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Various topics discuss this at length, but none of them have so far answered my questions.
I have a problem calculating CL on magic items that's not in the PCR. When it's only +X items, it has a defined rule for it, but when it has abilities, I can find nothing in the rules answering this.
Do I handle the base price modifier that comes with each item ability, like I would with a +2 weapon (multiply the +2 by 3)?
For example, a keen weapon has a base price modifier of +1, would that mean the CL is upped by 3?
Second question I have is how to add up CL on items with many abilities. What would, for instance, the CL of a +2 keen, vicious weapon be?
Grateful for answers!
A +2 keen weapon would be the same as a +2 weapon. You take either the enhancement bonus of the weapon or the highest equivalent enhancement bonus of the special abilities. In this case, keen counts as +1, so since 2 is higher you go with the +2. If it was +2 vorpal keen, then it would be a CL15, since vorpal is +5.
Do I handle the base price modifier that comes with each item ability, like I would with a +2 weapon (multiply the +2 by 3)?
No, not usually. Not all weapon abilities are created equally. But each ability has a CL in the description of the ability. Just use that when it's in the core rules.
When you go for an ability that isn't in the core rules, chances are that the sourcebook you are using lists a CL for that ability anyway, so just use that.
For example, a keen weapon has a base price modifier of +1, would that mean the CL is upped by 3?
No, the Core rules say that Keen has a CL of 10. It doesn't matter whether you are putting it on a +1 sword or a +9 sword, the CL for Keen is 10.
Second question I have is how to add up CL on items with many abilities. What would, for instance, the CL of a +2 keen, vicious weapon be?
You don't add CL. You just use the highest CL.
So the CL for your sword would be:
+2: CL 6
Keen: CL 10
Vicious: CL 9
Total CL to create this weapon: 10.
This is the same logic as if you asked me "what level do I need to be to cast Fireball, Cone of Cold, and Disintegrate?" My answer would be 11th level, because an 11th level wizard can cast all of those. I certainly wouldn't add them together (5th + 9th +11th) and say that you need to be 25th level to cast those spells.
Likewise, a 10th level caster is capable of crafting all three of those weapon qualities, so you only need to be 10th level to create this weapon.
A +2 keen weapon would be the same as a +2 weapon. You take either the enhancement bonus of the weapon or the highest equivalent enhancement bonus of the special abilities. In this case, keen counts as +1, so since 2 is higher you go with the +2. If it was +2 vorpal keen, then it would be a CL15, since vorpal is +5.
What now?
Care to cite the source?
According to the core rulebook, Vorpal has a CL of 18.
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No, the Core rules say that Keen has a CL of 10. It doesn't matter whether you are putting it on a +1 sword or a +3 sword, the CL for Keen is 10.
Fix'd that for ya.
If you're putting an enhancement bonus of +4 or +5, the enhancement bonus' CL will be higher than that of Keen, (12 and 15 respectively).
But the rest of what you said is true: split the different abilities, find the CL for each, and take the highest.
If an item has both an enhancement bonus and a special ability, the higher of the two caster level requirements must be met.
But Keen doesn't have a caster level requirement, other than being a +1 enchantment. The CL10 bit isn't a requirement last I checked.
No, the Core rules say that Keen has a CL of 10. It doesn't matter whether you are putting it on a +1 sword or a +3 sword, the CL for Keen is 10.Fix'd that for ya.
If you're putting an enhancement bonus of +4 or +5, the enhancement bonus' CL will be higher than that of Keen, (12 and 15 respectively).
But the rest of what you said is true: split the different abilities, find the CL for each, and take the highest.
If an item has both an enhancement bonus and a special ability, the higher of the two caster level requirements must be met.
It didn't need to be fixed.
The CL for keen is 10. Even if you put it on a +50 sword, the CL for Keen is 10. That doesn't mean the CL for the item you are making will be 10.
Clearly, if you put Keen (CL10) onto a +5 sword (CL15), the CL to create this item is 15. But the CL for Keen is still 10.
I am wrong. I thought that you used the equivalent enhancement bonus of the quality. After looking over it, I am wrong. I never noticed that they assigned each quality a caster level before.
The rest doesn't change though. You still use the highest caster level present, you do not add them. The +2 keen vicious example would be CL10, since vicious is CL9 and keen is CL10, and the +2 is CL6. +2 Keen vorpal would be 18, since vorpal is CL18.
Thanks, a bit clearer now. But I have a follow up question:)
Just so I'm sure I got this right...
a +2 keen weapon would have a
CL of 10
Base price of 18000 (+1 base price for keen, +2 for +2 bonus = +3, 3x3=9 and according to table 15-29 multiply that with 2000, wich would end up on 18000gp)
Cost to create 9K
...right?
Thanks, a bit clearer now. But I have a follow up question:)
Just so I'm sure I got this right...
a +2 keen weapon would have a
CL of 10
Base price of 18000 (+1 base price for keen, +2 for +2 bonus = +3, 3x3=9 and according to table 15-29 multiply that with 2000, wich would end up on 18000gp)
Cost to create 9K...right?
Don't have the book in front of me, but that sounds right. Don't forget to add the price of the masterwork weapon in as well (Usually a little over 300gp).
Thanks, a bit clearer now. But I have a follow up question:)
Just so I'm sure I got this right...
a +2 keen weapon would have a
CL of 10
Base price of 18000 (+1 base price for keen, +2 for +2 bonus = +3, 3x3=9 and according to table 15-29 multiply that with 2000, wich would end up on 18000gp)
Cost to create 9K...right?
Your math is correct. This is the base price of the enchantment (18,000 gp), which is also used to calculate the time it will take (18 days) and the cost of the raw materials of the enchantment (9,000 gp).
And what MDT said also applies, so in addition to the cost of the enchantment (if you're buying it in a store) or in addition to the raw materials cost if you're making it yourself, you also need to pay the price of the masterwork weapon. This price is 300 gp + the price of the specific weapon being used (from the equipment list in chapter 6).
So a +2 keen longsword would cost 18,315 gp if you buy it somewhere, or it will cost you 9,315 gp to make one yourself.
Just to add to what DM_Blake said, if you have the correct craft skills and can make the weapon yourself, you can also halve the price for that as well. So, the +2 Keen Longsword, assuming you forged it from raw materials, would cost you 9,157.5 gp. This would of course require a DC 20 Craft(Weapons) check (several actually, as you'd craft the 157.5 gp worth of crafting for the MW longsword first, then you'd craft the magic into it once you'd created the MW longsword).
Thanks, a bit clearer now. But I have a follow up question:)
Just so I'm sure I got this right...
a +2 keen weapon would have a
CL of 10
Base price of 18000 (+1 base price for keen, +2 for +2 bonus = +3, 3x3=9 and according to table 15-29 multiply that with 2000, wich would end up on 18000gp)
Cost to create 9K...right?
Your math is correct. This is the base price of the enchantment (18,000 gp), which is also used to calculate the time it will take (18 days) and the cost of the raw materials of the enchantment (9,000 gp).
And what MDT said also applies, so in addition to the cost of the enchantment (if you're buying it in a store) or in addition to the raw materials cost if you're making it yourself, you also need to pay the price of the masterwork weapon. This price is 300 gp + the price of the specific weapon being used (from the equipment list in chapter 6).
So a +2 keen longsword would cost 18,315 gp if you buy it somewhere, or it will cost you 9,315 gp to make one yourself.
Of course every game I have ever played in ignored the masterwork cost after +1 items, because it just wasn't worth keeping track of that scale of money. 2315 that 315 is significant. 8315, its not really and people just ignore it.
Thanks a lot everyone!