Handbooks & Resources > Handbooks
In the Workshop
Samwise:
Time for another pseudo-handbook list, this time Item Crafting!
There are tons of item creation feats, most of which only get minimal notation in the handbooks, so I went and made up a list just to get a better feel for the options. And there are LOTS of options.
Spell Completion
(click to show/hide)The standard spell completion item is the scroll. There is a section in Complete Arcane on variants for scrolls, but there are two big feat variants, namely Inscribe Power Stone and Etch Schema.
The differences are as follows:
Scrolls (PHB): cheap material; Spellcraft DC 20 + spell level or read magic to use; arcane and divine separate; single use; CL 1st for feat
Power Stones (XPH): strong material; Psicraft DC 15 + power level to use; psionic only; single use; ML 1st for feat
Etch Schema (MoE): strong material; Spellcraft DC 20 + spell level to use; arcane, divine, and infusions crossover; costs 16x a scroll; 1/day forever; CL 10th for feat
I'm pretty sure I don't have to go on about the awesome of schemas. Their only downside is that you need to be 10th level before you can make them, and they don't support psionics, blade magic, and other variants, though psionics gets a semi-equivalent with powered up tattoos.
Use-Activated/Triggered
(click to show/hide)The standard use-activated item is the potion. Again, Complete Arcane lists a number of variant items. There are however a rather large number of feat variants, including the triggered variants.
The full range breaks down as follows:
Potions (PHB): weak material; limited effects; limited level (1st-3rd); CL 3rd for feat; arcane or divine
Spellvial (MoE): weak material; limited effects; limited level (1st-3rd); weak prestige class (CL 7th equivalent if a feat); costs 1-1/2x regular potion; arcane or infusion only
Universal Potion (MoE): weak material; limited effects; limited level (1st-3rd); weak prestige class (CL 10th if a feat); costs 2x regular potion; open-ended spell use; arcane or infusion only
Tattoo Magic (Rac): no material; limited effects; limited level (1st-3rd); uses up a magic item slot; arcane or divine; use does not provoke AoO
Skull Talisman (Fr): bulky/disturbing material (skulls, up to large size); limited effects; CL 6th for feat; costs 2x regular potion; any level spell; arcane or divine
Martial Script (ToB): weak material; Martial Lore DC 15 + creator level to use and Literacy or Martial Lore DC 20 + creator level to use; IL 1st; martial scripts only
Psionic Tattoo (XPH): no material; limited effects; limited level (1st-3rd); limited number (20); ML 3rd for feat
Attune Gem (Mag): strong material; arcane only; requires Craft (gemcutting); CL 3rd; no action to use but trigger conditions may be too limited for anyone but the creator
Inscribe Rune (PG): strong material; divine only; requires Craft (varies); CL 3rd; no action to use but trigger conditions may be too limited for anyone but the creator
"Improved" Inscribe Rune (PG): strong material; divine only; requires prestige class (CL 8th equivalent if a feat); adds trigger conditions and charges like a wand
"Greater" Inscribe Rune (PG): strong material; divine only; requires prestige class; allows charges per day at 8x cost or permanent at 40x cost
Contingent Spell (CAr): no material; arcane or divine; 2x cost; limited number (equal to HD); trigger conditions may be too limited
Spell Mantle (LE): doesn't create a contingent spell, but lets you activate it
Psionic Seal (Online): places a psionic tattoo on an object; ML 7th; special
For the psionic seal feat, given the history and concept, it would work really well as the feat needed to use the "Getting Wired" material from Mind's Eye. If you treat it that way, then all the options of that are added in. Those are extensive enough you should check the specific handbook on it.
A whole lot of options here, mostly involving excessive specializing on just what sort of potion or pseudo-potion you want to make, including additional specialties based on the type of power you are using.
Most of these seem to come down to ways to put different kinds of lipstick on different kinds of pig until you hit the Psionic Seals. Even the runes would default to schemas unless you absolutely, positively, don't want to put something on your spell list.
Spell Trigger
(click to show/hide)This is the wand family. It is pretty straightforward except for the psionic equivalent of staves, and the slightly obscure scepter.
