Rod of spell focus (evocation)

[Pielorinho]

Does such an item exist? If so, what is its cost? If not, how would you price it?

I found an equivalent item in a game recently, and we're getting ready to divvy up loot, and it'd be helpful to have an idea of the relative value of this trinket. Essentially, the holder of the item is treated as though he has the spell focus (evocation) feat.

Would it change the value if it were a helmet? What if it were an ioun stone? (i'm assuming in the latter case the value would double; I ask because the item is actually a crystal, and I may be able to set it into another item or turn it into an ioun stone).

Daniel

 

[Jack Simth]

Psionatrix: Each of these multifaceted crystals is worn as an amulet. Unless noted otherwise, a psionatrix adds a +1 enhancement bonus to the save DC when the wearer uses powers of the discipline to which the psionatrix is keyed.

Psionatrix of clairsentience: Blue light glimmers in this crystal’s heart.
Moderate clairsentience; ML 8th; Craft Universal Item, creator must be a seer; Price 8,000 gp.

Psionatrix of metacreativity: Green light glimmers in this crystal’s heart.
Moderate metacreativity; ML 8th; Craft Universal Item, creator must be a shaper; Price 8,000 gp.

Psionatrix of psychokinesis: Red light glimmers in this crystal’s heart.
Moderate psychokinesis; ML 8th; Craft Universal Item, creator must be a kineticist; Price 8,000 gp.

Psionatrix of psychometabolism: Violet light glimmers in this crystal’s heart.
Moderate psychometabolism; ML 8th; Craft Universal Item, creator must be an egoist; Price 8,000 gp.

Psionatrix of psychoportation: Yellow-red light glimmers in this crystal’s heart.
Moderate psychoportation; ML 8th; Craft Universal Item, creator must be a nomad; Price 8,000 gp.

Psionatrix of telepathy: Piercing yellow light shines from this crystal’s heart.
Moderate telepathy; ML 8th; Craft Universal Item, creator must be a telepath; Price 8,000 gp.

And, for transparency equivalencies, check Here. For Evocation, you want psychokinesis.

 

[Pielorinho]

Cool--thanks! In our game, the DM decided to eliminate the greater spell focus feats and leave spell focus at its 3.0 levels--i.e., granting a +2 bonus. Would that change the value, do you think?

Daniel

 

[Jack Simth]

It'd make it worth more, but there's no listed hard and fast rule for it. Bonus squared * base is the normal progression. Which would imply that upping the bonus from +1 to +2 would multiply the cost by four..... so 32k for a +2 to your save DC. Which you could get from a Headband of Intellect +4 at 16k (which you probably already have).

 

[Pielorinho]

It'd make it worth more, but there's no listed hard and fast rule for it. Bonus squared * base is the normal progression. Which would imply that upping the bonus from +1 to +2 would multiply the cost by four..... so 32k for a +2 to your save DC. Which you could get from a Headband of Intellect +4 at 16k (which you probably already have).

Interesting point about the headband (although I'm a druid). 30K was what I wildly speculated for the cost; I'll throw both at the DM and see what he thinks.

Daniel

 

[Jack Simth]

Catch:
A bonus that stacks with an effect that does something similar usually costs more.

+5 Bracers of Armor cost 25k.
An amulet of Natural Armor +5 costs 50k.
A ring of Protection +5 costs 50k.

And so on.

 

[Pielorinho]

How do you think that'd affect the price? The +2 to evocation does stack with the similar headband effect, but it does far less than the headband also.

Daniel

 

[anon]

At 30-32K this item is far more specific than the Headband of Intellect yet double the price. Why?

16K is my vote, if slotless. 8-10k if slotted.

 

[Jack Simth]

At 30-32K this item is far more specific than the Headband of Intellect yet double the price. Why?

16K is my vote, if slotless. 8-10k if slotted.

Because it stacks on something that is very difficult to raise. It's hard to raise a spell DC. Okay, so you have the stat-boosting item, the appropriet Tome, all your level increases into the appropriet stat, and the Spell Focus/Greater Spell Focus feats. And at that, you've added a mere +10 to your save DC for two feat slots, five level based stat boosts, 36,000 on the stat enhancement item, and 137,500 gp on the Tome. You can age yourself to get a little further, but that costs, hard, in your physical stats.

An item that grants a +2 to your save DC? Well, so does the +4 Tome...... but the Tome works on all your spells, the item only on a specific school.

How much is two feats in a tree worth? That's essentially what the item replaces at the +2 level.

 

[MarkB]

I'd suggest simply adding a Metamagic Rod of Heighten, at around the same cost as the Silent rod, which causes the spell to be effectively cast at one level higher, thus boosting the save DC.

If you want one to emulate the +2 to DC from your version of Spell Focus, price it similarly to a Rod of Empower.

I guess you could reduce the price by limiting the rods to only work upon spells of one school - a 50% discount, perhaps.