Upgrading A Magic Item

[HazMatt696]

In the home game I'm playing, my PC has a Belt of Heavy Load. Can it be upgraded to also include a +1 strength modifier? If so, how much would it cost and how long would it take?

If it's possible, I'd eventually like it to be a Belt of Heavy Load and Physical Perfection. I'd like to upgrade the belt a little at a time, as I can afford it. Maybe I would be better off having a separate Vest of Physical Perfection made.

[SorrySleeping]

You'd take the cost of the lesser item (Belt of Heavy load in this case) and add 50% of the cost before combining the new items. So a Belt of Giant Strength +2 (4000g) combined with a Belt of Heavy Load (2000g) would add 1000g (50% of Heavy Load belt), so a total cost of 7000g.

If you already have the heavy load belt, you just subtract its cost, leaving you with a 5000g upgrade cost.

Belt of Physical Perfection works the same way. If you are only going for the +2 belt (16k gold) and you have the Belt of Giant Strength + Heavy Load, you'd find the cost of your new belt (19k gold) and subtract what you have (7k gold).

[Cevah]

Sorry, that is not correct. That is how you determine its market price, not how much it will cost.

PRD

Adding New Abilities wrote:

If the item is one that occupies a specific place on a character's body, the cost of adding any additional ability to that item increases by 50%.

For the Heavy Load belt that you add Strength +2, it is 2000 + 4000*1.5 = 8000,

Going up to the belt of Physical Perfection +2 on top of the Heavy Load Belt would be 2000 + 4000*1.5 + 4000*1.5 + 4000*1.5 = 20000.

You would be better off selling the Heavy Load belt and making a Belt of Strength +2, then adding Heavy Load to it. 4000 + 2000*1.5 = 7000.

Adding the second stat adds 4000*1.5 = 6000. Total 13000.

Adding the third stat adds 4000*1.5 = 6000. Total 19000.

Doing this saves 1000, but will increase crafting time.

Crafting time is 1 day per 1000. You can go twice as fast, but at an increased DC. Yu can go even faster, but that requires significant investment.

When the low cost item is really low, like the Heavy Load belt, it may make sense to make it slotless. Yes, it costs a little more, but can be easier to keep track of. Your idea of adding the Belt of Strength to the Heavy Load belt imposes a 2000 premium. The same amount making the Heavy Load belt slotless.

At these low values, the order difference is not much. When you add expensive things, however, it become much more expensive to do things out of order.

You may try to say "but the table says otherwise".
What happens when tables and text disagree?
I found 3 FAQs that indicate text trumps table.

From an old post of mine:
Found in the FAQs for UM (after looking in CRB and APG):
FAQ 1 "The text on page 143 is correct."
FAQ 2 "The text on page 153 is correct."
FAQ 3 "The text on page 157 is correct."
It seems text is preferred to table in the FAQs.

/cevah