Usually I forbid custom weapons. Though recently I realized that part of this is just because I can't seem to figure out the rules for creating these things. It isn't fair to limit my players creativity because of my ignorance so I am trying to learn a thing or two. I did a quick search and there are more than a few threads on this, but I still can't seem to gain any understanding.
My player wants a sword that can steal life and give it to him. He doesn't much like the idea of the sword of life stealing since it only grants 1d6 on a critical with a weapon that has a 10% chance to. So I get the idea that I can just use the spell Vampiric touch and stick it on a weapon. I cannot figure this out. Here is what I have so far and lets just forget about the cost of masterwork for a second:
Vampiric touch is a 3rd level spell, therefore a 5th level caster made it. I figured it would work on command just like the elemental damage types So I here is the basic formula for that:
Spell Level (3) X Caster Level (5) X 1,800 = 27,000
That seems simple enough, but am I supposed to charge this amount or transfer that to an enhancement bonus of some kind? I was thinking a +2 bonus is fair since that equates to 16,000gp at its cheapest for 2d6 negative energy damage (I guess it is technically untyped) to the creature transferred to the wielder in the form of temporary hit points that last one hour. I understand that if an enhancement bonus is applied I have to up the caster level and then the number of d6 would also increase.
This was a much bigger undertaking than I had expected, and I would really appreciate some help.
That would be the price, by backup method of pricing items, of the vampiric touch enhancement.
But...that's barely more expensive than the sword of life stealing. That thing's main benefit is really the negative level, but the extra HP is...well to be honest it's negligible.
You're looking at 2d6 non-stacking temporary hit points per attack. Everytime he hits, he'll roll 2d6 and if it's higher than his current temp HP (from the sword) total, he'll take those. This weapon basically negates 7~10 points of damage a round.
Looking at the powerlevel of the other items, it's at least around the power level of Frostbrand, the Sunblade, and the Rapier of Puncturing. This would put the price around 50k.
But since those grant a lot of situational bonuses, as opposed to the almost-always bonus of this weapon, I suspect it should be a lot more.
Personally, I would price this at at least 80k.
Looking at the powerlevel of the other items, it's at least around the power level of Frostbrand, the Sunblade, and the Rapier of Puncturing. This would put the price around 50k.
But since those grant a lot of situational bonuses, as opposed to the almost-always bonus of this weapon, I suspect it should be a lot more.
Personally, I would price this at at least 80k.
Well those also have enhancement bonuses worked into their prices so if I do something similar, then the price would look like this in comparison
+4 enhancement bonus (32,000) + Vampiric Touch enhancement (27,000)= 59,000. I mean that still does seem a little overpowered, but the bonus is still a bit circumstantial since its negative energy.
Yea, that's true. I wasn't taking into account it'd have a separate bonus too. But thankfully those are known values.
I just don't get it. The other weapons have super high caster levels which seem to suggest the price should be much higher. However, The item creation thing is a little more concrete now I think.
Caster level of a magic weapon is a requirement to make it without penalty. a level 5 caster with a ring of +20 Spellcraft can make a +5 Sword.
But the default Caster level minimum once the sword is created has to satisfy caster level minimums for enhancement costs. You can't have a +3 sword with a caster level under 9, thus it is the default caster level. It can be HIGHER...but it cannot be lower (the same way you can't cast a level 5 spell without being a 9th level caster minimum). Unlike, say, fireballs, which you could defend a level 1 caster for by making it 1d6, enhancement bonuses don't vary.
But as long as your spellcasting roll is high enough, and you can overcome the penalty for not having the right caster level, you can make something above your level. It's just not very easy, without a lot of feats and magic geared towards it.
==Aelryinth
Oh so its impossible. Well that is helpful.
http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/rpgsuperstar/previous/ 2011/general/wondrousItemAutoRejectAdvice7ObviousPricingErrors
Here's a useful thread on pricing.
The guidelines tables don't take into consideration everything. The rules pretty much say that. That's why they are the secondary method. Just because the tables can't make an item doesn't mean it's impossible.
