Artifact Creation [Archive] - Wizards Community

Artifact Creation [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Weiser_Cain
01-24-07, 08:24 AM Are there any rules on artifact creation?
penchant
01-24-07, 08:46 AM There are specifically no rules for artifact creation. It is the purvue of the DM to create the artifact and you can give one any ability and/or curse you feel like. PC's can not ever create an artifact by the RAW.
Sylvaroth
01-24-07, 09:01 AM In other words, if you (the DM) need an artifact as a plot device, let's say RadicalTaoist's magical hat of exploding kittens, just describe what it can do and you are done basically.

Still I seem to remember, that the ELH said something about epic characters being able to craft items that are (at least comparable in power to) minor artifacts.
Nezkrul
01-24-07, 09:55 AM Artifacts aren't created, they are born.
Witch
01-24-07, 10:06 AM Artifacts aren't created, they are born.
Nonsense.

As to artifact creation:
There are guidelines, but no real hard rules. Not even the guidelines are made by WotC.
Yue Ryong
01-24-07, 10:23 AM I think it's kind of a pity, really. I've always wanted to play a character whose chief aim has been the forging of an artefact that stands unmatched by all but the power of gods.
penchant
01-24-07, 11:21 AM I think it's kind of a pity, really. I've always wanted to play a character whose chief aim has been the forging of an artefact that stands unmatched by all but the power of gods.

A willing DM can make a quest for that. But its just not a matter of expending XP and paying crafting costs. A quest to create an artifact could take an ambitious 5th level mage up to epic levels at its culmination. In other words, you could do it but it is still a plot device.
PhaedrusXY
01-24-07, 11:24 AM There is a Salient Divine Ability called Craft Artifact (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/divine/divineAbilitiesFeats.htm#craftArtifact).
Witch
01-24-07, 11:25 AM That's barely a rule. It just says they can make it, doesn't really give a good explanation.
Kas
01-24-07, 11:48 AM Benefit

The deity can craft magic arms and armor, staffs, wands, wondrous items, rings, and scrolls that exceed the normal limits for such items

Yeah, that'll totally help the player.
Witch
01-24-07, 12:38 PM Yeah, that'll totally help the player.
Yep.

What did you expect, that a level 5 character could make an artifact? A method was provided, for a deific campaign. It's likely beyond mechanics for non-deities, i.e., it would take extreme long series of quests.
Sylvaroth
01-24-07, 02:19 PM A willing DM can make a quest for that. But its just not a matter of expending XP and paying crafting costs. A quest to create an artifact could take an ambitious 5th level mage up to epic levels at its culmination. In other words, you could do it but it is still a plot device.
Reading both DD and the EL this could very well be a way to achieve both epic levels and divinity. Why not let a dwarven character make this his live quest out of dedication to the art of craft. The artifact is in the end his ticket to the stairway to heaven. Simple kewl :D
penchant
01-24-07, 05:04 PM Reading both DD and the EL this could very well be a way to achieve both epic levels and divinity. Why not let a dwarven character make this his live quest out of dedication to the art of craft. The artifact is in the end his ticket to the stairway to heaven. Simple kewl :D

Hah! Craft Artifact (Golden Ticket)
elondir
01-24-07, 05:10 PM What I do is make all non-biological artifacts (such as a staff of the magi or the mace of st. cuthbert) epic magic items. An example of what I mean by a biological artifact is the hand of vecna - you cannot create one, since it was created when Kas cut it off.
Nezkrul
01-24-07, 11:37 PM Nonsense.

mmmk, here:

Artifacts are born, not made
Weiser_Cain
01-25-07, 12:16 AM Well lets pretend they can be made by high leveled if not lower epic level characters?
What do you think the requirements would be?
Molot
01-25-07, 07:21 AM Here is the link:
http://www.d20srd.org/indexes/epicMagicItems.htm
Just check what's the price of an epic item with the power of the artifact you want to make, add price incrase for unability to destroy it in a normal fashion, and you're done.
runestar
01-25-07, 07:26 AM I think the nether scrolls gives you the ability to create artifacts, but that in itself is already an artifact, so it doesn't really solve the problem.

