Magic Item Creation?

[Vivamort]

I could use a step by step interpretation of how magic items are created and what powers they bestow. I understand the feat involved and the enhancement bonus per 5 levels but am clueless to what difference a level 2 item is from a level 5 item in terms of what additional powers it has since they both carry the same enhancement bonus.

[Barrok]

Yes could someone post a basic how to make 4th edition items post and a basic how to cost them..

[xaotik1]

Technically, there is no WotC supported set of rules on custom magic items yet, though finding the base cost for an item is easy enough. This is for an item of the listed bonus without any additional powers attached.

item level/ bonus/ cost
Lvl 1/ +1/ 360 gp
Lvl 6/ +2/ 1,800 gp
Lvl 11/ +3/ 9,000 gp
Lvl 16/ +4/ 45,000 gp
Lvl 21/ +5/ 225,000 gp
Lvl 26/ +6/ 1,125,000 gp


Adding powers and such adds a bit of a problem though. The abilities listed do not mirror exact powers and such all the time, so judging the starting item level is problematical. I'm working on a conversion, but it is more complicated that it appears at first.

[Vivamort]

I appreciate your help. Not having the basic structure to assign powers makes everything difficult for sure. You are correct about the powers and abilities not matching up. I am assuming that in the near future some sort of guide will be made available. I also am assuming that when a character wishes to make a magic item, their abilities are also imbued as well.

[xaotik1]

I would assume that any ability you possess can be imbued into an item, though the actual item would probably need to be specific. Wands and such for ranged blasts, boots for movement powers, etc. I am sure that there is a formula, I just need a bit of time to figure it out.

[xaotik1]

Ok, there's a set price for each level of item. The tricky part is determining the level of the item in question to begin with. In addition, the items effects and powers DO determine what slot they take up, and the phb has that listed already, so I won't bother repeating that here.

To start with, all items of levels 1-5 are considered +1 items, 6-10 are +2, 11-15 are +3, etc in 5 level increments. Items begin at 360, and increase at a set rate from then on, based on level. If you think of it in terms like the 3.5 point buy system, it's pretty simple.

Start with a base cost of 200 (level zero item, much like starting at a base of 8 for a stat)
For each level from 1 through 5, add 160 to the cost. For every 5 levels, the cost goes up by a factor of 5, as shown below.
6-10 cost 800 each
11-15 cost 4k each
16-20 cost 20k each
21-25 cost 100k each
26-30 cost 500k each
Figuring it this way takes a lot of counting, and I'm sure there is a mathematical equation that will let you do it much simpler than by going through it step by step, but that isn't my strong point. Maybe someone else here can figure that out. Best I can do is lv 1-5, 200+(160x base level)= cost. . .then I run out of ideas :) Luckily, I am anal enough to have gathered the costs together into a list to make it easier to reference.
LV=Cost
1=360, 2=520, 3=680, 4=840, 5=1000, 6=1800, 7=2600, 8=3400, 9=4200, 10=5000, 11=9k, 12=13k, 13=17k, 14=21k, 15=25k, 16=45k, 17=65k, 18=85k, 19-105k, 20=125k, 21=225k, 22=325k, 23=425k, 24=525k, 25=625k, 26=1125k, 27=1625k, 28=2125k, 29=2625km 30=3125k

Now that base costs are figured, all you need is a level to put next to it. This part is tricky, and my interpretation is still under construction here. If using a power, I can extrapolate from the wands listing the relative level of an item that uses powers straight out of a class list. Any At Will power imbued in an item is usable as an Encounter power when using the item in question, and Encounter powers become Daily powers. I see no listing of Daily powers using wands and such, so I haven't figured the cost of anything granting bonus Daily powers. Anyway, the PHB has the base level of a wand as:
item level/power level/utility power level
3/1, 8/3/2, 13/7/6, 18/13/10, 23/17/16, 28/23/22
Note that utility powers are considered stronger or more useful, and as such cost more.

I am still trying to figure out how the various non-power related abilities figure in, but haven't quite got the mechanical sense hammered out of it yet. I am still busy working on it, so all hope is not lost quite yet.