Magic item (expensive or impossible)

[Noldor Elf]

What price would you suggest for following magic item:
Wearers caster level is 2 higher for purposes determining damage, duration, range etc.?

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Since the subject line says "expensive or impossible" I'm going to give you my opinion.

I'd rule this magic item impossible. A wizard doesn't have much besides his caster level. Giving him that in the form of a magic item would be almost as good as giving him 2 free levels. Like BAB for fighter-types, I don't think there should be magic to improve a spellcaster's caster level, short of good old-fashioned leveling up.

 

[Rybaer]

I agree. I think I'd place something with an effect like this in the minor artifact range - something that ordinary folk simply couldn't make and something that is so powerful and well researched that some scholars may devote a career to researching and tracking its whereabouts.

You might be able to get away with something that increases effective caster level by 1 for a specific school only, like the powers granted by several of the clerical domains. That would be much less overwhelming of an advantage, yet still potent and handy.

Just my opinion, though...

 

[Noldor Elf]

I think that giving a wizard bonus when determining effects of his spell is as close to giving him extra level as for fighter is to get up to +5 to hit and to damage.

Of course if you combine item that gives bonus to caster level with ring of wizardy, extra level is quite much achieved, but without that...

So, how about just giving +1 to caster level with specific school/domain of spells? How expensive or still impossible?

 

[kamosa]

What price would you suggest for following magic item:
Wearers caster level is 2 higher for purposes determining damage, duration, range etc.?

I would attack this item a little different then you've laid out here. Instead of adding 2 levels to caster level, try to create an item that adds metamagic feats to a spell cast through it. Adding damage is maximizine or empower, adding duration is extend spell, and range is enlarge spell. Then go to Tome and Blood and look at how the priced their metamagic staffs. This should give you a good idea how much an item like this would cost. You might also just make it with the Heighten spell metamagic feat.

Anyway, hope that helps.

 

[Marshall]

One of the Prayer Beads or Candles of Invocation has/had this effect. Both of those are short duration, but the candle is extremely powerful for 4 hours and costs less than 8k gp.

Maybe something like:

Caster level^2 x 2000(or 2500)gp

Max out at +5 or maybe even +10.

Its nice, but not all that powerful. I'd allow it.

I did the +1 CL to a specific school as a feat.

 

[Caliban]

You can get a once a day +4 caster level increase under the core rules for the cost of a mere 5,000 gp and a friendly cleric with the Imbue With Spell Ability spell.

The Necklace of Prayer Beads with the Bead of Karma costs 5,000 gp (we will ignore the fact that it takes a 17th level cleric to create it), and once per day grants a +4 caster level increase for 10 minutes. You have to cast a divine spell while wearing it to activate, which is where the Imbue With Spell Ability comes in.

As for creating a permanent item that grants a +2 caster level increase, that would last 144 times as long as the karma bead, but only give 1/2 the level increase. I estimate around 360,000 gp cost.

 

[Marshall]

As for creating a permanent item that grants a +2 caster level increase, that would last 144 times as long as the karma bead, but only give 1/2 the level increase. I estimate around 360,000 gp cost.

But then compare that to the Candle. It adds the caster levels + adds the spellcasting ability + lasts for 4 hours. All that at a cost of <8000gp.

For six times the duration that would be 48k
But I only want +2 levels = @24k

But I dont want the bonus spells or added spellcasting capability, thats at least 2/3 of the candles power = @8k

Going from one shot to permanent is at most 20 times the value, most likely significantly less. IOW between 12k and 160k gp.

Its definetly not worth over 100k and IMO I wouldnt put it at more than the extreme low end.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Ah, but Marshall, the Candle only boosts caster level while it's burning, and only in the radius of the candle's light (I believe). Your item wouldn't have those drawbacks. I think Caliban's comparison to the prayer bead is the correct one.

[Edit] spelling... [/edit]

 

[Gromm]

Definate artifact if its not a one use item.
Even then it should be expensive and not last too long, ala the prayer beads.
Way too easy to abuse and since its almost like gaining 2 levels at once what wizard wouldn't try to make one?