A player in my group is wanting a custom magic item, a small crystal earring that automatically translates for the wearer. In essence, a D&D babel fish.
But, as I am aweful at creating/pricing custom items, I figured I'd post on Paizo about it.
I assume that the appropriate spell for creating the item would be Comprehend Languages.
Or, should such an item already exsist, where could I find it?
Any help would be appriciated.
-Kurocyn
A player in my group is wanting a custom magic item, a small crystal earring that automatically translates for the wearer. In essence, a D&D babel fish.
But, as I am aweful at creating/pricing custom items, I figured I'd post on Paizo about it.
I assume that the appropriate spell for creating the item would be Comprehend Languages.
Or, should such an item already exsist, where could I find it?
Any help would be appriciated.
-Kurocyn
what about a helm of comprehend languages and reading magic? the standard price for this is 5200gp, of course you would have to double that as it has no space limitation. to buy it would be 10,400gp and if they were making it themselves 5,200gp.
hope that helps
Kendrik
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Assuming your player wants to understand but not speak all languages, there are a few ways to do this depending on your desire to adhere to RAW (well at least what exists for magic item creation) and how strict you wish to be, but the approach I would use is just to use a Helm of Comprehending Languages and Reading Magic as the base item and then make it an earring. Problem solved.
Helm of Comprehend Languages and Read Magic
Appearing as a normal helmet, a helm of comprehend languages and read magic grants its wearer the ability to understand the spoken words of any creature and to read text in any language and any magical writing. The wearer gains a +5 competence bonus on Decipher Script checks to understand messages written in incomplete, archaic, or exotic forms. Note that understanding a magical text does not necessarily imply spell use. Faint divination; CL 4th; Craft Wondrous Item, comprehend languages, read magic; Price 5,200 gp; Weight 3 lb.
You need to decide, since "ear" is not an "official" body slot for a magic item, if magic helms, circlets or other headgear can be worn while the earring is worn. If they can be used, you may want to increase the item's price by as much as 1.5 times the base price to account for this extra feature of the item. You can also leave the price the same, provide this special body slot affinity and rule that the earring does not allow the translation of written or magical works and does not provide the +5 bonus to Decipher Script like the Helm does since it is an earring, not a brain-encompassing helm.
That is how I would do it. I try to avoid going the RAW/table-based approach wherever possible.
The cheapest version would be to base it on the Comprehend Languages spell. The downside being that if you base it on that spell, the wearer would have to touch the person to understand them.
Cost for that is 3000 for a continuous use item.
That cost is based on level 1 spell, level 1 caster and continuous base of 2000 multiplied by 1.5 (spell duration of 10 min/level). (DMG p285)
As Kendrik said, double the cost to 6000 as it does not occupy a body slot.
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a Pearl of Speech from the MIC is 600gp and takes up the face slot allowing the user to speak and understand one language.
I would say that an item that lets you speak and understand ALL languages would be worth much more and if he wants it as an earring I would make it take up the face slot.
The ability to be able to speak any language is pretty huge and I would just multiply the 600gp times however many languages there are. I can imagine how much abuse an item like this would have from a Diplomatic PC. I would say a minimum of 20,000gp and likely more depending on how many languages there are including all monstrous languages.
I always thought slotless magic items had their price multiplied by 4, not 2. Was this 3.0, or do I need to take my meds?
The other option that is more expensive but makes the most sense (to me) is to use tongues. I would probally make it a set of earrings as well (don't just hear from one ear).
Tongues spell:
Tongues
Divination
Level: Brd 2, Clr 4, Sor/Wiz 3
Components: V, M/DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: 10 min./level
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: No
This spell grants the creature touched the ability to speak and understand the language of any intelligent creature, whether it is a racial tongue or a regional dialect. The subject can speak only one language at a time, although it may be able to understand several languages. Tongues does not enable the subject to speak with creatures who don’t speak. The subject can make itself understood as far as its voice carries. This spell does not predispose any creature addressed toward the subject in any way.
Tongues can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Arcane Material Component: A small clay model of a ziggurat, which shatters when the verbal component is pronounced.
Assuming it was made by a wizard/sorcerer and it will take the head body slot:
3x5x2000x1.5= 45,000 gp
Assuming it was made by a wizard/sorcerer and it doesn't take up the head slot:
3x5x2000x1.5x2= 90,000 gp
If we go with comprehend languages as the base spell it would be different.
