Magical Item..needs tweaking?

[theoremtank]

Please evaluate the following magic item and give me your opinions. What might you price this at in terms of market value? What minimum level character would this item be appropriate for?

Thanks in advance

Cormanthor’s Pride

Item:
An enchanted bowstring

Item History:
These bowstrings were used by elite elven hunter-protectors formerly inhabiting the perilous woods of Cormanthor.


Benefits:
Upon each drawing of the bow that is affixed with the bowstring, the archer may choose to activate (free-action) one of two inherent special abilities that function only while the bow is properly drawn and the user is sighting across the bow’s shelf.

The 1st ability, keen sight, completely negates all non-magical concealment bonuses that may presently apply to the archer’s target. However, the ability is dependent upon the archer being aware of the target and that he is able to see the slightest presence of the target. Therefore, if a target has total concealment (i.e. pitch-darkness) the ability will not function.

The 2nd ability, deathwatch, functions as per the deathwatch spell with a 30 ft. range. With this ability the archer may assess the life remaining in his prey.

Prerequisites: Elven Blood

 

[magnas_veritas]

Please evaluate the following magic item and give me your opinions. What might you price this at in terms of market value? What minimum level character would this item be appropriate for?

Thanks in advance

The first ability is exactly the same as Seeking (MoF, p. 141), which is a +1 enhancement bonus-equivalent and requires a caster level of 12.

The second ability...I'm not sure how useful that is, at only 30 feet. I'd say maybe 4,000 (CL1*Sp1*2000*2) as a use-activated secondary property, requiring Craft Wondrous Item and Craft Arms & Armor, put on the bow itself.

I'm leery about enchanting a weapon part separately from the weapon itself. It screams potential abuse. If it were in my game, I'd take it and put it on my maxed-out bow to get an extra equivalent very useful +1 bonus for less than it'd normally cost.

The descriptions seem more like they'd be a sight mounted on the weapon than a bowstring, anyway, and I'd make it integral to the weapon...i.e. unremovable.

Brad

 

[Hypersmurf]

Re: Re: Magical Item..needs tweaking?

I'm leery about enchanting a weapon part separately from the weapon itself. It screams potential abuse. If it were in my game, I'd take it and put it on my maxed-out bow to get an extra equivalent very useful +1 bonus for less than it'd normally cost.

Of course, removing the bowstring from your heavily-enchanted bow might destroy the enchantment...

-Hyp.

 

[Hawkeye]

Don't you know that you are never supposed to draw a bow without an arrow nocked? Its bad for the bow.

Hawkeye

 

[theoremtank]

Don't you know that you are never supposed to draw a bow without an arrow nocked? Its bad for the bow.

Hawkeye

Actually its not bad to draw a bow without an arrow knocked, its just bad to fire it without the arrow (dry fire).

Thanks everyone for the input.

 

[Tar-Edhel]

Re: Re: Magical Item..needs tweaking?

I'm leery about enchanting a weapon part separately from the weapon itself. It screams potential abuse. If it were in my game, I'd take it and put it on my maxed-out bow to get an extra equivalent very useful +1 bonus for less than it'd normally cost.

Why not simply state that it won't fit on maxed-out bow?

Simply require that you must have at least a free +1 slot on your bow to be able to string it.

Originally posted by hypersmurf
Of course, removing the bowstring from your heavily-enchanted bow might destroy the enchantment...

Isn't it better to take the string off the bow when you're not using it?

thoeremtank: Very cool idea. What are the prerequisites beside elven blood? Craft magic arms and armor or craft wondrous items? Both?

I think I would consider it a +2 equivalent enchantment (thus requiring that the bow you string it on must have at least +2 as free slots on the bow) and price it accordingly at 8000 gp. I'd say caster level 12 and I'd tweak the deathwatch range to 60'.

I'm no magic item builder expert though.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Re: Re: Re: Magical Item..needs tweaking?

Why not simply state that it won't fit on maxed-out bow?

Simply require that you must have at least a free +1 slot on your bow to be able to string it.

You're still saving a stack of money.

Let's say it's a +2 equivalent, costing 8000.

If you attach it to your +4 bow, which costs 32,000, then your grand total is 40,000gp.

But... a +6 bow would cost 72,000gp.

See why people are complaining that you're getting "something for nothing"?

-Hyp.

 

[Tar-Edhel]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Magical Item..needs tweaking?

See why people are complaining that you're getting "something for nothing"?

-Hyp.

Yup, sure do.

Then let's define it as a special ability for ranged weapon and that the string will fit only on the bow for which it was created.

Would +2 be too much though?

 

[officeronin]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Magical Item..needs tweaking?

You're still saving a stack of money.

Let's say it's a +2 equivalent, costing 8000.

If you attach it to your +4 bow, which costs 32,000, then your grand total is 40,000gp.

But... a +6 bow would cost 72,000gp.

See why people are complaining that you're getting "something for nothing"?

-Hyp.

I'd compare it pricewise to the scabbard of keen edges (which also gives a +1 enhancement). maybe tack on the extra 12K for the other enhancement.

OfficeRonin