In a game I'm currently playing, I've expressed a desire to have made for me a wondrous item that gives the effect of a continuous Protection from Evil on the wearer. As I read the cost (based on chart on page 550 of the Core Rulebook), the price would be 4,000 GP (spell level 1 X caster level 1 [since, as I understand it, the person enchanting the item does not need to be the one who knows the spell, and since Protection from Evil doesn't scale, there's no reason to have anyone higher than level 1 cast the spell for the enchanting] X 2,000 GP X 2 [for spells lasting 1 minute per level]. The GM believes this to be an extremely powerful effect for 4K GP, and he asked me to come to the boards for clarification on the pricing, since neither of us are experts in the proper valuation of magic items.
To clarify, we both understand that the GM can, by fiat, raise the price of anything; he's just not sure how much to raise it, or whether to raise it at all.
So, advice?
|
The best way is to compare with similar magic items and to price it accordingly. The reason for this is that by using the table, you would get for 4000 GP an item giving +4 shield to AC - and this is only munchkin wet dream material. Protection from evil is also one of those spells that can't easily be priced as continuous items since thise would be so potent. But let's try.
Let's compare the effects and the price of items working the same way :
+2 Deflection bonus = 8000 GP (Ring of protection).
+2 Resistance bonus to saves = 4000 GP (Cloak of resistance).
Throw another dice with a +2 bonus against mental effects allowing a save. (Easily a 10000 GP price here.)
Immunity to possession. (8000 GP, similar to Ring of Mind Shielding in a way, let's say 10000 GP for usefulness.)
Can't be touched by summoned creatures, except those with a Spell Resistance. (Nice effect, but easily avoidable if the spell isn't of high level enough since the spell resistance will overcome it without any problem. Let's say 6000 GP.)
Highest : 10 000 gp.
+ 8000 + 4000 + 6000 + 10000 = 10000 + 28000.
Add 50% to each secondary effect's price for sharing the item emplacement on the body.
=> 10000 + 42000.
Lower by 25% the global price because it works only against evil creatures (specific conditions for the item), but evil creatures are also the most encountered, especially if you need this item at first, so no higher discount.
Edit : finishing the estimation.
=> 52000 - 25% = 39 000.
This item's bonuses don't stack with basic, commonly used defensive items (Ring/Cloak), it also reproduces an effect easily available through a simple one-level spell and thus is only permanent as a counter-measure against sudden attack. I would give a good additional 25% discount to it.
=> 52000 - 50% = 26 000.
I may be a bit high or low, but it seems like a good investment for any class trying to protect itself constantly from evil.
"Is this a worthy investment ?" is another question = most classes for which this item looks like a must have/shiny goody can already cast the spell themselves at full caster level. For others, like fighters in an evil campaign without any cleric/paladin to deal with the spell, this seems IMHO like something worth it's price.
|
4000gp is definitely too low.
If your GM is using ioun stone resonances from Seekers of Secrets, with fixed resonances for each stone rather than random resonances, and you have access to a wayfinder, then you can get the protection from possession and mental control part of protection from evil from a resonant power.
The clear spindle ioun stone (4000gp) sustains creatures without food and water and has a 75% chance of resonating with your wayfinder and producing the protection from possession and mental control.
I think that this resonant power alone is too strong for 4000gp and have removed it from my games, but this could be a way to get part of what you are looking for.
I knew I wasn't gonna get off easy. :-D Thanks.