Wand (PH): limited level (1st-4th); arcane and divine separate; tons of feats to abuse them; CL 5th
Scepter (LE): limited level (1st-7th); arcane and divine separate; no feats to abuse; can hold 2 spells but increased charge use for spells above 4th if it does; CL 9th and knowledge (history)
Staff (PH): really expensive; arcane and divine separate; CL 12th; uses your caster stat
Runestaff (MIC): easily to abuse with custom items; caster lists separate; CL 12th - uses Craft Staff feat; adds to spells known/requires your spell slots to use
Dorje (XPH): psionic only; ML 5th
Psicrown (XPH): manifester only; ML 12th; effectively a staff but uses your head item slot
Other than remembering that scepters and runestaves exist, there isn't much of a surprise here. If there were custom items and feats, or relevant houserules making scepters equivalent to wands, then shenanigans would almost certainly ensue.
Command Word, Continuous, and Use-Activated
(click to show/hide)Pretty much "all the rest of the junk". There is more psionic duplication here, but the real fun comes with another slew of specialized variants roaming about.
Wondrous/Universal Item (PH/XPH): CL/ML 3rd; wondrous covers arcane, divine, and other expanded types, universal covers psionic only; this is pretty much everything that isn't a weapon or suit of armor with a few exceptions
Magic/Psionic Arms and Armor (PH/XPH): CL/ML 5th; all your not-so-mundane fighting needs
Craft Cognizance Crystal (XPH): ML 3rd; a cognizance crystal is basically a psionic pearl of power but for some reason requires its own feat to make
Portal (FRCS): makes magic portals so you can build the Tippyverse; requires Craft Wondrous Item
Rune Circle (RS): this is minor variant in Races of Stone covering non-mobile items; CL 5th
Rod (PH): half-wondrous item, half-arms, all separate feat; CL 9th
Forge Ring (PH): another body slot, another separate feat; CL 12th
Craft Construct/Psionic Construct (MM/XPH): requires Craft Wondrous/Universal Item and Craft Magic/Psionic Arms and Armor; unleash your mechanical hordes!
Looking at it there seems to be a bunch of gratuitous feat taxing going on, along with the psionic tax. Really, how exactly are rods and rings different from wondrous items or arms? And why the feat tax for portals and rune circles? Are people that determined to make stuff to not use on their quest they need another feat tax?
Weirdness
(click to show/hide)Just to include them all there are a couple of additional bits available.
Bind Elemental (ECS): craft a very limited group of items heavily dependent on the Eberron setting
Craft Aboleth Glyph (LoM) subsumes the various Inscribe Rune feats (see above); adds some special "Master Glyphs"; requires you to be an aboleth
Craft Crystal Weaponry (OA): specific to the Rokugan setting, crafts weapons to overcome a particular type of DR
Grell Alchemy (LoM): thoroughly undeveloped, but if you want to make a half dozen items listed in Lords of Madness or pester your DM for more, there's a feat for it
Grafting (FE, LM, MoE, RDr, SK, Und): not one but a baker's dozen of feats for going the fantasy cyborg, complete with 2 different systems for the effects of the grafts; check the handbook on these for details
Infusions (MW): potions scrolls in herbs for druids (and clerics willing to take cross-class ranks in Survival) in Masters of the Wild; a bit redundant but there if you want them - bonus - you don't have to speak to use them; restriction - you must have the CL to use them or else, and they cost as much as potions
Talisman (OA): potions in the form of tchotchkes for shamans shugenja in Oriental Adventures; even more redundant but again there if you want them; bonus - using a talisman does not provoke an AoO; further, they do have the restriction against personal spells; extra qualification - you need to make a successful Craft skill to create a talisman; problem - the text for the feat does not specify any class restrictions but the item creation section specifies shugenja - a flavor text note for the feat says that in Rokugan a single clan school of shugenja are the exclusive crafters of talismans, but the prerequisites specify only a "spellcaster level", as such this feat may be class-limited
Meta-Item Feats
Above are the items you can make. These are ways to make them worse.
