craft (____smithing): clarification & improving [Archive] - Wizards Community

craft (____smithing): clarification & improving [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Nathreet
03-02-07, 11:48 AM Two questions.

1. To craft a mithral (or adamantine, etc.) item: Do I simply follow the craft rules for the cost of the item plus the cost of the mithral? So do I pay 1/3 the cost of the item plus 1/3 the cost of the mithral? Does it then take me longer than normal, because the mithral increases the cost?

2. How do I increase my craft(_____smithing) skill? So far I have +2 from a decent int, +1 from the azerblood regional feat (since I am an azerkyn dwarf), +2 for being a dwarf, +3 for the skill focus feat, +2 for masterwork tools and +2 per assistant that makes a DC 10 craft check, up to the maximum number of assistants that my DM will allow. And in the future I can get a headband of intellect for another +1/+2/+3. Is there anything else? We are using mostly core rules, plus some forgotten realms material (that's why I have the regional feat).
risner
03-02-07, 12:10 PM 1) Yes, Yes, Yes

2) You have everything I can think of already. You may be able to make an item with a competence skill bonus to it.
FrostWolf
03-02-07, 12:21 PM #2- dump more skill points into it.

The feat called Open minded in the Complete Adventurer will give yoou 5 more skill points to spend, but that is kind of a huge waste of a feat.
Nathreet
03-02-07, 01:51 PM 1) Yes, Yes, Yes

Is there a place in the rules or a FAQ you can point me to, just to make sure? I've seen it discussed before but no one really gave any good reason. If anything they gave some house rules to fill the gap, or simply followed the regular craft rules to the letter, even with mithral, admitting that it doesn't make much real world sense (the rules I wrote down are the regular rules to the letter). Balance-wise the regular rules make sense, though. And I'll probably end up using them if I can't find any other information.
jameswilliamogle
03-02-07, 01:51 PM The easiest way to help crafting out is to use the Fabricate spell, or to go to a time-altered plane where you can craft at your leisure. Otherwise, it just isn't worth it from a time-sense.
theodisws
03-02-07, 01:57 PM If your using some FR stuff, then check out the Magic of Faerun, theres a hammer that gives you a +10 bonus.
Nathreet
03-02-07, 02:05 PM I've already min-maxed and I realize that it isn't worth it from a munchkin sense, unless you get fabricate. Then it really becomes worth it, especially if you follow the 1/3 cost rule for exotic materials.

Unfortunately I'll be playing a fighter next campaign. I got a 14 in craft (armorsmithing) at 1st level since I want to see if the DM will let me get full plate at first level. At high levels the skill focus will be a wasted feat, but since I'll probably be limited to PHB feats and since my party doesn't want me to multiclass into barb (we & the DM want to make the party very different from last campaign), I'm not too worried about running out of feats at higher levels.

The DM is giving nice equipment to other players' new characters, but only b/c they are connected to their current characters in some way. So their current high level characters are tossing a few minor magic items their way. Like 1st level magic missile wands, masterwork gear, etc. I'm a dwarf from the azerkyn tribe, who are a long line of smithies (hence the +1 from my regional feat). With that and my 14 in craft(armorsmithing), I figure it's quite plausible that I made a suit of full plate for myself before heading out for adventure. I'd be able to save up the spare cash for raw materials in about 3-4 years of smithery (setting aside 1/3 of my smithing income), and since I'm a dwarf I'm over 50 years old even as a youngin'. I don't mind playing catch-up in the masterwork gear, but as a meatshield I'd at least like the extra 4 AC from full plate (vs. scale mail).

My current character is the sorc in my sig. I haven't thought of a connection plausible enough to be worth the effort. I mean, I'm not terribly troubled about being behind in equipment for a little while. The old and new adventures are both in Tilberton (sp?). My Dwarf comes from a region near Tilberton. My gnome came into the party late so I didn't make any real history for him.
edwardsobel
03-02-07, 02:09 PM Since progress is determined by multiplying your check times the required DC you can volutarily increase the required DC by factors of 10 and if you succeed the check then you can finish faster.
Nathreet
03-02-07, 02:38 PM Yeah, I know. I read the craft rules. Even so you can't craft very fast.
risner
03-02-07, 03:34 PM Is there a place in the rules or a FAQ you can point me to, just to make sure?

