I have a player in my Shackled City game whose character is a level 12 wizard. He is wishing to create the following item, which I am looking for input on.
He wants to create something that will take up the neck slot that basically acts as an always on shield spell. I'm very hesitant about an item such as this, but agreed to at least research it.
According to the creation rules as written it seems pretty straight forward to make it. I am aware that these rules are simply guidelines, but for the sake of argument let's look at them.
The magic item creation rules say that for an item that is continuous or use activated the formula is:
spell level x caster level x 2,000
So for a continuous shield spell the formula looks like this:
1 x 1 x 2,000 = 2,000
But for an item based on a spell that has a duration of 1 minute/level we need to multiply the total price by 2.
So the total price of the item is 4,000gp by the RAW as far as I can tell.
This seems underpriced to me. He gains a +4 shield bonus to AC that also protects against touch and incorporeal attacks as well as effectively being immune to magic missile spells.
Looking at similar items I find the ring of force shield, which grants only a +2 bonus to AC and nothing else, costs 8,500gp. So it reinforces my opinion that the item by the rules is underpriced.
Any advice on a realistic market price for something like this?
|
1. For AC deflection bonus: bonus squared x 2000 gp = 32000gp
2. Spell level x caster level x 2000gp x 2 = 4000gp (compared to the 1500 gp brooch of shielding this still seems a bit low)
So total value would be 36000gp. To get this from a ring of protection + brooch of shielding would be total value of 33500, but the brooch runs out.
I would probably accept the price, or something close like 40k. The ability to block magic missiles isn't huge.
|
1. For AC deflection bonus: bonus squared x 2000 gp = 32000gp
2. Spell level x caster level x 2000gp x 2 = 4000gp (compared to the 1500 gp brooch of shielding this still seems a bit low)
So total value would be 36000gp. To get this from a ring of protection + brooch of shielding would be total value of 33500, but the brooch runs out.
I would probably accept the price, or something close like 40k. The ability to block magic missiles isn't huge.
The bonus from Shield, IIRC, is not a Deflection Bonus but a Shield bonus. As it does not count for Touch AC, I would lower the price somewhat. Let's say 33500?
|
|
The bonus from Shield, IIRC, is not a Deflection Bonus but a Shield bonus. As it does not count for Touch AC, I would lower the price somewhat. Let's say 33500?
It is a shield bonus. However, since you are gaining the bonus without having an existing shield enhanced you are effectively getting a "free" enhancement bonus, which equates it more with natural armor bonus (which uses the same formula as deflection). But noting that I am more inclined to accept 36k as the base price.
I would look at an Amulet of Natural Armor +4 and add a bit more for the carrier effect of being immune to Magic Missile. Maybe look at Amulet of Natural Armor +4 plus a constant Spell Immunity to Magic Missile on the same item cost.
Because this is a continuous AC granting effect, the base price is calculated as AC bonus (other): Bonus squared x 2,500 gp = 16 x 2,500 gp = 40,000 gp. Unlimited magic missile negation would cost IMO 5,000 gp (a brooch of shielding costs 1,500 gp and negates 101 points of damage, effectively around 30 charges at 1d4+1 points per charge; Charged (50 charges) costs "1/2 unlimited use base price").
So, for a continuous-effect magic item that duplicates the shield spell (+4 shield bonus to AC, negates magic missiles), the market price would be 40,000 gp + (5,000 gp x 1.5) = 47,500 gp.
The force shield ring gains a slight break (8,500 gp instead of 10,000 gp), because it requires the use of a hand, which prevents its use when fighting with a two-handed weapon or with a double weapon/weapon in each hand.
It may be better to create an item that can create a shield spell effect a number of times each day (at 1 min/level duration, even at CL 1 it will last through most single encounters). That would only have a base price of Command word (spell level x caster level x 1,800 gp = 1 x 1 x 1,800 gp = 1,800 gp) modified by Charges per day (divide by (5 divided by the number of charges per day)). So, it would have a market price of 1,800 gp / (5 / # charges per day) = 1,800 gp x # charges per day / 5 = 360 gp x # charges per day.
These are all good analyses of the issue. (Don't forget that if he has the Craft Wondrous Item feat that it will only cost him xp and half the gp value to create it.) I wouldn't be averse to charging 47,500 gp myself. It is an appropriate item for a wizard of this level.
It might not come up often, but I think I'd limit the amount of magic missile damage to a daily max of 100 hp. That would be a houserule of course.