When creating magic items, it lists clearly in the book what the actual cost is to create the item under "Construction" of the item.
However, I am a bit confused how they get there. From what I see, it usually the half the Market price of the item to create it. But then I see references in the book that the cost to create is of 'half the base cost', but that base cost and Market price are not necessarily the same.
For those times when base cost and Market price are different, what determines that? And how is it figured out?
The Base price and the market price are the same with the exception of any additional expensive components.
The Base price for a +1 sword is 2K gp. The Market price for a +1 sword is base price plus the cost of the MW weapon to be enchanted. So for a longsword, the market price would be 2,315 gp. This represents the base cost (2K gold) plus the sword (15 gold) and making the sword as a MW item (300 gold).
Cost to create for a +1 sword is one half the base price, plus the components cost, or in this case, 1K gp plus the cost of the MW sword to be enchanted. In this case, the cost to create would be 1,315 gold pieces, or half the base cost plus the full cost of the component.
The base price is used to determine how long it takes to enchant the item. If the time to enchant is 1 day per 1K gp of the base price, then enchanting a +1 sword takes 2 days.
Does that help?
Edit: fixed my numbers. duh.
Yes, that makes complete sense.
Well, our party has been doing this incorrectly all along. When we've purchased magic weapons, we've only bought them at the base cost. (i.e. 2,000 gp for +1, 8,000 gp for +2, etc).
The reason I asked this question is I was looking up what it took to create the Tome books (increase in stats). It says it costs 26,250 gp to create the book. I am assuming the 25,000 gp diamond as well the crafting of the book itself.
But this is obviously one of the situations where half the base cost is not around the same as half the Market cost, due to the expensive component (diamond). The book sells for 27, 500 gp, only 1,250 more than the creation costs.
Thanks for your help.
Glad I could help.
Happy gaming!
The Base price for a +1 sword is 2K gp.
Cost to create for a +1 sword is one half the base price, plus the components cost, or in this case, 1K gp plus the cost of the MW sword to be enchanted.
Do you have to have a +1 enhancement bonus on a weapon before placing a special ability on a weapon.
e.g. a holy sword.
would the bp be 18,000 or 8,000?
The weapon obviously needs to be masterwork, which gives the weapon a +1 enhancement bonus per page 149 in the PHB.
Page 551 the text says "A magic weapon must have 'at least' a +1 enhancement bonus to have any melee or ranged special weapon abilities."
Question: Does the masterwork +1 enhancement bonus satisfy the requirement of having at least a +1 enhancement bonus?
Do you have to have a +1 enhancement bonus on a weapon before placing a special ability on a weapon.
Yes.
e.g. a holy sword.
would the bp be 18,000 or 8,000?
18,000 for a +1 Holy sword.
The weapon obviously needs to be masterwork, which gives the weapon a +1 enhancement bonus per page 149 in the PHB.
The enhancement for being masterwork does not count as the prerequisite for a magical +1 enhancement bonus.
Page 551 the text says "A magic weapon must have 'at least' a +1 enhancement bonus to have any melee or ranged special weapon abilities."
Question: Does the masterwork +1 enhancement bonus satisfy the requirement of having at least a +1 enhancement bonus?
No.
You'll note that all magic weapons must be masterwork. Given that this is true (and it says so in the rules), then why even list this requirement to have "at least a +1 enhancement bonus" if the requirement of being masterwork already satisfies that?
The masterwork +1 enhancement bonus is only a bonus to hit (not to damage) and does not stack with the magical +x enhancement bonus that applies to hit and to damage on all magical weapons. Two separate and incompatible (non-stacking) bonuses.
And before you can put a magical special abilit on a weapon, you must have at least a magical +1 enhancement bonus on that weapon.
I agree with you that this could have been worded better in the rulebook.