As our group’s Iron Gods game master, I wanted to create a couple “low level” items for some additional treasure (I have a six character group).
We know (from Inner Sea World Guide page 257) that Numerian technological items are largely created using the magic item rules. The information from the Technology Guide largely bears that out.
One of my ideas was a protective bodysuit that could be worn under clothing or armor (kind of like the Second Skin armor from Starfinder Core Rulebook page 202. My idea was to give it a couple points of “hardness” so that it would provide a small amount of damage reduction and energy resistance to all five types.
This is where I ran into problems.
I was thinking of basing the item on the 1st level Siphon Structure spell from page 25 of Wayfinder #16. But, as a safety check, I looked for Paizo spells that did something similar; and the closest I could find would be a combination of Resist Energy (taken five times) and Stoneskin. What this means is that my “low level” item is no longer so low level.
Laying aside the Resist Energy spell, an item that would provide 3 points of “Hardness” should cost no less than 17,000 gold . Because I was throwing in the Energy Resistance, I was not going to give the bodysuit the discount that the Belt of Stoneskin (Ultimate Equipment page 210) receives.
This also means that “Siphon Structure” also needs promoted to a 5th Level spell, since it also reduces the Hardness of one object (say an opponent) to raise that of another.
So, back to the drawing board.
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Bear in mind that siphon structure has a duration of concentration, and it's not as powerful as it looks. Plus you need a target object to siphon from, and can't take more than it's hardness. Combine that with attended objects getting a (fairly easy) Fort save, and I think it holds up. Now, you can abuse the spell by weakening your own adamantine longsword (or whatever), but it's still capped by caster level.
Also consider that player characters aren't objects with hardness, so it would be safe to assume that elemental damage is not cut in half first. 1-3 points off elemental damage also pales in comparison to even the lowest level casting of Resist Energy.
I'd make it a +1 armor enchantment with the following limitations.
1) Light armor grants hardness 1, medium armor hardness 2, and heavy armor hardness 3.
2) Hardness granted by this property reduces the armor bonus the enchanted armor grants by an equal amount.
That fits the theme of Siphon Structure, I imagine, and keeps them from getting hardness and a really high armor class. It could also work as an amulet that does the same thing as long as they are wearing armor or have an armor bonus some how.
Bear in mind that siphon structure has a duration of concentration, and it's not as powerful as it looks. Plus you need a target object to siphon from, and can't take more than it's hardness. Combine that with attended objects getting a (fairly easy) Fort save, and I think it holds up. Now, you can abuse the spell by weakening your own adamantine longsword (or whatever), but it's still capped by caster level.
Perhaps, but creating an item from rapidly gets very powerful, without a serious expense.
And, rather then an adamantine sword, I was just think of a simple steel rod.
1) Light armor grants hardness 1, medium armor hardness 2, and heavy armor hardness 3.
Check out the rules for Adamantine Armor on page 154 of the Pathfinder Core Rulebook.
The cost for that ability is 5,000 gold per point of Damage Reduction.
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I downloaded Wayfinder #16 last month, so could easily check the Siphon Structure spell. That spell is overpowered for a 1st-level spell. It makes a poor base of reference.
Hardness on a creature is like a combination of DR/adamantine and universal energy resistance.
A Minor Ring of Energy Resistance costs 12,000 gp and grants its wearer 10 points of energy resistance against either acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic, chosen at creation. A Minor Ring of Universal Energy Resistance would cover all 5 types, but instead of adding to the cost, let us split the 10 points of energy resistance across the five types for 2 points of energy resistance against each type.
Resist Energy is a 2nd-level spell with duration 10 minutes per level. The closest equivalent spell for DR/adamantine is the 4th-level spell Stoneskin which grants DR 10/adamantine, lasts 10/minutes per level, has a maximum limit of preventing 150 point of damage, and has a 250 gp material component. Ignoring the material component, the cost for a Ring of Stoneshape by the Magic Item Value table would be 84,000 gp. Multiply the 250 gp material component by 50 to increase that price to 96,500 gp. The Belt of Stoneskin is a bargain at only 60,000 gp. I presume that is because the daily limit of 100 damage on the belt makes it no longer an all-day item.
Let's imagine a low-level Stoneskin spell, let's call it Clayskin, that had no material component, lasted 10 minutes per level, but provided only DR 2/adamantine. Would it be 2nd-level like Resist Energy? Nope, it would prevent a lot more damage than Resist Energy. Let's make it 3rd level. Then by the magic item value rules, a Ring of Clayskin would cost 45,000 gp.
