# How do you handle the cost increase for magic items with multiple effects?

In the DMG for D&D 3.5 on page 285 there is a chart for estimating the cost of new magic items. Under the section "Special" there is an attribute titled "Multiple Different Abilities". This attribute reads "Multiple higher item cost by 2".

Does that mean that you add the highest effect cost to the price again, or add double the highest effect cost to the price?

The following two examples may explain it better than I:

Example 1:

Ability A:             1,000gp
Ability B:             3,000gp
Ability C:             5,000gp
Multiple Effect Cost:  5,000gp

Total:                14,000gp


In this example the cost of Ability C (the highest costing ability) is effectively multiplied by two by adding its cost again into the calculation.

Example 2:

Ability A:             1,000gp
Ability B:             3,000gp
Ability C:             5,000gp
Multiple Effect Cost: 10,000gp

Total:                19,000gp


In this example the cost of Ability C (the highest costing ability) is multiplied by two and added back into the cost.

The calculation comes out very differently depending on how you read that table line. I tried to reverse engineer a few items from the DMG, but failed to do so properly. Does anyone know how the rule should be read?

• Welcome to the site. Take the tour. And if there's something specific you're trying to make using these rules, add that information to the question. – Hey I Can Chan Nov 20 '14 at 18:05
• I'm writing a program that allows you to calculate the cost of creating magic items. – Zell Faze Nov 20 '14 at 18:06
• Do you have access to the Magic Item Compendium? It contains updated item combination rules. – Ernir Nov 20 '14 at 18:12
• @ZellFaze that would be worth its weight in gold! Puns aside that would be a GREAT program – Ben-Jamin Nov 26 '14 at 18:05
• Ever finish that program? – Please stop being evil Aug 28 '15 at 23:29