Isochron Scepter

[gamecat]

I know i'm typically the price nazi, but I found this cached on my friends computer, a result of an evening of much boredom and many magic cards. I have no idea how I arrived at the price tag on this baby, but here it is anyway.

Isochron Scepter

This item appears as a topaz-studded scepter of gold, polished to a mirror-smooth finish. Once it stores a spell, however, it appears inscribed with all manner of arcane sigils. A wizard can attempt to learn the spell the isochron scepter happens to be storing, albeit with a -2 circumstance penalty on his spellcraft check due to the odd formatting of the sigils.

The scepter can store an arcane spell of 2nd level or lower for one day. The scepter can then recast the spell 1d4+1 times as a spell-completion item, and then is inert until the following day. The scepter cannot store a spell with an XP cost or a material component costing more than 1 gp.
Moderate Transmutation; Caster Level: 11th; Prequisites: Craft Wand, Craft Wonderous Item, Mordenkainen's Lucubration; Market Price 99,000 gp

 

[Technik4]

Way too overpriced. Try comparing to the pearls for an appropriate price (1d4+1 extra 2nd level spells - 99,000 gp?).

Technik

 

[UltimaGabe]

A Ring of Wizardry II doubles the wearer's number of 2nd-level spells, and costs 40,000 gp. This item doesn't seem nearly as powerful (as it's limited to the same spell, and it's quite possible for a spellcaster to have more than 5 2nd-level spells per day, and that's if you roll maximum with this scepter). Not only that, but as this scepter makes the spell stored inside into a Spell-Completion item, that seems to imply that the save DC and caster level would be the minimum for the spell (although that may not be what you intended). Anyway, there may be a couple tiny advantages (like a Wizard being able to scribe the spell stored inside), but it shouldn't cost any more than the Ring of Wizardry, and possibly much less.

 

[the Jester]

Wow, as a dm I'm a tightwad with allowing spells from sources outside the PH, and I immediately thought that the ability to transcribe the spell was the best part of this item.

Nonetheless, 99,000 gp seems extreme. I agree that the ring of wizardry II is the best choice for comparison. 40,000 gp sounds about right to me.

 

[isoChron]

Really expensive ... I would price it around 35.000 to 40.000.

But it's name has a nice sound ...

 

[gamecat]

Your points duly noted. Lets reprice it as:

Isochron Scepter

This item appears as a topaz-studded scepter of gold, polished to a mirror-smooth finish. Once it stores a spell, however, it appears inscribed with all manner of arcane sigils. A wizard can attempt to learn the spell the isochron scepter happens to be storing, albeit with a -2 circumstance penalty on his spellcraft check due to the odd formatting of the sigils.

The scepter can store an arcane spell of 2nd level or lower for one day. The scepter can then recast the spell 1d4+1 times as a spell-completion item, and then is inert until the following day. The scepter cannot store a spell with an XP cost or a material component costing more than 1 gp.
Moderate Transmutation; Caster Level: 11th; Prequisites: Craft Wand, Craft Wonderous Item, Mordenkainen's Lucubration; Market Price 40,000 gp

 

[Technik4]

No offense, but I cannot see a PC buying this item for that price. I think it is more appropriate, but the power bottoms out tremendously quick (depending on how fast you gain levels, but by the time you are level 9 or 10 and could afford something like this, you probably won't need the extra slots anymore). That said, I think it would be cool to give an NPC or placed in a treasure pile.

I know the flavor was to mirror the Magic Card Game's limit of 2-casting cost instants (hence 2nd level spells). I think if you added another limiter (only 'instantaneous' spells) you could raise the level of spells stored to 3rd or lower the gold price some more.

Technik

 

[gamecat]

Perhaps we should make differing grades of Isochron?

Least Isochron Scepter (cantrips and 1st level)
Lesser Isochron Scepter (2nd)
Isochron Scepter (3rd)
Greater Isochron Scepter (4th)
Greatest Isochron Scepter (5th)

Even though a 5th level Isochron Scepter seems a bit too daring.

 

[Technik4]

following that idea:

Isochron Scepter I (0-1st level spells)
Isochron Scepter II (2nd level spells)
etc

Technik

 

[ARandomGod]

I think I'd remove the variable component, and price the scepter along the lines of a pearl of power of the appropriate level (Or multiple pearls of power).