your PCs fight evil half the time and so you reduce the price of the item by 50%, you should still be talking 8,000 gp for these two powers alone. And most campaigns, I'll wager, feature evil enemies significantly more than 50% of the time.

And Shilsen, check the FAQ. Protection from evil protects against all spells of the charm subschool and those compulsion effects that provide continuous control (e.g., dominate person). I used to think it protected against all compulsion effects, but I was wrong.

Daniel

 

[MarauderX]

I think 22,000 is a much better estimate, but once you get up to the thousands another 7k may not matter to some PCs.
I was thinking of the time and cost to a wizard to create the helm, and I agree with your first estimates, Pielorinho.

Again, it depends on your campaign setting, how much money there is in the society, how prevailent magic is, but to I think 22,000 would keep it on par with the items in the DMG.

 

[Sanackranib]

stacking effects

remember if you add the protection bonus and save bonus into the same item the gold cost goes drastically up. the 2nd effect is considered a slotless item. to come up with a true cost you would have to use the table in the tome and blood on item creation (I think its on p.74) and add each power in seperately. then you would make it an item that could be made using craft arms and armor (level 5 because it is an AC boosting helmet) but it sounds like a good idea. it would be expensive though.

 

[Pielorinho]

Re: stacking effects

remember if you add the protection bonus and save bonus into the same item the gold cost goes drastically up.

Yeah - that's why I doubled the cost of all powers after the first and most expensive one.

Daniel