Magic item (expensive or impossible)

[Archer]

The standard cost for permanent items is 50x that of one use items. An everburning candle would cost 400,000 and would be made of wax which exposes it to a lot of hazards. It would have to be carried around while lit in one hand while you cast with the other. Roll a 1 on your save and the candle has a 25% chance of being destroyed. The candle will last for about 80 area effect spells. You are probably better off making 50 candles and lighting them when you need them.

 

[Darklone]

Just a little comment

In "Root of all evil" there's an artefact that gives you two levels in your highest class.

Ok, it's an artefact, but how would you do something like that by the rules ?

Another thing: I would never allow players to build something like this.

 

[Jairami]

Monte's got an item called an Amulet of Power, or was it Talisman of Power? Either way, I first came across it in PC Gen, so I don't remember what book of his it's in. Can't find it now in any case, but I still have the character sheet I printed up with my NPC who owned it.

It's cost was something like 35,000 or some such. It granted +2 to caster level for arcane spells affecting range, duration, number of targets, etc. Everything except damage. It prohibits that explicitly. Does not effect dispel checks or SR penetration checks either (or at least that's the way I'm going to rule it in my game since it doesn't mention it does).

Blast. It's gotta be in one of these books... <keeps looking>

 

[Happiest_Sadist]

Well, the cost of extra levels sounds more quadratic to me than linear. Therefore +2 should cost 1/4 as much, not 1/2 as much.
Also 24 hours a day seems a little much to assume for a wizard/sorc. 8 hours even seems a bit much (however extra levels are more useful for a wizard than a cleric.) So lets assume 8 hours.

Cost=(5000gp)(6 ten min per hour)(8 hours)(1/4)

Cost=60,000
That sounds about right to me, but I'd have to look at what else costs that much.

 

[Marshall]

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]

Nope, only need it in the area while you prepare spells, which admittedly reduces the duration to 3 hours. After that it only has to be burning, put it in a covered lantern and forget about it.

Plus the 7800gp includes a +2 to attack and damage for allies and a 1 shot Gate spell.

Just how much of that is actually the increase to caster level? The candle adds +2 full Cleric spellcasting levels. That in and of itself is significantly more powerful than a mere +2cl.