Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ChrisAsmadi 04-27-06, 05:20 PM	Through some reading of the rules, my DM believes that that an artificer has to pay for his full caster level for an item, such as paying for Caster Level 20 for an at will item of Prestigitation, which, having no CL based effects, would be pointless. Is this true? If so, why not?
NineInchNall 04-27-06, 05:23 PM	Your DM is an eejit. Just as you can cast a spell at a level lower than your current caster level (to a minimum of the required caster level to cast the spell in the first place) you can create items at the minimum caster level required to create the item. Of course, a higher caster level item would be harder to suppress ... While item creation costs are handled in detail below, note that normally the two primary factors are the caster level of the creator and the level of the spell or spells put into the item. A creator can create an item at a lower caster level than her own, but never lower than the minimum level needed to cast the needed spell. Using metamagic feats, a caster can place spells in items at a higher level than normal.
ChrisAsmadi 04-27-06, 05:30 PM	Costs are always determined using the items minimum caster level, or the artificers level(if it is higher). Apparently, this is the reasoning behind his view...
NoldorForce 04-27-06, 06:28 PM	That statement should probably have read "Costs are always determined using the item's minimum caster level (if it is higher), or the artificers level." It's in the section of artificer item creation discussing how an artificer's effective caster level is two higher for the purpose of meeting item prerequisites. Immediately after that potential error, the text goes on to discuss how a 3rd-level artificer could make a scroll of fireball that operated at caster level 3rd. However, its caster level for the purposes of materials and XP would still be 5th. So unless someone can rules-lawyer a way out of this (I believe it's possible, but don't have much experience wrestling with the RAW), it looks like you are indeed nerfed by this oversight.
pale_enchantress 04-27-06, 08:48 PM	I think id slap my dm silly if he tried something like that. If you follow "practical optimization" the dm should too. However if your playing a 1200 damage a round blastificier you might have it comming.
ChrisAsmadi 04-28-06, 10:20 AM	Actually, I was trying to make an item of Prestigitation at will at level 3, and I didn't want to pay for CL3... I guess I'm doomed. :(
Elderich 05-01-06, 03:52 PM	The FAQ has a section on CL and items. It should be read.