[DnD 3.5] Determining Price for Magic Weapons

[theonesin]

I've tried reading around, and asking my group, but I'm still confused on how to determine magic weapon costs.

For a straight example of what I want, I want to get a Deadly Precision(MIC, +1 bonus) kusari-gama(light exotic reach weapon).

I thought it would just be base weapon cost + masterwork cost + enchantment bonus cost(in this case 2,000gp), but some people in my group said that you have to make a weapon magic before you can add an enchantment(meaning a total of a +2 bonus), which doesn't make sense to me.

Thanks.

[Greenish]

You need to have +1 enhancement bonus before you can add special abilities.

[Douglas]

The rules for magic weapons state that "A weapon with a special ability must have at least a +1 enhancement bonus." Whether this makes sense to you doesn't really matter, it's what the rules say.

Thus, if you want a Deadly Precision kusari-gama it must at the very least be a +1 Deadly Precision kusari-gama, which as you noted costs as a +2 weapon.

[klemdakherzbag]

Here is a related question - if I have a +1 weapon and want to add a +1 bonus enhancement to it will I pay 8k as full cost or just the 6k difference?

[Greenish]

Here is a related question - if I have a +1 weapon and want to add a +1 bonus enhancement to it will I pay 8k as full cost or just the 6k difference?

To upgrade an existing weapon, you only pay the difference.

[Tancred]

I want to get a Deadly Precision(MIC, +1 bonus) kusari-gama(light exotic reach weapon).

If you're using the Oriental Adventures version of the kusari-gama, it's also a double weapon, meaning you'd need to get both parts enchanted separately, and pay for both masterwork costs.

One would imagine that for your example, you'd only put Deadly Precision on one end and not the other... but if you were doing it for both ends, total cost would be 10 [weapon] + 2x300 [masterwork] + 2x8000 [total of +2 effective bonus] = 16610gp.

Only putting the magic enchantments on one end (but keeping the whole thing masterwork) would cost you 10+2x300+8000 = 8610gp.

[Greenish]

If you're using the Oriental Adventures version of the kusari-gama, it's also a double weapon

Since he specified it's a light exotic weapon, we can probably assume he doesn't mean the two-handed one.

[Tancred]

Since he specified it's a light exotic weapon, we can probably assume he doesn't mean the two-handed one.

Ah. True, that.

I (wrongly) assumed that by "light" he just meant that Weapon Finesse could be applied.

Where does one find a light kusari-gama?

Edit: I'm blind. I didn't see the table on p145 of the DMG, I just read the description and concentrated on the "used in all respects like a spiked chain" bit. Oops.

[DreadWarlock]

it is written in the rules that "All magic weapons are also masterwork weapons, but their masterwork bonus on attack rolls does not stack with their enhancement bonus on attack rolls. " Does this mean that you need to pay that +1 on masterwork or is the price for a masterwork weapon implemented in the price for the magic weapon?

[Diarmuid]

The MW cost is not included in the price for adding enhancements/enchantments.

That statement is merely stating that the +1 to hit from MW, does not stack with the +1 hit/dmg from magic.

[DreadWarlock]

yes but all magic weapons are masterwork. ?

[Jeraa]

Yes, all magic weapons are masterwork, but you have to pay for the masterwork part separately from the magic part. And the +1 bonus on attack rolls you get from a masterwork weapon does not stack with the bonus from a magical weapon. A +1 longsword gets +1 attack and +1 damage, not +2 attack and +1 damage.

A +1 longsword costs:

15gp (longsword) + 300gp (masterwork weapon) + 2,000gp (+1 weapon) = 2,315gp.

[DreadWarlock]

thx jeraa. btw im having a problem finding prices for magic items... i have seen in the magic item compeduum that some of the prices were pointed as for example price:+2
what is the price for a +2 weapon?

[Jeraa]

Page 222 of the 3.5 Dungeons Masters Guide, or here on the SRD.

[DreadWarlock]

thx again jeraa

[GhostRaven]

Hey, please forgive my ignorance, Im pretty new to PnP dnd. I am trying to locate the rule that says two +1 enhancements equal the cost of one +2. For example: Say I am in an enchanter's shop with my new shiny masterwork long sword. The goal is to upgrade this weapon to get an extra 1d6 flaming dmg slapped on there.

--Weapon Enh +1 = 2000
-- Flaming etc +1 = 2000
>> Newb total = 4,000

This is as if I am applying two separate enchants? Not buying a pre-made weapon, having a custom one enchanted from the ground up.

Many references I see go like this:
Buying a flaming longsword?
Weapon Enh +1
Flaming is +1
Therefore total enchants are +2 = 8,000.

Can someone one link the rule that states that the newb total is wrong? Or am I just missing some ancient PnP concept?

[Starbuck_II]

Hey, please forgive my ignorance, Im pretty new to PnP dnd. I am trying to locate the rule that says two +1 enhancements equal the cost of one +2. For example: Say I am in an enchanter's shop with my new shiny masterwork long sword. The goal is to upgrade this weapon to get an extra 1d6 flaming dmg slapped on there.

--Weapon Enh +1 = 2000
-- Flaming etc +1 = 2000
>> Newb total = 4,000

This is as if I am applying two separate enchants? Not buying a pre-made weapon, having a custom one enchanted from the ground up.

Many references I see go like this:
Buying a flaming longsword?
Weapon Enh +1
Flaming is +1
Therefore total enchants are +2 = 8,000.

Can someone one link the rule that states that the newb total is wrong? Or am I just missing some ancient PnP concept?

Just read the SRD:
Weapon Table, if you didn't add enhancements: explain hiow +10 weapons cost 200, 000 gp instead of 20, ooo gp?