(click to show/hide)Attune Magic Weapon (ECS): bond with a weapon for combat bonuses
Dorje Mastery (CP): augment the power or DC of a dorje
Double Wand Wielder (CAr): use two wands at once
Dual Dorje (CP): use two dorjes at once
Enhance Item (ELH): allows the craft to use his ability score modifier instead of the default minimum for the Saving Throw of an item; even I understand the horror this will unleash
Exceptional Artisan (ECS): craft faster
Extraordinary Artisan (ECS): craft cheaper
Improved Flight Item (Sh): makes better flight items; somewhat dependent on the Eberron setting
Extra Rings (ECS): wear more rings
Legendary Artisan (ECS): craft for less xp
Magical Artisan (PGtF): craft for less gp and xp for one type of item
Master Staff (ELH): use a spell slot to power a staff; technically Epic level
Portal Master (PG): make cheaper portals
Reckless Wand Wielder (CAr): raise the CL of a wand
Sanctify Relic (CD): pick a patron divine power, get a super-cheap magic item with extra powers for a spell slot or feat; the published examples vary rather wildly in value; mostly just an excuse for a cost reduction
Wand Mastery (ECS): raise the DC of a wand
And now of course someone should wander along and explain how to optimize (or ignore) all of these. I just get the list ready for use. :D
PlzBreakMyCampaign:
I love these! Ahem,
Spell completion: Scrolls / power stones makes anyone into a wizard/psion, on the fly and by RAW are basically "free" from WBL. If you want a balanced game, they have to go. Tatoos are too much work and too expensive, they're fine. Schemas are very expensive and have strings attached but are basically a "I want this spell" magic item. You can't ban schemas without banning Cape of the Montebank and half of the wondrous items too (cheaper but takes up a slot in return for always being available)
After your DM makes sure that expendable items always count against total WBL, Skull Talismans are the best bet. Is it just me or are there no good uses for Martial Scripts? What are some good spells to trigger with Attune Gem? Can someone refresh my memory on actually getting good use out of that Inscribe Rune PrC handbook? Iirc persist > permanent. A psionic seal [LoM69] boils down to: What standard action panic button would you like your fighter to have? Also potentially useful for 'helpful traps' in a dragon's lair, etc. And where is the Spell Mantle feat from?
You are right that wands(/djores) have a sign hanging over them saying "ABUSE ME." They need to be banned if you find partial charges for a monk strange. (Rune)Staffs are caster only things that basically aren't necessary. Similar to wands, there's no reason to allow them. You're right that scepters aren't abusable. There are very few psicrowns and even the 'strongest' ones tend to be very weak for their price; they're fine.
The feat tax on Portals (and cost) help prevent tippyverse stuff (which is really about custom traps anyway). Making ye old wizard into a crafter is a feat tax, though. And I'm okay with it because crafting is powerful. Rune Circles [RoS167] cost between 6.25% and 100% of market price depending on their size but it has built-in RAI safegaurds about abusing their non-portability (craft checks, etc). Still useful for abusive crafters, if the 50% cost reduction is worth a feat to you.
Vizzerdrix:
Umm... I remember seeing a spell that creates a disk that you can store a spell in. I think it let anyone use it so that might fit with these, even though it isnt a feat. I dont remember what its name was though.
Also what about the candelcasters candles? And should we list PrCs that alter the creation of items?
Samwise:
--- Quote from: PlzBreakMyCampaign on May 09, 2017, 04:53:45 PM ---I love these! Ahem,
--- End quote ---
Thanks.
--- Quote ---What are some good spells to trigger with Attune Gem?
--- End quote ---
Dunno.
However, in my new tabletop (as opposed to MIRC) Beastman Invasion game, I am using Craft Contingent Spell and tagging some auto-cure lights wounds onto the low-level beastmen.
They are:
1. Non-lootable
2. Free action healing
3. Inciting profound player angst as to how the bad guys keep healing while getting pummeled
Yes, they do cost twice what a potion of clw costs, and four times what a scroll of clw costs, but they are actionless and non-lootable even if they didn't auto-activate.
As far as I can tell, the answer would be: "anything you would use a contingency spell for but are willing to burn a feat, some gp and some xp to do a lot more often".
--- Quote ---And where is the Spell Mantle feat from?
--- End quote ---
Lost Empires of Faerun.
--- Quote from: Vizzerdrix on May 09, 2017, 05:44:21 PM ---Umm... I remember seeing a spell that creates a disk that you can store a spell in. I think it let anyone use it so that might fit with these, even though it isnt a feat. I dont remember what its name was though.
Also what about the candelcasters candles? And should we list PrCs that alter the creation of items?
--- End quote ---
I was looking at direct crafting, and the feats. Spells that sort of craft, and spell-storing items for that matter, would go in an appendix or their own handbooks.
Doesn't the crafting handbook have stuff on PrCs and such that affect crafting?
kitep:
--- Quote from: Vizzerdrix on May 09, 2017, 05:44:21 PM ---Umm... I remember seeing a spell that creates a disk that you can store a spell in. I think it let anyone use it so that might fit with these, even though it isnt a feat. I dont remember what its name was though.
--- End quote ---
That would be Shalantha's Delicate Disk (Lost Empires of Faerun, p33) 6th level spell that stores 5th and below. Anyone breaking the disk activates the spell.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version