|
If
I create a wand of a 1st-level spell
that performs as a 1st-level caster,
the 750 gp cost means that the process
will take only one day (1 day/1,000
gp, minimum 1 day). However, I cannot
cast 50 such spells in a day....
|
|
A
belt of strength requires caster
level 10, and the gauntlets of ogre
power require caster level 6. Can
you explain why this inconsistency exists?
|
| Why
does the circlet of persuasion
give the effects of +4 Charisma but not
actually grant +4 Charisma? |
| Would
an item that grants a +1 bonus only to
a given ability score require a lower
caster level than those that add +2? |
| Can
you provide some guidelines for determining
prerequisites of non-standard items? |
| How
do you determine the cost and prereqs
for making an item that includes a feat
or featlike power (ring of evasion,
weapon of mighty cleaving). |
| Why
is it that the standard items that include
featlike powers do not require the creator
to possess said feat? |
| If
a character puts on a feat-empowered item
with prerequisites, and that character
does not meet one or more of those prerequisites,
does he or she gain the benefit of the
feat? |
| Why
do ioun stones require no spell
prerequisites? |
| Does
this mean that any item can be created
without spell prerequisites if the caster
level is bumped up a few notches? |
| Is
there any rule that would prevent a creator
with Craft Wonderous Item from creating
a helm of dexterity instead of
gloves of dexterity, or boots
of charisma instead of a cloak
of charisma? |
| Since
a caster with the Create Wondrous Item
feat can create items that perform the
same function as potions, wands, rods,
and staffs, why would anyone, under standard
book rules, ever take anything other than
the Create Wondrous Items feat? |
| You
mention in your first FAQ that a character
can, in fact, create a magic item without
actually knowing the spell necessary to
create it... |
| Let's
say a druid, alone and unaided, with the
Craft Wand feat has a scroll of shield
and wants to make a wand of shield
usable as a level 1 caster.... |
| If
you do use a wand or similar device for
creating a magic item, I would assume
that the level at which the item is created
is the caster level of the wand, not that
of the caster. Is this correct? |
| Could
a rogue with lots of Use Magic Item ability
and the right feat use a wand to create
a wondrous item? |
| How
many times do the spells used to create
the magic item actually need to be cast?
What if you are using an item to cast
the spell? |
|
If
I create a wand of a 1st-level spell that performs
as a 1st-level
caster, the 750 gp cost means that the process will
take
only one day (1 day/1,000
gp, minimum 1 day). However, I cannot cast 50 such
spells in a day. How is it that I am able to put
50 charges into the wand, essentially allowing me
to cast the spell 50 times, without casting the
spell 50 times as part of the creation process?
Because
you don't actually cast the spell 50 times. You
cast it once per day during the creation process.
If there is a costly component, however -- including
an XP cost -- you need to expend those components
as if you were casting the spell 50 times.
A
belt of strength requires caster level 10,
and the gauntlets of ogre power require caster
level 6. Can you explain why this inconsistency
exists?
Reread
Part
1 of this FAQ. Caster level is not a requirement.
It's just the most common level that item is made
at (in this case, because of the price). The prereq
here is bull's strength, so the normal minimum
caster level for both items is 3.
Why
does the circlet of persuasion give the effects
of +4 Charisma but not actually grant +4 Charisma?
To
keep the price down, since it doesn't give all the
effects of +4 Charisma (like more spells, if you're
a sorcerer).
Would
an item that grants a +1 bonus only to a given ability
score require a lower caster level than those that
add +2?
You
shouldn't have things that grant a "+ odd number"
to an ability score. The reason for this is that
a +2 or +4 always means something (your bonus increases
to a +1 or a +2 no matter what your score). A "+
odd number" only means something if you have
an odd score. Not only is that weird ("This
belt makes me stronger when I wear it, but not you."),
it also makes it too tempting to min-max with such
an item.
Can
you provide some guidelines for determining prerequisites
of non-standard items?
Mostly,
it's just doing what seems about right, as far as
flavor and level go.For example, if you have a powerful
item that deals with cold, make cone of cold
a prereq. If it's not all that powerful, use sleet
storm.
Don't
be afraid to really stretch to get your prereqs.
If you have an item that covers the user in chitinous
spines, use barkskin. It's close enough.
If
there just isn't an immediately appropriate spell,
consider using something like permanency, limited
wish, a feat, skill ranks, or, if you must,
a creator level.
How
do you determine the cost and prereqs for making
an item that includes a feat or featlike power (ring
of evasion, weapon of mighty cleaving).
There
is no standard for this. Not all feats or level
abilities (like evasion) are equal. Use the existing
items as guidelines.
Why
is it that the standard items that include featlike
powers do not require the creator to possess said
feat? Why is it that items imbued with skill bonuses
(cloak/boots of elvenkind, gauntlets of swimming
and climbing) do not require that the creator
have some ranks in the skill being enhanced?
Uh,
I guess it's just a matter of personal preference.
