Magic Item Crafting

Rebalancing the Item Creation rules

There are four big problems with magic item crafting in 3.5:

1. Item creators can gain power about 5-10 times faster than they would by leveling. The XP cost of every ability in the game, crafting included, should be comparable to the powers gained by level advancement.
2. Plentiful wands turn spells into ammunition. This not only diminishes the fantasy aspect of the "rare and mysterious spell", it also leads to rapid abuse of imbalanced spells. When spells are only cast rarely, then even a highly imbalanced spell has limited impact; now, it can be exploited every round.
3. Cheap spellcasting seriously devalues many other game mechanics. This includes, but is not limited to: number of spells cast per day, the usefulness of spontaneous spellcasting, and the hindrance of attacks of opportunity.
4. Creating magic items enables a spiral cycle whereby item creators can gain far more experience from making items than the investment in crafting them. No other class or ability parallels this multiplicative bootstrap.

Let's work through a concrete example to demonstrate how item creation is broken. To create a wand of fireballs at 6th level using the 1/25XP rule incurs a mere 540XP loss = 3rd x 6th x 750gp / 25. That allows the casting of 50 3rd level spells. A 6th level spell caster can cast two 3rd level spells a day (maybe three from a high ability). So over a typical 10 day adventure they get to cast 20-30 3rd level spells. That means a wand of fireballs alone is equivalent to a 6th level spell caster; in fact, we could argue that being able to cast spells faster than 2-3 per day is actually superior to a spellcaster. A 6th level spellcaster takes 15,000XP to "craft", so we've gotten a 30 to 1 return on our investment of XP. Now, let's see how much XP a liberally used wand of fireballs could garner. Let's assume that three fireballs right in a row is enough to kill one EL 6 worth of creatures. Then we have gained 1,800 XP x 50 charges / 3 = 30,000 XP by its use, or 60 times the cost it took to create. (Even shared among a party of four, that gives us a 15 to 1 ratio of xp.) These levels of XP bootstrapping are unfair, and must be curtailed.

Why have item creation at all then? First, it answers the question of where all these magic items come from in the first place. Second, low level item creation is a useful buffer for a beginning party. The ability to make simple healing and utility potions cheap is not only a life saver, but also useful for moving gameplay along. So... how do we reconcile these? By imposing drawbacks to item crafting that make it comparable to just going out and adventuring. We'll choose two primary drawbacks: XP cost and time spent. The multiplicative spell factor still makes low level items cost effective (especially compared to dying), so utility potions will still be plentiful. But freely available high level wands will go away, returning them to the status of a prized magical item.

Let's see if we can clean up magic item crafting. We'll first describe five general feats from which all items can be created. Then we'll introduce a new mechanic called Negative XP which is more lenient than XP loss. Along the way we'll introduce a more specific way to think about crafting, and finally we'll derive a much more explicit pricing scheme for magic items.

Rebalancing: The Simple Way - For those DMs that would like to fix item creation but don't want to wade into complexity, let's talk about three simple changes that will take care of 90% of the problem. The three biggest offenders in item creation are:

• XP loss is too low.
• Wands are too cheap.
• Items create spells "for free" (most notably wands with 50 charges).

• Change the 1/25th to 1/5th, i.e. make the XP loss 5 times more expensive.
• Make a wand charge at least a scroll (25gp) and at most a potion (50gp). Thus, a 50 charge wand would be between 1,250gp and 2,500gp; 2,000gp is a good number.
• Spell conservation: a spell cast from an item must be cast into it first. So a wand that casts 50 fireballs requires 50 fireball spells to craft.

Craft Feat	Group	Synposis	Like...
Craft Single Charge	Charged	A single disposable charge	a potion, scroll, etc.
Craft Multiple Charge	Charged	Disposable with many charges	a wand
Craft Renewable Use	Usage	Limited uses per time interval	a figurine
Craft Constant Use	Usage	Always on / Stat mods	armor, weapons
Craft Permanent Impart	Impart	Permanently gain an attribute	a tome, manual, etc.

There are no longer individual feats for each type of item (potions, wands, etc.) nor is there is wondrous item feat. Every magic item power can be classified into one or more of these five categories. To craft an item requires whichever feats are relevant to its powers.

