Shield spell items

[SamuraiY]

I'm playing a mage who would like to make a magic item that can cast the shield spell several times a day. According to the DMG however, I could make an item that does this with a command word with no limit to times per day for something like 1800 gp. This just doesn't seem right. I might be misreading it, or it might just need some special ruling. Anybody have any ideas?

 

[Wormwood]

For such an item, it would be better to price it based on *effect* (~+7 AC, stackable, MM immunity) rather than it's *source* (first level spell).

 

[dcollins]

According to the DMG however, I could make an item that does this with a command word with no limit to times per day for something like 1800 gp. This just doesn't seem right. I might be misreading it, or it might just need some special ruling. Anybody have any ideas?

The DMG never says that players get to design "new items"... the guidelines are in that book primarily only for DMs to evaluate new items they place in their campaign. By default, players can only choose from predefined items.

It requires a special DM exception to allow otherwise -- and the wise DM would find it easiest to just say "no" to any item like this that breaks the balancing factors of duration and target in the original spell. Keep in mind that only the items listed with descriptions in the core rules were actually developed, playtested, and balanced by the D&D designers.

www.superdan.net/dndfaq3.html

 

[Hypersmurf]

dcollins - do you type that out each time? Or do you have a predefined macro, or a board-crawler 'bot, that does it for you?

-Hyp.

 

[Sejs]

+7 Cover bonus to Ac.
~cost: similar to deflection bonus, so we'll use that: 7^2 = 49 x 2,000 = 98,000

+4 Cover bonus to Reflex saves.
~cost: more useful than "Save Bonus(limited)", but less so than full Resistance bonus, so we'll say bonus^2x500: 4^2 = 16 x 500 = 8,000 x 110% (additional effect in a slotted item) = 8,800.

Immune to Magic Missles.
~cost: similar to a Brooch of Shielding, but it doens't have a limit to the ammound of MM damage it can absorb, but only protects vs 1/2 the battlefield. Rough estimate, 3000g. x110% for additional effect in a slotted item =3,300.

Rough running total: 110,100gp market cost. This assumes that it takes up a limited item space,.. a necklace for example. If you make it not take up a limited item space it'll run you 218,000 - you save 1,100 on the Ref save and MM immunity, but the whole shebang gets doubled in price. If you limited the item to Wizard (or Sorcerer) Only, it'll cost 77,070(slotted) or 152,600(not) respectivly.

That's market cost. Creation costs would be:

Anyone:
~55,050gp / 4,404xp (slotted)
~109,000gp / 8,720xp (non-slotted)

Wiz or Sorc Only:
~38,535gp / 3,083xp (slotted)
~76,3000gp / 6,104 (non-slotted)




And all that assumes your GM would give you the thumbs up to make the item in the first place.


Which most wouldn't. Permanant shielding items really tend to screw things up bigtime.

 

[Spatzimaus]

+4 Cover bonus to Reflex saves.
~cost: more useful than "Save Bonus(limited)", but less so than full Resistance bonus, so we'll say bonus^2x500: 4^2 = 16 x 500 = 8,000 x 110% (additional effect in a slotted item) = 8,800.

Three problems with this math:
1> It's +100% for the additional effect, not +10%. It's a misprint in the DMG, see the errata.
2> According to the FAQ, the Shield spell doesn't give a bonus to Reflex saves. It only provides a cover bonus to AC, not actual Cover; no Reflex boost, no preventing AoOs, no blocking line of sight. This directly contradicts what the PHB says, but I'm one of those people who considers the FAQ to be official. YMMV.
3> There should be a discount since Shield only affects half the battlefield. I'd go with 3/4th price.

Otherwise, more or less right. I'd probably price it at 75k. One thing to note is that 3.5E will completely change how the Shield spell works, so you might just want to wait for that..

 

[Sejs]

Whoop, heh. Actually I wasn't aware of those changes/errata. Cool, thanks for the heads up Spatzimaus. Will make some notes, and check out the FAQ and Errata.

 

[SamuraiY]

This would not be an item with continuous shield. rather it would be an item that can cast the spell say 2 or 3 times a day.

Why can't a player make a new magic item? Wizards can make new spell can't they? how come only NPCs get to make new things. That just doesn't make sense.

 

[rhammer2]

There is nothing wrong with players designing new items, they just have to remember that the DM has final say on the items stats and cost.

I would build the item as a reusable spell trigger device so only casters with the shield spell on their list can use it. Like a wand except it has 3 charges a day, every day.

This would not be an item with continuous shield. rather it would be an item that can cast the spell say 2 or 3 times a day.

Why can't a player make a new magic item? Wizards can make new spell can't they? how come only NPCs get to make new things. That just doesn't make sense.

 

[Sejs]

Just make a Wand of Shield, GM can't even really bork you that way. Just remember to have it with a decent caster level because it'll last the standard 1 minute / level.