Item Creation Weirdness

[andargor]

I've been looking over the item creation rules, and there's something just not right.

The Boots of Levitation are listed as Caster Level 3 and 7,500 gp. According to the item creation table, the base price for these should be 3 x 2 x 1,800 (assuming command word) = 10,800. Its unlimited uses, so there should be no "charges per day" reduction.

But wait, here's and even better deal: Wings of Flying, Caster 5 and 5,500 gp! By all reckoning, they should be worth 5 x 3 x 1,800 = 27,000 gp. Unlimited uses too.

So, am I missing something, or is it just not worth the effort creating these items? Why would, say, a Cloak of Nondetection cost me 27,000 gp, since Nondetection is a 3rd level spell?

Andargor

 

[Mr Fidgit]

first off, welcome to the boards andargor!

secondly, no you haven't missed anything. WotC errata'd a bunch of magic items because of incorrect value calculations, wings of flying was definately among them

 

[andargor]

Hey, thanks!

Yeah, I figured as much... I posted in haste, I know the base cost would be halved if I created the item and stuff.

But still... I gotta hit those errata sheets...

Thanks again,

Andargor

 

[Mr Fidgit]

if you're interested the DMG errata is here:

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/er/er20010824a



and the entire 'official errata' page is here:

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article1.asp?x=dnd/er/errata,3

 

[andargor]

 

[andargor]

Here's another one... What if I wished to create a wondrous item, skullcap or whatever, with Mage Armor on it? I'd get +4 AC for 900 gp (1,800 market price), and 72 XP...

Much better bargain than trying to create "Armor bonus" items...

Andargor

 

[dcollins]

You simply don't get to do that automatically as a player. The "new item" construction rules are for DMs. If you come up with an item that apparently undercuts existing items like that, the DM should properly (a) not allow it, or (b) make the price match existing items.

Sidebar on DMG p. 243: "The easiest way to come up with a price is to match the new item to an item priced in this chapter... The formulas only provide a starting point."

 

[Destil]

The charts are guidelines for DMs. Players should not use them and suggest prices for custom item, players simply submit the item and the DM prices it.

http://www.montecook.com/arch_dmonly3.html
http://www.montecook.com/arch_dmonly4.html

Monte Cook's (the DMG author) item creation FAQs.

 

[Destil]

Here's another one... What if I wished to create a wondrous item, skullcap or whatever, with Mage Armor on it? I'd get +4 AC for 900 gp (1,800 market price), and 72 XP...

Much better bargain than trying to create "Armor bonus" items...

Andargor

Such an item would be command word activated, and work once per day (see the command word example, the cape of the mountebank).

At that price the item would be created at 1st caster level, and have duration (1 hour), saves (+2 bonus) and other features based on 1st caster level (such as for dispelling checks).

Not really a great vaue, compaired to barcers +4.