Let's describe the difference between the feats. Suppose you wanted to create a magic item that gave someone water breathing. There's a wide variety of ways of doing that. To illustrate:

Craft Feat	Grants water breathing...	Example Item
Single Charge	... once, then is useless	Potion of Water Breathing
Multiple Charge	... multiple times, then is useless	Wand of Water Breathing
Renewable Use	... once a day	Gills of the Fish
Constant Use	... whenever it is worn	Helm of Fresh Air
Permanent Impart	... intrisincally, forevermore	The Aquatic Mark

Less is More - It is much better to have a small number of generic feats keyed to types of powers than a large number for types of items. First and foremost, it allows the fairer distribution of newly designed magic items among the feats. Currently, "Wondrous Item" is a catchall category that grows disproportionately to the item type specific feats. Second, it stops "feat bloat" for item creators, especially as we create new types of items (which currently would require more special type feats). Last but not least, it provides a better control of what items a crafter can build at a particular level.

Negative XP

Whenever the 3.5 rules refer to "XP loss", we'll convert that to Negative XP. This includes: XP for certain spells, item crafting, and special monster attacks. A character with Negative XP never loses levels or abilities, even if that Negative XP would "reduce them" to a lower level. If Negative XP ever exceeds total XP, then the character can no longer gain experience through adventuring. At that point, they usually retire from adventuring and become politicians. :-P

Note that using Negative XP for item creation removes the 3.5 "level bump": that you can't make a magic item after gaining a level that you could have easily made the previous level. The rule limiting you to your current level of XP had a twofold purpose: to limit the most powerful item you could craft at each level, and to force you to choose between making a powerful item and advancing. In reality, it has just turned out to be an artificial restriction that neither makes sense in the game nor fulfills its design purpose. Negative XP makes more sense (the maximum item you can make increases smoothly as you gain experience) and is more reasonable (it doesn't stop you from advancing, just doubles your leveling time).

Negative XP cannot be reduced by any magical means short of a limited wish. Specifically, spells like restoration etc. are ineffective. Under certain circumstances, special quests may be undertaken to reduce an unbearable load of Negative XP.

The Unsung Hero: Perhaps the greatest new mechanic in the D&D 3 world is negative "add-ons": negative levels, non-lethal damage, ability damage, etc. It solves a long standing problem: how do you do something that mucks with basic character stats, but in a way that doesn't hose them permanently and / or unfairly? Negative add-ons aren't very fantastic, but they are a muy useful game device.

Crafting Description

1. Imbual - Creating storage for magical powers
2. Empowerment - Placing powers into the newly imbued storage

Let's look at the specifics of crafting. Powers can have two types of storage: Disposable Storage and Spell Slots. Disposable storage can hold an effect once, and then is destroyed once the effect is released. This is most often a spell or spell effect, but can also be a permanent attribute to impart. Spell Slots are persistent storage that can be used over and over. Spell slots have a wide variety of applications, from renewable uses to "always on" effects like weapon plusses.

Powers come in three kinds: prepared, principal, and permanent attribute. Prepared powers can be used once, and then disappear forever. Principal powers are like principal spells: they are the permanent version that lasts forever. Permanent attributes are any attribute of a character. Note that principal spells and spell slots are also considered permanent attributes; all permanent attributes are subject to the Permanent Power Conservation Law; see the Game Design page for more explanation on the difference between temporary, persistent, and permanent powers.

How we combine storage and spells determines the type of magic item we get:

Storage	+ Power	= Yields	For Example
Disposable	+ Prepared	= Charge	Potions, Wands
Disposable	+ Principal	= Spellbook	ur, a Spellbook
Disposable	+ Attribute	= Permanent Impart	Tome of Clear Thought
Spell Slot	(+ Prepared)	= Rechargeable Item	Ring of Spell Storing
Spell Slot	+ Principal	= Renewable Use	One Prepared Spell per day
Spell Slot	(+ Attribute)	= Constant Use	Magic Arms and Armor

To illustrate, creating a potion of Cure Light Wounds requires creating some disposable storage and then casting Cure Light Wounds into it. If we wanted a wand with 20 charges of an ESL 3 power, we would have to create 20 disposable storages (of ESL 3) and then cast 20 3rd level spells into it. Item creators often employ the rule that a higher level spell slot can be used to memorize a lower level spell, in order to speed the process of empowerment.