It seemed that forcing the creator to have the feat
or skill usually screwed the player who wants to
make the item for himself. This would be a fine,
balanced house rule to add the feats and skills
(probably at least 10 ranks of the skill) to the
prerequisites for such items.
If
a character puts on a feat-empowered item with prerequisites,
and that character does not meet one or more of
those prerequisites, does he or she gain the benefit
of the feat?
Yes.
Why
do ioun stones require no spell prerequisites?
They
probably should. I make mistakes too.
If
the answer to the above question is because the
caster level is so high, does this mean that any
item can be created without spell prerequisites
if the caster level is bumped up a few notches?
(Compare belt of strength +2 at level 8 to
ioun stone granting +2 Strength).
Remember
that caster level is not a prerequisite. I wouldn't
allow someone to ignore standard prereqs by "buying"
the caster level up. It goes against the intended
flavor of the whole process. (It probably won't
break the game, however, and it would make the sorcerer
a much better magic item artisan).
Is
there any rule that would prevent a creator with
Craft Wonderous Item from creating a helm of
dexterity instead of gloves of dexterity,
or boots of charisma instead of a cloak
of charisma?
No.
I recommend, however, that you try to keep it intuitive,
to maintain a certain fantasy feel. A hat of running
or shoes of intelligence just don't seem right.
Since
a caster with the Create Wondrous Item feat can
create items that perform the same function as potions,
wands, rods, and staffs (ointment of cure light
wounds -- a la Keoghtom's -- instead of potion
of cure light wounds, stone of lightning
bolt instead of wand of lighting bolt,
etc.) why would anyone, under standard book rules,
ever take anything other than the Create Wondrous
Items feat?
Here's
where the DM's fiat comes in. The general rule is
that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck,
it's probably a duck. If a player wants to make
an item using Craft Wondrous Item, but it's really
more appropriate to a ring or a wand (in the DM's
opinion), the DM should rule that it must be the
item that he feels is most appropriate.
If
a DM wants to be flexible, he should go the other
way. Allow a cleric to make her holy symbol into
a wand using Craft Wand, or a sword into a staff
using Craft Staff. I know there are lots of wondrous
items in the DMG that serve as bad examples, because
they really should be a wand, a potion, or a rod.
Mea culpa.
You
mention in your first FAQ that a character can,
in fact, create a magic item without actually knowing
the spell necessary to create it -- the character
must simply have some method of casting the
spell in question. The DMG specifically states that
you do, in fact have to prepare the spell (or know
it, in the case of sorcerers/bards); in each section
on magic item creation (pp. 244-246), it states.
Am I misreading this?
Yes,
you are. Check out the DMG on page 178 under prerequisites.
It's an obscure, out-of-the-way rule.
The
DMG (p. 178) says "...a spell prerequisite
may be provided .... through the use of a spell
completion or spell trigger magic item..."
Let's say a druid, alone and unaided, with the Craft
Wand feat has a scroll of shield and wants
to make a wand of shield usable as a level
1 caster. The item is 750 gp and therefore takes
one day to create. Can the druid use the scroll
to fulfill the spell prerequisite in such a case?
No.
A druid can't use a scroll of shield. A wizard,
however, could.
If
you do use a wand or similar device for creating
a magic item, I would assume that the level at which
the item is created is the caster level of the wand,
not that of the caster. Is this correct?
Yes,
unless it is one of those items where level itself
is listed in the prerequisites, like magic weapons,
certain potions, bracers of armor, etc. Then,
you use either the level of the item or the level
of the actual creator, whichever is lower.
Could
a rogue with lots of Use Magic Item ability and
the right feat use a wand to create a wondrous item?
No.
The item creation feats require that you be of a
certain caster level. A rogue has no caster level.
How
many times do the spells used to create the magic
item actually need to be cast? What if you are using
an item to cast the spell?
Spells
must be cast once during each day of creation. Creation
time is usually 1 day/1,000 gp value of the finished
item. This is true no matter how you get the spell.
If you're using scrolls, you have to have a scroll
for each day of the creation process.
If
a 10th-level sorcerer who does not have the spell
mage armor wanted to create +5 bracers
of armor using a wand of mage armor,
this would cost 12,500 gp plus 25 charges from a
10th-level wand of mage armor, plus 1,000
XP. In terms of gp value, those charges would equate
to 3,750 extra gp (1st-level spell x 10th-level
caster x 750 gp x 1/2 [using only half the charges
of the item]). Not too bad.
Consider,
however, a sorcerer desiring to create a ring
of major element resistance using a wand. The
item is 24,000 gp, so the caster would need to spend
12,000 gp, plus 24 days of work, plus 960 XP, plus
24 charges from a wand of protection from elements,
cast at 7th level (the minimum level requirement).
These 24 charges would cost 7,560 gp equivalent.
(Again, this assumes 24/50ths the value of a fully
charged wand.) Very expensive, and not very efficient
-- certainly not too cost-effective. Efficiency
isn't necessarily the point. If you want to be efficient,
use the spells you can cast.
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