A Ring of Hardness 2, therefore, would have a minimum price of 57,000 gp (12,000 gp + 45,000 gp). That would be appropriate for a 15th-level character, not low level.
If we cut the hardness in half, to a Ring of Hardness 1, we have to decide whether the price would be halved or quartered. If such a ring would say, "The wearer gains hardness 1. This does not stack with other hardness nor damage reduction," then quarter price would fit the pattern for non-stacking bonuses. That would be around 14,250 gp, appropriate for a 10th-level character.
Sorry, but a ring that grants hardness would not be a low-level magic item, and a bodysuit that grants hardness would not be a low-level technological item.
Have you considered Djezet Skin instead?
And nothing bypasses that damage reduction, not even an adamantine weapon. You also don't lose armor class with adamantine armor. Adamantine armor is also a lot more durable. If you're worried then add that the armor granting the hardness loses hardness(-1, -2, -3) and hit points(-5, -10, -15) too. Say it can't be placed on adamantine armor.
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1) Light armor grants hardness 1, medium armor hardness 2, and heavy armor hardness 3.Check out the rules for Adamantine Armor on page 154 of the Pathfinder Core Rulebook.
The cost for that ability is 5,000 gold per point of Damage Reduction.
How about basing the bodysuit on armor rather than magic items? An adamantine chain shirt gives DR 1/adamantine and costs 5,100 gp. However, we want something that says bodysuit rather than chainmail, so we modify it to appear technological. And I think I prefer a better armor check penalty, so imagine adamantine leather armor (which is impossible with mundane crafting, but we are using Alien Technology).
Light Skinarmor. Cost 7,000 gp. Armor bonus +2. Maximum dexterity bonus +6. Armor check penalty -0. Arcane spell failure chance 10%. No changes in speed. Weight 10 lbs. Charge capacity 10. Charge usage 2/day.
This technological bodysuit binds with the skin of its wearer to give that skin a shiny chrome appearance and grant hardness 1 to the wearer. This hardness does not stack with any other source of hardness, energy resistance, nor damage reduction. It is light armor. Bonded skinarmor cannot be sundered and permanently loses any magical enhancements, because it ceases to be a distinct object when bonded. While bonded, its weight counts as body weight rather than contributing to weight encumbrance. Other armor can be worn over bonded skinarmor. If worn under other armor, use the better AC bonus and worse value in all other categories.
Donning skinarmor takes 1 minute and consumes two charges. After each day passes, the bodysuit consumes two more charges. If sufficient charges are not available, it unbonds. An unbonded skinarmor bodysuit still provides AC +2, has ACP -2, does not provide hardness, can be sundered, and causes encumbrance if worn under other armor. Removing skinarmor takes 1 minute.
CONSTRUCTION
Craft DC 28; Cost 3,500 gp; Craft Technological Arms and Armor, cybernetics lab
We could also imagine steel-gray Medium Skinarmor that grants hardness 2 and adamantine-black Heavy Skinarmor that grants hardness 3.
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One of my ideas was a protective bodysuit that could be worn under clothing or armor (kind of like the Second Skin armor from Starfinder Core Rulebook page 202. My idea was to give it a couple points of “hardness” so that it would provide a small amount of damage reduction and energy resistance to all five types.
You could go with very low amounts of reduction and resistance. 1 point of energy resistance (to one energy type) comes at like 1k, based on existing items:
For DR, I'd simply adapt the prices of adamantine armor. That's already 5k for 1/-, though.
Makes ~10k for a bodysuit which protects against 1 point of elemental, sonic or physical damage. Or ~20k for 2 points.
1) Light armor grants hardness 1, medium armor hardness 2, and heavy armor hardness 3.Check out the rules for Adamantine Armor on page 154 of the Pathfinder Core Rulebook.
The cost for that ability is 5,000 gold per point of Damage Reduction.
How about basing the bodysuit on armor rather than magic items? An adamantine chain shirt gives DR 1/adamantine and costs 5,100 gp. However, we want something that says bodysuit rather than chainmail, so we modify it to appear technological. And I think I prefer a better armor check penalty, so imagine adamantine leather armor (which is impossible with mundane crafting, but we are using Alien Technology).
Light Skinarmor. Cost 7,000 gp. Armor bonus +2. Maximum dexterity bonus +6. Armor check penalty -0. Arcane spell failure chance 10%. No changes in speed. Weight 10 lbs. Charge capacity 10. Charge usage 2/day.