Come to think of it, 3.5s MIC had similar things. Bodyfeeder is a +3 that heals you for half the damage on a critical hit. It seems that even 3.5 didn't do a 'every hit heals' weapon, although I may have missed it.
As per the rules in the magic item creation, this item is impossible to make.
Funny, they made it in the MIC.
Bodyfeeder adds 1/2 damage dealt on a Crit as temporary hp as a +3 bonus (Duration is only a minute though).Bloodstone: +1 ability, spellstoring for Vampiric Touch only, but benefit is it is empowered. Drawback you need to recast the spell after each attack like all spellstoring weapons.
Then there are Weapon Crystals you can attach to weapons (Least, 400 gp, can be attached to any weapon, Lesser +1, 1.5K, and Greater +3, 6K).
If you attach a Least it heals you 1 hp everytime you attack till you have drained 10 hp then stops functioning till tomorrow.
If you instead attack it heals you 5 hp everytime you attach till you have drained 50 hp then stops functioning till tomorrow.
Just buy multiple would work (after battle exchange drained one with non-drained)
http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/rpgsuperstar/previous/ 2011/general/wondrousItemAutoRejectAdvice7ObviousPricingErrors
Here's a useful thread on pricing.
There's a space in there that threw me off. Wow, that was a lot of information and while I understand you were trying to help. All it did was make me realize I probably shouldn't be making magic items.
Yeah, I am on a phone and links are hard!
The rules are confusing at first. Hopefully the crafting update will fix them, whenever that happens.
I just looked at nearly every spell, and none of them seem to be able to do what my player wants. The only one that I can even see as possibly working is a modified version of false life, but that't an idea for another section of the boards.
Ok here is what I came up with and even though we are in homebrew territory now I see no practical reason to make a new thread:
Aura strong necromancy; CL 17th(?) Slot none; Price 35,000gp (I dislike messing around with silver and copper nit picky pricings); Weight 8 lbs.
Description
This crimson red +1 Keen Falchion applies the effect of an Inflict Serious Wounds spell (3d8 +5) on the target. This damage is then transferred to the wielder in the form of temporary hit points. These temporary hit points last for 24 hours.
Thoughts?
Yes I did base it off of the sword of life stealing, that is the first line under the spoiler. It does require a critical to activate, I forgot to add that in there, my mistake. Your probably right, I should change the spell. I was originally just going to mod ISW, but that seems like too much HP now. The HP would not stack. Basically I just came to the number by adding the result of a 3rd level spell with a CL of 5 (27,000) to the enhancement bonus I tacked on to the weapon (8,000). I guess I should bump it back down to 2d6.
Look in the MiC at the Bodyfeeder +3 weapon enhancement. On any crital half damaged delt the the welder gains temp HP as if cast vampireic touch.
On the subject of making magic weapons, can bonuses be converted into other bonuses when upgrading magic weapons? e.g. if I have a +2 sword, and I want to make it axiomatic (a +2 equivalent property) can it be turned into a +1 axiomatic sword for the difference in crafting cost between a +2 and +3 bonus equivalent weapon?
I dont think the issue is complex here.
+1 sword (2000gp)
Vampiric Touch CL5, 2d6 - charged item 5/day
3x5x2000 - 30,000gp
To make the item situationally useful it is command word activated - and then the next 5 hits draw off the temp. hp. which last an hour. As the command word activation is cheaper than use activation it does not figure in the cost, it's just a refinement.
The item is then discharged until the next day.
32,000 + MW weapon cost
'Sanguine Sword' or whatever other applicable name you can think of.
I appreciate all the work people are putting in as well as the input. I took a look at the bodyfeeder and that seems to be what I am looking for. To be honest I really dislike the idea of a charged item (even though the info about making it last for 5 rounds is more than enough). I like the idea of a critical much better then a charged item still though. I am thinking of upping the CL by 1 so that I can add 1d6 more, and update the cost accordingly. The HP will expire after an hour.