I rarely deal with intelligent items, but upon rereading and comparing Pathfinder's to the 3.5 OGL rules, it's rather pleasant to have more modular rules instead of fixed special abilities. But to be frank, I think some of the weaker abilities are easier on the average GM's games. An intelligent sword that can cast endure elements on you or mage armor when its wielder helps it with its dedicated purpose is a bit more flavorful and less likely to "break" a game than the holy sword capable of holy smite thrice a day and auto-true resurrecting its wielder while questing.
Thus said, I think it'd be easier to use intelligent magic items with powers more piddly than what are currently on the list. I'm looking for thoughts and suggestions on the following:
1. On powers, there's sections for 0th-level spells at will, 1st spells 3/day, and it jumps up the ranks for 2nd through 4th spells, priced both at 1/day and 3/day. What would the price and ego (presumably +1) of the ability to cast a 1st level spell 1/day or the ability to cast a 0th-level effect 3/day? Dare I ask about 0th level effects 1/day?
2. On dedicated powers, the list starts at 4th-level at-will and moves up from there? What of 1st-3rd level at-will dedicated powers? What of dedicated spellcasting powers not at will, such as 1/day or 3/day? Would one simply use the prices from the non-dedicated list? Would there be a reduction in prices if this method were used, because the powers were situational?
Thanks in advance.
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1. On powers, there's sections for 0th-level spells at will, 1st spells 3/day, and it jumps up the ranks for 2nd through 4th spells, priced both at 1/day and 3/day. What would the price and ego (presumably +1) of the ability to cast a 1st level spell 1/day or the ability to cast a 0th-level effect 3/day? Dare I ask about 0th level effects 1/day?
2. On dedicated powers, the list starts at 4th-level at-will and moves up from there? What of 1st-3rd level at-will dedicated powers? What of dedicated spellcasting powers not at will, such as 1/day or 3/day? Would one simply use the prices from the non-dedicated list? Would there be a reduction in prices if this method were used, because the powers were situational?
The costs come directly from the "Magic Item Gold Piece Values" table on page 550. Mostly you just use "Use-activated or continuous" and "Charges per day" lines - noting the qualifiers at the foot of the table.
So at will is "Use-activated or continuous" = Spell level x caster level x 2,000 gp - noting all the qualifiers at the foot of the table.
So the listed special ability of Magic Aura (1st level spell) looks to cost 1x1x2000.
A 1st level spell 1 times a day is 1x1x2000/(charges per day modifier of 5/1). So 2000/5 = 400gp
I also note you can have very cheap intelligent items, that are more flavorful than powerful. A 0th level spell once/day is only 200gp and that is the only cost option you need to take when creating a magic item (no stats above 10, empathy and 30ft senses). Though it does need to be added to an existing intelligent item. It can also be very irritating as it is alignment sensitive giving negative levels to non-aligned bearers.