Rule to create a metamagic rod

styker

First Post
What is the core rule to calculate the cost price and the xp to create a metamagic rod? there is any formula? Where can i find this rule (if it exists)?
 

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I don't think there is one.... But simple extrapolation:

Enlarge, Extend, Silent: Lesser: 3,000; regular: 11,000; greater: 24,500, matching feat +1 spell level.
Empwer: Lesser: 9,000 gp; regular: 32,500; greater: 73,000, matching feat +2 spell level
Maximize: Lesser: 14,000; regular: 54,000; greater: 121,500, +3 spell level
Quicken: Lesser: 35,000; Regular:75,500; Greater: 170,000, +4 spell level

Well, I'm not spotting a pattern for the lesser rods, but for the regular and greater rods, the formula for market price appears to be: Regular: (Spell Level Increase * 21,500) - 10,500; Greater: (Spell Level Increase * 48,500) - 24,000
 

Well, as far as the lesser goes:

Price = (6,000*Level adjustment) - 3000 gets you right on for 1-level and 2-level adjustments and pretty close to 3-level adjustments. However, it is admittedly way off for 4-level adjustments.

EDIT:
Assuming these are linear formulas and not quadratic (meaning nothin gets squared) ... I think the lesser rod for +4 level is way off. Using linear mathematical analysis gives a price of around 21,000 as appropriate. This using linear progression - which is NOT always the right way to go (see weapon prices for example because they are not linear progressions).

Also, dividing the regular rod price by the lesser rod price gives a result of 3.67 for 1-level, 3.61 for the 2-level, 3.86 for 3-level, and 2.16 for 4-level. That alone tells me something is up with the 4-level lesser price. I'm not saying it is wrong, but something is going on behind the scenes that is not readily apparent.
 
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I did some calculating on that a while ago. Basically, you have two factors: 1, 3, 5, or 7 (based on level adjustment), and 1, 4, or 9 (based on lesser/regular/greater). You'll note that these factors often appear in other places when making magic items - the odd numbers usually correspond to the minimum caster level, and 1, 4, and 9 are the squares of 1, 2, and 3 which come up all the time for bonus items.

Multiply these together, and then by 3,000. You won't get the exact same price as the ones in the DMG, but they'll be fairly close.

That is, they'll be fairly close with one exception: the lesser rod of quickening. By this system, a lesser rod of quickening should cost ~21,000 gp, not the 35,000 listed in the DMG. It is notable that the rods first showed up in Tome & Blood, but with higher costs - and in that book, the LROQ seemed to follow the same pattern as the others.
 

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