RhoTheWanderer
2014-08-25, 03:47 AM
So I recently got to thinking about the sunblade (DMG228); specifically, I was thinking about the fact that it is effectively a magic bastard sword that can be wielded by someone proficient with short swords just as well as someone proficient with bastard swords. I've been trying to "reverse engineer" the sunblade to figure out the cost of a simple +1 bastard sword that can be wielded with equal ease by someone just proficient with short swords (mostly out of curiosity, although it may find its way into one of my builds someday or a campaign that I DM). But there are some things I'm just not sure about.
It normally functions as a +2 bastard sword, but it has a higher than normal enhancement bonus (+4) against evil creatures and deals x2 damage against "Negative Energy Plane creatures or undead creatures." The Bane ability is similar, but doesn't quite match up (maybe count as +2 instead of +1 price bonus?). Then there's the "special sunlight power," it seems a bit like daylight; however, I never feel comfortable dealing with the "Estimating Magic Item Gold Piece Values" table from DMG285 because I always feel I'm choosing the wrong category somewhere. But here's what I figure:
>Effect: Weapon bonus (enhancement)=Bonus (+4) squared x 2000gp=32,000gp
>Spell Effect: Command word=spell level (3rd) x caster level (5th) x 18000gp=27,000gp
>Special: Charges per day=base price (27,000) /(5/[charges per day{1}])=5,400gp
>Component: Weapon=Mwk bastard sword=+335gp
>Special: Uncustomary space limitation=entire cost (64,735gp)x1.5=97,102.5gp
So I figure a total cost of 97,102gp normally, but referring to the sidebar on DMG282, the "item requires specific class or alignment to use;" therefore, that would reduce the cost by 30%.
>Total: 97,102.5x0.7=67,971.75gp
Counting the Bane-like ability as a +1 price bonus, it comes to 24,921.75gp instead. Either way, I'm way off. Am I screwing up somewhere, or is this just a case of the designers finding in playtesting that the item's true value doesn't line up with its formulaic value? Or is the ability to treat the bastard sword as a short sword for purposes of proficiency and relevant feats really worth something in the ballpark of 25,000gp and/or a +1 or +2 price bonus? What would you charge a player for such a weapon ability? Any particular reason why? Or is there a weapon ability or crystal listed somewhere that grants such an ability?
It normally functions as a +2 bastard sword, but it has a higher than normal enhancement bonus (+4) against evil creatures and deals x2 damage against "Negative Energy Plane creatures or undead creatures." The Bane ability is similar, but doesn't quite match up (maybe count as +2 instead of +1 price bonus?). Then there's the "special sunlight power," it seems a bit like daylight; however, I never feel comfortable dealing with the "Estimating Magic Item Gold Piece Values" table from DMG285 because I always feel I'm choosing the wrong category somewhere. But here's what I figure:
>Effect: Weapon bonus (enhancement)=Bonus (+4) squared x 2000gp=32,000gp
>Spell Effect: Command word=spell level (3rd) x caster level (5th) x 18000gp=27,000gp
>Special: Charges per day=base price (27,000) /(5/[charges per day{1}])=5,400gp
>Component: Weapon=Mwk bastard sword=+335gp
>Special: Uncustomary space limitation=entire cost (64,735gp)x1.5=97,102.5gp
So I figure a total cost of 97,102gp normally, but referring to the sidebar on DMG282, the "item requires specific class or alignment to use;" therefore, that would reduce the cost by 30%.
>Total: 97,102.5x0.7=67,971.75gp
Counting the Bane-like ability as a +1 price bonus, it comes to 24,921.75gp instead. Either way, I'm way off. Am I screwing up somewhere, or is this just a case of the designers finding in playtesting that the item's true value doesn't line up with its formulaic value? Or is the ability to treat the bastard sword as a short sword for purposes of proficiency and relevant feats really worth something in the ballpark of 25,000gp and/or a +1 or +2 price bonus? What would you charge a player for such a weapon ability? Any particular reason why? Or is there a weapon ability or crystal listed somewhere that grants such an ability?