Comprehend Languages spell:
Comprehend Languages
Divination
Level: Brd 1, Clr 1, Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S, M/DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 10 min./level
You can understand the spoken words of creatures or read otherwise incomprehensible written messages. In either case, you must touch the creature or the writing. The ability to read does not necessarily impart insight into the material, merely its literal meaning. The spell enables you to understand or read an unknown language, not speak or write it.
Written material can be read at the rate of one page (250 words) per minute. Magical writing cannot be read, though the spell reveals that it is magical. This spell can be foiled by certain warding magic (such as the secret page and illusory script spells). It does not decipher codes or reveal messages concealed in otherwise normal text.
Comprehend languages can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Arcane Material Component: A pinch of soot and a few grains of salt.
Assuming it was made by a wizard/sorcerer and it will take the head body slot:
1x1x2000x1.5= 3,000 gp
Assuming it was made by a wizard/sorcerer and it doesn't take up the head slot:
1x1x2000x1.5x2= 6,000 gp
Of course you could limit them as well to make it cheaper.
If the items only functioned once a day (to hear important info) then divide the costs above by five.
Assuming it was made by a wizard/sorcerer, used tongues, had one use per day (at a 50 min duration) and it will take the head body slot:
3x5x2000x1.5/5= 9,000 gp
Assuming it was made by a wizard/sorcerer, used tongues, had one use per day (at a 50 min duration) and it doesn't take up the head slot:
3x5x2000x1.5x2/5= 18,000 gp
Assuming it was made by a wizard/sorcerer, used comprehend languages, had one use per day (at a 10 min duration) and it will take the head body slot:
1x1x2000x1.5/5= 600 gp
Assuming it was made by a wizard/sorcerer, used comprehend languages, had one use per day (at a 10 min duration) and it doesn't take up the head slot:
1x1x2000x1.5x2/5= 1,200 gp
You could do other variations by adjusting the caster level (affects duration and such) and uses per day. But I'm sure you don't want to read further examples. the biggest difference is that tongues allows you to hear, read and talk without touching a person (or writen message) while comprehend languages does not allow you to speak or write and you must touch the subject. Which can make a situation... ahhh... touchy when negotiating with kings, queens and bugbears. Also not the best for eavesdropping.
I always thought slotless magic items had their price multiplied by 4, not 2. Was this 3.0, or do I need to take my meds?
From D20 SRD; Creating Magic Items; Table: Estimating Magic Item Gold Piece Values
At the bottom of the table, point 4.
4 An item that does not take up one of the spaces on a body costs double.
A player in my group is wanting a custom magic item, a small crystal earring that automatically translates for the wearer. In essence, a D&D babel fish.
But, as I am aweful at creating/pricing custom items, I figured I'd post on Paizo about it.
I assume that the appropriate spell for creating the item would be Comprehend Languages.
Or, should such an item already exsist, where could I find it?
Any help would be appriciated.
-Kurocyn
Do you want it to translate the wielder, too? If so, use tongues.
Do you want it to translate the wielder, too? If so, use tongues.A player in my group is wanting a custom magic item, a small crystal earring that automatically translates for the wearer. In essence, a D&D babel fish.
But, as I am aweful at creating/pricing custom items, I figured I'd post on Paizo about it.
I assume that the appropriate spell for creating the item would be Comprehend Languages.
Or, should such an item already exsist, where could I find it?
Any help would be appriciated.
-Kurocyn
my initial option was probably the easiest as it used an existing item but the others all have merrit too, it's a personal choice thing i guess
Kendrik
my initial option was probably the easiest as it used an existing item but the others all have merrit too, it's a personal choice thing i guess
Kendrik
Your initial idea was great Kendrik, it just did more than was asked.
It also works out the same:
Comprehend languages constant = 3000
Read magic constant = 1500 * 75% for related effect = 1125
+5 to Decipher script = 2500 * 50% for related effect = 1250
Total: 5375, vs. Helm 5200.
Wow...
Didn't think I'd get so many replies.
I'll clarify on the item though. Having the earring take up the face or head slot is fine. It's for flavor, not for an additional slot.
The item's purpose is that it only translates what he hears. It doesn't allow him to speak, write, or read any other languages. Just hear and understand.
Hope that helps.
Thank you all for the help, btw.
-Kurocyn