Magic Item $ and ...

[Dreaddisease]

Does someone have input on this magic item? I have estimated the cost at 9500 gp.

Mask of the Enemy
This ordinary looking mask takes up the goggles slot and when worn gives the user a +5 enchantment bonus to Wilderness Lore checks while tracking. If the user is a Ranger the mask also grants a favored enemy that is specifically tied to the mask (i.e. Mask of the Enemy (Dragons) grants Dragons as a favored enemy). The bonuses for the enemy are always a +1 and is stackable.
Caster Level 8th; Prerequisites: Creator must be a Ranger

How i did it was I figured that the bonus squared X 20 for the skill increase and then 4500 doubled for the extra ability. That is when I compared it to other prices of items.

Also, why isn't there a spell for rangers to help them track an enemy? Speak with plants is okay but I am thinking of a special enhancement. Maybe a 4th level spell. I do not have MotW in front of me so I don't know whats in there. I would like to make a spell a prereq to this item but there doesn't seem to be any that apply.

 

[kreynolds]

Since the Wilderness Lore bonus only applies when tracking, meaning it is a limited skill bonus, I'd drop the formula to bonus squared x 15, maybe even bonus squared x 10. If neither of those are appealing, I'd definately recommend a discount of some kind.

Cool magic item, by the way.

 

[Dreaddisease]

That would bring the price to 9250 to 9500. Not significant. The price I'm wondering about is the favored enemy. It is limited for one and it can only be used by a specific class. I tried to use the Monks belt as an example but that seemed to expensive, so I halved that price but then doubled it because it was an additional effect on the item.

 

[kreynolds]

That would bring the price to 9250 to 9500. Not significant.

True, it's not very significant, but it's fair. Wilderness Lore is used for more than just tracking, and if you don't get the full bonus, it's only fair that you should get a discount. Anyway, that's just me.

The price I'm wondering about is the favored enemy. It is limited for one and it can only be used by a specific class. I tried to use the Monks belt as an example but that seemed to expensive, so I halved that price but then doubled it because it was an additional effect on the item.

The price seems good to me. Basically, I just compared it to another magic item of similar power. In this case, I compared it to a Pearl of Power. Seemed like a fair comparison.

 

[Archer]

I think 9500 is awfully high for this item. I think 2500 is in the area of reasonable. 500 for the tracking bonus and how much is +1 vs a small subset of creatures worth? 2000 is what it costs for a +1 weapon and that's good against everything but this item is stackable but then again its so darn weak.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

I don't like how you figured the cost. You need to double the cheaper function cost.

Favored enemy +1, stacks w/ Favored enemy, 4500
+5
+5 enhancement Tracking bonus (applied to Wilderness Lore), 5x5x20 x 1/2 x 2 = 500 [ I applied /1/2 for tracking limitation, x2 for unusual bonus type]

Doubling the cheaper cost and adding it in gives 4500 + (2 x 500) = 5500 gp.

BTW, I think 4500 is a little steep for the favored enemy bonus. I don't think is as good as, say, a +1 Luck bonus at 2500. The fact it stacks with favored enemy makes it worth about 2500.

So I would price this item as 3500 gp.

 

[Dreaddisease]

You double the cost of the most expensive ability. Your arguement should be placed against the cost of the ability. 4500 gp too much? well then argue that. From eveyrthing that I understand and have read the most expensive ability added is doubled.

So are you thinking that the extra Favored Enemy is 2000? or 2500? somewhere in that range?

 

[DarkJester]

You double everything except for the most expensive ability.
Tome and Blood page 78 the ** blurb.

 

[DarkJester]

Also, Magic of Faerun has an example of Favored Enemy bonuses.

The Enemy Spirit Pouch (Page 157)
2100 gp for a +1 (well, +5 to effective ranger level for determing it but same effect) to his favored enemy bonus to one type of creature.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I think 9500 is awfully high for this item. I think 2500 is in the area of reasonable. 500 for the tracking bonus and how much is +1 vs a small subset of creatures worth? 2000 is what it costs for a +1 weapon and that's good against everything but this item is stackable but then again its so darn weak.

The +1 Bonus is not only on damage but on several skills as well. Also, it stacks with about everything. And it's not just a +1 weapon, it improves your class abilities.