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Pathfinder Unchained / Scaling Items / Scaling Item Examples

Scaling Staves

Source Pathfinder Unchained pg. 168
A staff is a long shaft that stores several spells. Staves usually hold spells grouped by a theme and sometimes possess other abilities that they grant to the wielder. A staff has 10 charges when created but can be recharged by a spellcaster with the appropriate spells.

Staff of the Pyre Lord

Slot none; CL 8th; Weight 1 lb.
Aura moderate evocation; Price 8,800 gp; Scaling wonder

Description

This staff is carved entirely of polished obsidian inset with rubies. Flickering flames seem to dance across its surface. As the wielder goes up in level, the illusory flames grow larger and change in color, starting out a faint yellow and eventually becoming a deep blue. This staff allows the use of the following spells. 10th Level: Scorching ray now costs only 1 charge, and the staff allows the use of fireball for 2 charges.
12th Level: The staff’s fireball spells become empowered fireball. The staff counts as a +1 flaming quarterstaff when used as a weapon.
14th Level: The staff allows the use of summon monster VI for 2 charges to summon fire elementals only.
16th Level: The staff replaces summon monster VI with summon monster VIII for 3 charges to summon fire elementals only. It also allows the use of fire storm for 2 charges.
18th Level: The staff allows the use of meteor swarm for 3 charges. The cost for summon monster VIII decreases to 2 charges, and empowered fireball now costs 1 charge.
20th Level: The cost of meteor swarm and fire storm each decrease to 1 charge.

Construction Requirements

Craft Staff, Empower Spell, fire storm, fireball, meteor swarm, scorching ray, spark, summon monster VI, summon monster VIII; Cost 132,000 gp

Staff of Ways

Slot none; CL 10th; Weight 1 lb.
Aura moderate transmutation; Price 8,000 gp; Scaling prize

Description

This wooden staff is carved with intricate patterns of waves, wind, trails, and vines. As the wielder goes up in level, the patterns begin to move, slowly at first, but gradually increasing in speed and magnitude. At the highest levels, the staff appears to be filled with a twisting and complex nature scene, with forking paths and raging tsunamis. This staff allows the use of the following spells. 12th Level: The staff allows the use of spider climb for 2 charges. The cost of expeditious retreat and monkey fish each reduce to 1 charge.
14th Level: The staff allows the use of fly for 2 charges. The cost of spider climb decreases to 1 charge.
16th Level: The staff grants its owner a permanent +10-foot enhancement bonus to her base movement speed, a swim speed of 10 feet, and a climb speed of 10 feet. The staff can no longer be used to cast longstrider or monkey fish. The staff allows the use of freedom of movement for 2 charges and water breathing for 3 charges. The cost of fly decreases to 1 charge.
18th Level: The staff allows the use of find the path for 3 charges. The cost for water breathing decreases to 1 charge.
20th Level: The staff grants its owner a fly speed of 30 feet (poor maneuverability). Find the path now costs 2 charges, and freedom of movement costs only 1 charge. If the staff’s wielder breaks the staff in two as a full-round action, she can transport herself and up to 19 allies to a safe location she knows extremely well. This ability ignores local conditions as if it were the transport travelers effect of a wish.

Construction Requirements

Craft Staff, expeditious retreat, find the path, fly, freedom of movement, longstrider, monkey fish, spider climb, water breathing; Cost 66,500 gp