Weapon Shift -- how about a use-activated item?

[RangerWickett]

In Spell Compendium there's a 1st level Sor/Wiz spell, weapon shift, that lets you transform a weapon into another one. Duration is, I believe, 1 minute/level.

By the rules, it would cost, what, 2000 gp to make an item that lets you use weapon shift at will? Does that sound fair? I mean, I love the idea of a high-level guy who just has one magic weapon, and he can change it for different situations.

Also, I don't have the book in front of me. Can anyone tell me if you can just change from melee to melee, or can you change a +4 greatsword into a +4 mighty (+7 strength bonus) longbow?

 

[Dog Moon]

First off, it only does melee to melee.

Secondly, from Underdark:
Morphing
The wielder of a morphing weapon can reshape it into any other weapon of the same type (light, one-handed, or two-handed) as a standard action. For instance, a morphing longsword could become a battleaxe or a composite longbow. If a single weapon created with the morphing property becomes a double weapon, only one end of the double weapon has the weapon's magical bonus. If a double weapon created with the morphing property becomes a single weapon, it can have the properties of either end of the original double weapon. The properties of the other end are dormant but not lost; they become active again when the morphing weapon once again becomes a double weapon.
Moderate transmutation; CL 9th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, polymorph any object; Price: +1 bonus.

Also, not quite the same, but food for thought [from Underdark as well]:
Metalline: The wielder can alter the composition of a metalline weapon from one kind of metal to another as a standard action. For instance, a metalline bastard sword can become an adamantine bastard sword or an iron bastard sword.
Moderate transmutation; CL 9th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, polymorph any object; Price +2 bonus.

Sizing: The wielder of a sizing weapon can change its size category as a standard action. For example, a Small short sword can be changed into a Large short sword. Spellcasters who polymorph themselves frequently tend to appreciate weapons with
the sizing property.
Moderate transmutation; CL 9th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, enlarge person, reduce person; Price +1 bonus.

 

[Iku Rex]

Weapon shift is melee weapon to melee weapon. (Add the heroics spell, also from SC, to give the character proficiency with an exotic weaponl.)

The FR Underdark book has the Morphing (+1, change into any weapon of same type), Sizing (+1, change size, also in CAdv) and Metalline (+2, change type of metal) weapon abilities. The Skillful (+2) ability from Complete Arcane makes any wielder proficient with the weapon, and would make a nice addition.

On preview: Too slow! Bah.

 

[RangerWickett]

Well, I'd much rather have a separate item that costs 2000 gp and casts weapon shift on my +4 greatsword, than have a +3 greatsword (18,350 gp) gain the ability and thus become a +4 weapon (32,350).

2,000 gp is better than 14,000. Does anyone see a problem with just making it a separate item?

 

[Iku Rex]

2,000 gp is better than 14,000. Does anyone see a problem with just making it a separate item?

Yes. 2,000 gp is better than 14,000. First rule of custom magic item pricing: compare with existing items/abilities.

 

[Dog Moon]

Actually, it would be 4,000gp*, and it is actually more useful than the +1 ability considering that the spell can change from size to size while the ability cannot, but the +1 ability might be a little buff for the ability. So, IMO, for what little it may be worth, 4k sounds about right.

*If a continuous item has an effect based on a spell with a duration measured in rounds, multiply the cost by 4. If the duration of the spell is 1 minute/level, multiply the cost by 2, and if the duration is 10 minutes/level, multiply the cost by 1.5. If the spell has a 24-hour duration or greater, divide the cost in half.

 

[RangerWickett]

Actually, it would be 4,000gp*, and it is actually more useful than the +1 ability considering that the spell can change from size to size while the ability cannot, but the +1 ability might be a little buff for the ability. So, IMO, for what little it may be worth, 4k sounds about right.

*If a continuous item has an effect based on a spell with a duration measured in rounds, multiply the cost by 4. If the duration of the spell is 1 minute/level, multiply the cost by 2, and if the duration is 10 minutes/level, multiply the cost by 1.5. If the spell has a 24-hour duration or greater, divide the cost in half.

That's only if its continuous. If it's activated, you use the normal cost. This way you'd have to spend an action to change forms, and if the fight went longer than a minute you'd have to spend another action to renew the effect.

 

[the Jester]

This is a great example of why dms must police item creation in their campaigns, and not blindly apply the pricing guidelines to new items.

 

[RangerWickett]

Do you think it's really that overpowered at 2000 or 4000? You spend a standard action to get a different type of weapon. Normally you can draw a weapon as a move action. It's only really useful for switching from, say, normal to reach weapons, and even then it's actually a loss if you've invested any feats in Weapon Focus and such.