Buying Magic Items

Buying magic items requires time and money to seek out people willing to sell them, but even then, there is no guarantee that a seller will have items that you want or be willing to sell them.

Purchasing from a Direct Seller

Resources Required

• PCs must be living a Wealthy Lifestyle or an Aristocratic Lifestyle in order to pursue this downtime activity.
• The resources listed here cover merely the cost of searching for magic items.
• If desireable magic items are found, then they must be purchased separately.

Task	Downtime Days	GP Cost	Benefits
Initial Search	5	100	One roll on the Discovery Table
Continuing Search*	10	100	+1 on one roll on the Discovery Table

* Searches may be continued up to a maximum of 50 days and 1,000 gp for up to a +10 bonus on one roll on the Discovery Table.

Discovery Table

Charisma (Persuasion) Check*	Resolution
1-5	1d6 rolls on Magic Item Table A
6-10	1d4 rolls on Magic Item Table B
11-15	1d4 rolls on Magic Item Table C
16-20	1d4 rolls on Magic Item Table D
21-25	1d4 rolls on Magic Item Table E
26-30	1d4 rolls on Magic Item Table F
31-35	1d4 rolls on Magic Item Table G
36-40	1d4 rolls on Magic Item Table H
41+	1d4 rolls on Magic Item Table I

* If you are proficient in Bargaining, then add half of your proficiency bonus (rounded down)

• If you are seeking a specific magic item, and if that magic item is available (at the DM’s discretion), then it will be found among the items discovered for sale on a check of:

  • 10 or higher for common magic items
  • 20 or higher for rare magic items
  • 25 or higher for very rare magic items
  • 30 or higher for legendary magic items

Average Costs for Magic Items*

*Prices of individual magic items vary.

Rarity	Cost *
Common	10 gp
Uncommon	100 gp
Rare	1,000 gp
Very Rare	10,000 gp
Legendary	25,000 gp

* Halved for consumable items such as potions or scrolls.
* If you are proficient in Bargaining, then you receive a 10% discount.

Buying Magic Items at Auction

• If you are looking for a specific magic item, then you may be able to find it at an auction.
• This option is available only at the DM’s discretion.

Resources Required

• The resources required for locating suitable auctions are the same as for locating direct sellers.

Discovery Table

• The Discovery Table for auctions are the same as for direct sellers.

Bidding Process

• Bidding begins at 50% of an item’s value.
• If you bid on the item, then:
  • If you roll a natural 20, then:
    • You win the item
    • Pay the purchase price
    • Roll once on the Auction Complication Table
  • If you roll 1-19, then another bidder raised you by 5%.
• Bidding continues until you win or bow out.

Auction Complication Table

• If you are proficient in Bargaining, then roll twice on this table and choose which result to keep.
• Otherwise, roll once.

d12	Complication
1	The item is a fake, planted by an enemy.*
2	The item is stolen by the party’s enemies.*
3	The item is cursed.
4	The item’s original owner will kill to reclaim it and the party’s enemies spread news of its sale.*
5	The item is at the center of a dark prophecy.
6	The seller is murdered before the sale.*
7	The seller is a devil looking to make a bargain.
8	The item is the key to freeing an evil entity.
9	A third party bids on the item at the last minute, doubling its price. Pay for the item again. *
10	The item is sentient.
11	The item is tied to a cult.
12	The party’s enemies spread rumors that the item is an artifact of evil.*

*Might involve a rival