Mage-ic Items

March 22nd, 2016

It seems like spellcasters never have anything good to spend their gold on, especially at lower levels. Today’s Magic Market is putting the emphasis on magic with a trio of items specifically for the benefit of spellcasters, particularly low-level spellcasters, who might not have that many other exciting options for non-consumable magic items to spend their hard-earned gold on.

RING OF SPELL SWAPPING PRICE 12,000 gp
Slot ring; CL 7th; Weight —
Aura moderate transmutation

These rings are generally made of copper, brass, or sterling silver, and feature a single large semi-precious gemstone, such as amber, garnet, quartz, topaz, or similar stones. Sometimes mistaken for a ring of spell storing, these rings can indeed store spells in a somewhat similar fashion, although they allow it to be used in a very different way. A spellcaster can cast any spell into the ring, and the spell is then stored within the ring indefinitely. A ring of spell swapping can hold only a single spell at any given time, and attempting to store a second spell in the ring overwrites the previously stored spell.

The ring’s wearer can concentrate on the ring for one minute in order to swap the spell stored in the ring for any spell she currently has prepared. In order to do so, the spell stored in the ring must appear on the wearer’s spellcasting list, and he must have at least one prepared spell or unexpended spell slot of the same spell level as the spell stored in the ring, or higher. If the wearer is a spontaneous spellcaster, she can use the ring to “prepare” the stored spell in an unused spell slot, allowing her to use that spell slot to cast the spell in question, but losing the ability to use that spell slot to cast any other spells until the next time she rests. Similarly, a prepared spellcaster can also choose to use the ring to prepare the spell in an unused spell slot, if desired.

Whenever a spell is prepared using the ring of spell swapping, the spell ceases to be stored in the ring. If the ring’s wearer prepared the spell in the ring in place of a previously-prepared spell, that spell becomes stored in the ring. Otherwise, the spell stored in the ring is simply expended.

Construction Requirements Cost 6,000 gp

Forge Ring, mnemonic enhancer

STAFF OF CONCENTRATION PRICE 6,300 gp
Slot none; CL 3rd; Weight 4 lbs.
Aura faint transmutation

These +1 quarterstaves are made of carefully polished and stained ash, yew, or oak wood, and bear intricate and detailed runes engraved across the entirety of their surface, the interior of the carvings painted with bright colors to ensure that the eldritch patterns are easily visible. When a staff of concentration is swung through the air, the grooves and bumps created by the runic carvings cause it to whistle faintly.

The wielder of a staff of concentration gains a bonus equal to twice the quarterstaff’s enhancement bonus on concentration checks made to cast spells defensively. Additionally, whenever the wielder fails a concentration check made to cast a spell defensively, if he is holding the staff of concentration, the spell’s magical energy is siphoned into the staff, increasing the staff’s enhancement bonus by an amount equal to the spell level of the lost spell for a number of rounds equal to the staff of concentration’s enhancement bonus (not including this temporary increase).

Some of a staff of concentration’sunique abilities count as an enhancement bonus equivalent, and it is treated as a +2-equivalent weapon for the purposes of the cost of further improving its magical abilities.

Construction Requirements Cost 3,300 gp

Craft Magic Arms and Armor, fox’s cunning

UNIVERSAL SPELL PRIMER PRICE 4,750 gp
Slot none; CL 1st; Weight 2 lbs.
Aura faint divination

These thick, leather-bound tomes come in a variety of designs, and may even bear different titles, with some of the more common being Underlying Principles of Magic, Universal Arcane Theorems, and Metaphysics. The books include a wealth of knowledge relating to magical theory and practice, completely separate from their magical properties, which are sufficient to grant a +5 competence bonus on Spellcraft checks to anyone who spends at least one hour per day studying it. Additionally, when used as an additional reference while deciphering a spellbook written by someone else, a universal spell primer allows its user to automatically succeed on all Spellcraft checks made to prepare a spell that he has already deciphered.

Construction Requirements Cost 2,375 gp

Craft Wondrous Item, read magic