Increasing save DC of custom magic items

[Astos]

Normally, the saving throws from magic item effects are 10 + spell level + bonus from minimum ability needed to cast the spell. So, aside from the staffs exception, a saving throw against sleep would always be 11 when cast from a scroll, wand, custom magic item, etc.

Are there any rules or guidelines for how much an item's cost should increase if this DC were to be raised?

Failing that, what's a good cost for an item that can cast sleep 3/day at CL 1 and DC 15?

Thanks a lot!

 

[Menexenus]

That's interesting - I was recently wondering the very same thing! One of my players recently got a Ring of Animal Friendship which allows the wearer to befriend 12 HD worth of animals and has market price of 9500 gp.

After my player was all excited about his new magic item it occurred to him that, because of the rule you mentioned, the animals would save against the power of this ring on a Will save DC 11! The player was pretty upset when he realized how easy it would be for encountered animals to avoid the power of this ring that he had just sacrificed a large chunk of treasure to claim.

I sympathized with the player, so on the spot I house-ruled that this item would work at a DC of 15. But I'd love to find out if there is something more official that I could have done to make this ring more effective.

 

[sledged]

Are there any rules or guidelines for how much an item's cost should increase if this DC were to be raised?

For pricing scrolls, potions, and wands, just treat it as if the spell were a higher level:

 DC  spell level
 11	 1st
 13	 2nd
 14	 3rd
 16	 4th
 17	 5th
 19	 6th
 20	 7th
 22	 8th
 23	 9th

For all other items, you're on your own.

 

[thorian]

You can incorporate metamagic feats into items, so use Heighten Spell to increase the DC. Remeber to price the item according to the Heightened level, and remember not to exceed level limits (like 4th level spells for wands).

 

[daTim]

Wasnt there a feat in the Epic Level Handbook (the feat itself was non-epic) that allowed you to use your own ability score to determine the DC? I believe it was called Staff Master and Wand Master. Could someone with the books on hand help? I'm at work.

 

[Sir Brennen]

Wasnt there a feat in the Epic Level Handbook (the feat itself was non-epic) that allowed you to use your own ability score to determine the DC? I believe it was called Staff Master and Wand Master.

Isn't this already true of Staffs? Maybe it wasn't for 3.0, so that's why the feat was created.

This also makes the most sense for items limited to casters with the spell on their list (like wands and staffs), as they will most likely have a high score in the relevant ability. Doing this for an item usable by anyone (a ring or wonderous item) is something of a crap shoot, as the user may or may not have an ability score that will do him any good.

I think crafting the item with Heighten Spell is probably the simplest solution.

 

[UltimaGabe]

After my player was all excited about his new magic item it occurred to him that, because of the rule you mentioned, the animals would save against the power of this ring on a Will save DC 11! The player was pretty upset when he realized how easy it would be for encountered animals to avoid the power of this ring that he had just sacrificed a large chunk of treasure to claim.

I think you both overreacted. For the most part, such an item isn't going to be of huge use in-game- as far as I can see, its main use is going to be between games, when he wants to get a bunch of animals to befriend him and go with him on his next adventure or something. And in those cases, if it doesn't work on the first try, can't he just try again? And again, if necessary?

That was an unnecessary house rule to boost the save DC. Did you, as a DM, want it to be something that always worked, or did you want it to be a decent chance? Because, as far as I know, few animals have more than a +3 or +4 on their Will saves- correct me if I'm wrong- and even then they've got a 40% or higher chance of failing. What's so bad about that?

 

[dcollins]

Are there any rules or guidelines for how much an item's cost should increase if this DC were to be raised?

It's been said before, but in the core rules the answer is use of the Heighten Spell feat. See items such as the eyes of charming, staff of power, a bunch of stuff on the wands table, etc.