Magic Armor / Weapon Cost Question


Rules Questions


Hello friends,

I am having a disagreement with people based on how we have each always treated the cost of magic arms and armor.

Version 1: Base Item + Enhancement Bonus
Version 2: Base Item + Masterwork + Enhancement Bonus

Version 1 has a +1 longsword cost 2,015 gp.
Version 2 has a +1 longsword cost 2,315 gp.

Off the top of my head, I do not know of where to clarify this. The reasoning for Version 1 is that all magic items are assumed to be masterwork-quality already so the masterwork cost is included. The reasoning for Version 2 is that an item must first be masterwork before it can become magical, therefore that cost should be included.

Which way is the rules?

Grand Lodge

The rules are that you can only enhance a masterwork weapon. Some materials are masterwork by default, so would not have an additional cost, like adamantine or mithril.

So:
Longsword: 15 gp
Masterwork: 300 gp
Masterwork is done at the same time as longsword, so: 315 gp
Enhance masterwork longsword to +1: +2,000 gp
Total: 2,315 gp

Note: The next step is a place where people sometimes get confused:
Make a +1 longsword into a +2 longsword: +6,000 gp
Make a +1 longsword into a +1 flaming longsword: +6,000 gp

Make a +2 longsword into a +2 flaming longsword: +10,000 gp

For examples of actual weapons following these rules, check out some of the named weapons in the Magic Items chapter.

Example: Assassin's Dagger: 10,302 gp
Dagger: 2 gp
Masterwork: 300 gp
+2 enhancement: +8,000 gp
Special property: +2,000 gp

Also, that section points out that alchemical silvering does not make a weapon masterwork, see the silver dagger, masterwork entry.


I see! To continue your examples:

breastplate—200 gp
masterwork breastplate—350 gp
+1 breastplate—1,350 gp
mithral breastplate—1,200 gp
+1 mithral breastplate—2,200 gp

Is the above correct?

Liberty's Edge

You're right on the masterwork and +1 breastplate. But it costs 4000 Gp to craft a medium armor with Mithral, so it's;
mithral breastplate-4200 gp
+1 mithral breastplate-5200 gp


Deighton Thrane wrote:

You're right on the masterwork and +1 breastplate. But it costs 4000 Gp to craft a medium armor with Mithral, so it's;

mithral breastplate-4200 gp
+1 mithral breastplate-5200 gp

Ah, right. Gotcha. Thanks again!

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Rules Questions / Magic Armor / Weapon Cost Question All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.