Magic item that adds to spell list: cost?

[MeiRen]

Hi,

I'm trying to devolop magic items that will add a spell to a Sorceror's list of Spells Known.

This could change in testing, but I plan to put three restrictions on the item:
-Materia only works as long as you carry it.
-The item takes up a body slot, probably Vestment. This usually limits you to one at a time.
-The item would impose a maximum caster level. Ie, if I have a that casts Fireball at 6th level and I'm a 7th level Sorceror, I still only deal 6d6. Because I'd like to publish this, I'm trying to devolop a general guideline, not something that only works on a case by case basis.

I'm not sure about the necessity of both the second two restrictions, but that's easy enough to figure out in testing.

The bigger problem is the price. My thought is Caster Level squared * 500. This works out to be a little more than the price for a Wand that could cast the same spell 50 times. That's just a guess, though, I'd appreciate any thoughts.

BTW, this material will probably be published. If you wouldn't want me to use your advice in a product I put out, you probably shouldn't give it to me

Alright, thanks in advance!

-Mei

 

[diaglo]

not many casters who make this item will ever want to get rid of it... at any price.

 

[Thanee]

1) Wrong Forum

2) Body Slot - Headband would make sense. But why couldn't it be crafted without a slot at twice the cost then? I'd just put a limit into the item description, that only one of those (or whatever limit seems appropriate) can be used at a time... that way, the limit cannot simply be circumvented, and you do not need some weird text, which explains, why this and only this item cannot be crafted in a different fashion.

3) Price is difficult to figure, but one thing for sure, it should be MUCH higher than a pearl of power... Spells, which have little use for caster level would be incredibly powerful with your pricing guideline, because they come rather cheap then and a sorcerer could simply get tons of utility spells that way, item is just put on when needed. Also, the spell level should definitely be figured in, not just the caster level, that won't work, or do you think a CL 5th Burning Hands is worth the same as a CL 5th Fireball?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Pyrex]

I'm with Thanee. The factor should definately be SL*CL instead of CL^2. I'd probably playtest at SL*CL*750 (as it's very similar to a staff)

Diaglo, if the caster could make the item, wouldn't it stand to reason that he could already cast the spell? With the exception of using Limited Wish during creation to mimic the spell you want to be able to cast, I can see there being a *huge* market for sorcerers trading these things.

Question: Is your intent that these are strictly for Sorc's or would they allow Wiz's to spontaneously cast the imprinted spell as well?

 

[MeiRen]

Hmm....so, which forum should this go in?

Thanks for the advice, SL * CL would probably be better. Although, CL * CL would effectivelly limit your options somewhat. You pretty much have to do CL 1 Burning Hands or CL 5 Fireball, because it doesn't make much sense to do CL 5 Burning Hands. I kind of like that idea.

In terms of limiting the item, it seems like one idea would simply be to make the item something large and ungainly, like a Staff. I guess there are a bazillion ways around that, but still. Its something.

-Mei

 

[Crothian]

Hmm....so, which forum should this go in?

Spoiler

Cider

House Rules

 

[dcollins]

New Items like these should go in House Rules. But, some different opinions may be expressed on the matter.

 

[Pinotage]

I may have this wrong but in one of Monte Cook's Eldrich Might books was something called a 'keyed' item. I believe there's a web enhancement on his website. I think this is what you're looking for, and I believe the cost was spell level squared times 2000 gp.

Pinotage

 

[Pyrex]

Thanks for the advice, SL * CL would probably be better. Although, CL * CL would effectivelly limit your options somewhat. You pretty much have to do CL 1 Burning Hands or CL 5 Fireball, because it doesn't make much sense to do CL 5 Burning Hands. I kind of like that idea.

If the item is setting a max on your Caster Level for the granted spell it *absolutely* makes sense to craft Burning Hands at CL5 to get the max damage, or even higher to penetrate SR.

Similarly, an item that lets you cast Fireball with a max CL of 5 and one that lets you cast Fireball with a max CL of 10 are not the same.

Also, an item that lets you cast Burning Hands at CL 5 is obviously not as powerful as one that lets you cast Fireball at CL 5.

As far as form-factor, Staves, Rods & Rings all seem a natural fit to me.

 

[Staffan]

I may have this wrong but in one of Monte Cook's Eldrich Might books was something called a 'keyed' item. I believe there's a web enhancement on his website. I think this is what you're looking for, and I believe the cost was spell level squared times 2000 gp.

Not sure about the BoEM, but Arcana Unearthed has an Amulet of Spell Knowledge, costing level^2*1,000 gp. This adds a specific spell to your repertoire, but you still have to ready the spell normally (AU spellcasters work sort of like sorcerers who can swap out their known spells each day). So level^2*2,000 gp doesn't sound too bad for something which actually expands the spells a sorcerer has available.