The time required for the imbual phase is a flat 1 day per 1,000gp of cost (or 2,000gp of market price). The time required for the empowerment phase is a function of how fast spells of the appropriate level can be cast into the item. Note that other spell casters can help, but only if they also possess the relevant item creation feats for the power being worked on. Each power of the magic item is created one at a time, imbue and empower; a creator can start empowering on the same day they finish imbuing. A crafter may choose to voluntarily stop work at the end of any phase and then return to the crafting later without penalty. If crafting is interrupted during an imbual phase, then that power can't be imbued into it. If interrupted during the empowerment phase, the item is only partially empowered and no further empowerment can be done on that particular power.

The Primacy of Spellcasting: In Kim D&D, spells per day are the basic resource from which all other magic flows. There are many benefits to this approach. First, it gets rid of the "free lunch" of charge creation. Creating magic items only allows you to time-shift when you cast your spells, not create spells from nothing. Second, it provides a solid check and balance on item creation. Rather than anyone being able to create a wondrous item with an ESL 6 power, only those crafters able to cast 6th level spells can. Third, the time to craft the same item goes down as you advance in level. After all, 20th level wizards should get some benefit over their 1st level compatriots.

It is much more difficult for a caster to "get an edge" by creating magic items using this system. The base costs in XP are the actual costs of earning equivalent capabilities by leveling. It isn't until the crafter has several XP reductions (from the Craftsman feats, a laboratory, and a high BMB) that it becomes a net positive to create items liberally. Cinematically speaking, that's the way it should be. Powerful magic items are churned out by high level spellcasters, not by Wizard 5s.

Also note that the XP expense for creating magic items is to create the storage. If you think about it, the only other way to create "storage" for powers (like spells) is by advancing; higher level adventurers by definition "retain" more power. The gaping holes in the old system were twofold: storage way too cheap, and free spells as charges. The new crafting process describe above plugs both those holes, making the crafting of magic items comparable to gaining levels once again.

Charged Specifics

Here are some common terms for charged items:

	Craft Single Charge					Craft Multiple Charge
	Provoke	Caster	Anyone	Trigger		Provoke	Caster	Anyone	Trigger
	AoO	Scroll	Potion	Aegis		AoO	Script	Gesture	Guardian
	No AoO	Runoc	Break	Glyph		No AoO	Wand	Word	Ward

Breaking an item is a common way of releasing its spell effect (without provoking an AoO), e.g. Tiles, globes, etc. Other items require gestures to activate, which provoke attacks of opportunity. For example, a Necklace of Fireballs might require someone to "break off" a fireball globe and lob it to desired location. Items requiring command words never provoke attacks of opportunity.

The poster child for charged items is wands. Wands are now changed to accomodate any spell level (no 4th level maximum any more). Staves, which are a hybridized version of wands for higher spell levels, have been changed into a spontaneous conversion instrument (see below).

Renewable Usage Specifics

Items that regenerate a spell every day also need the appropriate principal spell imparted into it. Fortunately, principal spells can be purchased for gold on the open market (usually in spellbook form). Imparting a principal spell requires burning two (2) unused spell slots of the appropriate level (or higher), which adds to empowerment time. It also means that a craftsman often can't impart their highest level spell the same (class) level they attain it.

All renewable uses are keyed to one use per day, just like a spell slot. Usage more or less than this is simply multipled by the appropriate factor. For example, an item usable only once per week would have 1/7th the base cost; an item usable once per hour would have 24 times the base cost.

Rods are now the archetypal renewable usage item. As a point of terminilogy, we'll refer to a "use" as what you get per day, and a "charge" as something disposable. Thus, the descriptive text for some rods would be changed: the Rod of Flame Extinguishing would have 10 uses per day (instead of 10 charges that regenerate every day).

Constant Usage Specifics

There are three categories of Constant Usage powers that we'll want to differentiate:

• Stat Modification - The numerically increase some statistic or roll, like a Ring of Climbing +5 or a Sword +2
• Always On - This ability is considered always on, a la Helm of Water Breathing
• At Will - This ability can be used every round, at will, like a Ring of Invisibility

Stat modifications simply cost the value of the storage in XP to create. There is a chart of spell factors for each statistic that one uses instead of the ESL scale. Similar powers on a magic item do not automatically stack (two +1s do not a +2 sword make). Making powers stack follows a spell scale, square scale, cumulative scale, or linear scale depending on the particular power. This is explained in more detail in the Pricing section below.

