Approximate cost to make a magic item activation "swift"?

[Piratecat]

I have a unique magic item in my game that is a chain of reach; as a standard action, rip of as many links of the chain as you like. For one minute you get additional melee reach equal to (# of links x 5'). Rip off 3 links, and your reach becomes 20'. The chain has a finite number of links.

If you were a wizard altering this item after-the-fact (which I allow), how much would you charge to change the activation from a standard action to a Swift action?

How about to a Move action?

I don't need an exact, precise number; just sort of a ballpark for what to charge. Thanks for any advice you can give!

 

[avr]

The first thing I'd compare this to would be the quicken spell metamagic. So, if the original effect was similar to a 2nd level spell, that'd be 6th level if quickened and the price would be increased by a factor of 11 (6*11/2*3). If that didn't look right I'd borrow a copy of the magic item compendium and start digging for comparisons.

 

[Mistwell]

My instincts say multiple the total value of the item by 1.5 for move action, and 2.0 for swift action.

It's important to keep in mind this is a finite-use item, not a constant item. It shouldn't be huge multiples, because realistically that's just another way of saying you can't do it.

 

[Piratecat]

Good advice. Thank you.

Now I wish I had figured out what the item was worth.

 

[Mistwell]

What is the average character level of the party you gave this item to, and do you consider it about an average piece of magic item treasure as-is (with the standard action trigger) for this party relative to their other items?

If so, using the treasure level guidelines in Magic Item Compendium you can just quickly assign a value to it currently, and then calculate the costs to improve.

 

[Nifft]

Price it in reduced duration: if you rip off a link as a Swift action, your reach lasts this round.

And charge 25k for the privilege.

Cheers, -- N

 

[avr]

If you're starting from scratch, a 5' reach increase is sorta similar to a martial script of the Burning Brand manoeuver in ToB - from the ToB cards download on the Wizards website,

Burning Brand
Desert Tempest
Desert Wind (Boost) [Fire]
Level: Swordsage 2
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: End of turn
Your weapon transforms into a roaring gout of flame. As you swing your burning blade, it stretches out beyond your normal reach to scorch your foes.
When you initiate this maneuver, your weapon turns into a burning brand for the rest of your turn. The brand increases your reach by 5 feet, and your melee attacks made with the brand deal fire damage equal to your normal melee damage. You still gain all the normal benefits from a high Strength score, feats, and other effects that increase your melee damage. For example, an attack with a longsword that normally deals 1d8+4 points of slashing damage would instead deal 1d8+4 points of fire damage. You otherwise attack with your weapon as normal.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability.

You can get a price for this in ToB. For more than 5', you're on your own I'm afraid.

 

[blargney the second]

Wow, that's a tough question. Rather than putting the cost in gold pieces, I might put it into the item itself: no penalty to use the item as a standard action, a move action imposes a -1 attack penalty per link, and a swift action slaps you with -2 attack per link.

 

[Lorgrom]

I would price it at around 100 gp/link as a standard action item. Perhaps 150 gp/link for the swift action version.

 

[Hypersmurf]

There's an item in MIC - Greatreach Bracers - for 2000gp.

Swift action 3 times per day: extend your reach for one round by 10 feet. (So for the average PC, it will give them a 15 foot natural reach for one round.)

Using the DMG formulas to reverse engineer it to a single use comes to around 100gp-ish.

-Hyp.