Item Creation a headache

[Eccles]

One of my players has just realised that he's doomed to get possessed, charmed and dominated at every opportunity.

(He's playing a dwarven barbarian/rogue/fighter, so at 8th level he's got a +4 Will save against magical attacks!)

His response is to commission a "Ring of Protection from Evil".

He's not done this yet, but has warned me that he's going to.

So how much would one of these cost, assuming it's even within the rules?

My understanding of it is that it would be a 1st level spell with a 1st level caster. From all the options, would it be a "use activated" item? Or an item with 100 effective charges? And if so, how much would it cost the PC?

I'm very lost. Which is a shame, as maths and reasoning are two of my strong points...

 

[Bauglir]

Guideline price - in this case it's a first level caster, first level spell, so:

1 x 1 x 2000GP = 2000GP

If you think this is too cheap then set the price as you please.

Personally I think it compares quite well with a Ring of Protection +2 (the bonus only applies against evil creatures in this case, although the ring provides other effects) so 8000GP might not be a bad price.

 

[kreynolds]

He's not done this yet, but has warned me that he's going to.

Nice of him to give the warning. Seriously though, if you're ultimately not comfortable with allowing a custom item, just don't.

 

[Spatzimaus]

If it's an always-on ability, price it by its effects, not its source. It doesn't matter that it's based on a 1st-level spell. Spells are balanced by their durations; permanent effects aren't.

So, let's see... it gives an AC bonus. Reduce cost somewhat for only being effective against a certain alignment, but not by more than half.

It gives a bonus to certain saving throws. Again, only against a certain alignment.

Finally, it makes you immune to things like mind control, hedges outsiders, etc. This should be expensive, since one of the big limiting factors of Protection from Evil is that it doesn't STOP the mind control, it just delays the effects until the protection wears off. If it's never going to wear off, that gets much nastier. Same goes for hedging out outsiders; with the spell, they can just wait for it to wear off.

This is the sort of effect powerful items like Holy Avengers should provide, NOT the sort of thing you can get in a cheap trinket.

 

[dcollins]

His response is to commission a "Ring of Protection from Evil".
He's not done this yet, but has warned me that he's going to.
So how much would one of these cost, assuming it's even within the rules?

This is a "new item", not in the rulebooks. Therefore it's only within the rules if you, the DM, make an exceptional house-rule to allow it (and define its effects, and set a price for it).

If it's a headache to you, then the easiest response is definitely just "no exceptions, choose from what's listed in the rules".

www.superdan.net/dndfaq3.html

 

[Sirx]

Make it easy on both your player and your self and suggest something like a cloak of resistance. And for extra laughs make sure to make liberal use spells like Tasha's Hideous Laughter up until the point that he gets the item =)

 

[Saeros]

Give him a break

The rules clearly allow for the creation of magic items that are not currently listed in the core books. To deny the character the opportunity to have an item created to meet his needs seems a little extreme. If you want to make it difficult, have them go on a quest to get the materials needed for the items creation.

Saeros

 

[Spatzimaus]

Re: Give him a break

The rules clearly allow for the creation of magic items that are not currently listed in the core books.

The rules allow the DM to design magic items not in the core books. They don't let a player design his own items, mixing and matching abilities as long as he follows the cost guidelines.

For example, I don't care how much you're willing to pay, you will never see an item that casts Cure Light Wounds an unlimited number of times in my game.

 

[Zad]

Yes, by book value it's 2,000gp. The above calculation is correct.

Is it worth more than that? Probably. Is it hideously expensive? I don't think so. The AC and Save bonus will be superceded by other items, leaving only the protection element really as the big bang. I'd probably raise the price somewhat, and make it somewhat hard to get - a church for instance wouldn't want to part with such an item for an unbeliever.

Personally, I think it makes sense for a character to find ways to compensate for a weakness. It just makes sense. Remember however that it doesn't prevent the mental control from taking hold. Once in a while just to make things fun, have the vampire dominate him, then cast a dispel magic on the protection item, leaving him vulnerable for a few rounds.

The first command? Take off your amulet (or whatever it is). ;0

 

[justfisch]

The feats allow for players to create items not listed in the DMG. The wand list and scroll list is not comprehensive.

The Horn of Goodness and Evil allow a character to be protected as if from Magic Circle against Good/Evil(depending on alignment) for 10 rounds. The price, IIRC, is 6k. A permenant version of this I would price much higher as the item would basicly nullify an entire school (enchantment) from working on the character, and give bonuses to saves and AC from one alignment, it even hedges out outsiders.

That is a pretty sweet magic item. Probably better to go with a limited number of uses per day.

cheers,
justfisch