Magic item creation costs

[Marios]

Hello all!

Per the rules the cost to create a magic item is directly associated to the creator's caster level, right? For example, the cost to create a potion is 25 gp x spell level x caster level while for a fully charged wand the cost would be 375 gp x spell level x caster level, etc.

The above seems to imply that if a, say, 10th lvl cleric wants to create a potion of Cure Moderate Wounds at his normal ability, he'd have to pay 25 x 2 x 10 = 500 gp, while if he wants to make it at the minimum ability he'd have to pay 25 x 2 x 3 = 150 gp.

Am I right?

And if I am, does it make sense? Why pay more than 3 times the cost when you're actually casting the same spell? What, do you need so much more expensive material components? I understand why a better spellcaster would charge more for his items, but why would they cost him so much more to create?

Am I missing something?

P.S.: The thought arose to me because my party just finished the Haunting of Harrowstone and the village cleric decided to gift them a potion of CMW each. I decided that he'd make the best potions he could (he's 7th level) and then realised that the cost for him would be tremendous!

[Blueluck]

You're reading the rules correctly. If you read the beginning of the Magic Items section, you'll see that most items are created at minimum caster level required - probably for just that reason.

There are situations where it makes sense to use a higher caster level, and those where it doesn't. For example, anyone who can make CLW potions for 1d8+5 for 250g, could also make CMW potions for 2d8+5 for 300g. So it's just more efficient to either make multiple 1d8+1 CLW, or a single potion with a better spell.

On the other hand, an item that casts Vanish (short term invisibility) for a single round isn't useful for a Rogue, while an item that casts Vanish for two rounds would allow a full round attack from stealth - granting sneak attack damage. Clearly CL 2 is much better than CL 1 for this item.

Another example is a Wand of Magic Missiles. A 9th level Wizard could make a wand that shoots 1 missile, or pay much more for a wand that shoots 5 missiles. While Wand of Magic Missiles might sound like a pretty good backup item for many situations, one that only deals 1d4+1 isn't even worth the standard action it takes to activate the item.

[karkon]

Long story short: you can make items at the lowest caster level at which you could still cast the spell. So: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th level wizard/cleric spells.

Your example: He could make the cure moderate potions at 3rd caster level for a cost of 25x2x3=150gp.

[Marios]

*sigh*

That cleric really wanted to impress the party... but at that cost?

Maybe he could get a discount from Pharasma just for once! :)

Thanks a lot for your insight my friends!

[Blueluck]

I've never heard of a party having too many potions of CLW. Just give them each two if you think it will make the adventure better.

[Marios]

Blueluck wrote:

I've never heard of a party having too many potions of CLW. Just give them each two if you think it will make the adventure better.

Hehe... nah, no problem, I gave them the 2d8+7 CMW potions... I wanted to impress them!

That's what's great being a GM in your home campaign... you can pretty much do whatever you wish as long as the players are happy! ;)