"Common" magic items for sale

[Arduin]

Thinking on what a realistic cost for minor magic items (using supply/demand criteria) and came up with a type that might be interesting and useful.

First; setting a framework for understanding price. In late medieval period the annual wage for a person like a Master Mason was about 190 C&C S.P.s per year. That is a tad less than 20 g.p. a year for a middle class wage earner.

Second is setting the type of magic likely to be for sale. I doubt that the powers that be would allow (even if there were a sizeable market, which is doubtful) magic to be sold that is the equivalent to heavy weapons. Stuff like wands of Fireball and the like. Most likely you will find one shot, useful utility items and luxury magic. Most prices would be too high for middle class people but would be for upper classes.

I choose to have these types of items be enchanted precious stones that are not destroyed when the magic is invoked by the user but could be re-enchanted.

Examples:

Banquet Stone. A 5 gp aquamarine stone than when invoked creates a banquet for 8 people appear on the table on which the stone was set. All settings are silver (which disappear afterwards). 10 g.p. cost.

Camp fire Stone: A 2 gp garnet that when placed on the ground and invoked creates 2' diameter camp fire which lasts for 6 hours. Can be used 7 times. 4 gp cost

Just ideas.

[Captain_K]

Great ideas, I love them, write up more and post here or ... give to TREE???? Cools stuff, if you can come up with some rule or guidelines this might be a fun one to have everyone drop in 3 or 4 ideas.. would make a great little pile of "utilitarian magic items for the rich".

Nice job!

[Arduin]

Row Boat: 2" cube of polished petrified wood 2 gp. When invoked turns into a row boat that can hold 6 people. Good for 24 hours use. 8 g.p. cost

[Arduin]

Star Lemon Quartz worth 3 gp. Once invoked prevents the possessor from getting scurvy for 3 months. Cost 5 gp

[Lurker]

Star Lemon Quartz worth 3 gp. Once invoked prevents the possessor from getting scurvy for 3 months. Cost 5 gp

I like that one!

Here let me think .... off the top of my head and looking in my kitchen


Annie's Crock - an earthen ware crock that when used keeps fermented foods (krout, pickles etc) from spoiling for over a year. Plus, makes sure the fermented foods are of the best taste possible (to the cooks taste - which might cause troubles when the cook likes 'half sours' but someone else prefers more/less sour food.

[Arduin]

Annie's Crock - an earthen ware crock that when used keeps fermented foods (krout, pickles etc) from spoiling for over a year. Plus, makes sure the fermented foods are of the best taste possible (to the cooks taste - which might cause troubles when the cook likes 'half sours' but someone else prefers more/less sour food.

Nice one!

Soapstone carved into shape of a small (4") waterfall. When passed over body cleans it. 30 uses 2 gp.

[koralas]

I choose to have these types of items be enchanted precious stones that are not destroyed when the magic is invoked by the user but could be re-enchanted.

I would have the stone be consumed as well, or the magic cost increased for certain effects.

Banquet Stone. A 5 gp aquamarine stone than when invoked creates a banquet for 8 people appear on the table on which the stone was set. All settings are silver (which disappear afterwards). 10 g.p. cost.

Consider a "Tavern Meal, Good" costs 1GP, for a party of 8 it costs 8GP. Just seems a low cost considering that the effect would seem to be a feast fit for a prince, all that silver finery and such... Maybe double the cost to 20GP? For adventuring this is a way to convert 3.5 days rations from 3.5 EV (3.5#) to a non-tracked item... Make sure that party doesn't get a -
Stone Table: A 10GP Moissanite that, when placed on the ground and the command word is spoken, forms a 6'x4' table with 8 comfortable chairs. These remain for 2 hours, or until the effect is dispelled. Anyone spending the full two hours lounging at the table heals 1hp. Can be used 5 times, once per day, 50GP.

Camp fire Stone: A 2 gp garnet that when placed on the ground and invoked creates 2' diameter camp fire which lasts for 6 hours. Can be used 7 times. 4 gp cost

I like this, and is a good cost, considering a Tinder Box at 2gp is useful for starting 10 fires.