FAQ p35

As for Fabricate, all it does is save time. You still need to pay the 1/3 cost for the Fabricate crafting.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nathreet 03-02-07, 11:48 AM	Two questions. 1. To craft a mithral (or adamantine, etc.) item: Do I simply follow the craft rules for the cost of the item plus the cost of the mithral? So do I pay 1/3 the cost of the item plus 1/3 the cost of the mithral? Does it then take me longer than normal, because the mithral increases the cost? 2. How do I increase my craft(_____smithing) skill? So far I have +2 from a decent int, +1 from the azerblood regional feat (since I am an azerkyn dwarf), +2 for being a dwarf, +3 for the skill focus feat, +2 for masterwork tools and +2 per assistant that makes a DC 10 craft check, up to the maximum number of assistants that my DM will allow. And in the future I can get a headband of intellect for another +1/+2/+3. Is there anything else? We are using mostly core rules, plus some forgotten realms material (that's why I have the regional feat).
risner 03-02-07, 12:10 PM	1) Yes, Yes, Yes 2) You have everything I can think of already. You may be able to make an item with a competence skill bonus to it.
FrostWolf 03-02-07, 12:21 PM	#2- dump more skill points into it. The feat called Open minded in the Complete Adventurer will give yoou 5 more skill points to spend, but that is kind of a huge waste of a feat.
Nathreet 03-02-07, 01:51 PM	1) Yes, Yes, Yes Is there a place in the rules or a FAQ you can point me to, just to make sure? I've seen it discussed before but no one really gave any good reason. If anything they gave some house rules to fill the gap, or simply followed the regular craft rules to the letter, even with mithral, admitting that it doesn't make much real world sense (the rules I wrote down are the regular rules to the letter). Balance-wise the regular rules make sense, though. And I'll probably end up using them if I can't find any other information.
jameswilliamogle 03-02-07, 01:51 PM	The easiest way to help crafting out is to use the Fabricate spell, or to go to a time-altered plane where you can craft at your leisure. Otherwise, it just isn't worth it from a time-sense.
theodisws 03-02-07, 01:57 PM	If your using some FR stuff, then check out the Magic of Faerun, theres a hammer that gives you a +10 bonus.
Nathreet 03-02-07, 02:05 PM	I've already min-maxed and I realize that it isn't worth it from a munchkin sense, unless you get fabricate. Then it really becomes worth it, especially if you follow the 1/3 cost rule for exotic materials. Unfortunately I'll be playing a fighter next campaign. I got a 14 in craft (armorsmithing) at 1st level since I want to see if the DM will let me get full plate at first level. At high levels the skill focus will be a wasted feat, but since I'll probably be limited to PHB feats and since my party doesn't want me to multiclass into barb (we & the DM want to make the party very different from last campaign), I'm not too worried about running out of feats at higher levels. The DM is giving nice equipment to other players' new characters, but only b/c they are connected to their current characters in some way. So their current high level characters are tossing a few minor magic items their way. Like 1st level magic missile wands, masterwork gear, etc. I'm a dwarf from the azerkyn tribe, who are a long line of smithies (hence the +1 from my regional feat). With that and my 14 in craft(armorsmithing), I figure it's quite plausible that I made a suit of full plate for myself before heading out for adventure. I'd be able to save up the spare cash for raw materials in about 3-4 years of smithery (setting aside 1/3 of my smithing income), and since I'm a dwarf I'm over 50 years old even as a youngin'. I don't mind playing catch-up in the masterwork gear, but as a meatshield I'd at least like the extra 4 AC from full plate (vs. scale mail). My current character is the sorc in my sig. I haven't thought of a connection plausible enough to be worth the effort. I mean, I'm not terribly troubled about being behind in equipment for a little while. The old and new adventures are both in Tilberton (sp?). My Dwarf comes from a region near Tilberton. My gnome came into the party late so I didn't make any real history for him.
edwardsobel 03-02-07, 02:09 PM	Since progress is determined by multiplying your check times the required DC you can volutarily increase the required DC by factors of 10 and if you succeed the check then you can finish faster.
Nathreet 03-02-07, 02:38 PM	Yeah, I know. I read the craft rules. Even so you can't craft very fast.
risner 03-02-07, 03:34 PM	Is there a place in the rules or a FAQ you can point me to, just to make sure? FAQ p35 As for Fabricate, all it does is save time. You still need to pay the 1/3 cost for the Fabricate crafting.