My question is regarding the Special purpose and dedicated power section of the intelligent magic item creation rules. On the SRD the price for a seventh level at will dedicated power is listed as 182000 gp. Does that price include costly material components or is there an additional price if you choose a spell that has one? If there is an additional cost, how do you calculate it?
This is pretty firmly in the land of DM fiat.
When creating custom magical items that are not intelligent, the table in the CRB says to add the cost of the material component per charge. It also has a footnote to stating that "If item is continuous or unlimited, not charged, determine cost as if it had 100 charges. If it has some daily limit, determine as if it had 50 charges."
So, since this ability is at will, there's not really a daily limit. (Technically there is, as there's only so many times you can use an at will ability in a day, but I'm pretty sure this is outside the intent of the footnote.) So I'd go with assuming 100 charges worth of material components.
As a side note, there are actually not any rules for crafting intelligent magic items. There are some rules for GMs designing and pricing them, but not any for players to make them.
Some people interpret this as any crafting with a little bit of extra money can be made to be intelligent, but that is an interpretation not really supported by the rules.
I tend to view intelligent items as one of the few magical craftings still beyond player characters, the result of divine intervention or unique magical accidents and events.
As a side note, there are actually not any rules for crafting intelligent magic items. There are some rules for GMs designing and pricing them, but not any for players to make them.
Some people interpret this as any crafting with a little bit of extra money can be made to be intelligent, but that is an interpretation not really supported by the rules.
I tend to view intelligent items as one of the few magical craftings still beyond player characters, the result of divine intervention or unique magical accidents and events.
Creating a magic item with intelligence follows these simple guidelines. Intelligent items must have an alignment, mental ability scores, languages, senses, and at least one other special ability. These statistics and abilities can be improved during creation, increasing the item's overall cost.
Sure sounds like they are intended to be created by player's to me.
The RAW answer is that if you pay the amount listed the Intelligent Item can use that spell at will. Costly component RAW have no effect here.
Also regarding Intelligent items and action economy, what are the rules? If I attack with my Intelligent sword in a round can the sword use its own actions to cast a spell? Does the sword have to make concentration checks for vigorous motion while casting? I'm looking for clear rules on how intelligent items use their abilities.
Also regarding Intelligent items and action economy, what are the rules? If I attack with my Intelligent sword in a round can the sword use its own actions to cast a spell? Does the sword have to make concentration checks for vigorous motion while casting? I'm looking for clear rules on how intelligent items use their abilities.
Here you go:
Activating a power or concentrating on an active one is a standard action the item takes. The caster level for these effects is equal to the item's caster level. Save DCs are based off the item's highest mental ability score.
An intelligent item guide is one of the ideas I've been kicking around doing at some point, but odds are against it.
Thanks to everyone for the answers. The 100x material component charge is pretty hefty but if that's the clear answer I'll take it.
Thanks Anzyr. Can you point me in the direction of where the text on power activation is located. I may have just missed it in my search.
Under the Intelligent Item Powers section. Last part of the paragraph. And 100x cost is not actually how it works RAW. RAW there is no cost for costly material components the item can simply use the spell at will.
Awesome! Thanks again.
Intelligent items are really, really nice. <3 intelligent rings of spell turning or invisibility.
Pretty sure intelligent items don't get any exemption to the "pay 100x the material component" cost rule (which part of the standard costs for making magic items), though. Just because they didn't beat you over the head with it doesn't mean it's out the window =P
The sample "true resurrection once a month" costs 200,000 gp.
A 9th level spell at will would cost 306,000, or 61,200 if once a day.
But the true res property for an intelligent item at once a month and costs 200,000.
Checking... An item that can cast true res at will should cost 2,806,000. If the item can cast it 5 times a day that drops to 1,556,000 (use per day items calculate costs as though having 50 charges.) So a once per day true res item would cost about 311,200.
The intelligent item property is getting a 111,200 gp discount for only being once a month. A fairly arbitrary discount, but 200K is a nice round number.
So yeah, if you want an infinite force cage item (or whatever other expensive 7th level spell you're after), expect to pay through the nose for it.
(Though if someone can point me to an existing intelligent item in print that's not an artifact and apparently isn't getting a price increase for using an expensive spell, I'll cheerfully take that back (and keep it in mind for the future).)