Amulet of Second Chances

[Whirling Dervish]

Hi everyone - one of my players is interested in an item that acts as a bit of an emergency button should he die (he's a wizard). I came up with this, the Amulet of Second Chances. Thoughts on this item in terms of balance would be greatly appreciated, especially as far as price is concerned. If you'd like to alter spells or effects, try to keep it in a similar vein.

Amulet of Second Chances
Aura strong conjuration (healing, teleportation) and strong transmutation; CL 13th

Slot neck; Price 60,000 gp; Weight 1/2 lb.

Description
This simple golden chain holds a talisman in the shape of a chalice that is bejeweled with a hundred tiny diamond studs. Once per week when the wearer of the amulet is killed, precisely one round after his death (at the end of the turn of the creature that killed him, if appropriate), the amulet immediately whisks the wearer's body away to a "safe" location within one-third of a mile. ("Safe" is relative and up to GM discretion - it could be home if the wearer is nearby, or perhaps simply an unoccupied broom closet.) The wearer may not choose to stop this effect, as he is dead. Removing the amulet from his body within one round however (a standard action), will cancel this teleportation and all further effects of the amulet. Upon arrival, the amulet creates two additional magical effects. First, the wearer is affected by a breath of life spell, following all rules and limitations of that spell. If breath of life fails to revive the wearer, no further effects occur. Second, the wearer is affected by a randomized version of the alter self spell. The wearer takes on a new humanoid or monstrous humanoid form according to the table below, but this transformation takes 2d6 minutes (during which time the wearer is helpless) and lasts for 5+2d6 days as the wearer slowly reverts to his own form. During this time the amulet may not be used again. If a person removes the amulet while under its transformation, he gains two temporary negative levels that cannot be removed unless the amulet is put back on before the duration of the alter self effect expires. If he does not do so the negative levels become permanent, as does the alter self effect.

Further, once per month the wearer may activate the amulet's breath of life ability on another creature by placing its tiny chalice up to the creature's lips and mimicking a pouring motion as a standard action. During the month after this use of the amulet, it becomes completely inert and its diamonds become drab and dull. Worshippers of Cayden Cailean frequently fashion these amulets for foolhardy adventurers, with the chalice in the shape of a tiny beer mug.

Construction Requirements
Craft Wondrous Item, Extend Spell, Enlarge Spell; alter self, breath of life, clairvoyance/clairaudience, dimension door, status; Cost 30,000 gp

Table 1: Possible races
1-3; Human
4-6; Elf
7-9; Dwarf
10-12; Halfling
13-15; Gnome
16-18; Orc
19-21; Goblin
22-24; Hobgoblin
25-27; Kobold
28-33; other (see Table 2)
33-66; use previous race but sex is altered
67-100; use race nearest to where PC revives

Table 2: Other races
1; Centaur
2; Aasimar
3; Tiefling
4; Gnoll
5; Lizardfolk
6; Ogre
7-10; GM’s choice

[MiniGM]

i like it

[Mortalis]

I like it too, however there's nothing in the text about what happens if a "safe" location can't be found within a third of a mile (what if the wizard dies while 3 miles above the ground? In the middle of a desert? Underwater while the wizard isn't capable of breathing?)

If it just doesn't function, that's fine. I'm not trying to breaky your creation, just troubleshooting it.

[Are]

It's an interesting item, and I do like it, but I can't help feeling that the transformation is an unnecessary complication. The item would be "cleaner", for lack of a better term, without it.

[Whirling Dervish]

Thanks for the suggestions all!

Good catch about the potential lack of a safe location, Mortalis. I think I may have it cast breath of life without the teleportation effect in that case. Not functioning is of course easier though.

Are - you're of course totally right. One of the things the player originally suggested was the reincarnate spell, as he really liked the idea of the amulet changing you into a nearby race to help you "blend in". (You'll notice the percentages are skewed to favor this.) I thought this was a little easier than that. Simply removing this effect would work well, but I think it might actually be more expensive if you did because of the dependency on the item the transformation creates (I wanted a balancing factor so it couldn't be used constantly).

Any thoughts on pricing?