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So as we all know magic items are usually created and attuned to a specific body slot, and making the magic item of a different slot increases its price pretty drastically. Ok here is my situation, I have a player that wants an item that casts Bestow Grace of the Champion with a command word once per day. I am pricing this item using the cleric version of the spell at the minimum caster level of 13, so it's base price will be 163,800 GP.
Since this item obviously doesn't exist, what slot would you have this item be attuned to? Also would you add or subtract any from the base cost of Spell lvl(7) * Caster lvl(13) * 1,800? I could justify using the alignment based discount on the item to LG, reducing it to a base cost of 114,660 GP, but that seems a bit much since the spell already requires LG or it doesn't work. Its command word and so it takes a standard action to activate once per day.
My first gut feeling is cloak, but I would love to hear from you guys on both issues.
Hmm the smite part would suggest brachers, but cloak or crown would be just as good.
Don't know about the price. Seems a bit much. you want an item the player would wanna buy...
Book of Marvelous Recipes - gives a lvl 6 spell effect 1/day for 28,800
Cauldron of Flying 60.000 for better version of 5 lvl spell.
I would price item somewhere around that.
When you're designing new items, details such as default item slot are yours to determine. That said, you can draw queues from what the item does and compare it to other items that are already established to get an idea.
Bestow Grace of the Champion grants a character some of the powers of a paladin, including:
detect evil at will
immunity to desease
immunity to fear
use of lay on hands
use of smite evil
Charisma bonus to saves
Function as paladin for the purpose of activating magic items
That's a lot of things, even if the spell only has a duration of 13 rounds. Cloaks are a favorite choice for items that allow you to cast a spell, but it's probably better to look at what the spell grants rather than the spell itself. Of these only one ability is really tied to standard cloaks in the Core Rulebook: the bonus to saving throws. Cloak really doesn't fit at all.
There is one item in the Core Rulebook that strikes me as having the same grandeur and breadth of abilities as the item your describe: a helm of brilliance. As such I would have the item take up the head slot. other options that I think would be particularly fitting are the finger (ring) or waist slot.
Another option is to allow the item to be slotless. Perhaps a goblet or holy symbol that does not have to be worn to be activated: really, as a slotless item it could take any form that was significant to the character.
Hmm the smite part would suggest brachers, but cloak or crown would be just as good.
Don't know about the price. Seems a bit much. you want an item the player would wanna buy...
Book of Marvelous Recipes - gives a lvl 6 spell effect 1/day for 28,800
Cauldron of Flying 60.000 for better version of 5 lvl spell.
I would price item somewhere around that.
I would strongly recommend drawing price examples from the Core Rulebook only. Doing so from any other source is like making a photocopy of a photocopy: the result may be serviceable, but you may never know what the final image lacks.
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The crown(head) slot and ring slot sound pretty good as well. Slot less would further increase the cost of the item though, but like you said it could then be anything. Heaven so you agree with the price more or less? It seems steep at first but it gives some great benefits.
I like the ring, it could be tied to Iomedae or something.
I would use the following pricing scheme:
Command Word Spell Effect = Spell level x caster level x 1,800gp = 7 x 13 x 1,800gp = 163,800gp (Base Price)
Requires Specific Alignment = Base Price x 70% = 163,800gp x 0.7 = 114,660gp
Charges per Day = Price / (5 / charges per day) = 114,660gp / (5/1=5) = 22,932gp
Next consider similar items already present in the game:
Amulet of the Planes Cost: 120,000gp; Replicates the effect of a 5th-level divine spell. The generated effect is less accurate than the spell itself.
Ring of Spell Turning Cost: 100,000gp; Duplicates the effect of a 7th-level arcane spell 3 times/day, but the spell effect can be depleted in less than a round. Often 2-3 round tops.
The price does seem to be somewhat on the steep side from a purely analytical perspective. There are a few final considerations to keep in mind: how unbalancing is this going to be for your campaign? How soon in the campaign will the item be obtained? It is effectively going to add six levels of paladin-lite to a character for 13 rounds; that might prove rather overwhelming if you're not careful. Given the strength of the spell's effect I'd say 100,000 - 120,000gp feels about right, especially if it still keeps the character's head-slot open for a Charisma-boosting headband. That would significantly boost the item's effectiveness.
EDIT Bart Vervaet is correct; you would use 114,660gp / 5 = 22,932gp. My calculations have been changed to reflect this. If priced at this point, though, you might see it crafted as early as level 7, or even 6. That might be a concern to you, but it might not be.