Scaling Items [Unchained]


Homebrew and House Rules


I'm considering using scaling items as opposed to inherent bonuses and thought I'd try my hand at home rewind some scaling items. Feedback on mistakes is welcome, as are other people's items.

Wave Ring (2,300 gp)
Slot: ring; CL 7; weight -
Aura faint transmutation; Scaling: prize
You gain a +5 competence bonus on swim checks.
Level 10: While wearing the ring you can breathe water as easily as you breathe air for 2 hour per level. You can split up the use of this ability in 1 hour increments.
Level 12: Your competence bonus on swim checks increases to +10.
Level 15: Once a day you can transform into a small water elemental as per the spell Elemental Body I for a number of minutes equal to your level.
Level 16: When you transform into a water elemental you can choose to become a medium water elemental as per the spell Elemental Body II.
Level 18: You can transform into a water elemental twice a day, each time lasting for a number of minutes equal to your character level.
Level 19: When you transform into a water elemental you can choose to become a large water elemental as per the spell Elemental Body III.

Total price: 97,480 gp


*Tosses popcorn into mouth*

Pretty good, I think. I might reduce the Level 10 ability to 1 hour/level, or by the time they hit Level 12, it's already 'literally all day'. Unless that's what you want, of course. XD ...And it should probably say 'per day' there, or technically, it would run out.


My little comment: This item cries out for a flavorful appearance. Maybe it's a silver & aquamarine ring engraved with simple yet highly elegant patterns of waves.

My medium comment: The transform ability would probably be better if it worked "for a total of up to x minutes per day. This duration need not be continuous, but it must be used in 1 minute increments." This is the standard language on many wondrous items. Given that this is a scaling item, you might still be able to relate x to character level.

My big comment: You realize, I'm sure, that this item is highly campaign-dependent. In most campaigns, players would rush to sell it. OK, there's the problem of finding a high-level buyer who wants it, so maybe they'd stroll to sell it -- but you see my point. They wouldn't want to give up in the end 97,480 gp in loot for something that's extremely situational. I trust that yours is one of those campaigns where it's going to be prized by at least one of the players. If not, you might try dropping the duration of the Level 10 ability, and cutting out altogether the Level 18 & 19 ones, and checking the price again.

And that's assuming that you only have to pay in WBL for the actual value of the ring. I've been looking at the scaling item rules for myself, in great distress. Because when I read them, it alarmingly looks like some poor soul is giving up 15% of every treasure haul they ever get up until they reach 19th level in exchange for this item.

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