double checking: magic item pricing

[dragonhunterq]

I have an idea for an item for an NPC, then figured I should work out how to price it in case my players want to duplicate it.

Bracer/Amulet of protection from arrows that once it has absorbed 30 hp becomes non-magical. It isn't really covered by the rules though (near as I can tell).

For comparison: Potion of arrow prot = 400gp/3 hour duration.

hypothetical permanent version = spell level 2x caster level 3x continuous 2000 = 12000.

1/day item 2x3x1800/5 = 2160, every day but again 3 hour duration.

It should be more than a potion and less than a 1/day item. I was thinking continuous/10 which puts it at 1200gp.

Is that reasonable? Have I missed something that would be more accurate? Has it been done already and I've missed it?

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Claxon]

What your describing is almost exactly a potion of protection from arrows. As a 2nd level spell it has a minimum caster level of 3, which would allow it to absrob exactly 30hp worth of damage.

So the only difference is you want to make it last until it runs out of the 30hp worth of damage protection? Not worth it. Your bad guy chugs a potion in anticipation of combat before the PCs arrive. He had some sort of forewarning.

If you really need to have something, 800 gp is probably enough. So long as you state that users can't have anything in their hand/wirst slot (technically two different slots but combine them for this item) and you'll guarentee your PCs just wont be interested in this item.

Also, since it doesn't negate magical damage (it provides DR 10/magic), after about level 4 or so it's practically useless. No one has non-magical bows.

[Koshimo]

So the major difference between the potion here and an Item is long term cost, and the item taking up a slot (i don't know if you allow players to add multiple effects to items)

honestly i would say the 2160 is fine, but its a custom item and you are the dm so it can cost whatever you want so if you want to make it 1200 thats up to you

i would probably say split the difference and make it 1500

at the same time this item is not going to have a long life span to it since as soon as the bow becomes magical the dr stops working

unless you want to make the item just automatically absorb 30 points of ranged damage in which case i would think it would be more expensive since a more useful item