I've scoured my book and Paizo for the answer, but can't seem to find it.
How do you calculate how much a staff would cost to construct or cost to buy from a merchant?
I've scoured my book and Paizo for the answer, but can't seem to find it.
How do you calculate how much a staff would cost to construct or cost to buy from a merchant?
Also, can you make custom staves? That is, can you pick which spells are put on the staff and how many?
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Also, can you make custom staves? That is, can you pick which spells are put on the staff and how many?I've scoured my book and Paizo for the answer, but can't seem to find it.
How do you calculate how much a staff would cost to construct or cost to buy from a merchant?
Yes, it is very simple.
The major change from 3.5 is your max charges is now 10, but you can now recharge it.First, remember the formula uses the base cost: if you bought it you'd be paying double (market price) which is why crafting is awesome.
The text:
The materials cost is subsumed in the cost of creation: 400 gp × the level of the highest-level spell × the level of the caster, plus 75% of the value of the next most costly ability (300 gp × the level of the spell × the level of the caster), plus 1/2 the value of any other abilities (200 gp × the level of the spell × the level of the caster). Staves are always fully charged (10 charges) when created
Now we break it down:
Base cost: 400 gp × the level of the highest-level spell × the level of the caster
If you want a second spell: plus 75% of the value of the next most costly ability (300 gp × the level of the spell × the level of the caster),
Want a third or more: plus 1/2 the value of any other abilities (200 gp × the level of the spell × the level of the caster
Want it cheaper?
If desired, a spell can be placed into the staff at less than the normal cost, but then activating that particular spell drains additional charges from the staff. Divide the cost of the spell by the number of charges it consumes to determine its final price. Note that this does not change the order in which the spells are priced (the highest level spell is still priced first, even if it requires more than one charge to activate). The caster level of all spells in a staff must be the same, and no staff can have a caster level of less than 8th, even if all the spells in the staff are low-level spells.
Techincally this part should be errated:
The creator must have prepared the spells to be stored (or must know the spells, in the case of a sorcerer or bard) and must provide any focus the spells require as well as material component costs sufficient to activate the spell 50 times (divide this amount by the number of charges one use of the spell expends). Material components are consumed when he begins working, but focuses are not. (A focus used in creating a staff can be reused.) The act of working on the staff triggers the prepared spells, making them unavailable for casting during each day of the staff 's creation. (That is, those spell slots are expended from the caster's currently prepared spells, just as if they had been cast.)
Why? Because there are no longer 50 charges per Staff. Seems like a carry over from 3.5. But for now we use those rules.
I'll make 3 staffs (the 1st will have a material component)
But anyway, let us make a Staff of highest spell Stoneskin (3rd lv because summoner exist as a class) and secondary Slow (2nd), 3rd: Haste (2nd)
Stoneskin: 250 gp as a material component
400 gp × 3 × the 8th (minimum caster allowed to craft it, we can go higher but cost more)= 9600.
2nd spell: 300 gp × 2 × 8= 4800
3rd spell: 200 gp × 2 × 8= 3200
Normally it cost: 17, 800 gp + material component x50 (=25x500=12500)= 30, 300 gp.
We can reduce this by making stoneskin cost 2 charges per casting.
13, 000 + 6, 250 = 19, 250 gp for the staff.
Staff 2
But anyway, let us make a Staff of highest spell Fireball (3rd lv) and secondary Fly (3rd), 2nd: Mirror image (2nd)
400 gp × 3 × the 8th (minimum caster allowed to craft it, we can go higher but cost more)= 9600.
2nd spell: 300 gp × 3 × 8= 7200
3rd spell: 200 gp × 2 × 8= 3200
Normally: 20, 000 gp.
But if we make Fly cost 2 charges (sometimes fly isn't needed). That reduce price by 3600.
So new price: 16, 400 gp for the staff.
Staff 3: This time just 1 spell (Magic Missile with a metamagic feat).
Maxmized Magic Missile (1+3=4): 400 x 4x 8 = 12, 800
Now, we make each use cost 3 charges: 4, 266 gp sp66 cp67 to make.
Sure, it takes 3 days to recharge a useage (you can recharge 1 charge/day), but it is cheap and gets the job done.
Out of curiousity (and because I am feeling lazy), what is the multiplier if the highest level spell is a cantrip? (0.5 would be my guess).
Also, can you make custom staves? That is, can you pick which spells are put on the staff and how many?I've scoured my book and Paizo for the answer, but can't seem to find it.
How do you calculate how much a staff would cost to construct or cost to buy from a merchant?
Yes, it is very simple.
The major change from 3.5 is your max charges is now 10, but you can now recharge it.First, remember the formula uses the base cost: if you bought it you'd be paying double (market price) which is why crafting is awesome.
The text:
The materials cost is subsumed in the cost of creation: 400 gp × the level of the highest-level spell × the level of the caster, plus 75% of the value of the next most costly ability (300 gp × the level of the spell × the level of the caster), plus 1/2 the value of any other abilities (200 gp × the level of the spell × the level of the caster). Staves are always fully charged (10 charges) when createdNow we break it down:
Base cost: 400 gp × the level of the highest-level spell × the level of the caster
If you want a second spell: plus 75% of the value of the next most costly ability (300 gp × the level of the spell × the level of the caster),
Want a third or more: plus 1/2 the value of any other abilities (200 gp × the level of the spell × the level of the casterWant it cheaper?
If desired, a spell can be placed into the staff at less than the normal cost, but then activating that particular spell drains additional charges from the staff. Divide the cost of the spell by the number of charges it consumes to determine its final price. Note that this does not change the order in which the spells are priced (the highest level spell is still priced first, even if it requires more than one charge to activate). The caster level of all spells in a staff must be the same, and no staff can have a caster level of less than 8th, even if all the spells in the staff are low-level spells.Techincally...
My goodness, that is so helpful! I finally understand why people prefer staves over wands, too. Thank you thank you thank you!
Out of curiousity (and because I am feeling lazy), what is the multiplier if the highest level spell is a cantrip? (0.5 would be my guess).
I'd assume so, but aren't cantrips at will? I guess UMD if you want a spell off another spell list.
So let us try Prestidigitation Price 400 x 0.5 x8 = 1600 gp.
Cheaper if we make it two charges: then 800 gp.
Out of curiousity (and because I am feeling lazy), what is the multiplier if the highest level spell is a cantrip? (0.5 would be my guess).I'd assume so, but aren't cantrips at will? I guess UMD if you want a spell off another spell list.
So let us try Prestidigitation Price 400 x 0.5 x8 = 1600 gp.
Cheaper if we make it two charges: then 800 gp.
They're only at will when they're cast. Not from items unless it's designed to do so.
So... a 10th level Staff Magus could make a caster level 20 staff that casts a single cantrip that takes 10 charges for what, 400g? That would be a +5 weapon for them... not a bad price.
Something to not let happen in your game: custom staves with staff magus.
Sean Mahoney