On Epic Spellcasting

[-Eä-]

This is only a short thingy I thought of. I'm not sure if it's a proper way to go, but here I go:

Unfortunatelly, I havent got hold on the "real thing" as my promised copy of the ELH has not arrived yet (although I will have it by Monday...)

I see that many people are complaining about too high spellcraft DCs for epic spellcasting... I thought that if you design an item that gives power (ie bonus to your spellcraft check) using your level as a multiplier, you would get a bonus that will not be obsoloete at higher levels and makes more sense.


Ring of the Arcane (or some other fancy name)

This ring gives an enhancement bonus to your spellcraft check equal to twice your caster level.

A 20th level caster would have a +40 bonus, while a 50th level caster would have a +100 bonus.

The problem is how to price such an item. Perhaps using 100 as base, and multiply that by 10 will do? (Personally I find that a bit expensive, but at level 200, you will be glad to have that ring)
(100^2)*20*10*10 GP=20 000 000 GP



Well, that's just a thought...

 

[Crothian]

First of all you will notice that no magical item increases in power by the welder. So, your in new territory here. How about a ring that give a bonus of +40. However, as the wearing increases in level he can increase the rings power without the Feat Forge Ring, but he canot increase the rings bonus to higher then twice his casting level. Perhaps even allowing him do it at a reduced XP cost (say 20%).

A ring +40 spellcraft would cost (40*40*20*10) or 320 000gp

Then take on an additional 80 000gp for the ability to be improved and to make the final price an even 400k.

So, they owner of the ring becomes 25th level. The ring still has bonus of +40. He decides he wants to increase it to +50. We figure out the cost difference (+50 costs 500k, or 180k more then the old version). He has to pay half of that in gold (90k) and 1/25th that in XP (7200), but the ring saves him 20% so he really only needs to spend 5760xp.

That would be my suggest on how to do what you want, but move it closer to how the rules are set up.

 

[-Eä-]

First of all you will notice that no magical item increases in power by the welder. So, your in new territory here. How about a ring that give a bonus of +40. However, as the wearing increases in level he can increase the rings power without the Feat Forge Ring, but he canot increase the rings bonus to higher then twice his casting level. Perhaps even allowing him do it at a reduced XP cost (say 20%).

A ring +40 spellcraft would cost (40*40*20*10) or 320 000gp

Then take on an additional 80 000gp for the ability to be improved and to make the final price an even 400k.

So, they owner of the ring becomes 25th level. The ring still has bonus of +40. He decides he wants to increase it to +50. We figure out the cost difference (+50 costs 500k, or 180k more then the old version). He has to pay half of that in gold (90k) and 1/25th that in XP (7200), but the ring saves him 20% so he really only needs to spend 5760xp.

Actually, I find this a sensible approach, although I favour one that improves with caster level.

Personally, I would increase the base cost to 500 000 GP, leaving the extra ability at cost 180 000 GP, the addition would be that you base the experience cost off the new and reduced base cost.


Anyhow, do you find the cost of my original item fair? If not, why?
Perhaps multiplying the base cost by 5 is sufficient? 10 000 000 GP?