I was looking at the Pathfinder SRD site and found these neat toys, one of which would be a cool fit for a BBEG I have. Here's a link.
Now looking at it, and at the other few examples listed, it had me thinking of creating a few more, perhaps even some cheap ones to put on minions. But I could find no formula. Anyone know how they come up with these costs?
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Your link isn't working, and while you can find magic item price guidelines here applying those guidelines often requires additional GM judgment for anything more complicated than a flat continuous bonus to a stat - special effects need to be priced and balanced on a case-by-case basis.
Let's try this link thing again...
Link.
There isn't a formula. And many (if not all) of those runes are overpriced for their effects.
The Rune of Resistance, for example, costs 45,000gp and gives energy resistance 10 to two energy types. A Minor Ring of Energy Resistance grants 10 resistance to a single energy for 12,000gp. Combine the effect of two of those rings into a single item only costs 30,000gp. (12,000gp for the first effect. The second effect costs an additional 50%, and so costs 12,000gpx1.5 = 18,000gp. 18k + 12k = 30,000.)
The Rune of the Lord's Palanquin is effectively a 1/day caster level 15 Phantom Steed spell. That costs 3 (spell level) x 15 (caster level) x 1800 (command-activated) = 81,000gp. Divided by 5 because its only 1/day and that is 16,200gp. Far from the 135,000gp of the rune. Even if you gave it a caster level of 24, and so it lasts a maximum of 24 hours at a time just like the rune can (it has no listed duration), that still only comes to 25,290gp.
The Rune of the Mistress is also very bad. Its only a -4 penalty on enchantment spells for 24 hours. Bestow Curse can give a -4 penalty on all saving throws, along with a -4 penalty on attack rolls, skill checks, and ability checks. And its Permanent (until removed by magic). A 3/day command-word activated item of Bestow Curse only costs 16,200gp. The rune costs 108,000gp.
Even if you account for the fact the rune can't be removed without a wish, miracle, or mage's disjunction, the runes are still overpriced.
I totally agree, which is why I was wondering if anyone knew what the pricing formula was that they used. Although I don't think you were taking the "slotless" quality into account in your calculations. Still, they're so damn expensive, I don't see anyone using them.
I totally agree, which is why I was wondering if anyone knew what the pricing formula was that they used. Although I don't think you were taking the "slotless" quality into account in your calculations. Still, they're so damn expensive, I don't see anyone using them.
They aren't really slotless. True, they don't take up one of the traditional slots. But they add another item slot - the rune slot. So really, they aren't slotless.
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I would just use tatoo items. It is easy to figure out, doable with a feat and has a predefined slot system. It is here.