I think your best bet is to use item creation feats to replicate the item's abilities as closely as possible. The only drawback is no protection from disjunction.:P
jaelis
01-25-07, 09:19 AM Why do you need rules for this? It's clear that creating an artifact should be the central focus of a whole campaign. So just write the campaign. Then you know how to create an artifact.

The point is that every artifact should have unique and interesting ways to create it. They shouldn't make general rules for it any more than they should make general rules for what an adventure has to be.
Weiser_Cain
01-25-07, 10:31 AM Please don't anwser my question by telling me not to ask the question.
Witch
01-25-07, 10:33 AM But it's the answer. For low epic or pre-epic characters, there should not be reasons for it, so there are no reasons for it.
jaelis
01-25-07, 10:50 AM Please don't anwser my question by telling me not to ask the question.

If you want a game where all the rules are straightforward and all the questions have answers, I can heartily recommend chess.
Weiser_Cain
01-25-07, 10:57 AM If you don't like the topic you can always post in one you do like.
I'll use the epic rules, thanks all.
Sylvaroth
01-25-07, 12:24 PM You are welcome ;)
penchant
01-25-07, 01:09 PM If you don't like the topic you can always post in one you do like.
I'll use the epic rules, thanks all.

IF you are going to allow epic crafting of artifacts then you still need to ensure uniqueness.

I would allow two different ways of "construction"

First, the evolution method: Said Item must be made as an epic item with appropriate epic craft feat and skill according to standard rules. Then it must be used to defeat/commit a great evil. Tales of said exploit must be actively circulated for at least one lifetime so it becomes legendary status. Then, upgrade the item from epic to artifact due to the faith that the population has in it.

