I'm trying to price out an item for my home game, want to add options for casters (particularly NPCs) without adding an item that no caster can be effective without.
* Mechanics work just like a metamagic rod, just single use.
* Flavor wise these items are cocoons of rare butterflies, magically enchanted to confer transformative effects on the user's spells.
Spell Chrysalis, Quicken
Aura Strong (No school); CL 15th
Slot none; Price 2,000 gp (lesser), 4,000 gp (normal), 8,500 gp (greater); Weight -
The possessor of this cocoon can expend it to cast one spell as though using the Quicken Spell feat.
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, Quicken Spell; Cost 1,000 gp (lesser), 2,000 gp (normal), 4,250 gp (greater)
Detailed rules and other varieties here
My question is, priced as is would your caster invest in these:
* Definitely
* Probably
* Sometimes/Depends on the caster
* Seldom
* Never
I'm much more interested at this stage in pricing based on perceived value by players rather than using math to set pricing.
For those who care: This item is open content
RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32
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Probably never buy the low level one. If I want to quicken, I will have the rod OR have the feat AND so many of the low level buffs last so long they are less in need of quickening.
The mid level one is something I would probably buy and hoard like a scroll.
The high level one is really expensive for a single use, but sometimes you know you are fighting the BBEG and you prepare accordingly.
I like the general idea of a consumable that someone above 10th level would want to buy or make.
It does depend on the caster, but in most cases yes I would buy these. A high level bard loves that 6th level and lower crystal. If you don't have the huge amount of gold to spend on the quickening rod this is a great option, even for low level ones. It would certainly put less pressure on my 5th level spell slots with my inquisitor.
I probably wouldn't buy or make them..
but I'd make use of those I found..(which is my same stance on potions and scrolls, actually, unless I'm scribing the scroll into my book.)
-S
I know I would buy it. Most of the time i have item creation feats so its even cheaper!
This can be a life saving item
I use something similar, based on scavenging monster, etc. parts (stolen from Hypertextd20). But this suddenly makes upgrading to Meta- items easier and less coin intensive. I like it!
Not sure if I'd also require the actual Meta- feat for creation or use. I think the item could work well as a 'get around' that mages lacking the feat might want to use. I see feat-starved Sorcerers investing in such.
Seldom buy. I would definitely keep any I looted to use in fights that I anticipated being difficult. Otherwise, I'd probably still try and save the money for actual Rods.
Price-wise I would say they are really cheap compared to items in the DMG and maybe a little expensive compared to the Magic Item Compendium.
Although you might compare them to Incense of Meditation in terms of determining pricing. That's another metamagic item that I would rarely ever buy, but would keep when I found it and it maximizes all your spells (if you are a druid or cleric, anyway.)
Seldom buy. I would definitely keep any I looted to use in fights that I anticipated being difficult. Otherwise, I'd probably still try and save the money for actual Rods.
Price-wise I would say they are really cheap compared to items in the DMG and maybe a little expensive compared to the Magic Item Compendium.
Although you might compare them to Incense of Meditation in terms of determining pricing. That's another metamagic item that I would rarely ever buy, but would keep when I found it and it maximizes all your spells (if you are a druid or cleric, anyway.)
But incense of meditation is only 4,900 gp (half if you craft it and why wouldn't you, you need BLESS)! It actually got a ban at my table since suddenly damage spells for cleric/druid were really good. Especially when empowered. An empowered max flame strike that deals 45 damage on a successful save is actually pretty broken, even if a lot of creatures make that save. Might be less so in Pathfinder, but my ban still stands.
More on topic, the Empowered Spell Shard item from the Magic Item Compedium is like this but it only applies to one spell and is WAY more expensive. Does/did this item have an impression on the design of this item or is this supposed to be more like a rod?
By comparison to incense of meditation they do seem a bit high for pricing.
But then again perhaps the Incense is priced too low.
Sounds like we've got a good mix of folks who would buy or craft it and some who wouldn't which tells me this pricing is workable, thanks for your feedback everyone!
I would say "seldom", because of the relatively high price.
I'd definitely include it as a new treasure type. Of course defenders facing defeat would probably blow these things for themselves.
Sigurd
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 8
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I really like the idea.
I'd use them for silent and still metamagic effects. These would be a great "oh @#$%" item for a caster to get out of a nasty grapple, or iron bands of billaro or something similar without needing a rarely used metamagic rod or feat.
I also love the presentation of the mechanic with evocative imagery.
Nicely done, Maugan
-QGJ