Now, kreynolds, you're being just a tad argumentative. The implied maximums come from Monte, SKR and others. Before the Epic book, there was nothing that said you could not pop out a Belt of Strength +10, or a Ring of Hide +25, but there was an understanding, supported by designer comments and input, that such things were beyond the normal ability of the item creation feats. The +10 bonus is (mostly) supported in MoF, as well, the main repository for non-OGC items from WotC.
kreynolds said:
Yup. I can't remember whose boards I was it on, either SKR's or MK's, but they said the same thing.
Both have said this. But I look at it as a defense of poorly statted or leveled spells, and not a reflection of the item generation system. All are free to disagree, and I'm sure many will. But the gross disparity between spells of he same level is probably only the major flaw that I will repeatedly complain against.
The fact that they came up with a magic item system that hits and balances so many items (85%+) by cost is amazing, almost unbeliveable. I was amazed when I got the DMG, and began playing with it immediately. But the success of the magic item pricing system also points out the flaws in the base material, not the other way around. There is too much data supporting the other items/spells to think that the 'tweaked-price' items come from balanced spells.
If the system and the base material (spells primarily) were both balanced, every item generated would be correctly balanced by price. The fact that it does not shows that one is out of whack. And if the vast majority of the items do come out balanced the odds that it is the "offending" spells that are unbalanced is overwhelming. Think what you like; it is a fantasy game, and reality and logic need not apply.
Random musing: Skill bonus cubed x50gp would make a lot of people happy and allow any bonus up to the sky balanced for epic or non-epic play.
-Fletch!