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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Spatzimaus" data-source="post: 1142208" data-attributes="member: 3051">So, the question is, why is it so cheap to get the Contagion effect?  Possible reasons:1> The DC is so low (this is typical of most items, though). An item costing 52k won't be used by anyone below 13th or 14th level, so even someone with a bad Fort save won't have many problems with a DC 14 save.  Remember to add in items like Cloaks of Resistance... even with a bad Fort save, I've never seen anyone with less than a +10 by 15th level.  That means 15% chance of failure.2> Unlike the spell, you can't make a touch attack to deliver the Contagion.  You have to make an "unarmed" melee attack, which not only means you have to worry about Armor and Natural Armor AC, it forces you to make do with the dinky +1 enchantment on the 1d10 claws, at a level when you're usually using a +5 weapon.(This assumes you treat the claws as weapons; if they're a replacement for an unarmed attack you'd take an AoO every time too)3> The armor can only be fully used by evil wearers, which means it's NPC gear in most campaigns.  Price becomes irrelevant in those situations.  While saying "good only" isn't really a downside in most campaigns and so shouldn't reduce price, saying "most people you'll run into can't use it" might be a little different.  I wouldn't discount for this, personally...</blockquote>