Items, Ego and Upgrade Cost

[Particle_Man]

When dealing with items that have abilities that are not specied as being equal to a "plus" value, such as a rapier or puncturing, assassin's dagger, armor of silen moves, armor of fire resistance (or greater fire resistance), etc., I have a few questions:

a) How does one determine the cost of "upgrading" the item, such as changing a +2 rapier of puncturing to a +3 rapier of puncturing? If it were a +2 rapier of wounding I would know what to do, but what about the puncturing part (or the assassination part of an assassin's dagger)? Should I "guestimate" a plus value, or treat it as an absolute added value that does not affect "plusses" when trying to add a further "plus" to the item? (I assume that the latter is what I do with respect to the fire resistance ability of armor, but am not sure about assassin's dagger, rapier of puncturing, etc.).

Also, how does one count "non-plus" abilities when determining the ego of an intelligent item?

 

[Question]

I thought you just subtracted the cost of a +2 component from a rapier of punctuaring, then find out the difference between +2 and +3, then add it to the rapier of punctuaring.

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

Also, how does one count "non-plus" abilities when determining the ego of an intelligent item?

Treat them as Lesser/Greater Powers.

Subtract the Base Cost of the Weapon (Weapon, Masterwork, Enhancement & Ability "Plus", Material, and any other costs laid out in the DMG) and see what is left over.

Lesser Powers are below 7,000 GP, While Greater between 7-50,000. Over 50,000 and it is usually only as a "Special Purpose".

If you only have one ability this is pretty easy. If there are multiple, divide as you see fit.

Any thing you call Lesser Power adds +1 Ego, Greater adds +2.

If it is really expensive, you might want to Turn it into a Special Purpose and the Power only usable as a Special Purpose. SP adds +4 Ego.

 

[Particle_Man]

So "Sudden Stunning" (2000 gp) would count as a lesser, and "Puncturing" (18 000 once you factor out the wounding and original +2) would be greater? Or is the former so small that it wouldn't count at all, or could they combine to be one greater power if on the same rapier?

 

[pawsplay]

I would be leery of treating the difference as a flat cost... some unique abilities could interact in unexpected ways. I would extract any abilities that can be closely copied with existing item abilities, and treat them as "additional abilities" at 1.5 cost, and try to identify approximately what + value other abilities would be worth.