n00b's pricing question

[Riveneye]

Sorry if this seems incredibly n00bish of me, but I have a question about the price of wands, staves, scrolls etc.

Let's say I find, from a battle, a wand of levitate (let's assume it has all 50 charges). Now, depending on what class made this wand, it would have different market prices. If a wizard made it, it would cost 4500 (2*3*750), but if a sorcerer made it, it would cost 6000 (2*4*750). The difference in price comes from when each class has access to level 2 spells. The wizard has access at lvl 3, while the sorcerer has to wait until lvl 4. How do I really know how much it is worth?

 

[Crothian]

By what the caster level of the wand is.

 

[dcollins]

The DMG prices seem to suggest that "Market Price" is generally set at whatever the least expensive construction method is, regardless of "Cost to Create". For example, DMG p. 206 shows a wand of levitate to simply be priced at 4,500 gp. It seems to make sense and be simpler, so if there's no other factor involved, assume the lowest caster level.

 

[kreynolds]

What dcollins said.

 

[Tobold Hornblower]

Is there any way to know how many charges are left in the wand?

If not, why would anyone pay for a used wand?

 

[kreynolds]

If not, why would anyone pay for a used wand?

Because its cheaper. If you buy a wand with only 25 charges, it stands to reason that you would only pay for the 25 charges (half the normal cost). If you find a wand with only 25 charges, it stands to reason that it only counts against your character wealth as 25 charges (half the normal value). A wand of fireball (minimum level) is 11,250gp. That comes to 225gp per charge. If you only have half the maximum amount of charges, then it shouldn't be worth 11,250gp. Instead, its value should now be 5,625. Since wands can't be recharged, it doesn't really make sense that the wand would still be 11,250gp even if there is only one charge remaining.

 

[Tobold Hornblower]

Hi Kreynolds,

That makes sense for determining character wealth, but not for characters selling wands at the magic shop. So, since there's no way, that I know of, to determine the number of charges remaining, my magic shop owners won't buy wands except as new from a trusted source, but I wonder if I missed something.

 

[Destil]

A simple identify provides you with the number of charges.

 

[Tobold Hornblower]

Thanks, Destil!

and the SRD agrees with you.

"The spell determines the single most basic function of each magic item, including how to activate that function (if appropriate), and how many charges are left (if any). "

Don't remember that in my PHB, though. I'll have to look again tonight.

 

[kreynolds]

...but I wonder if I missed something.

You did. But that's ok. It happens to everyone.