I am trying to deconstruct the Robe of Bones(RoB) magic item so that I can construct a personalized version for my necromancer. Why use the default undead in it when I could instead have one with my very own.
However, the item is proving to be very resistant to break apart in terms of pricing as its ability does not appear in the estimating magic item table or under the craft wondrous item rules.
So the RoB contains 22 HD arcoss 12 undead. Material items and focuses are not needed in order to create wondrous items. I cant decide if undead technically count as either for the robe, because you would expect them to be needed in order to craft it.
My character is going to have the required crafting feats and spells. What I want to do is have a Robe of Bones which I can customize. Figure out some way or cost of adding new undead to the robe (removing is easy, just peel off). The undead in the robe would follow the normal rules for control depending on how they were controlled before being added to the robe, so duration control could have expired. The robe simply gives me an easier way of keeping them with me instead of having them follow or needing extra-dimensional spaces (however I am planning on having a portable hole of undead).
So my question is, what price would it be to add an undead to a robe? Would this price increase if it became a slotless item? How many undead or HD should a robe be allowed to carry as its maximum? Does the size of the undead affect the price or number a robe could carry? Can these undead be added with equipment (such as arms and armor) and would that affect price?
I expect to be adding already animated undead, so the price of onyx, a corpse, and casting of the spell are already taken care of, but mentioning how this affects the final item would be nice.