So, when generating an NPC wizard with Arcane Bond, would an enhanced arcane bonded item count against the NPCs Wealth By Level?
Considering that the arcane bond doesn't/won't work for anyone other than the NPC in question (ie, no loot for PCs), and Wealth By Level seems to be for the purposes of limiting PC wealth in the long run by not giving too much out at any one encounter (at least that seems to be RAI to me), I wouldn't think an enhanced arcane bonded item (for example, an arcane bonded ring of spell turning) would count towards the NPC's WBL.
What do the rest of you think?
Whenever an NPC or creature is given treasure that only it can use, this should not count against the expected loot the PCs should get for defeating that creature. In some cases, this means giving the creature extra non-combat treasure or a CR boost.
Actually... the item works for anyone, as long as the wizard is alive, and doesn't bond with a new item.
So if they capture the NPC wizard and imprison him, they actually get to keep the bonded item in a functioning state.
It's an odd area of the rules for sure. I'd count it for the craft cost, since that's what it took to make in the first place.
Per the rules, though, it shouldn't function for anyone else at all:
A wizard can add additional magic abilities to his bonded object as if he has the required item creation feats and if he meets the level prerequisites of the feat. For example, a wizard with a bonded dagger must be at least 5th level to add magic abilities to the dagger (see the Craft Magic Arms and Armor feat in Feats). If the bonded object is a wand, it loses its wand abilities when its last charge is consumed, but it is not destroyed and it retains all of its bonded object properties and can be used to craft a new wand. The magic properties of a bonded object, including any magic abilities added to the object, only function for the wizard who owns it. If a bonded object's owner dies, or the item is replaced, the object reverts to being an ordinary masterwork item of the appropriate type.
(bolded for emphasis)
... and Wealth By Level seems to be for the purposes of limiting PC wealth in the long run ....
I've seen Wealth by Level used more often as a rationalization for certain players to justify whining for more loot regardless of how the game is actually playing out.
My personal vitriol aside, WBL is just a construct for trying to balance PCs against level appropriate monsters. One encounter's treasure shouldn't unbalance anything, so unless your campaign will have a large number of encounters featuring bonded items, do what you like. You can balance things out later if it gets out of hand.