Second, The quest for unique items: Items of legendary treasure or significane must be gotten and combined to create the item in question. Examples would be like the Golden Fleece, The Horn of the Terrasque, Loki's Beard. Then the item is enchanted on a plane dedicated to a cause related to the item, or directly opposed to it. Finally it must be blessed by a god who will support the cause of the item.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Weiser_Cain 01-24-07, 08:24 AM	Are there any rules on artifact creation?
penchant 01-24-07, 08:46 AM	There are specifically no rules for artifact creation. It is the purvue of the DM to create the artifact and you can give one any ability and/or curse you feel like. PC's can not ever create an artifact by the RAW.
Sylvaroth 01-24-07, 09:01 AM	In other words, if you (the DM) need an artifact as a plot device, let's say RadicalTaoist's magical hat of exploding kittens, just describe what it can do and you are done basically. Still I seem to remember, that the ELH said something about epic characters being able to craft items that are (at least comparable in power to) minor artifacts.
Nezkrul 01-24-07, 09:55 AM	Artifacts aren't created, they are born.
Witch 01-24-07, 10:06 AM	Artifacts aren't created, they are born. Nonsense. As to artifact creation: There are guidelines, but no real hard rules. Not even the guidelines are made by WotC.
Yue Ryong 01-24-07, 10:23 AM	I think it's kind of a pity, really. I've always wanted to play a character whose chief aim has been the forging of an artefact that stands unmatched by all but the power of gods.
penchant 01-24-07, 11:21 AM	I think it's kind of a pity, really. I've always wanted to play a character whose chief aim has been the forging of an artefact that stands unmatched by all but the power of gods. A willing DM can make a quest for that. But its just not a matter of expending XP and paying crafting costs. A quest to create an artifact could take an ambitious 5th level mage up to epic levels at its culmination. In other words, you could do it but it is still a plot device.
PhaedrusXY 01-24-07, 11:24 AM	There is a Salient Divine Ability called Craft Artifact (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/divine/divineAbilitiesFeats.htm#craftArtifact).
Witch 01-24-07, 11:25 AM	That's barely a rule. It just says they can make it, doesn't really give a good explanation.
Kas 01-24-07, 11:48 AM	Benefit The deity can craft magic arms and armor, staffs, wands, wondrous items, rings, and scrolls that exceed the normal limits for such items Yeah, that'll totally help the player.
Witch 01-24-07, 12:38 PM	Yeah, that'll totally help the player. Yep. What did you expect, that a level 5 character could make an artifact? A method was provided, for a deific campaign. It's likely beyond mechanics for non-deities, i.e., it would take extreme long series of quests.
Sylvaroth 01-24-07, 02:19 PM	A willing DM can make a quest for that. But its just not a matter of expending XP and paying crafting costs. A quest to create an artifact could take an ambitious 5th level mage up to epic levels at its culmination. In other words, you could do it but it is still a plot device. Reading both DD and the EL this could very well be a way to achieve both epic levels and divinity. Why not let a dwarven character make this his live quest out of dedication to the art of craft. The artifact is in the end his ticket to the stairway to heaven. Simple kewl :D
penchant 01-24-07, 05:04 PM	Reading both DD and the EL this could very well be a way to achieve both epic levels and divinity. Why not let a dwarven character make this his live quest out of dedication to the art of craft. The artifact is in the end his ticket to the stairway to heaven. Simple kewl :D Hah! Craft Artifact (Golden Ticket)
elondir 01-24-07, 05:10 PM	What I do is make all non-biological artifacts (such as a staff of the magi or the mace of st. cuthbert) epic magic items. An example of what I mean by a biological artifact is the hand of vecna - you cannot create one, since it was created when Kas cut it off.
Nezkrul 01-24-07, 11:37 PM	Nonsense. mmmk, here: Artifacts are born, not made
Weiser_Cain 01-25-07, 12:16 AM	Well lets pretend they can be made by high leveled if not lower epic level characters? What do you think the requirements would be?
Molot 01-25-07, 07:21 AM	Here is the link: http://www.d20srd.org/indexes/epicMagicItems.htm Just check what's the price of an epic item with the power of the artifact you want to make, add price incrase for unability to destroy it in a normal fashion, and you're done.
runestar 01-25-07, 07:26 AM	I think the nether scrolls gives you the ability to create artifacts, but that in itself is already an artifact, so it doesn't really solve the problem. I think your best bet is to use item creation feats to replicate the item's abilities as closely as possible. The only drawback is no protection from disjunction.:P
jaelis 01-25-07, 09:19 AM	Why do you need rules for this? It's clear that creating an artifact should be the central focus of a whole campaign. So just write the campaign. Then you know how to create an artifact. The point is that every artifact should have unique and interesting ways to create it. They shouldn't make general rules for it any more than they should make general rules for what an adventure has to be.
Weiser_Cain 01-25-07, 10:31 AM	Please don't anwser my question by telling me not to ask the question.
Witch 01-25-07, 10:33 AM	But it's the answer. For low epic or pre-epic characters, there should not be reasons for it, so there are no reasons for it.
jaelis 01-25-07, 10:50 AM	Please don't anwser my question by telling me not to ask the question. If you want a game where all the rules are straightforward and all the questions have answers, I can heartily recommend chess.
Weiser_Cain 01-25-07, 10:57 AM	If you don't like the topic you can always post in one you do like. I'll use the epic rules, thanks all.
Sylvaroth 01-25-07, 12:24 PM	You are welcome ;)
penchant 01-25-07, 01:09 PM	If you don't like the topic you can always post in one you do like. I'll use the epic rules, thanks all. IF you are going to allow epic crafting of artifacts then you still need to ensure uniqueness. I would allow two different ways of "construction" First, the evolution method: Said Item must be made as an epic item with appropriate epic craft feat and skill according to standard rules. Then it must be used to defeat/commit a great evil. Tales of said exploit must be actively circulated for at least one lifetime so it becomes legendary status. Then, upgrade the item from epic to artifact due to the faith that the population has in it. Second, The quest for unique items: Items of legendary treasure or significane must be gotten and combined to create the item in question. Examples would be like the Golden Fleece, The Horn of the Terrasque, Loki's Beard. Then the item is enchanted on a plane dedicated to a cause related to the item, or directly opposed to it. Finally it must be blessed by a god who will support the cause of the item.