Always On abilities are calculated as if the item had enough renewable uses to cover a duration of 20 hours; A spell slot and principal spell are needed for each duration. For example, a Wizard 10 has a Fly spell that lasts 10 minutes, so they would need 6 x 20 = 120 renewable uses of this to create an always on Ring of Flying. Sometimes this might give effects cheaper than the stat modification above, which is an indicator of a broken spell (yes, I mean you Mage Armor, Magic Vestment, and Greater Magic Weapon). Invariably, crafters choke on this multiplier and just make something that gives you 5 uses a day. ;-)

Lastly, At Will powers are now outlawed, since they require too much playtesting adjudication to determine fairness. [If I can create a Ring of Invisibility that casts a 2nd level spell at will, shouldn't it be cheaper to create a Ring of Curing that casts a 1st level Cure Light Wounds at will?] All instances of At Will powers are now changed to 5 times per day; magic items with these abilities are now repriced according to a renewable use at 5 times per day.

Rings, previously being the "ever-power" king, are the most heavily impacted by these changes. Declarative rings (like Rings of Invisibility) are easily converted to 5 uses, but other rings (like Rings of Evasion or Feather Falling) require special handling. We'll define a new reactive action called a Response that is considered to occur simultaneously or after an event. Thus, a Ring of Evasion gets "triggered" on a successful Reflex Save and can spare you damage 5 times a day.

Staves have been changed from wand wannabes into truly awe-inspiring instruments of Spontaneous Conversion. Each staff has a spell list. When In Hand, it allows the wielder to spontaneously convert a prepared spell into any spell on the staff list, of the same level (or higher). This explains why staves use the wielder's BMB for DC purposes. Most crafters spend the extra gold to avoid attacks of opportunity on staves. More powerful staves can actually cast their spell lists once per day. The Staff of Power and the (unique) Staff of the Magi also have the fabled spell absorption, which allow spells cast at the wielder to absorb spells and convert them into charges that the staff can "cast".

Note that the principal spells in the staff retain their prepared caster / spontaneous caster distinction; spontaneous caster staves are rare and much desired.

Impart Specifics

Imparted attributes must either be paid for in a) sacrifice or b) XP. Thus, a tome that raises your Dex by 1 required someone to lower their Dex by 1 to create. Alternatively, the item craftsman can "create" a point of Dexterity from XP. This is done by finding how much XP it would cost to create Dex +5 at constant use, and then using that as the value for a permanent +1. Permanent attributes always follow a linear scale (i.e. permanent Dex +3 costs 3 times the XP of permanent Dex +1). This imparting costs is in addition to the costs in gp and Neg xp to craft the disposable storage that holds the attribute until it can be imparted.

If you wanted to create a Ring of Evasion that imparted Evasion all the time, then this would require someone to give up the Evasion feat during empowerment. Since this will be uses many times, it requires Spell Slot storage instead of disposable storage. While this might seem costly, it enables the sharing of feats among party members.

Need to exposit more on binding at some point
  Confine
  Co-opt
  Coerce
  Steal

Base Craft Cost = Spell Factor x Power Factor

The Spell Factor is Spell Level x Caster Level (= ESL x BMB), and the Power Factor differs according to the type of power.

Then, gp and XP get modified separately, according to creator proficiency, properties of the magic item, and other sundry things.

Power Craft Cost = Base Craft Cost x (1 + Creator Proficiency) x (1 + Power Properties) + Power Additional

This gets done for each power of a magic item and then summed up, then modified according to body slot affinity.

Total Craft Cost = (Sum of Power Craft Cost(s)) x Body Slot Factor + Total Additional

Usually, total craft cost in gp gets modified upward from the base and total craft cost in XP gets modified downward. We'll refer to costs by replacing it with gp or XP, so the "Total Craft Cost in gp" is the Total Craft gp. When referring to specific terms, we'll append gp or XP, e.g. Power Additional XP.

The market price of a magic item is

Market Price = Total Craft gp + 2.5 x Sum of Power Craft XP + 5.0 x Sum of Power Additional XP

This price is calculated using Tim the Wizard, a 10th level Wizard with all Craftsman feats. As a general rule, 1XP = 5gp, and Tim gets 50% off his Base Craft XP.

