Adding weapon special abilities to amulet of mighty fists

[nyjm]

So, here's a pricing quandry for you. I have a high-level character who would like an Amulet of Mighty Fists +3 with the Shadow Striking ability from Tome of Magic. How much would this cost?

My first problem is not having the book at hand. Is the Shadow Striking ability a +3 equivalent or simply a flat cost of + 18,000 gp?

An Amulet of Mighty Fists +3 costs 54,000 gp. That's triple a normal +3 weapon, and with good reason because the +3 bonus applies to any number of natural attacks.

Option 1) flat-price Shadow Striking: 72,000 gp = (54,000 gp amulet + 18,000 gp special ability)

Option 2) flat-price Shadow Striking at triple cost, since the Shadow Strike ability applies to all attacks just like the +3 bonus: 108,000 gp = (54,000 gp amulet + [18,000 gp special ability x 3])

Option 3) Shadow Striking as +3 equivalent: 216,000 gp ([Amulet +3 plus Shadow Strking ~ +6 weapon = 72,000 gp] x 3)

This last option makes the item more costly than anything in the SRD, but I'm not sure it's more powerful than, say, a vorpal adamantine longsword +5 (203,315 gp). Pricing the item via option 3 would seem to violate the rule: "A weapon’s enhancement bonus and special ability bonus equivalents can’t total more than +10," but only via price, since the ability and bonus equivalent total only +6.

 

[Cedric]

Somewhat off topic from your post, but in the same vein of thought...based on this line in the "Unarmed Strike" description...

A monk’s unarmed strike is treated both as a manufactured weapon and a natural weapon for the purpose of spells and effects that enhance or improve either manufactured weapons or natural weapons.

I've heard someone ask if they would be able to have their fists enchanted as if they were magical weapons. Specifically they wanted "+2 Holy" placed on their fists. Obviously they would have to be there along with the crafter for each day of the crafting process.

I never did find out what the final ruling from the DM was on that...but what an interesting request. In any event, I can definitely say from the recent threads floating around here that the specific line I quoted above causes problems.

 

[frankthedm]

EDIT; No way does shadow striking go on anything but a metal weapon. Nice try.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20060303a&page=7
Shadow Striking

Although mystery users are not normally martial combatants, they have developed the shadow striking weapon special ability to aid them and their companions in battle.

A shadow striking weapon takes on the properties of a creature it hits, developing the ability to overcome damage reduction.

Description: A shadow striking weapon is an unreflective jet black. It seems almost to ripple on occasion, like an object viewed under a thin layer of uneasy water. It is uncomfortably cold, but not painful, to the touch.

Prerequisite: The striking surface of a shadow striking weapon must be made of metal. Weapons that are made entirely of wood cannot be shadow striking. Bows, crossbows, and slings cannot benefit from the shadow striking ability, but metal ammunition can.

Activation: A shadow striking weapon automatically attunes itself to the target. When it strikes a target that has damage reduction, it adjusts itself to overcome the damage reduction of that creature.

Effect: Shadow striking weapons draw on the reflective nature of shadow to alter their nature and overcome damage reduction. A shadow striking weapon can adjust to emulate any alignment or substance required to overcome damage reduction.

A shadow striking weapon's attunement to a particular sort of damage reduction fades 1d4 minutes after the last time it made contact with the appropriate creature.

Aura/Caster Level: Moderate universal (shadow). CL 9th.

Construction: Craft Magic Arms and Armor, creation of the weapon must take place on the Plane of Shadow.

Price: +3 bonus.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Option 3) Shadow Striking as +3 equivalent: 216,000 gp ([Amulet +3 plus Shadow Strking ~ +6 weapon = 72,000 gp] x 3)

That one if allowed at all. The monk's unarmed damage went up because there were increadably few magic items that made it better. IMNSHO If someone wants something enhanced that was originally balanced not to be enhanced, then the cost should be prohibitive. This is why monks can also use Nunchaku, singhams, sais and Kamas. The enchantments go on those.

An Amulet of Mighty Fists +3 costs 54,000 gp. That's triple a normal +3 weapon, and with good reason because the +3 bonus applies to any number of natural attacks.

