Post/Author/DateTime	Post
jaelis 01-18-07, 11:06 PM	(This is cross-posted on the Eberron board, my apologies if you've seen it already.) I have some artificer questions. I imagine they've come up before, but I didn't find them in a brief search, so... On crafting: - If a magic item has no spell prerequisites, can a artificer just make it, with no UMD check? - If yes, that means a level 7 artificer can make a +3 weapon or armor with no checks? (Counting in the +2 caster level prereq bonus.) - When I make the "last ditch" UMD check to emulate a spell prereq, can I use temporary modifiers to boost my roll? For instance, by using the skill enhancement and eagle's splendor infusions on myself? On stacking: - Can you cast multiple Weapon Augmentation or Armor Enhancement infusions on the same item? For example, to make a sword into a Bane (evil outsider) bane (chaotic outsider) holy axiomatic weapon, using two lesser and two regular weapon augmentations. - Can I cast Metamagic Item more than once on the same item? For instance, to make a wand of empowered and maximized scorching ray? - Same question with the metamagic spell trigger ability. For instance, getting a maximized empowered scorching ray out of a wand by burning 7 charges? Finally: - When a level 1 artificer casts magic vestment, does it grant any bonus? There probably isn't a RAW answer to some of these, but I was wondering if there is a "board consensus" at all. Thanks so much!
aelryinth 01-19-07, 01:45 AM	1) there's always something required to make an item. 2) a +3 item requires a caster level of 9, so you'd have to emulate a caster level of 9, which is a DC 29 check. I believe it also requires Magic Weapon or Greater Magic weapon. I could be mistaken, but the caster level was a hard limit...so possibly at 7th. Wouldn't save you any time or money, however. 3) Craft infusions take place over the period of 8 hours, so unless you've got a buff that lasts that long, then no, I don't believe so. 4) This is a debated issue. Conservative gameplay is that greater overrides lesser, and the last one cast overrides the former ones cast. My gut instinct is to say no, you can't stack them. Even if the infusion manifests differently, it is still the same infusion. You might allow the lesser to stand on its own, but keep in mind that most greater spells override their lesser kin. It could be interesting getting your Greater Magic Weapon infusion enchanted and losing the Speed effect, only for it to instantly manifest your Personal Humanbane enhancement as the more powerful infusion goes away...or you might let them stack. 5) The creator of Eberron basically said no, you aren't supposed to be able to stack metamagic item. This is the same last overrides first ruling. It also cuts down on a lot of abusive artificer blasting cheese (which topped out around 960 + 80d6 dmg, I last heard) 6) Same ruling, last overrides first, so no. There is dispute on this, for the purpose of the same damage cheese. Note that Metamagic Item and Metamagic spell trigger will stack, however. 7) If it requires caster levels you generally round down. So, if it requires caster level 3, then no. Board consensus is happily split along what is 'not clearly not permitted' and what is 'permitted'. Metamagic item and spell trigger are like this. It doesn't say you cant' stack multiple ones...it also doesn't say you can. Stacking spells does have prior examples. Do these apply? Well, when you see some of the balance issues involved with letting them stack, most DM's will say no, they don't stack. YMMV. ===Aelryinth
jaelis 01-19-07, 09:13 PM	Thanks Aelryinth... that mostly agrees with what I would have said. But I really don't think there are any spell prereqs for simple bonuses to magic arms and armor, and I don't quite follow what you said about the CL prereq. I would have thought the artificer CL bonus either applied or not; he can't use UMD to emulate a CL requirement he doesn't meet naturally. At least, that what I think the rule says.