DM in a quandry

[Denihilist]

Hello all -

I run a 3.0/3.5 hybrid homebrew game.

I have run into a problem. A PC died and the player wanted to roll up a new character, so I allowed him to do so, he created Ninja, and I game him as options the appropriate amount of gold for his level 23,000 for 1/2 way between 7 and 8th level, and told him he could chose 1 medium wondrous item for his character to have. He chose the Robe of Blending form the DMG.

I have found that in the 3.0 DMG, the robe of blending is a minor wondrous item worth 10,000 gp, and offers +15 to hide checks.

In the 3.5 DMG, it costs 30,000 GP and offers only +10 to hide checks I personally think it should be a medium wondrous item. However I don't want to arbitrarily nerf him and make him unhappy, what do you think?

[The Glyphstone]

Meh.

Ninja = Weaker Rogue.

Hide = Not a terribly OP skill to be boosting, though darn handy for Ninja, because they have to flat-foot their opponents for damage. About the only OP thing he could do is pump Hide and Snipe in combat, which will drastically lower his damage.

Conclusion: It's very unlikely to break your game, and Ninja isn't a strong class to begin with, so I'd let him use the 3.0 version.

[Kobold-Bard]

I had a 3.0 Ninja player once. He used Shurikens and made my so angry I spent 3 sessions throwing nothing but undead and oozes at them to teach him that Sneak Attack isn't a toy

This doesn't sound too bad.

[Claudius Maximus]

If you want to take a middle road, the general +skill item guidelines say that a +15 item should cost 22500 gp.

I don't think the 3.0 version is really overpowered though.

[Mauther]

I don't think its overpowered either. If your concern is the gp price, add on a minor cuse or make it intelligent with a curse effect to offset. Nothing game breaking, but something to mitigate a 2/3 price cut, (it leaves an arcane mark wherever activated, or something)

[QuantumSteve]

30,000gp is the correct price for this item if you go by the 3.5 chart. A use-activated 1st level spell cast by a 10th level caster(20,000gp) plus a +10 skill item (10,000gp).

That said, I think 30,000gp is overpriced for the 3.5 ver.

Basically, all this item is, is a Hat of Disguise (1800gp) combo'd with a +10 skill item (10,000gp). Using the rules for combining magic items this item would cost 12,700gp.

As for the 3.0 ver. I think 10,000 is too cheap for a +15 to hide, spell-like ability aside.

[gorfnab]

How about a Collar of Umbral Metamorphosis from Tome of Magic instead (page 156 for item and page 161 for Dark Creature abilities)? Always active version is 22,000gp and not only grants a +8 to hide but a bonus to speed, bonus to move silently, cold resistance, Darkvision, and Hide in Plain Sight. This to me is definitely better than an item that only grants a +10 or +15 to hide.

[Denihilist]

Thank you all for your thoughts, this is a great help. I especially like the collar of umbral metamorphosis. Thanks again for all the ideas