Hello. One of our pathfinder group (magus) wants to have a magic object (preferably a ring) which would allow him to use arcane strike as a free action instead of a swift action. Our GM is willing to allow - housrule such item.
The only problem we have right now is what price would such item have. So can you please give some advice how to evaluate it in terms of gold.
Such an item is not something that can be priced simply because there is no baseline for it. It would seem to me that the Magus is trying to free up his swift action to utilize for other purposes - likely to be able to cast quickened spells or utilize some of his other Magus Arcana that require swift actions. (Spell recall, maybe?) The limitation of only a single swift action is completely intentional to avoid allowing the use of two quickened spells (costs a swift action) per round. For Arcane Strike, the cost of the swift action is part of the feat.
I would say that it would be fine for a second feat (or an item that costs the same as a feat) to remove this restriction. My own personal suggestion to the DM would be this - make a new feat (Experienced Arcane Strike - Using the Arcane Strike feat becomes a free action) to accomplish what your player wants. If the item is still the preferable route, then I'd suggest something in the range of 6,000 to 10,000 gp (split the difference and call it 8,000 gp) would be an appropriate cost if the item is on the ring slot. The ring slot is important, but you have two of them, so he's not giving up any of his primary stat boosters (for example, an amulet of nature armor if the item was on the neck slot) to take the item.
Just my 2 cp.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Arcane Strike (Mythic) solves the problem somewhat, in that 1 swift action gives you 10 rounds of effect instead of 1. I think removing the action cost of Arcane Strike is a bad idea.
|
Arcane Strike (Mythic) solves the problem somewhat, in that 1 swift action gives you 10 rounds of effect instead of 1. I think removing the action cost of Arcane Strike is a bad idea.
This. Feats that give static damage boosts are all restricted somehow. Power Attack is restricted by reduced accuracy. Arcane Strike is restricted by swift action economy. Weapon Specialization is restricted by being fighter only.
Removing the action cost of Arcane Strike makes is too good.
I agree it's too powerful to allow. The magus' power is supposed to be limited by the fact that he only has one available swift action per turn.
The cost of something like this would have to be outrageous to keep it balanced.
Everyone thank you for your responses they really helped to clear out the situation. Our magus decided to forgot about his idea. And peace returned to our group. :)
im very, very confused how giving +5 damage to an attack is broken...
An attack? You mean all attacks in a round.
And it's not arcane strike that is itself a problem, it's what he has to choose to do with his swift action.
With the ability to activate Arcane Strike for free he could:
1) Activate Arcane Strike
2) Cast Swift Intensified Shocking Grasp
3) Spell Combat with Intensified Shocking Grasp
He would get at least 3 attacks with his sword using Spell Strike (each one with the damage enhancement (potentially 5 extra damage per attack), and 2 intensified shocking grasp for up to 10d6 each.
It's a big deal. That doesn't even factor in having to choose between Arcane Strike and spell recall or other abilities the Magus have that are swift actions.
If you compare Arcane Strike to Weapon Specialization...
Now take away the action to use Arcane Strike...
If you can do that, not having a scaling SLA on your fighter build becomes crippling in the DPR olympics.
|
im very, very confused how giving +5 damage to an attack is broken...An attack? You mean all attacks in a round.
And it's not arcane strike that is itself a problem, it's what he has to choose to do with his swift action.
With the ability to activate Arcane Strike for free he could:
1) Activate Arcane Strike
2) Cast Swift Intensified Shocking Grasp
3) Spell Combat with Intensified Shocking GraspHe would get at least 3 attacks with his sword using Spell Strike (each one with the damage enhancement (potentially 5 extra damage per attack), and 2 intensified shocking grasp for up to 10d6 each.
It's a big deal. That doesn't even factor in having to choose between Arcane Strike and spell recall or other abilities the Magus have that are swift actions.
so at level 20, you know when he can actually hit for +5 damage... it would be broken?
If you compare Arcane Strike to Weapon Specialization...
Now take away the action to use Arcane Strike...
If you can do that, not having a scaling SLA on your fighter build becomes crippling in the DPR olympics.
but i wouldnt need to waste wealth for the static +2/+4 damage from those feats...
ive always looked at arcane strike as a crappy feat, this way it actually a good/great feat, and he would have to burn wealth, i dont know how much, to do it.
Free action Arcane Strike means it is always on. That is a continuous +1 to +5 damage. It bypasses DR/magic.
Best to compare to strait enhancement, but half cost* since you get damage and not attack bonus. As an item, it has a CL, and that will determine it's bonus.
CL 1 -> +1 damage = 1,000 gp
CL 5 -> +2 damage = 4,000 gp
CL 10 -> +3 damage = 9,000 gp
CL 15 -> +4 damage = 16,000 gp
CL 20 -> +5 damage = 25,000 gp
The Pale Green Prism Ioun Stone (cracked) gives +1 competence bonus on attack rolls or saving throws for 4,000 gp. It is slotless, thus double normal price of a slotted item. It allows either of two bonuses, which gives it a greater price. That is the closest item I can think of to what you are asking.
/cevah
*Based on WotC's writeup on making a True Strike item, which gave +attack only.
It seems to me that a Ring of Arcane Strike is most like an Amulet of Mighty Fists. As a DM, I would be willing to allow a ring-slot magic item that gives an enhancement bonus of +1 - +5 on all a character's weapons at a cost of a little more than an AoMF of the same + bonus.
If the item had to have a variable bonus, such as the bonus that grows in power along with the wielder, then the cost should be higher, say the cost of the +5 version minus something. But since this magic item has the limitation that it only works for a character with the Arcane Strike feat, then the price should be lower. Usually, a special limitation on an item invokes a 10% discount. So like an AoMF +5 = 100,000 X 0.9 for having to have the BAB to support the bonus = 90,000 X 0.9 for having to have a particular feat to use it = 81,000gp. But maybe it should be more since it grants a bonus to all weapons, not just 1 kind of weapon.
It might be better to have him just make a Ring of Arcane Strike +1 at a cost of like 5000gp, and then maybe he can increase the enhancement bonus as funds allow.
What would I make the other +'s? Maybe,
+2: 25,000
+3: 45,000
+4: 80,000
+5: 125,000I'd have to decide for myself when the time comes, but at the moment, that's the ballpark I'm looking at.
I would cap the price at 90% of a weapon bonus (n^2*2000).
+1 -> 1,800 gp+2 -> 7,200 gp
+3 -> 16,200 gp
+4 -> 28,800 gp
+5 -> 45,000 gp
However, that would be for an Enhancement bonus. For typeless or competence or other bonus that will stack, you could charge more.
If you are pricing it at 90% of AoMF, then the numbers are:
+1 -> 3,600 gp
+2 -> 14,400 gp
+3 -> 32,400 gp
+4 -> 58,600 gp
+5 -> 90,000 gp
Arcane Strike has no BAB requirement, so I don't see any reason for a discount for BAB. It has a CL requirement, but the item itself has a CL to drive it's power.
/cevah
Cevah, that's reasonable. I would price it higher than a weapon enhancement bonus because it modifies all your weapons, not just one. I would price it lower because it modifies only your damage bonus, not your attack bonus. But I wouldn't lower it a lot because the attack bonus isn't the thing you want most, it's the damage.
Actually, I would prefer attack bonus to damage bonus for my 3/4 BAB char. A full BAB char can afford damage more because they are already hitting often, but a partial BAB character has trouble hitting. Check out the DPS calculation, and you will see the effect of + to BAB is greater if your chance to hit is small.
/cevah