Can you tell the difference between a staff and a giant-size rod? What if you find a wand that functions like a staff, because it was made as a staff by a pixie sorcerer? And given all the humans and gnomes running around, how do you tell the difference between a gnome staff, a human rod and a giant wand?
My general rule is that "Craft X" give you the ability to craft something that does a particular sort of function. Wands have 50 charges of one spell. Staves have 50 charges that can be used on multiple spells. Etc.
I use "Craft Wondrous Item" as "Craft Magical Item with Single Permanent Function that is not a Weapon Bonus or Armor Bonus (covered by Craft Magical Arms and Armor)." You want something like that that happens to be shaped like a weapon? Fine.
Also note that I don't rule that you need to have a +1 weapon for it to accept other enchantments, for the simple reason that you do not need a +1 quarterstaff to make a magic staff, nor does casting Continual Flame on your belt dagger make it a magic weapon, even though it is obviously now a weapon with a permanent magic upon it.
Note of course these are house rules, but pretty common ones.
"Any reason a weapon CAN'T be a wonderous item? "
You mean like a guantlet (a weapon) being a wonderous item? No, as long as it does not tread over other rules.
I've got an idea for a magic item for a Pathfinder campaign I want to write. Its a staff. But, I don't want it to simply be a spell container.
Any reason I can't simply design it as a wondrous item that is coincidentally a staff?
I don't see why not.
I've converted an old 1e module (The Shattered Statue, DQ 1), and had to do something similar myself. The module described a magical bronze dagger as follows: "This tool affects flesh or metal like a normal dagger, but cuts stone like it was warm butter (i.e., it attacks stone as if were unarmored flesh and does damage like a two-handed sword)."
My converted version had a slightly different dagger: a bronze dagger which allows the wielder to use Stone Shape 1/day and Disintegrate 1/tenday. Like Kevin said, it's a weapon with a permanent enchantment, but not a magical weapon (no +1, etc.).
Sure, I could have gone with a "Dagger +1, Construct-Bane" or something similar, but I think that my version has better flavour to support the context (the dagger is found in a quarry used to construct a stone golem). If I had chosen to combine the two versions - the Stone Shape and Disintegrate with the +1 and Construct-Bane - that dagger would have been way too expensive.
I've got an idea for a magic item for a Pathfinder campaign I want to write. Its a staff. But, I don't want it to simply be a spell container.
Any reason I can't simply design it as a wondrous item that is coincidentally a staff?
There isn't any reason why you cant. The thing to remember is that it does not count as a magic weapon for any purposes unless it is also enchanted as a magic weapon. What "wonderous" actually means is that it doesn't work like any of the other item creation feats. As a wonderous item it does not and cannot provide an enhancement bonus to attack or damage, it does not get the extra hardness and hp that magic weapon does, does not overcome dr /magic and it can be sundered as a wonderous item rather than a weapon (this does actually make a difference). Anything in the shape of a staff, be it a wonderous item, large rod, magic staff, etc. can be used to attack just like a non-magical staff can.
Here is an odd ball example should make the point. The mighty Spear of Flying (the item formerly know as Broom). Stick this sucker between your legs, cackle madly (command word), and away you go. Makes for a great unexpected escape item.
Here is an odd ball example should make the point. The mighty Spear of Flying (the item formerly know as Broom). Stick this sucker between your legs, cackle madly (command word), and away you go. Makes for a great unexpected escape item.
Hmm, but if you point the pointy end forward it would make for a nasty charge attack.
|
OK....so now I'm kinda stumped.
I looked over my notes and decided what I wanted the staff to accomplish was way overboard.
So, I'm thinking perhaps a magic set is more appropriate. The idea is the set could be used by Lawful clerics.
Vestments of the Inquisitor
Staff of Righteousness
Symbol of Fear (CL6)
Magic Weapon, Greater (CL5)
All chaotic creatures within 60' must save or suffer fear.
Robes of the Confessor
Discern Lies (CL4)
Eagle's Splendor (CL2)
Wearer may tell if subject is knowingly telling a lie
Wearer gains +4 to Diplomacy, Bluff and Intimidate
Amulet of Truth
Symbol of Persuasion (CL6)
Zone of Truth (CL2)
Subject must save vs. Will or be compelled to answer questions.
Scourge of the Inquisitor
Bestow Curse (CL3)
-6 to Will
|
|
How many times a day are we talking here?
what level play? I would bet that a single item with those powers would make a tempting artifact to build a campaign arc around but thats just me.
The character initially started out as a fallen paladin. I had issues trying to wedge him into Pathfinder Beta rules, though.
So, I switched him to a fallen cleric. Now Lawful Evil, used to be Lawful Good.
I guess it would make a good story arc to have the party pursuing the villain to recover the artifact.
(Originally, a paladin inquisitor of Iomedae comes to enjoy his work a little to much and is defrocked by her. Now he seeks to destroy her and become a god himself)
Times per day? I hadn't thought that far, yet, actually.
A further issue is trying to find a neutral/lawful clerical power/spell that would compel someone to answer questions. Charm person, suggest and their ilk are all arcane, not divine. So far, all the power of these items focus on depriving Fort and Will from the victim and fortify the wielder's.
Making a weapon into a wondrous item should probably be a tool item, and thus slot less costing you double. That is just my opinion.
Are tool items double? I thought items that had to basically be carried were normal, and only stuff that could operate without being held (Ioun Stones, Luckstone, Prayer Beads) cost the double for "no slot".
I could easily be wrong though.
Mighty cleaving comes to mind. Defending property is somewhat like Combat Expertise.
Magic Item Compendium has a few things that only boost one save, so a +2 save booster could be calculated. Only downside is that most feats are "typeless" bonuses, and most magic items aren't. Just something to keep in mind.
|
How many times a day are we talking here?
what level play? I would bet that a single item with those powers would make a tempting artifact to build a campaign arc around but thats just me.The character initially started out as a fallen paladin. I had issues trying to wedge him into Pathfinder Beta rules, though.
So, I switched him to a fallen cleric. Now Lawful Evil, used to be Lawful Good.
I guess it would make a good story arc to have the party pursuing the villain to recover the artifact.
(Originally, a paladin inquisitor of Iomedae comes to enjoy his work a little to much and is defrocked by her. Now he seeks to destroy her and become a god himself)
Times per day? I hadn't thought that far, yet, actually.
A further issue is trying to find a neutral/lawful clerical power/spell that would compel someone to answer questions. Charm person, suggest and their ilk are all arcane, not divine.
Well don't forget that those spells are divine if they appear on the clerics domain list, and Miracle can emulate the effects of other spells allthough at a greater cost
|
|
depends on what it does. I always thought a staff would be a better feather token then a feather token. You stick the staff in the ground and bango instant tree. But hey thats just me.
Someones been watching Reruns of Monkey...Monkey Turns Staff into very large Fan and causes gust of wind/tornado.
No, what I would suggest is that a Steam Pistol (a wonderous item designed to bring water to steam with its HEAT METAL spell) is designed to propel a bullet from a barrel.
Is their any precedent for a magic item with a feat-like effect?
All the metamagic rods replicate a feat and require you to have the requisite feat to make them (unless you're an artificer using the special artificer cheese power or some other similar workaround).