This technological bodysuit binds with the skin of its wearer to give that skin a shiny chrome appearance and grant hardness 1 to the wearer. This hardness does not stack with any other source of hardness, energy resistance, nor damage reduction. It is light armor. Bonded skinarmor cannot be sundered and permanently loses any magical enhancements, because it ceases to be a distinct object when bonded. While bonded, its weight counts as body weight rather than contributing to weight encumbrance. Other armor can be worn over bonded skinarmor. If worn under other armor, use the better AC bonus and worse value in all other categories.
Donning skinarmor takes 1 minute and consumes two charges. After each day passes, the bodysuit consumes two more charges. If sufficient charges are not available, it unbonds. An unbonded skinarmor bodysuit still provides AC +2, has ACP -2, does not provide hardness, can be sundered, and causes encumbrance if worn under other armor. Removing skinarmor takes 1 minute....
I would go with a slightly different description, but your rules work quite well for what I was looking for.
Another way to go would be a "naked" DR 1/adamantine for 5000 gold. The idea would be a carbon fiber bodysuit. It would still be wearable under armor that way. (More expensive then I wanted, but not overly so.)
Consider ...
Carbon Fiber bodysuit, Cost 5,000 gp.
Slot: body, Weight: 5 lbs.
Capacity: n/a, usage: n/a
This bodysuit is made of a glossy black material, and is designed to be worn in a similar fashion to long underwear, but clinging more tightly to the body. The garment can be easily worn under other armor or clothing, and is surprisingly comfortable. While worn, the garment provides the wearer considerable protection, granting damage reduction of 1/-. Note that this damage reduction doesn't stack with other forms of damage reduction.
CONSTRUCTION
Craft DC 24; Cost 2,500 gp; Craft Technological Item, Nanotech Lab
Consider ...
Carbon Fiber bodysuit, Cost 5,000 gp.
Slot: body, Weight: 5 lbs.
Capacity: n/a, usage: n/a ...
Every wizard and sorcerer will want one. Seriously. It has none of the disadvantages of armor and none of the disadvantages of technology. It costs as much as a Sorcerer's Robe or Mnemonic Vestments, but protects the sorcerer instead of granting a minor magical option.
I believe that adamantine armor gives DR 1/- to light, DR 2/- to medium, and DR 3/- to heavy to balance the inherent disadvantage of armor against the advantages of the damage reduction. Giving DR 1/- at an affordable price with no disadvantage beyond losing the body slot is not balanced. That is high-priced magic item territory.
Imagine me inventing a Fire Clip, priced 6,000 gp, that if attached to a +1 weapon grants it the flaming ability. That is the same price as permanently upgrading the enchantment to +1 flaming, and I will emphasize that the Fire Clip does not work on +2 weapons. Still, the ability to attach and remove the Fire Clip at will makes it better than upgrading the enchantment. Less downtime, for example. Your Carbon Fiber Bodysuit has the same convenience as the Fire Clip.
Consider ...
Carbon Fiber bodysuit, Cost 5,000 gp.
Slot: body, Weight: 5 lbs.
Capacity: n/a, usage: n/a ...Every wizard and sorcerer will want one. Seriously. It has none of the disadvantages of armor and none of the disadvantages of technology. It costs as much as a Sorcerer's Robe or Mnemonic Vestments, but protects the sorcerer instead of granting a minor magical option.
I believe that adamantine armor gives DR 1/- to light, DR 2/- to medium, and DR 3/- to heavy to balance the inherent disadvantage of armor against the advantages of the damage reduction. Giving DR 1/- at an affordable price with no disadvantage beyond losing the body slot is not balanced. That is high-priced magic item territory.
This is why I am here.
My first thought was obviously broken. This appears to be better, but I am not "there" yet. Going back to the Djezet Skin you suggested earlier, and seeing if I can modify from there.
(Pity, because it wasn't too far off from what Carbon Fiber clothing actually does.)
Imagine me inventing a Fire Clip, priced 6,000 gp, that if attached to a +1 weapon grants it the flaming ability. That is the same price as permanently upgrading the enchantment to +1 flaming, and I will emphasize that the Fire Clip does not work on +2 weapons. Still, the ability to attach and remove the Fire Clip at will makes it better than upgrading the enchantment. Less downtime, for example. Your Carbon Fiber Bodysuit has the same convenience as the Fire Clip.
You mean like Tracer Rounds for firearms?