Magic item pricing (Facile Bow)

[Damon Griffin]

"Those attack and damage modifiers only consider the bow, which is currently a +1 shortbow/mighty[+2] and would be +1/mighty[+4] when the STR boost is activated"

I'll note that shortbows don't go any higher than Mighty+2 - by the rules, you need a longbow to get to Mighty+4.

Ah, good point. This entire discussion should be applied to an as yet uncrafted longbow, not the character's current weapon.

[gripe]
Under a rules set I'd consider more logical, he could just craft a Masterwork longbow, Mighty +4, and have that STR-boosting enhancement put on it, foregoing the added expense of making it a +1 bow.

But we've already established that, by the book, he will be forced to pay for a +1 [enhancement] attack bonus that won't stack with the +1 [enhancement] bonus from the MW quality of the weapon; a +1 damage bonus that really won't add much to the +4 damage he'll be getting from the STR boost; and the ability to hit various things he's statistically unlikely to ever meet.
[/gripe]

A friend of mine created Gaza's Dweomer Transfer years ago (pre 2nd edition) and it may be time to recreate that spell for 3e...actually, someone is bound to have done it already. Anyone know where I'd find a spell that will transfer the magical qualities or properties from one weapon/magic item to another?

Hmmm...now that I come to ask, I know I've seen this spell written up somewhere. FRCS, perhaps? IIRC you were limited to transferring dweomers to similar items. Magical weapon qualities could be transferred from daggers to swords, but not from swords to maces, because in the case of weapons, "similar" referred to the type of damage done -- slashing, piercing or bludgeoning.

 

[drnuncheon]

[gripe]
Under a rules set I'd consider more logical, he could just craft a Masterwork longbow, Mighty +4, and have that STR-boosting enhancement put on it, foregoing the added expense of making it a +1 bow.

Well, if you make it a weapon special ability, anyway. If you made it a slotless magic item that just happened to be in the shape of a bow, then you're covered. Some DMs might look upon that as having more than a whiff of cheesy odor about it, though.

But we've already established that, by the book, he will be forced to pay for a +1 [enhancement] attack bonus that won't stack with the +1 [enhancement] bonus from the MW quality of the weapon; a +1 damage bonus that really won't add much to the +4 damage he'll be getting from the STR boost; and the ability to hit various things he's statistically unlikely to ever meet.
[/gripe]

And, actually, he's not even getting that. The bow's enhancement bonus won't help him against critters with DR (except inasmuch as it will provide an extra point of damage towards getting through) - only the arrow's bonus is counted towards penetration.

J

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Yea, just put that Str enhancement on it (+4 32000), which will not interfere with the rest of the enhancements (in fact, it's like a slotless item)

 

[CrimsonTemplar]

A couple of things:

1) According to the DMG, you have to have at least a +1 enhancement on any weapon or armor that you wish to enchant. So the bow will have to have a minimum of +1 to hit and damage on top of the Str bonus the bow imparts.

2) I have a problem with a character being able to use a Mighty bow they lack the strength to get the full bonus out of. Maybe it's a side effect of reading The Odyssey, but I think they shouldn't be able to draw it unless they have the strength bonus for it. I know it's erratta'd somewhere that they can, doesn't mean I have to abide it in my home game tho. The bow described takes care of that issue nicely.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

1) According to the DMG, you have to have at least a +1 enhancement on any weapon or armor that you wish to enchant. So the bow will have to have a minimum of +1 to hit and damage on top of the Str bonus the bow imparts.

The enhancement as described above would not interfere with the weapon's enhancement bonus. Thus the high price. He could as well make a ioun stone (or a talismun which has to be carried but not worn) to get that bonus, requiring no item slot. That it's on the bow is just for flavor, and doesn't change the price to enhance the weapon in the conventional ways.

 

[MaxKaladin]

A friend of mine created Gaza's Dweomer Transfer years ago (pre 2nd edition) and it may be time to recreate that spell for 3e...actually, someone is bound to have done it already. Anyone know where I'd find a spell that will transfer the magical qualities or properties from one weapon/magic item to another?

Hmmm...now that I come to ask, I know I've seen this spell written up somewhere. FRCS, perhaps? IIRC you were limited to transferring dweomers to similar items. Magical weapon qualities could be transferred from daggers to swords, but not from swords to maces, because in the case of weapons, "similar" referred to the type of damage done -- slashing, piercing or bludgeoning.

This spell existed as you describe as a published spell under 2nd edition. It was, I believe, in the Tome of Magic, but I don't have it handy to check.

Edit: I am not sure about the name. I know "Dweomer Transfer" was part of it, but I don't remember the "Gaza's" part.

 

[the Jester]

This spell existed as you describe as a published spell under 2nd edition. It was, I believe, in the Tome of Magic, but I don't have it handy to check.

Edit: I am not sure about the name. I know "Dweomer Transfer" was part of it, but I don't remember the "Gaza's" part.

Steal Enchantment, a 7th level wizard spell in ToM, is what you're referring to. I haven't seen it converted, but it might make a cool pseudo-item-creation feat.