SR 32 for 37500gp?

[jonexmachina]

It is possible to create a staff with CL 20 Spell Resistance (lvl 5 cleric spell) and no other powers for 37500 gp. (5x20x375) That gives SR 32 for 20 minutes.

Granted, it's not as good as having SR 32 all the time, and you have to have a level of cleric to activate it, but it is still a good dozen combats that a full party doesnt have to worry overmuch about nonepic enemy spellcasters.

I would never throw this into a low level party's hands, and they cant make it themselves until levels where it wouldnt be too broken (just underpriced) but they could buy it if creating a character at higher than 1st level. (esp. a partially charged one)

Maybe houseruling the spell to have an expensive material component (500gp?) would be in order...

 

[jonexmachina]

For reference, an item giving SR 32 continually would cost 200 000 gp.
(by the estimation table in the DMG)

 

[Nifft]

Cleric spells are teh borken.

-- N

 

[Trainz]

Yeah... some items are just out of wack. Think about +skills items. It's too easy to manufacture a +30 item (always active). I know a few rogues that would kill for +30 on Bluff, Escape Artist, and some others.

The item you list is certainly peculiar. 20 minutes per day ? That seems easy for a DM to take care of. Put the first combat encounter one with spell slinging critters, player activates item, and then make the next door only openable by a puzzle trap, which could take a long time to solve.

That said, the fact that it requires a Cle 20 to cast is tough. IMC at least there are no magic shops, and the few NPC casters that do manufacture items are far from level 20 anyways.

Thank the maker Skip is currently doing a Rules of the Game about that very subject. It is of little info so far, but I expect it will get meatier when he hits Wonderous Items. I hope he'll put down some new hard and straight rules on the subject.

 

[Darkness]

Granted, it's not as good as having SR 32 all the time, and you have to have a level of cleric to activate it, but it is still a good dozen combats that a full party doesnt have to worry overmuch about nonepic enemy spellcasters.

Well, not quite epic... A 17th-level wizard can take it down effortlessly with Mordenkainen's disjunction - for the entire party, and also takes out all their other buffs and just might destroy some nice items too while he's at it.

There are also spells like lower spell resistance (Draconomicon; Clr 4, Sor/Wiz 4) that can reduce SR.

There are also direct-damage Conjuration spells that are unaffected by SR. Other than that, enemy spellcasters can still buff themselves and their allies, summon monsters, etc. so they aren't completely useless.

Or maybe they have use scroll of greater dispel magic (CL 20), costing 2,500 gp (unless bard-created) or a staff of this sort.

Also, if the PCs don't have time to prepare before a combat, they're out of luck.


Anyway... It's true that many PCs can theoretically afford this item at a level where it might unbalance encounters.
Still, whether or not it's for sale at all depends on the DM and the campaign world. 20th-level clerics who have chosen to take the Craft Staff feat, have created this item and are willing to sell such an item to a PC party aren't too common in most places.

 

[dcollins]

It is possible to create a staff with CL 20 Spell Resistance (lvl 5 cleric spell) and no other powers for 37500 gp. (5x20x375) That gives SR 32 for 20 minutes.

...Maybe houseruling the spell to have an expensive material component (500gp?) would be in order...

For reference, an item giving SR 32 continually would cost 200 000 gp.
(by the estimation table in the DMG)

The first thing to keep in mind is that allowing any "New Magic Items" is a rules Variant, and is always an art (the part that really counts as a House Rule) by the DM. Comparison to specific DMG items is always supposed to trump the estimation formulas, if you read carefully in the sidebar of the DMG.

You may want to look at this essay by Monte Cook on New Magic Items and specifically "How do you figure Market Value?" From http://www.montecook.com/arch_dmonly3.html#marketvalue :

The most important thing to remember is, Table 8-40 doesn't determine prices. It suggests them. Don't say, "Wow, these shoes of continual improved invisibility sure are cheap." Do say, "Hmm, these formulas don't work when it comes to spells like improved invisibility."

 

[Thanee]

[slightly OT] Weird, I always thought staffs cost more to create than wands... more like scrolls.

There seems to be no reason to actually make wands (apart from the smaller size) then...

Ah, minimum caster level 8th is a little restriction, at least. So no CL 3rd staff of scorching ray.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

As for Spell Resistance, just take a look at what the spell does if you have means to increase your caster level (bead of karma, Hierophant, etc). That also results in one pretty tough to beat SR for your level. 12+CL is already on the higher side.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Majere]

Weeeell
First off it is just a buff, the enemy can always just cast dispel magic and remove your shiney buff.
A simple but effective house rule would be that SR takes a standard action to lower and raise.

Majere

 

[Thanee]

Not so much of a house rule as you might think.

A creature can voluntarily lower its spell resistance. Doing so is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Once a creature lowers its resistance, it remains down until the creature’s next turn. At the beginning of the creature’s next turn, the creature’s spell resistance automatically returns unless the creature intentionally keeps it down (also a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity).

Bye
Thanee