Stats on VoP

[Malum]

1st) Do the all the bonuses of VoP = the level "expected" magical allowance cost equivalent? That is how much coin would it cost in magicals to emulate the same bonuses? 2nd) What are the bonuses of VoP up to 10th level? And what would it cost to equal them thru magicals.

Malum

 

[Moon-Lancer]

not sure. But i can tell you that at early levels, Vop is a litttle stronger then normal wealth level and at later levels its alittle bellow.

 

[Elephant]

It also depends on monk vs. non-monk. The VoP AC bonuses make a big difference when you're comparing Bracers of Armor vs. (magical) mithral breastplate or chain shirt.

I did some analysis a while back that said a monk got about 870,000gp worth of bonuses out of VoP at 20th level - compare this to DMG "suggested" wealth of 700,000gp. Also note that this ignored the value of the bonus feats.

So, yeah, VoP is powerful. It loses out on flexibility, though. Especially with the lack of access to charged items (you can drink a Cure potion that a teammate tosses to you, but expecting other party members to keep a stock of potions for you as a routine breaks the spirit of VoP).

 

[Li Shenron]

1st) Do the all the bonuses of VoP = the level "expected" magical allowance cost equivalent? That is how much coin would it cost in magicals to emulate the same bonuses?

I think they do. When the BoED came out there were immediately lots of discussions about the balance of VoP and many people wrote an analysis of the equivalent cost to get all the bonuses. I tried to do it myself as well, because people were coming up with very different results, and it wasn't very easy to calculate that, because there are different ways to get those bonuses from magic items with different costs, and some bonuses don't have an exact equivalency (I think that some just wanted to "prove" that VoP is overpowered, so they choo the most expensive way to get those bonuses, and resulted with twice the appropriate level wealth). I couldn't get a clear number, but at 20th level it seemed to me close enough to 760000gp.

 

[Rystil Arden]

VoP generally gives slightly above the expected value for wealth by level in abilities. However, it offers no choice in powers, so the character who gets to choose where to spend all that money will be more powerful every time.

Now, if you have an extreme situation like where the GM only gives magic items once in a blue moon and even those are cursed, the VoP will be problematically overpowered. Also, the VoP gains in campaigns where PCs are disallowed from ever purchasing the items they want if they have the cash.

More generally--in campaigns where the GM gives less than standard wealth, VoP becomes very powerful, in those where the GM gives more than usual, the VoP is weak, and at standard levels, it is more-or-less 'just right' if you don't allow exploits.

 

[Terwox]

More generally--in campaigns where the GM gives less than standard wealth, VoP becomes very powerful, in those where the GM gives more than usual, the VoP is weak, and at standard levels, it is more-or-less 'just right' if you don't allow exploits.

I agree with this.