Luck Bonus and Magic Items

[Paladin]

I've been looking for a new magic item idea. I decided to use the (IMO) under-utilized Luck bonus to make a Belt of Tymora's Fortune. According to the DMG, Luck bonuses affect: Attacks, weapon damage, AC, saves, and checks. So, I started looking through existing items with the Luck bonus. The two that stuck out were the Stone of Good Luck (luckstone), and the Staff of Power. Now, I envisioned the Belt of Tymora's Fortune to grant a +5 Luck bonus to.....then I got real confused.
Exactly how do you figure out what the Luck bonus applies to? With the Stone of Good Luck you get a +1 Luck bonus to saving throws, ability checks, and skill checks. Okay, where did the bonus to attacks and damage go? If you look at the pricing guidelines, an item with the Luck bonus is calculated as: Luck bonus; Bonus squared x 2,500 gp. Okay then, the luckstone should then be: (1 x 1) 1 x 2,500 = 2,500 x 2 (no space limitation)= 5,000 gp. Then the DMG lists the price as 10,000 gp. Okay.......so confused again, where did they come up with 10,000 gp?
Anyway......"The wielder of a staff of power gains a +2 luck bonus to AC and saving throws." All right, due to the other powers involved here, no real pricing information is gained, but you see that the Luck bonus still isn't applied to all of the aspects it's supposed to be.
So, how do you figure out the pricing on this item: Belt of Tymora's Fortune - this belt grants the wearer a +5 Luck bonus to attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, AC, saving throws, and skill and ability checks? (Prerequisites: Caster Level- 15th, divine favor, Craft Wondrous Item.) According to the formula: (5 x 5) 25 x 2,500 = 62,500 gp. This doesn't take into account any mystery element of what rolls a bonus is supposed to be applied to. Is this right? If so, it still seems under-priced since it would affect virtually every aspect of rolling possible, and would be in constant use. Any clarification on this would be appreciated. My brain hurts.

 

[hong]

An item with a luck bonus doesn't AUTOMATICALLY affect all of attacks, damage, saves, AC, skill checks and ability checks. Those are the categories of statistics that have the POTENTIAL to be affected by items granting a luck bonus.

Think of an item that grants an enhancement bonus to abilities: you can get items that separately affect Str, Dex, Con and so on. You don't get items that affect _all_ of them; or if you do, you pay the combined price for affecting each one individually. The same applies with luck bonuses.

The luckstone grants a luck bonus to ability/skill checks, which is distinct from granting a luck bonus to saves. Hence you pay for the combined price of both abilities.

A belt of Tymora's fortune would have four distinct abilities:
- luck bonus to weapon attacks and damage
- luck bonus to AC
- luck bonus to saves
- luck bonus to skill/ability checks
Add it all up, and price accordingly. (It will be expensive.)

 

[Paladin]

The luckstone grants a luck bonus to ability/skill checks, which is distinct from granting a luck bonus to saves. Hence you pay for the combined price of both abilities.

A belt of Tymora's fortune would have four distinct abilities:
- luck bonus to weapon attacks and damage
- luck bonus to AC
- luck bonus to saves
- luck bonus to skill/ability checks
Add it all up, and price accordingly. (It will be expensive.)

Okay, that sounds right. So, the cost would be, using my previous example and your's: 62,500 x 4 = 250,000 gp. If that's correct, that's expensive, but definitely within reason for a high-level PC or NPC to have.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Okay, that sounds right. So, the cost would be, using my previous example and your's: 62,500 x 4 = 250,000 gp. If that's correct, that's expensive, but definitely within reason for a high-level PC or NPC to have.

You are almost there.

The first +5 costs you 62500 on a slotted item. The second, third, and fourth bonuses each cost 125000.

437500 gp.

It seems to me that bonuses to hit and bonuses for damage should be counted separately, although that is a matter for DM judgement.

562500 gp.

 

[Paladin]

You are almost there.

The first +5 costs you 62500 on a slotted item. The second, third, and fourth bonuses each cost 125000.

437500 gp.

It seems to me that bonuses to hit and bonuses for damage should be counted separately, although that is a matter for DM judgement.

562500 gp.

Hmmmm. In order to make this item be attainable then, it'll have to be a non-slotted item. Say, a Stone of Tymora's Fortune- grants the wearer +5 to weapon attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, AC, saves, ability and skill checks. Market Price: 312,000 gp (62,500 x 5). Would that work? Or would the "Multiple Similar Abilities" rule affect it?

 

[Crothian]

Personally, unless you need this type of item right now I'd hold of until ELH This is a very powerful item and might even easily be considered artifact level.

 

[hong]

If it's a non-slotted item, you multiply the entire cost by 2, not just the costs of the extra abilities. This would be (62500 x2) x4, or 500,000 gp. Or 625,000 gp if you count attack and damage bonuses as separate.

 

[Paladin]

If it's a non-slotted item, you multiply the entire cost by 2, not just the costs of the extra abilities. This would be (62500 x2) x4, or 500,000 gp. Or 625,000 gp if you count attack and damage bonuses as separate.

Would the "Multiple Similar Abilities" rule work here? That would reduce the second power to 75% of 62,500 and all the rest to 50%.

 

[hong]

Would the "Multiple Similar Abilities" rule work here? That would reduce the second power to 75% of 62,500 and all the rest to 50%.

No.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Would the "Multiple Similar Abilities" rule work here? That would reduce the second power to 75% of 62,500 and all the rest to 50%.

No, that's for staffs or staff-like items.