The Loss of Innocence... and Simplicity: The system presented below is much more accurate, fair, and balanced than the 3.5 item creation. Unfortunately, it's also more complex and ugly. One of the biggest losses is the simple conversion factors between gp cost, XP cost, and market cost. Here's a small chart giving a feel for approximate conversion factors per type of item now:

Item Type	PFgp	PFXP	Market	Ratio
Scroll	10gp	10XP	35gp	1:3.5
Wand	15gp	10XP	40gp	1:4
Potion	20gp	10XP	45gp	1:4.5
Tile	25gp	10XP	50gp	1:5
Renewable Use	500gp	200XP	1,000gp	1:5
Constant Use	500gp	200XP	1,000gp	1:5

As you can see, just using a 1:5 ratio (i.e. 1/5th Negative XP of Market Price) is a pretty good simplification. The 1/5th rule still favors charged items like scrolls and wands, but now we're in the right ballpark.

Pricing Details

Spell Factor - The minimum CL/BMB for an ESL is CL = 2*ESL - 1. Several things can raise the effective spell level, in particular power modifications that emulate metamagic feats. For example:

ESL	Grants
+3	Maximize power (all numeric maxed)
+4	Quicken power (swift action activation)
+5	Opportunity power (interrupt action activation)

For constant use and permanent impart effects the Spell Factor is chosen directly. Here's a comparison chart of scales to guide you:

Spell SF Scale 1 1st x 1 6 2nd x 3 15 3rd x 5 28 4th x 7 45 5th x 9 66 6th x 11 91 7th x 13 120 8th x 15 153 9th x 17 190 10th x 19

Square SF Scale 1 x1 4 x2 9 x3 16 x4 25 x5 36 x6 49 x7 64 x8 81 x9 100 x10

Cumulative SF Scale 1 x1 3 x2 6 x3 10 x4 15 x5 21 x6 28 x7 36 x8 45 x9 55 x10

Linear SF Scale 1 x1 2 x2 3 x3 4 x4 5 x5 6 x6 7 x7 8 x8 9 x9 10 x10

Use Square Scale X Power .2 +1 Skill (one) Competence 2 +1 Skill (all) Competence .3 +1 Save (one) Resistance 1 +1 Save (all) Resistance .5 +1 Ability Check Enh 1 +1 Ability Enhancement 1 +1 AB Enhancement 1 +1 MB Enhancement 1 +1 Dmg Enhancement 1 +1 AC Armor/Shield/Enh 2 +1 AC Defl/Dodge/Nat Armor

Use Square Scale X Power .4 +1 Skill (one) A/I/L/M* 4 +1 Skill (all) A/I/L/M* .6 +1 Save (one) A/I/L/M* 2 +1 Save (all) A/I/L/M* 1 +1 Ability Check A/I/L/M* 2 +1 Ability A/I/L/M* 2 +1 AB A/I/L/M* 2 +1 MB A/I/L/M* 2 +1 Dmg A/I/L/M* 2 +1 AC A/I/L/M*

Use Cumulative Scale X Power .25 +1i Encumbrance .5 +5' Move Use Linear Scale X Power .25 1 type Resist 1 1/type DR 1.5 1/- DR 3 1/none DR

A/I/L/M* = Aligned/Insight/Luck/Morale

To calculate the ESL for constant use powers, sum up the appropriate SFs and then find the closest Spell Min on the chart on the left.

Rework example(s) once scales are stable

Power Factor - Here's a guideline to Power Factors:

PF	Creates (gp and xp)		PF	Purchases (in gp)
x10	Disposable storage		x10	Hiring a spell caster to cast a spell once
x200	A spell slot per day		x20	Scribing a principal spell into a spellbook
			x100	Gaining a principal spell

Creator Proficiency - Item creation becomes easier the more experienced and powerful the craftsman is:

• Feats - The three Craftsman feats each reduce the Base Craft Cost by 10% per feat. This applies to both Creator Proficiency gp and XP.
• Inexperienced Creators - Less experienced crafters incur a penalty depending on their BMB progression type / raw BMB. This applies only to Creator Proficiency gp.
• Experienced Creators - All item creators get a 2% reduction for each plus of BMB. This applies only to Creator Proficiency XP.

