Magical Weapon Ability Question

[The Amazing Dingo]

Question here:

If I wanted to drop a continuous Shield ability on a weapon, what would the cost be if I wanted to consider that ability as one of an intelligent weapon's Greater Powers?

What effect, if any, would this have if applied to a 7th level Kensai's weapon?

Thanks!

 

[Pyrex]

The simplest way to cost it is as a +4 Shield bonus to AC.

I'd put a Shield bonus at bonus^2 * 1500gp (better than an Armor bonus, not as good as a Deflection bonus).

Cost: 4*4*1500*1.5(Additional item ability) = 36,000gp.

If you want to layer in the Immune to Magic Missile aspect, I'd rate that as being about as good as two Brooches of Shielding.

Cost: 1500gp*2*1.5(again, an additional property) = 4,500gp

Total Cost: +40,500gp to weapon cost.

 

[The Amazing Dingo]

Its odd, however, how a continuous Deathwatch or Detect Magic only costs 7,200gp (I believe thats right offhand).

Why is the Shield so much more then? Deatwatch is 1st level and Detect Magic is 0.

 

[Len]

Its odd, however, how a continuous Deathwatch or Detect Magic only costs 7,200gp (I believe thats right offhand).

Why is the Shield so much more then? Deatwatch is 1st level and Detect Magic is 0.

Because a continuous Shield is so much more useful than a continuous Detect Magic. Not having to spend your first combat round casting Shield is a big help. Or if you consider it as a permanent +4 AC that stacks with everything else you've got, it's also really good. Detect Magic at will is a convenience, but usually you can just cast it when you need it.

Deathwatch is another matter. Depending on how you interpret the spell, continuous Deathwatch could be quite good.

 

[The Amazing Dingo]

Because a continuous Shield is so much more useful than a continuous Detect Magic. Not having to spend your first combat round casting Shield is a big help. Or if you consider it as a permanent +4 AC that stacks with everything else you've got, it's also really good. Detect Magic at will is a convenience, but usually you can just cast it when you need it.

I agree that its a *huge* benefit. No questioning there. But, in terms of rules, why should the price be so vastly different?

 

[dcollins]

I agree that its a *huge* benefit. No questioning there. But, in terms of rules, why should the price be so vastly different?

You just answered your own question. More powerful abilities need to cost more. Keep in mind that there aren't any "rules" for making up new items (i.e., House Ruled additions to the game) per se, just a set of guidelines for which the DMG says: "The formulas only provide a starting point... items require at least some DM judgement calls".

 

[The Amazing Dingo]

You just answered your own question. More powerful abilities need to cost more. Keep in mind that there aren't any "rules" for making up new items (i.e., House Ruled additions to the game) per se, just a set of guidelines for which the DMG says: "The formulas only provide a starting point... items require at least some DM judgement calls".

Damn I'm good! I just wish I could realize that.

Thank you, I appreciate the help.

 

[dcollins]

Glad you could help.

 

[Amal Shukup]

The simplest way to cost it is as a +4 Shield bonus to AC.

I'd put a Shield bonus at bonus^2 * 1500gp (better than an Armor bonus, not as good as a Deflection bonus).

Cost: 4*4*1500*1.5(Additional item ability) = 36,000gp.

That's not unreasonable.

I think I'd break it down as follows:

Either - I'd bring it in line with other Intelligent Item Greater Powers (castable 3 times per day) and add a big chunk to the price of the sword in the same way that other Greater Powers do (somewhere between 25,000 and 54,000 GP - assuming it only had the one Greater Power)

Optionally - Tack it on to the sword as if adding a new ability to an existing Wondrous Item
Spell Level x Caster Level x 2000 = 6000 GP
Multiplied by 2 (because original Spell has duration in Minutes) = 12,000 GP
Multiplied by 1.5 (because of unconventional Body Slot) = 24,000 GP
Plus 50% (Multiple Different Abilities) = 36,000 GP

Three different methodologies - all yielding a similar price.

A'Mal

 

[Staffan]

I'd cost a shield bonus as the equivalent of an armor bonus, with a base price of 1,000 gp. The cost of an armor bonus is clearly based on the cost of magic armor, and magic shields don't cost any more than magic armor.