Magic Item Pricing: Shield Bonus

[TheCharles]

Lets say that I want to create "Bracers of Shield" to give my wizard a shield bonus to his AC. How would this be priced? As with any other AC bonus, I would assume that it would work on the bonus squared scale. But what would the price modifier be? In the rules it states that "Other" bonuses have a price modifier of 2500, resulting in a cost of 10,000. That seems a bit high since the Ring of Force Shield (which gives a +2 shield bonus) has a cost of 8500. What are your thoughts?

[RJGrady]

Well, I think the square rule is a logical assumption, it seems logical that if enhancement bonuses to armor cost the same as enhancement bonuses to shield, then a shield bonus should cost the same as an armor bonus (bracers of armor). I'm going to guess the cost of a force shield is doubled because it can be activated or deactivated as a free action. Or maybe it's counted roughly as a +1.

If, like a ring of force shield, you have effectively a free hand, then the correct price seems to be bonus squared x 2125. That's close to x2500. I'd probably just make it x2500 unless it's just an upgraded ring of force shield.

[Sebastian Hirsch]

Unless I am wrong, you actually have to wield the "force shield" as a shield. That would justify the lower price.

Of course bracers might not be the correct slot for the item, so I would increase the cost a bit. Ultimate campaign has some pages on this topic.

[TheCharles]

I was picturing it as a permanent shield spell type effect (minus the immunity to magic missile) with a variable bonus. Not unlike Bracers of Armor is essentially a permanent mage armor spell. Bracers seemed like the correct slot for a defensive item.

[shroudb]

in my mind the only distiction between shield and armor bonus is the way it interacts with the attack. armor bonuses are like a field surrounding the whole body (much like armor) and shield bonuses are more like walls manipulated to intercept an attack (much like shields)

so i would think that rings (you can "wield" your hand to intercept an attack) or something like a brooch generating a field, or even a belt (too much anime i guess^^) would be more logical for main slot than bracers which usually provide fields that enhance your whole self or your hands. but then again, this area is too much into DM territory to make a 100% ruling.

if a player of mine wanted to make such an item, i would be more focused on HOW the magic item gives a shield bonus than the actual location, and if it would make sense (even more than my interpetations) i would allow it.

[RJGrady]

I think a bracer that generated a shield effect is as reasonable as a ring that does.