Protection from Energy items?

[AnthonyJ]

The standard ring of energy resistance replicates the 'resist energy' spell, and has a cost appropriate to that use.

Now, let's suppose that instead of stopping 10-30 points per attack, I want an amulet that will stop a total of 60 points of fire damage, ever.

Stopping 60 points of fire damage sounds like Protection from Energy at level 5, which would normally be use-activated, 30,000 GP (as a use-activated item with no charge limit, this is probably unbalanced). However, the item doesn't actually provide protection from energy at will -- it just provides the equivalent of a single protection from energy that lasts indefinately.

A potion of protection from energy at level 5 would be 750 gp...but would wear off, rather than remaining indefinately until the total damage was removed.

So...thoughts on what an item like this should cost? Twice as much as a potion?

Similar concepts work for spells such as Protection from Arrows, Stoneskin, etc; basically any spell that lasts for a fixed duration or until discharged.

 

[AGGEMAM]

Basically, such items should be either charged or command word activated.

 

[AnthonyJ]

Neither charged nor command activated works for this. The idea is specifically that it remains in effect indefinately, but only until discharged (it's equivalent in all ways to an infinite duration version of the spell).

On reflection, since it uses up an item slot, which potions do not, having it be the same cost as a potion might be reasonable.

 

[DM2]

Neither charged nor command activated works for this. The idea is specifically that it remains in effect indefinately, but only until discharged (it's equivalent in all ways to an infinite duration version of the spell).

On reflection, since it uses up an item slot, which potions do not, having it be the same cost as a potion might be reasonable.

I'd definitely price it quite a big higher than a potion of the same effect.

Potions don't last indefinitely.

You're sort of looking for a magic item that is to energy attacks what a brooch of shielding is to magic missiles...

DM2

 

[AGGEMAM]

You're sort of looking for a magic item that is to energy attacks what a brooch of shielding is to magic missiles...

Correct, which would mean someone had to deduct what calculation method they used when calculating the cost of that.

I see two possible methods:

1) Calculate as if it were a a normal item and reduce the price by 25%, making your amulet cost around 22500 gp.

OR

2) calculate it by the total amount of damage it will stop and multiply that with 150, making your amulet cost around 9000 gp.

I suggest the latter.

 

[jgsugden]

Looking for a method often gets in the way of finding a good result.

What is the fair value of such an item? What would a PC pay to gt their hands on it?

My guess is that the value would fall somewhere in the 5,000 gp to 8,000 gp range. That seems to be about what I can see a PC paying for such an item.