Row Boat: 2" cube of polished petrified wood 2 gp. When invoked turns into a row boat that can hold 6 people. Good for 24 hours use. 8 g.p. cost

Considering the Foldable Boat is 17,500, I think this one is out of bounds. Yes the FB one can form two different types of boats, and has no time limit on the duration it remains in boat form, but that is just to far off in price, considering the existing item and actual usefulness in game effect. Heck, at 8GP, as a non-classed small lake fisherman, I would sell my families Row Boat (50GP value) and buy a fleet of these stones, hiring others to fish from them. Make it a one use item and it makes sense at about 15-20GP. [EDIT]Misread the original 24 hours use on this as it remains in boat form for 24 hours per use and caught it after hitting submit that it is a TOTAL of 24 hours , sorry about that, left the original post there, though still think I would increase the cost.[/EDIT]

[Arduin]

Consider a "Tavern Meal, Good" costs 1GP, for a party of 8 it costs 8GP. Just seems a low cost considering that the effect would seem to be a feast fit for a prince

Read my first post on the thread to understand.

[Arduin]

Yes the FB one can form two different types of boats, and has no time limit on the duration it remains in boat form, but that is just to far off in price,

Again, you failed to read the intro post. The folding boat would cost ~$42,500,000 in the currency value I'm using. The boat I listed costs about $20,000 in today’s money.

[Arduin]

Okay, back to the topic.

Polished Hematite in the shape of a 3" long, 1/4" thick isosceles triangle. 1 sp
Once per day it will point towards the place the owner TRULY considers home. Cost 5 g.p.

[Arduin]

A Sunstone, 1 g.p., that when invoked keeps the owner warm in the coldest weather for 1 day. Cost 5 g.p.

[Arduin]

Water - A black opal, 3 gp, once invoked produces one 30 gallon pithos (with lid) filled with clean drinking water. Cost 5 gp

[Treebore]

Since I award treasure using the treasure tables in the M&T I also use their suggested costs as a base line, raising and lowering based upon in game factors. I also give a percentage chance to most items even being available, the more powerful it is, the less likely. So for the base line items, such as +1 weapons and armor, I give a 30% chance of it being available, and only in a "large market" that only major cities can have. The more powerful the item is, the more I lower the chance. Some items I give no chance what so ever for. Healing potions are always available, the only question is, how many are available at any given time? Which ones are even available?

I've thought about going to a more realistic pricing scheme like you look to be doing, but have always decided it was more of a head ache than its worth.

[Arduin]

I've thought about going to a more realistic pricing scheme like you look to be doing, but have always decided it was more of a head ache than its worth.

Since they are pretty much the only magic items available in stores in my game world, it works. It is just too ridiculous (from my viewpoint) to think that there are stores in a mediaeval setting with items costing 10's of millions of dollars. (Much like how Gygax had it in the rules too I guess)

[Treebore]

I've thought about going to a more realistic pricing scheme like you look to be doing, but have always decided it was more of a head ache than its worth.

Since they are pretty much the only magic items available in stores in my game world, it works. It is just too ridiculous (from my viewpoint) to think that there are stores in a mediaeval setting with items costing 10's of millions of dollars. (Much like how Gygax had it in the rules too I guess)

Well, yeah, it is kind of ridiculous, until you think of the fact that is also what the treasure tables awarded to the adventurers. At that point I consider them as cancelling each other out and moving into making sense.


The so called "reality" of it is, the PC adventurers quickly move into the ranks of the wealthy, and then steadily move up the wealth ladder until they reach "Ultra Wealthy" (the proverbial 1% of the 1%), and only the wealthy would have any hope of being able to afford to buy/sell/trade such expensive commodities. The real world correlation would be those wealthy enough to buy big homes, then
bigger and better mansions, or 50 foot yachts, then 1,000 foot yachts, and so on, or just how big and expensive their private jets are, or how many ultra valuable cars they have collected (Jay Leno). Notice I also talk in the plural for how many mansions, jets, yachts, etc... they own too.