Feats	-10%	Exceptional Craftsman		BMB	+0%	BMB Best Progression OR +8 or above
	-10%	Extraordinary Craftsman			+50%	BMB Good Progression OR +4 to +7
	-10%	Legendary Craftsman			+100%	BMB Poor Progression OR +0 to +3

Note that multi-class creators use the best category they can, whether from a progression or total BMB.

Under normal circumstances, the amount of Negative XP taken should never fall below 20% of the Base Craft XP, even if the total reduction bonuses exceed 80%. This is relevant mainly to Epic level characters using labs.

Power Properties gp - How the power becomes activated adds cost to the item:

• Activator - This can be one of three types: an appropriate spellcaster, anyone, or a trigger. Certain spells (Glyph, Contingency, etc.) can expand the ways these can be applied. Also note that items with restricted users (certain classes, alignment, etc.) are considered equivalent to a spellcaster.
• Provocation - Whether activating the power provokes an attack of opportunity or not.

Activator	+0%	Spellcaster	AoO	+0%	Provoke AoO
	+100%	Anyone		+50%	No AoO
	+200%	Trigger

Power Properties XP - This category is used so rarely that, um, I can't even think of an example we might use it for. ;-) Artifacts?

Power Additional - A couple factors can additionally influence power costs:

• Inherent Costs - If a spell or spell-like ability has an inherent cost (in material components or xp) then these are added here. Note that if multiple instances of a spell are put into the item (say, because of multiple charges) then the inherent cost applies to each instance.
• Lab Conversion - Special workshops allow the item creator to spend gold to defray Negative XP reduction at a rate of 5 gp to -1 XP, up to 20% of the Base Craft Cost.
  More specifically: Power Additional gp = -5 Power Additional XP, where the latter is negative.
• Permanent Attribute - Any raw attribute increase also comes with a corresponding XP cost, according to the chart in the addenda.

Total Additional - Sometimes items will require additional costs, which the item creator might or might not have to pay:

• Material Costs - Enchanting armor requires masterwork armor to begin with. This would have to be procured beforehand if the item creator didn't already have access to a set. Similarly, an Adamantine Sword +1 requires an Adamantine Sword, which is an additional cost.
• Special Components - Sometimes certain magic items will require special components to create, like phoenix feathers or the dark light of a new moon. These may need to be obtained independent of the item creation process.
• Class Abilities - Some classes are intimately connected with item creation. The artificer, for example, gains a pool of Positive XP that can be spent to create items.

• Untyped Slot - An item that doesn't consume one of the body slots is quite precious, and thus is more expensive to make. BSF = x2.
• Uncustomary Affinity - If an item is using the affinity from another type of item, then the BSF = x1.5. For this purpose, all affinities from the same slot are considered equivalent.

Slot Type - Affinity Head Crown - Chr / Influence Hat - Interaction Helm - Ranged Attacks Headband - Int / Mental improvement Mask - Disguise Eye Goggles - Detection Lenses - Vision Ear Muffs - Sonic Earrings - Hearing Neck Amulet - Con / Health Brooch - Protection Medallion - Discernment Necklace - Limited Combat Periapt - Wis / Immunity Scarab - Alerting

Slot Type - Affinity Shoulder Cape - Resistance Cloak - Protection Mantle - Transformation Arm Armband - Morale Bracers - Combat Bracelets - Allies Phylactery - Alignment On Hand Gauntlets - Str / Destructive Power Gloves - Dex / Quickness, Touch In Hand Rod - Renewable Use Staff - Conversion Wand - Multiple Charge Weapon - Combat Shield - Protection Finger Ring - "Constant" effects / Metamagic

Slot Type - Affinity Full Body Armor - Fighter Improvement Robe - Spellcaster Improvement Skin Mark - Permanent Impart Tattoo - Natural Improvement Ointment - Salve, Unguent Utility Bag - Encumbrance Sack - Readiness Torso Shirt - Physical Improvement Vest - Class Abilities Vestment - Belt Belt - Mundane Improvement Girdle - Physical Improvement Feet Boots - Movement Shoes - Mundane Slippers - Tracks, Surfaces

The most notable addition to the slots is the In Hand slot, which works somewhat differently than the others. Most slots are filled with a worn item that "stays there"; the In Hand slot is usually being cycled with items. Since actions are associated with placing things In Hand and you can only have as many things In Hand as you have hands, this is the natural balancing for that slot. Note that the underlying mechanic is still the same: you don't get the benefit of the magic unless the magic item is in its appropriate slot.

