True Strike Items

[Xeoble]

Magic item construction baffles me (possibly because i haven't read them enough).

I was wondering if anyone out there would help me out and tell me how much an item out of which you could cast true strike so many times per day (1 to infinity) would cost.

 

[gfunk]

Remember that the magic item construction rules in the DMG are there for a baseline. You should compare new items relative to existing ones and adjust their price upwards or downwards accordingly.

For an item of True Strike that is command word activated would cost:

Command word Spell level x caster level x 1,800 gp

Since you need to be at least 3rd level to Craft a Wondrous Item, the price for such an item would be 1 x 3 x 1,800 = 5,400 gp.

This would allow you to cast True Strike as a standard action as many times per day as you would want.

If you want to limit it to x # of times/day then you probably have to eyeball it. There are not strict rules, as far as I know, for wondrous items w/ limited uses per day.

 

[Jay Lofstead]

While this follows the second method for magic item pricing, it doesn't take into account the power of such an item. The first rule of magic item costing is to compare it to similar abilities elsewhere in items (and look at the utility it provides). Spells with limited duration or personal only spells were made that way to limit their power. This item by the costing method comes out to that low a cost. From a relative power basis, remember that you are making an item that will allow a weapon to be +20 to hit! Even though it doesn't add to damage, how much would you pay for a weapon that is +20 to hit? A lot more than a +5 to hit, +5 to damage weapon I would bet.

The reason this item doesn't exist in the base rules is that it is unbalancing. Either it needs to be obscenely expensive to compensate for the benefit, or it just can't be made.

 

[ConcreteBuddha]

From a relative power basis, remember that you are making an item that will allow a weapon to be +20 to hit! Even though it doesn't add to damage, how much would you pay for a weapon that is +20 to hit? A lot more than a +5 to hit, +5 to damage weapon I would bet.

Standard action to activate. One attack.

 

[Victim]

A command word true strike item would prevent the user from attacking one round (unless hasted) and would only apply to one attack the next. That's a far cry from +20 automatically to all attacks.

 

[Artoomis]

The one item that I know about that was designed as a "True Strike" item was a bow, I think. Anyway, it not only takes a standard action to activate, it was a spell trigger (or was it spell completion?) type of item, so you ALSO needed to have "True Strike" on your spell list, a further balancing factor.

 

[dcollins]

Magic item construction baffles me (possibly because i haven't read them enough).

Base item construction is quite easy: the character must have the appropriate feat, pick an item from the DMG, and pay the cost in gold, XP and time.

Construction of "new items" not listed in the rules is a completely different matter, subject entirely to DM judgement with only general guidelines given. All "new items" are inherently house-ruled. If you are baffled by that prospect, the easiest and safest thing to do is just go by the rules as presented, and not allow any "new items" to be constructed.

 

[kreynolds]

The one item that I know about that was designed as a "True Strike" item was a bow, I think. Anyway, it not only takes a standard action to activate, it was a spell trigger (or was it spell completion?) type of item, so you ALSO needed to have "True Strike" on your spell list, a further balancing factor.

It's the Bow of True Arrows, spell-trigger, from S&F.

 

[plavi]

For a permanent True Strike item take the following in consideration:
the DMG sais: bonus squared * 1000.

So, +20 weapon = 20 * 20 * 1000 = 400.000 gp.

It is only on to hit and not on damage, but since to hit is way better than bonusses to damage I will be merciful and knock off 25% of the price, for 300.000 gp. And that is only taking in account the cold rules of the DMG and not that (depending on campaign type) you may need the tarrasque's eye, the roc's egg or the Cyclops' toenails to create it.

Who the fong has 300.000 gp's laying around? It's enough to keep a small country running for a decade, or to build a huge castle, or to equip the entire party with full +5 weapons and some to spare.

Or, of course, just the N-word. 'No'. Repeat after me, if you say it to your party a few times it will come easier..... 'No!'. Really, it's a relief...

Luck

Plavi

 

[ConcreteBuddha]

For a permanent True Strike item take the following in consideration:
the DMG sais: bonus squared * 1000.

That's for enhancement bonuses to armor and ability scores. An enhancement bonus for weapons is actually the bonus squared x 2000. But luckily, enhancement bonuses can't go above +5 (non-epic), so your math is unfounded anyway.