Pricing on those amulets feels pretty consitant.

 

[Kmart Kommando]

double post

stupid internet..

 

[Kmart Kommando]

If the amulet were bracers, they would be 2x normal instead of 3x normal price. Body slot affinities and all...

Sure, they can enhance any number of natural attacks, but for almost any PCs, it is 1 (the monk). NPCs can have 8 or more, making this amulet more valuable to them.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I've heard someone ask if they would be able to have their fists enchanted as if they were magical weapons.

They have a masterwork unarmed strike?

-Hyp.

 

[Cedric]

They have a masterwork unarmed strike?

-Hyp.

That was my question, the player assessed that once the Monk qualified for the first level of Ki Strike that seemed to be a reasonable substitute for the "Masterwork" requirement.

 

[IndyPendant]

/rant on

The amulet of Might Fists and the four (!!!) boosting items critical to a monk that all require the neck slot (Amulet of Might Fists, Periapt of Wisdom, Amulet of Health, and Amulet of Natural Armour) are two of the biggest reasons why the monk is considered a weak combat class.

DND is item-centric. Yet the monk's offensive weapons cost 3x regular weapons to enchant by RAW, you're limited to +# bonuses with them, *and* it takes up a body slot that no other combat class has to deal with, that also overlaps with three other critical monk magic items!

It literally boggles my mind how so many people on these very forums can, in one thread, merrily blast the monk for being a laughably underpowered combat class, yet in other threads deny them Improved Natural Attacks, or refuse to allow them any leeway with the Amulet of Might Fists, because that would be overpowered.

Gee, I wonder why the monk is considered an underpowered combatant? Can't figure it out. Strange, the mysteries of DND...: )

/rant off

If I were the GM, I would allow the monk to purchase the Amulet (or Bracers, or Gloves, or heck a Vest!) of Might Fists for the same cost as a weapon enchanted that way, limit the item to only affect Unarmed Strikes (and not Natural Attacks), and allow the user to put whatever suitable weapon enchants he wants on it (as if "Unarmed Attack" were a weapon he could wield).

That having been said, I have to agree (for once! *poke* : ) with Frank in that an Unarmed Strike is not a metal weapon, so it could not have the Shadow Striking enhancement. If the player were really crafty and eloquent, he might convince me to allow him to have it when he gets "Ki Strike: Adamantine"--but even that would be a hard sell...

 

[IcyCool]

DND is item-centric. Yet the monk's offensive weapons cost 3x regular weapons to enchant by RAW, you're limited to +# bonuses with them, *and* it takes up a body slot that no other combat class has to deal with, that also overlaps with three other critical monk magic items!

Monks get their magic weapons for free, and can't lose them. And you'd be hard pressed to find a combat class that didn't want both an Amulet of Natural Armor and an Amulet of Health.

I'm with you on the Periapt though, I don't think that should be a neck slot, more like a head slot to me...

 

[frankthedm]

It literally boggles my mind how so many people on these very forums can, in one thread, merrily blast the monk for being a laughably underpowered combat class, yet in other threads deny them Improved Natural Attacks,

Because Last i checked INA represents a larger natural weapon, Bigger jaws or paws, or an impresive rack of horns. A Human with INA would look like knocker from Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and even that does not work since a monk is entitled to use other body parts with thier unarmed strike. IMO Those who are trying to say the monk can take INA are trying to abuse the sentence wotc added to the monk so that thier unarmed strikes could recieve weapon buffing spells. A sentence I am not keen on in the first place.

or refuse to allow them any leeway with the Amulet of Might Fists, because that would be overpowered.

Because it is not just the monk's item and it applies to all attatcks. If the monk gets it cheaper, monsters, PC and NPC, get it cheaper as well.

That having been said, I have to agree (for once! *poke* : ) with Frank in that an Unarmed Strike is not a metal weapon, so it could not have the Shadow Striking enhancement. If the player were really crafty and eloquent, he might convince me to allow him to have it when he gets "Ki Strike: Adamantine"--but even that would be a hard sell...

I really dislike anything rigged to get around DR.