Before anything else, let me say that I really, REALLY, enjoy the Faction Guide. It is an incredibly sleek piece of work, with clear and confident guidelines and fun creative and balanced new additions to the game - on top of adding fantastically flavorful and plot-hook-friendly fluff to the world of Golarion.
But, I ask in exasperation, what can possibly justify Ki Crystals? 2000gp for a once-only use ki point that may only be used by characters with the ki pool class feature. A single potion of haste costs 750gp and is in almost all ways superior to a ki crystal. I just cannot fathom what justifies the cost.
I feel like I must be missing something; so please enlighten me.
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Here is the full text from the Archives.
Ki Crystal
Source Faction Guide 59
Aura moderate transmutation; CL 10th
Slot none; Price 2,000 gp; Weight —
Description
Created by the masters within the Kusari-Gama faction, this thumbnail-sized crystal stores a single point of ki. Any person with the ki pool ability may expend the stored ki as if using his own ki. Once the ki is expended, the crystal shatters. In Minkai, the Kusari-Gama monks sometimes craft ki crystals into the hilts of powerful weapons. In Vudra, such crystals are often embedded in small animal statuettes or in shrines venerating a favored deity.
Construction
Requirements ki pool, Kusari-Gama 40 TPA; Cost 1,000 gp
So... dunno. A free action?
Since he uses it like it is his own Ki it would be used as part of the action that is used to use the power he is using.
So if he was using it to flurry it would be part of the swift action for the extra attack.
If he was using it to heal himself it would be part of the standard action used for the healing power.
It requires no action on its own since it counts "as part of his Ki Pool."
Wait,they are like Magic Item Conpendium Weapon Crystals but 1/use?
No, not like weapon crystals from the Magic Item Compendium.
It a single-use ki-point for a monk.
I cannot understand what makes it worth 2000gp.
Then again, monks usually get the short end of the staff.
...how else can you keep a near-imba class balanced? ;p
Yeah, if it cost a tenth of that price (200gp), I would consider purchasing one. For 2000gp I would want one that could be reused.
Especially considering a potion of haste (which most people consider far too expensive for the benefit for PC's)A potion is a bad comparison considering you are looking at a move action to draw and a standard action to quaff it.
Boots of speed are a better comparison.
-James
Yes, boots of speed are a great comparison; and a ki crystal doesn't begin to compare.
Add to this, that the ability to make these crystals is reserved only for characters that achieved the highest echelon of the Kusari Gama faction (with at least 40 Total Prestige Award). In-character that means you probably get to make these when you're level 10 to 15ish. That is really high for a very minor wondrous item.
Keep in mind that the Advanced Player's Guide may have some new ki-based abilities or feats that explains the cost.
Keep in mind that the Advanced Player's Guide may have some new ki-based abilities or feats that explains the cost.
Almost too much to hope for. Curse you for raising my monk-based expectations! ;)
...though I'd be hard pressed to imagine a feat/ability that is so potent that a single use of it warrants 2000gp. And that assumes it is a single-ki-point ability. The "good" abilities tend to cost 2, 3, or even more (an ability for 6 ki points is presented in the Faction Guide). Using that ability once would consume 12000gp worth of ki crystals.
It does seem priced for reuse, such as spending a ki point to fill it back up.
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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Compare it to a pearl of power - 1000 gp for re-using a 1st level spell once per day, and 4000 for a 2nd level spell. It certainly seems like it was priced for re-use, but the description doesn't match up - wonder if in editing they changed it from one to the other, and didn't update both the text and the price.
Or maybe they got over eager with the "0"s
Or maybe they got over eager with the "0"s
Probably.
The item is way overpowered.
Somehow, items have been off in the last couple of books, either useless or overpriced - or both.
Somehow, items have been off in the last couple of books, either useless or overpriced - or both.
I wouldn't go that far - I like that they bring out new utility items and options that don't exhibit power creep. But are generally still viable choices. I'm primarily concerned with getting more choices (needless to say I'm awaiting the Advanced Players Guide with bated breath).
Unfortunately the Ki Crystal is a non-starter as far as I'm concerned.
In the Magic Item Compendium they have an Essentia Jewel that grants a single point of essentia to use for 1 round, very similar in concept with the Ki Crystal. They priced that at 400 gp. I would say that would be a good price for the ki crystal as well.
my 2 copper.
Almost too much to hope for. Curse you for raising my monk-based expectations! ;)
...though I'd be hard pressed to imagine a feat/ability that is so potent that a single use of it warrants 2000gp. And that assumes it is a single-ki-point ability. The "good" abilities tend to cost 2, 3, or even more (an ability for 6 ki points is presented in the Faction Guide). Using that ability once would consume 12000gp worth of ki crystals.
True. Given that, I would have have to agree it does seem over priced as a single use item. As a one per day item, maybe not so much.
Or maybe they got over eager with the "0"sProbably.
The item is way overpowered.
That, of course, should read "overpriced".
Somehow, items have been off in the last couple of books, either useless or overpriced - or both.I wouldn't go that far - I like that they bring out new utility items and options that don't exhibit power creep. But are generally still viable choices.
It's not utility items. Utility items are okay. A folding ladder doesn't have to grant me +2 on climb or anything.
It's mainly about arms and armour that are either very, very similar to existing pieces (and should just be a variant, like they don't list a broadsword or claymore), or aren't worth their GP price in coppers, or are inferior to existing stuff.
I understand that power creep is bad, but I want stuff that wasn't there before and that is actually useful (especially for the price you pay). Otherwise, it may not be power creep, but rules bloat.
True. Given that, I would have have to agree it does seem over priced as a single use item. As a one per day item, maybe not so much.
I might get one, then.
As it stands, the ki crystals' price pretty much ensures that nobody will ever buy one:
At low levels, you just can't afford blowing 2000 gp on an item that gives you something like a one-round speed boost or AC bonus - when you first gain access to the ki-pool, that is essentially what you get out of one ki point.
Instead of blowing 2000gp for one round worth of boosts, you could get several potions that give you similar boosts, but for a longer time, and for less money!
Even at high levels, when you get more powerful abilities, blowing 4000 for a semi-quickened dimension door seems too much.
And even if it wasn't, by the time you can afford to blow 2000 gil on a one-shot item, you are probably loaded with ki points.