Ring of Spell Penetration

[Xath]

I'm trying to make a magical item to increase spell penetration checks. Here's what I have; please critique at will.

Ring of Spell Penetration: This ring allows the wearer to bypass spell resistance more easily. It grants a +5 (lesser) or +10 (greater) bonus.

Faint Abjuration; CL 10th; Forge Ring, spell resistance; Price 4,000 (lesser) 16000 (greater)

 

[FireLance]

Off the top of my head, it's probably too cheap, and a +10 to spell penetration checks is probably too much of an advantage. Given that SR tends to scale at the same rate as AC (for a given CR), it's the equivalent of giving a +10 to an attack roll.

I would probably cap a bonus to SR penetration at +4, and price it at bonus squared x 2000 gp. For prerequisites, I would say Spell Penetration (the feat) for a +1 or +2, and Greater Spell Penetration for +3 or +4.

 

[Geoff Watson]

That's way too powerful. I'd change them to +1 and +2. Maybe +2 and +4, if the DM is using a lot of SR and is feeling generous.

Geoff.

 

[CRGreathouse]

As someone who loves to play wizards, I'd say that I'd be quite willing to pay 16,000 gp for a +2 bonus on spell penetration checks. That's a powerful ability.

 

[Thanee]

Yeah, +5 and +10 is insanely high. Remember, that one feat gives a +2 bonus only.

Bonus² x 2,000 gp might work out as a pricing guideline.

Bye
Thanee

 

[DreamChaser]

you should also take note of how expensive the ability you are trying to overcome is. SR is a great deal more expensive than AC so something that grants spell penetration should be a great deal more expensive than something that grants an attack bonus.

DC

 

[Xath]

So how about this?

Ring of Spell Penetration: This ring improves the wearer's spell penetration bonus by a modifier of +1 to +5.

Faint to Moderate Abjuration; Forge Ring, spell resistance; Price 2000 (+1) 8000 (+2) 18000 (+3) 32000 (+4) 50000 (+5).

 

[Thanee]

You should make it an enhancement bonus (like Robe of the Archmage).

Bye
Thanee

 

[The_Universe]

I'd change the price structure as follows:

Price 8000 (+1) 18000 (+2) 32000 (+3) 50000 (+4) 72000 (+5).

My math is based on trying to figure out how much the +2 on spell penetration checks the Robe of the Archmagi provides is worth. It came out to about 18000, which should suggest the above, if you're using a ring of protection as a guide.

Apart from that, it looks good to me.

Alternatively, maybe you want to try to create an item that allows you to use your primary spellcasting ability modifier as a bonus to spell penetration checks?