Improving an Existing Magical Item

[Skarppsey]

What are the rule specifics (or DMG page reference) for improving an existing magical item. For example, A 6th level caster has the Craft Magical Arms and Armor Feat. He has a +1 sword and wishes to improve the magical enhancement to +2. Does he simply calculate the Cost and XP as the difference in price between those two states (+1 = 2000gp; +2 = 8000 gp; difference of 6000gp, so 3000gp and 240 xp to improve the weapon)?

Or is there something else involved in this? Anyone have any insight?

 

[Steverooo]

What are the rule specifics (or DMG page reference) for improving an existing magical item. For example, A 6th level caster has the Craft Magical Arms and Armor Feat. He has a +1 sword and wishes to improve the magical enhancement to +2. Does he simply calculate the Cost and XP as the difference in price between those two states (+1 = 2000gp; +2 = 8000 gp; difference of 6000gp, so 3000gp and 240 xp to improve the weapon)?

Yup.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Indeed

Price for Improvement = Total Price of New Item - Price of Old Item.

AR

 

[Skarppsey]

Can you point out where in the DMG, SRD, or errata (or other core books) this is discussed? I'm just looking for a reference so I can review it myself. Thanks.

 

[dcollins]

In the 3.0 DMG it's actually the very last paragraph of text in the book.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Hm. SRD 3.0:

ADDING NEW ABILITIES
A creator can add new magical abilities to a magic item with no restrictions. The cost to do this is the same as if the item was not magical.
If the item is one that takes up a specific space on a character, any additional power added to that item doubles the cost.

SRD 3.5:

ADDING NEW ABILITIES
A creator can add new magical abilities to a magic item with no restrictions. The cost to do this is the same as if the item was not magical. Thus, a +1 longsword can be made into a +2 vorpal longsword, with the cost to create it being equal to that of a +2 vorpal sword minus the cost of a +1 sword.
If the item is one that occupies a specific place on a character’s body the cost of adding any additional ability to that item increases by 50%. For example, if a character adds the power to confer invisibility to her ring of protection +2, the cost of adding this ability is the same as for creating a ring of invisibility multiplied by 1.5.

AR