Magic Item creation - Am I doing this right?

[Dex Celsior]

Keeping it simple, this is my first attempt at magic item creation. Does this item adhere to the rules in the Core Rulebook?

Cat’s Eye

Aura faint transmutation; CL 3rd
Slot eyes; Price 4,320 gp; Weight -

DESCRIPTION

This oval gem made of yellow quartz has a distinct black line that runs down the center.

When held up to one’s eye and speaking the command word, this object grants the user darkvision for three hours (as the spell) up to 2 times per day.

This items magical duration cannot be shortened or split into smaller time segments.

CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS

Craft Wondrous Item, darkvision; Cost 2,160 gp.

[Bob Bob Bob]

If you're going to do this you should, at a bare minimum, show your @#$%ing work. Seriously, remember your math class and always show your work.

I'm guessing you went with the spell in a can version (Command Word magic item)? So 1800*2(SL)*3(CL)/(5/2)(charges per day)*2(slotless) for 8,640 (4,320 slotted). You have the right price if it's actually slotted but unless you have to hold it in front of your eyes the entire time or put it in some kind of holder it's not really a "slotted" item. It has to physically occupy that slot in some way (for dispel magic, sunder, any other way to target it). Honestly, you can make goggles out of it, goggles with cat's eye lenses are not even close to the least practical magic items out there.

By the way, the first step for making any magic item it to compare it to existing items. The closest is Goggles of Night at 12,000 for continuous Darkvision (and take up the eye slot). At-will (and equivalently continuous) costs the same as 5 charges/day so a 2/day version of Goggles of Night would be 12,000/(5/2)(charges per day) would be 4,800 so it looks like the cost of the cat's eye is about the right price.

Now, all that math being said, Darkvision 2/day for 3 hours is either basically continuous (if you only need it for short caves or at night) or a serious limitation (if you're traveling underground, in the underdark, etc.) in which case it's probably priced correctly. Basically, if the uses per day mean it's always up when it's necessary it should probably be priced like it's continuous/at-will. Otherwise you just use the formula price (after comparing to similar items).

[Dex Celsior]

Bob Bob Bob wrote:

.....

Show my work, got it. Rookie mistake on my part.

Thanks for spending time looking it over. You are correct that I based this item off of Goggles Of Night. I was looking to create something more affordable for lower level characters but which would also be balanced.

Perhaps I will fit the gem into a monocle to further differentiate it from Goggles Of Night. Plus, a one-eyed cat looking person would be pretty fun to adventure with, IMO.

Thanks again, Bob Bob Bob :-)