The biggest change is that metamagic has been moved from rods to rings. This is mostly thematic: metamagic fits better with Rings of Wizardry than Rods of Lordly Might. Rods are now aimed at mundane types who want some magic along with their handy weapon.

The majority of "untyped" items are actually use the In Hand slot. These include, but are not limited to: Potion, Scroll, Band, Bead, Bottle, Broom, Chime, Cube, Deck, Dust, Elixir, Fan, Gem, Horn, Lantern, Manual, Orb, Pearl, Pipes, Rope, Sheen, Spoon, Token, Tome.

Still untyped are:
Balls, Candles, Censer, Decanter, Figurine, Gates, Mirrors, Scabbard, Stones
  Hmmm... mainly items that "act" on their own...  triggered independent?

Really seems like we should have three classes of magic items
  Common - Everyone knows how to craft
  Signature - Few know how to craft, and jealously guard their secrets
  Artifact - No one knows how to craft / Unique craft / Divine craft

Fill out some classic example wygac
  Wand of fireballs
  Staff of something
Work thru complex examples like spell absorption, etc.

Sum of (Spells per Day) * SL * CL * MNX = XP to gain that CL

which means

MNX = XP to gain that CL / Sum of (Spells per Day) * SL * CL

Fortunately, the sum is an easily calculated constant. In Kim D&D, here are those sums and the Magic Number X's for the Best spellcasters:

CL	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
XP	0k	1k	3k	6k	10k	15k	21k	28k	36k	45k	55k	66k	78k	91k	105k	120k	136k	153k	171k	190k
Sum	1	4	12	28	55	96	154	240	351	500	682	924	1209	1568	1980	2480	3043	3708	4332	5140
~MNX	0	250	250	214	181	156	136	116	102	90	80	71	64	58	53	48	44	41	39	36

Okay, right off the bat we can see that the only possible numbers are between 40 and 250. Since those represent the extremes, it makes sense to throw in a factor of 2, which gives us a number between 80 and 120. For convenience choose a multiple of 10. 80 would represent a "magic is more common" campaign, and 120 is a "magic is highly prized"; 100 is the safest middle ground, which is the target I'm choosing for Kim D&D. For your own campaign, a smaller number represents a "higher magic" campaign, and a larger number is a "lower magic" one.

Now we have to factor in the effect of Neg XP reducing abilities. If you don't have any in your campaign, you are done. In my own, I want feats and levels to play a major role in crafting. At Wizard 10, we can expect a 50% reduction of Neg XP, and at Wizard 20 a 80% reduction. Thus, our initial value will be 200, which tracks the actual values beautifully.

How does this compare with 3.5? In 3.5 the basic rule of thumb is 100 charges = 5 times per day, or 20 charges = 1 renewable per day. This is exactly our ratio as well: 10 disposable storage X 20 = 200 spell slot. In fact, we tweaked down the 12.5 disposable storage in 3.5 to retain this ratio (as well as make calculation easier in general).

In 3.5 100 charges also = at will. In Kim D&D we have eliminated all at will effects for magic item powers.

Pricing Guidelines

Aligned - Old Sacred and Profane + others Alchemical - Chemicals, prior Armor - Non-magical Armor Circumstance - STACK Competence - Better at Deflection - Magical protection Dodge - STACK Enhancement - Effectiveness STACK Armor + Shield

Inherent - Permanent Insight - Intuit, Precog Luck - Chance Morale - Spirit Natural Armor - Toughness Racial - From race, skills Resistance - Saves Shield - Non-magical Shield Size - From size

TO DO:
Sceptres as weapons + effects

FUTURE EXERCISE:
XP Buy for all abilities by advancement
  BAB
  BMB, should = BAB
  Saves = 1/6th BAB
  hp = 1/6th BAB
  Dmg Bonus
  Skills = 1/20th BAB  :-(
  Spell Slots = 100
  Move
    30ft Enhance = 3K
  Encumbrance
    10 lbs = 100gp linear in 3.5.  Bah!  
  # attacks?  Follows from BAB
  AC?
  Ability
    6,000XP + change
We'll get precise values if we can "craft" an adventurer with same stats