One Shot Pearl of Power

[Rolflyn]

I want to make an expendable "pearl of power" alchemical item.

Mage Powder, 35gp, Craft DC 20 - Sprinkle on a spellcaster, and it covers one used 1st level spell slot.

More costly than a scroll, but arguably less useful because you can only get spells you already have prepared. On the other hand, more useful than a scroll because you have some kind of control over which spell you get. On the third hand, less useful than a scroll because you have to wait a round to get the spell back before you can cast it. If I want a healing spell now, Mage Powder does no good.

 

[DreamChaser]

Being an alchemical item (and thus having no XP cost) this should be 50 gp at least.

DC

 

[Quartz]

Isn't this mostly the same as scroll of the 6th level spell Mordenkainen's / Mage's Lucubration? ML will let you recall a spell of levels 1-5. So it should absolutely have an XP cost.

 

[Aramax]

Being an alchemical item (and thus having no XP cost) this should be 50 gp at least.

DC

I think 75 gp but otherwise good

 

[starwed]

Isn't this mostly the same as scroll of the 6th level spell Mordenkainen's / Mage's Lucubration? ML will let you recall a spell of levels 1-5. So it should absolutely have an XP cost.

Except for the bit where it's a 1st level spell only. And I don't see the connection to having an XP cost regardless.

However, 35gp is too cheap of a selling price, since items can be crafted for only 1/3 that in raw materials. I like the basic idea here, but I'd make it a 100-150gp item which unexpends one of your 1st level spell slots. (That way, a wizard would still have to spend 15 minutes preparing the slot, while a sorc could us it right away.)