Staff of Draconic Might

[Palskane]

I am no good at pricing items, and would like to get a price on an item I have designed using some of the spells from the Draconomicon.

Any help would be appreciated!

Staff of Draconic Might

Dragonbreath - 1 charge
Dragonskin - 1 charge
Flight of the Dragon - 2 charges
Draconic Might - 2 charges
Greater Dragon Ally - 5 charges and 500 xp. Usable once only.

Fully charged staff has 50 charges. Simply by having the staff in your possession you can detect the presence of any dragon within 100'. With this staff, you get a +10 bonus to any checks on Diplomacy, Information Gathering, and Sense Motive checks used on dragons.

The dragonbreath ability only allows the user to pick the breath weapon of a good-aligned dragon, differing from the spell.

Also, though it normally would not, I am requiring that the wielder expend the 500 exp for the one-time use of "Greater Dragon Ally".

 

[Squire James]

Asking a question like this filters the people who can meaningfully respond down to people who (1) know item pricing rules, and (2) have the Draconomicon. I only have (1), so I can only help you halfway.

As you may know, a 50-charge staff has a base cost of:
375 gp x spell level x caster level for the most expensive ability
+75% of the above for the 2nd most expensive ability
+50% of the above for each other ability

If the effect takes 2 charges, halve the cost. The detection ability and the skill bonus are separate abilities, and I suggest the Greater Dragon ally be separate as well.

Detection of dragons within 100 feet seems to be similar to a 1st level spell (about as useful as detect evil or detect undead). A use-activated 1st level ability runs 2,000 gp.

The skill bonuses normally cost 10,000 gp each, but limiting the results to dragons is worth a substantial discount. I'd call it 1,000 gp per skill, for a total of 3,000 gp. If you plan on having the PC's meet a dragon in every adventure, I can see this being worth 3-5 times that.

Figure the cost of the Greater Dragon Ally effect as if it were a potion: 50 gp x spell level x caster level, subtract 2,500 gp for the XP cost, then halve it to cover the charge cost.

I can't figure the prices for you, because I have no idea what spell level those spells are or what caster level you want the staff to function at.

 

[Lobo Lurker]

Well, if its an ability that can be used only once, and if the draconic ally is indeed powerful, why not have the ability consume NO charges and up the XP cost? 500XP seems like nothing when your of a level where you can be bandying about powerful staves like this.

 

[Palskane]

Thanks for the input. Here is some more information.

Dragonbreath is a 3rd level spell. (Pick acid, electricity, or fire for a line. Or pick acid, cold or fire in a cone. Deal 3d6 damage +1d6 every 2 levels above 5th. Max of 10d6 at 19th level.)

Dragonskin is a 3rd level spell. (natural armor bonus of +3, +1 for every two levels above 5th, maxes out at +5 at 9th level. Gain elemental resistance = to 2x your caster level. Maximum of 20 at level 10).

Flight of the Dragon is a 5th level spell. (sprout dragon wings and gain fly speed of 100' (average). Cannot carry aloft more than a light load. Lasts 1 hour/level.

Greater Dragon Ally is a 9th level spell. (up to one 27 HD dragon or up to 3 whose total is no more than 27 HD).

That is the basic rundown. I was thinking the basic level for staff functions would be about 7th level, though by 3.5 rules as the caster grows the staff can be used in a more powerful way. That also leaves the 9th level ability basically non-usable until higher levels.

If I drop the charges for the 9th level ability, what would be a good XP cost to use for it? I would think about the same as a Wish spell? 5000 xp? That might be in line with Wish, basically calling a 27 HD dragon to your aid...

 

[Lord Pendragon]

I was thinking the basic level for staff functions would be about 7th level, though by 3.5 rules as the caster grows the staff can be used in a more powerful way.

I am no master of item creation rules, but I do believe that a Staff's caster level must be at least 8th.

 

[Palskane]

You are correct, Lord Pendragon. My mistake.

So we have the minimum caster level for the staff at 8th level. Two 3rd level spells, one 5th level spell, and one 9th level spell that is usable only one time. Plus the skill abilities.

 

[Palskane]

Just giving this a small bump.

I'm not sure how to figure the 9th level ability into the price. I'm wanting the staff to have no more than a 75,000gp market value.

 

[Ravellion]

Just giving this a small bump.

I'm not sure how to figure the 9th level ability into the price. I'm wanting the staff to have no more than a 75,000gp market value.

I would keep it entirely seperate from the staff ie. price the ability as a single use spell completion item. 3825 gp. 153 xp.

Rav

 

[RuminDange]

Is the Greater Dragon Ally usable once period or once per person that uses the staff?

RD