Ring of Commanding...?

[magnusmalkus]

Anyone know roundabouts what power-level would you consider a magical item that allows any user the ability to 'Command' as per the spell, at will?

Are there any known magical items in any published material that are like that? I don't want an item that grants the 'Command' ability as well as a slew of other abilities. I want just one item with one effect.

I figure it would be a ring so that anyone could use it, it didnt require a class ability, and generally rings offer unlimited use.

I figure an item like that would be on the same level as a ring of feather falling. Granted, one power is defensive and one is offensive... but they're both first level spells that can be used at any time.

Opinions?

 

[magnusmalkus]

I know it's no fabulously powerful item... but... input is valued.

 

[Dross]

Just because it is a first level spell doesn't meant that it automatically uses the level*caster*ring price or a pricing similar system as the ring of feather falling. Look for threads that discuss the use of True Stike in such an item.

Have a look at the utility of the spell. Command allows you to force someone to do something, which is more valuable (at least to me) than an item that helps you in some situations. Lets look at the commands

Approach/Flee: move toward you or away from you as quickly and directly as possible for 1 round. AoOs for movement

Drop: On its turn drops whatever it is holding, pick item up it's next turn.

Fall: go prone for 1 round. It may act normally while prone but takes any appropriate penalties.

Halt: stand in place, take no actions but is not considered helpless.

Two commands to force movement, ie run (no DEX, and subject to Sneak Attack say) and it's possible that this does not allow for spells such as teleport etc. Fall makes someone prone, this definately causes AoOs when standing or the victim stays down and fights at negatives. Drop what you are holding, say a weapon? Halt and you loose actions.

Even though the victim can try to save (or use SR) potentially the ring can be used every round of combat, meaning save, save, save, save etc while it survives. Definately more useful that feather fall.

It will however become less useful the higher the level of the victim though (since the DC will stay at 12?)

So, ~3 times the cost provided by the calculations maybe more. Then again, I'd be tempted to say no as a DM.

 

[Andre]

(snip)...generally rings offer unlimited use.

Actually, most rings do *not* allow unlimited use of offensive powers, and the ones that do tend to be expensive (ring of fire elemental command). There can be a big difference between granting a bonus to Climb or Swim, or granting feather fall as needed, vs. allowing a character to use a 1st-lvl attack spell at will.

This item clearly breaks the pricing guidelines in the DMG. That said, if the DC is fairly low (DC 11), then I'd be inclined to price it in the 20K range. A character that can afford that much will be high enough level that he's usually taking other, more useful actions, so the ring might not be game-breaking.

Even so, as a GM I would carefully question a player who wanted this to see how he intends to use it. If the intent would detract from the fun of the game for others, I'd simply disallow it, or permit the item with limited uses per day.

 

[Infiniti2000]

While I agree with some of the other comments, command is not really subject to abuse like, say, true strike would be. It's DC 11 and has a very short duration (1 round). It's nothing to write home about. The low DC in fact makes this item useless at higher levels. I'd say about 4-6,000 gp is right for a Ring of Commanding and I might even let it go for less.

As an example of how weak this is, I can't recall a time when the command spell was used in my game, where the DC is much higher.

 

[magnusmalkus]

While I agree with some of the other comments, command is not really subject to abuse like, say, true strike would be. It's DC 11 and has a very short duration (1 round). It's nothing to write home about. The low DC in fact makes this item useless at higher levels. I'd say about 4-6,000 gp is right for a Ring of Commanding and I might even let it go for less.

As an example of how weak this is, I can't recall a time when the command spell was used in my game, where the DC is much higher.

Actually, it's not a player that wants this item, i want to give it to an NPC but there is ALWAYS the chance it'll fall into the hands of the PC's if they kill him and take it. And being that this is a very low level campaign, I don't want an abusive item to fall into the PC's hands.

He's a cleric of lust and domination. It's well within his character that if someone didn't do as he says, he will magically compell them. Being the 'bad daddy' he is, he's often commanding his minions.

 

[Infiniti2000]

He's a cleric of lust and domination. It's well within his character that if someone didn't do as he says, he will magically compell them. Being the 'bad daddy' he is, he's often commanding his minions.

He's far more likely to just use a spell, though, where the DC will be significantly higher. A DC11 will save to force one person to approach, drop, fall, flee, or halt for one round is not powerful at all. It's a will save, something which clerical minions of clerics are supposed to be good at.

You could give him a master/slave ring from the Book of Vile Darkness. It's expensive, sure, but evil.

 

[magnusmalkus]

Yeah, use of his daily spells would be more effective but he's not that high level either, (about 3rd or 5th maybe, have not decided yet) and would rather save his spell slots for dire circumstances.

The ring is just for his personal sh*ts and giggles. If it doesnt work, then the subbordinate deserves the the Maniacal Pit of Tickle Torture. Pleasure can be deadly... Suffocation by laughing...

 

[CyberSpyder]

5th level wouldn't be particularly unreasonable for him to have such a thing, in my view; I wouldn't put the price above 10,000. As others have said, Command just isn't that useful a spell - there are lots of other things I'd normally want to spend my one standard action a turn on before using such a ring, especially given the high chance of them passing the save DC.

 

[Magesmiley]

Besides the obvious combat uses, there are huge possibilities for such an item in non-combat encounters (like in town for example), especially if the owner is creative.

I'd have to say that I'd price this about the same as a ring of invisibility, or maybe a little less (but not much less). It has a comparable level of utility.