Is this legal?

[ThorneMD]

I have a player who quite honestly comes up with some of the weirdest ideas ever.

He wants to do the following:

His character, a Neutral Drow, wants to make a +3 Buckler, but with the requirements that only a Neutral Drow can use it. According to the DMG if there is a restriction, then there is a 30% reduction in price. The way he reads it is that since its an alignment and a race restriction, then its a 60% reduction. I tend to think that it isn't, just because if he also puts on the restriction that only a specific class can use it, then its at 90% off.

If he is correct in his thinking, then is his math correct:

+3 buckler = 9,165 gp
Neutral Drow only = 9,165 - 60% = 3,666 gp.
He is the creator = 3,666 * 0.5 = 1833 gp

Please let me know who is correct? I don't want to screw him, but I also don't want to give me a powerful item for cheap.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

It's not correct.

Reductions for restrictions are completely in your hands, first of all, not his, and "Only useable by me" isn't really a restriction at all.

Full price.

 

[darthkilmor]

I have a player who quite honestly comes up with some of the weirdest ideas ever.

He wants to do the following:

His character, a Neutral Drow, wants to make a +3 Buckler, but with the requirements that only a Neutral Drow can use it. According to the DMG if there is a restriction, then there is a 30% reduction in price. The way he reads it is that since its an alignment and a race restriction, then its a 60% reduction. I tend to think that it isn't, just because if he also puts on the restriction that only a specific class can use it, then its at 90% off.

If he is correct in his thinking, then is his math correct:

+3 buckler = 9,165 gp
Neutral Drow only = 9,165 - 60% = 3,666 gp.
He is the creator = 3,666 * 0.5 = 1833 gp

Please let me know who is correct? I don't want to screw him, but I also don't want to give me a powerful item for cheap.

He's not the DM, you are. Players dont tell the DM "I'm making item %s, and it costs %d to make", they say "I wanna make item %s, how much does it cost?"

Item creation rules are a guideline, not hard in stone rules. Any restriction like that isnt really a restriction for him Anyway, so no reduction in price.

 

[RangerWickett]

Yeah, the magic item design rules need a wise guiding hand to avoid being broken. That trait in particular -- can only be used by X -- is something you should almost never give a PC a discount for, unless like he's making an item that he intends for the whole party to use, and then decides to give it a drawback so they all can't.

I'd say, don't allow.

But is it legal?
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/07/06

 

[crazy_monkey1956]

I agree. Otherwise, item crafters would pretty much make items only they could use.

DM: Allrighty, you've defeated the Evil Goblin Necromancer-Lich.

Players: Huzzah, we search him and take all of his magic items.

DM: Ok, but all of his items are only usable by Evil Goblin Necromancer-Liches.

Players: :\

 

[kayn99]

I would reduce the resale value of the item, but the base cost will be the same as if it was not restricted.

Kayn

 

[prospero63]

I agree. Otherwise, item crafters would pretty much make items only they could use.

DM: Allrighty, you've defeated the Evil Goblin Necromancer-Lich.

Players: Huzzah, we search him and take all of his magic items.

DM: Ok, but all of his items are only usable by Evil Goblin Necromancer-Liches.

Players: :\

QFT

 

[Vorput]

I would reduce the resale value of the item, but the base cost will be the same as if it was not restricted.

Kayn

Exactly!

 

[Christian]

The true RBDM response is to let him make the item at the discount, then rule that his actions have shifted his alignment.

 

[Tiberius]

I would reduce the resale value of the item, but the base cost will be the same as if it was not restricted.

Kayn

That's probably what I'd do, too. Though I'd consider having "only usable by me" items cost extra to make because it can't be used against you.