Item Creation Cost questions

[danzig138]

Howdy, I have a couple of questions about pricing on creating magic items...

1. My character has boots of elvenkind and a pair of slippers of spider climbing. the slippers have a listed cost of 2,000 gp. If my character wanted to make a pair of boots the combined the abilities of the elevekind boots and the slippers, what would the market price be? +10 Hide (2,000) + Spider Climb (spell level 1 x caster level 3 x 2,000 = 6,000) 8,000 x 1.1 (for two disimilar powers in one slot) 8,800? or +10 Hide (2,000) + slipper listed cost (2,000) = 4,000 x 1.1 (disimiliar effects on one slot) 4,400? So basically, the question is, when creating new items that essentially combine effects from existing magic items, does the cost need to be calculated completely from scratch, or should the listed item price be used as the base price?
2. When reducing the price due to required skill or alignment, are these cumulative, or does the higher discount only apply? For example, on the boots from above, I want to apply the restriction that the wearer must have ranks in Hide and must be Neutral Evil to use them. Is this a 30% discount (the higher of the two), or a 40% discount (the two combined)?
3. If you want the effects of one item in a different kind of item, say a ring of sustenance but in a belt, would the cost be the same?
   [/list=1]
   I'm sure I have some more questions, but I can't think of them right now. As a DM, none of my players bothered with item creation, so none of this ever really came up, but now I finally get to be a player again (Yay!), and this game is very different from this side of the table.

 

[andargor]

YAICT (Yet Another Item Creation Thread)

1. AFAIK, you double the cost of the entire item if there are dissimilar powers. You are saving slots, after all. So it looks like 16,000 gp from here. (T&B, p.74) Haven't most of the items in the DMG been errata'ed?

2. I don't see rules for reducing cost. Up to your DM.

3. Same cost, if your DM allows this kind of thing.

Andargor

 

[kreynolds]

My character has boots of elvenkind and a pair of slippers of spider climbing. the slippers have a listed cost of 2,000 gp. If my character wanted to make a pair of boots the combined the abilities of the elevekind boots and the slippers, what would the market price be? +10 Hide (2,000) + Spider Climb (spell level 1 x caster level 3 x 2,000 = 6,000) 8,000 x 1.1 (for two disimilar powers in one slot) 8,800? or +10 Hide (2,000) + slipper listed cost (2,000) = 4,000 x 1.1 (disimiliar effects on one slot) 4,400? So basically, the question is, when creating new items that essentially combine effects from existing magic items, does the cost need to be calculated completely from scratch, or should the listed item price be used as the base price?

For items that take up a slot, you double the cost of any secondary powers that are beneficial to have function at the same time that other powers are functioning. For example, the multiple powers of a staff are not doubled. However, if you have +6 Str and +4 Dex on a single item, then the Dex bonus (the second most costly) gets doubled.

If the item doesn't take up a slot, you simply add all the prices together, then double the total.

[*]When reducing the price due to required skill or alignment, are these cumulative, or does the higher discount only apply? For example, on the boots from above, I want to apply the restriction that the wearer must have ranks in Hide and must be Neutral Evil to use them. Is this a 30% discount (the higher of the two), or a 40% discount (the two combined)?

Generally, I let them stack. For example, if you have to be a lawful good dwarven paladin, I might give a discount from 60% to 75%.

If you want the effects of one item in a different kind of item, say a ring of sustenance but in a belt, would the cost be the same?

Pretty much. However, I wouldn't recommend doing this. Some powers just don't belong on some items. For example, I've always had a problem with magic items worn on the head that add circumstance bonuses to Move Silently. If its a competence bonus, then thats different, and I don't have a problem with it.

As a DM, none of my players bothered with item creation, so none of this ever really came up, but now I finally get to be a player again (Yay!), and this game is very different from this side of the table.

Just make sure you talk to your DM about the items you want to make. It will save you some time if you know up front what kinds of things he will and will not allow.

 

[kreynolds]

Up to your DM.

Page 243, Behind the Curtain: Magic Item Gold Piece Values.

Up to your DM.

More or less.

 

[andargor]

Page 243, Behind the Curtain: Magic Item Gold Piece Values.
More or less.

True, but I'm assuming his character is Neutral Evil, and has ranks in Hide. So it's not really a disadvantage for him.

It actually looks like an advantage, as it would be of little value to anyone else but him.

The discount should apply to items placed by the DM in his adventure, not to players making items for themselves or the party.

I wouldn't allow a discount for a +5 Plate, usable only by elves with silver hair and purple eyes of Chaotic Neutral Alignment, whose name is PlayerMakingTheItem...

Andargor

 

[kreynolds]

True, but I'm assuming his character is Neutral Evil, and has ranks in Hide.

I'm sure that's the case.

So it's not really a disadvantage for him.

It isn't always meant to be.

It actually looks like an advantage...

Sometimes it does, and in most cases, it is, but there's nothing wrong with that.

...as it would be of little value to anyone else but him.

That's the disadvantage. Most of the time, nobody else in the party can use the item, and if he sells it, he'll get very little from it.

The discount should apply to items placed by the DM in his adventure, not to players making items for themselves or the party.

You should add "...in my games." In other games, a DM can do whatever he wants. Most people freak when they see the discount, usually because they don't see the drawbacks. Sometimes, the drawbacks don't seem strong enough, and I can understand that (sometimes), but it doesn't change the fact that the drawbacks are still there.

I wouldn't allow a discount for a +5 Plate, usable only by elves with silver hair and purple eyes of Chaotic Neutral Alignment, whose name is PlayerMakingTheItem...

Why not? Perfectly reasonable. I wouldn't give more than a 75% discount, but I would certainly give a discount. Why? Because its worthless to everyone else on the planet. To someone else, its worth absolutely nothing, except maybe raw materials. Huge drawback.

 

[danzig138]

Re: Re: Item Creation Cost questions

For items that take up a slot, you double the cost of any secondary powers that are beneficial to have function at the same time that other powers are functioning. For example, the multiple powers of a staff are not doubled. However, if you have +6 Str and +4 Dex on a single item, then the Dex bonus (the second most costly) gets doubled.

Doubled? Is this an errata? Page 243 of the DMG indicates a 10% increase on the price of each additional power, but if this has been changed, I'll need to show my DM. Thanks.

 

[danzig138]

Re: Re: Item Creation Cost questions

Pretty much. However, I wouldn't recommend doing this. Some powers just don't belong on some items. For example, I've always had a problem with magic items worn on the head that add circumstance bonuses to Move Silently. If its a competence bonus, then thats different, and I don't have a problem with it.

Oh, I understand and agree. I don't have any particularly wacky ideas, just looking to rearange some items in a hopefully logical manner.

 

[Spatzimaus]

It's a misprint in the DMG. It's supposed to be 100%, not 10%. See errata.

 

[dcollins]

I'm sure I have some more questions, but I can't think of them right now. As a DM, none of my players bothered with item creation, so none of this ever really came up, but now I finally get to be a player again (Yay!), and this game is very different from this side of the table.

Keep in mind that there's a reason for that... "new item" creation guidelines are only in the DMG, for use by DMs. You need to get specific permission from the current DM before being allowed to do any of this "new item" creation.

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