[Arduin]

[quote="Treebore"]
Well, yeah, it is kind of ridiculous, until you think of the fact that is also what the treasure tables awarded to the adventurers.[quote]

Apples and oranges for the most part. They aren't purchasing that stuff. But anyway, to each his own. I just go with the old school view of no high end magic items (worth high 6 to low 7 figures) hanging around as the demand wouldn't be there at those prices.

But, each persons campaign is different.

Once again, back to the point of the thread...

[Lurker]

Kaity's Blanket

A well made, but of common cloth, blanket that is softer than it first appears. Anyone sleeping with will be comfortable in all but the coldest (or hottest depending on the area) of nights. However, one that has possessed the blanket for a significant time - as decided by the DM - has additional benefits from its arcane powers.

One possessing it long enough to be in tune with its powers will be immune from any fear spells when holding it. Also any normal fear causing monsters will find it difficult to notice or see the one holding the blanket.

It is rumored that these items bestow the power to be immune from the effects of nightmare, night hags, and the like. However, this is unconfirmed, as an adventure or adult so protected will be loth to admit that they possess such an item, and any child claiming to be besieged by one of the creatures, but so protected, is likely to be thought of as 'telling tall tales'.


Yes, it's based on real life, that I wish existed, and yes my older daughter had a nightmare the other night and I wish her blue blankie was so empowered ...

[Arduin]

Kaity's Blanket

Yes, it's based on real life, that I wish existed, and yes my older daughter had a nightmare the other night and I wish her blue blankie was so empowered ...

Would be nice indeed

[koralas]

Hrm, Arduin, I still see major issues with the pricing of most of these items. There is an established economy in C&C, and many of these items end up just breaking these down, especially when considering the adventuring implications.

Why worry about heaps of citrus for long voyages when for a crew of 40 the captain can instead spend 200gp to protect his crew from scurvy, that leaves more cargo space to make more money...

Adventures don't need to carry supplies of water, for 5gp you can get all the water you need, enough for up to 15 people for one day, just refill your skins... The same goes for food, a party of 6 can eat for just over 1gp 6sp/day. Nah, save that weight for other more important things...

Cold weather adventuring, no problem, for 500gp I can traipse around in my armor, or robes without the need bundle up for 100 days. More than well worth it, invaluable.

While these items are cool, they throw huge wrenches into game balance issues. If your style of gaming, great, have fun, I just think the prices are far to low.

I don't think many here are advocating for magic shops where high-end items are common, but there could be some one-off items for sale at some point. I mean if an adventurer decides to sell his +2 sword, and a merchant can afford it (lets face it most will not), then great, it is then available for sale. Or perhaps that shop is a business owned by an adventurer, and part of the reason she is adventuring is to gain such items to upgrade their own, and sell their old...

[Arduin]

1" cube of Pyrite, 1 g.p. When passed over a small amount of coins (50 or less) grows warm if the coins are in some way of less value than face value. Cost 5 g.p.

[Lurker]

I like that one ! However, with the ability to find coins that have been shaved, debased etc I think it should be worth a bit more. Yes the natural rock used is of little value, but the ability (therefore the value) would be greatly useful to any merchant or trader .

[Arduin]

I like that one ! However, with the ability to find coins that have been shaved, debased etc I think it should be worth a bit more. Yes the natural rock used is of little value, but the ability (therefore the value) would be greatly useful to any merchant or trader .

True. Maybe triple the price at least.

[Arduin]

Change of clothing: Alexandrite gem of 3 g.p. The buyer gives a complete set of clothes to the Enchanter when this item is made (which gets incorporated into the stone). The owner can invoke the gem once. The set of clothing stored immediately replaces the clothing being currently worn. The old clothing appears in a small cotton drawstring sack at the feet of the person whose clothing was changed. Price 8 g.p.