Craft Magic Arms and Armor DC when adding non "+" equivalent enchants

Creating magic armor has a special prerequisite: The creator’s caster level must be at least three times the enhancement bonus of the armor. If an item has both an enhancement bonus and a special ability, the higher of the two caster level requirements must be met. Magic armor or a magic shield must have at least a 1 enhancement bonus to have any armor or shield special abilities.

Is this really difficult to understand? Unlike the general magic item creation rules, Armor (and weapons) have a special prerequisite which is tied to CL of the item.

Specific trumps general. This is more specific than the general magic item creation rules. Do what the more specific rules say.

Prerequisite = requisite. They are interchangeable words in this context.

Special ability is specifically called out here. If the CL from a special ability is higher than the one derived from the enhancement bonus, use the CL from the special ability.

And since this is a requisite, you increase the DC +5 if you don't meet it. Not meeting the requisite won't prevent you from making the item, it just makes it more difficult to craft. (unless we're talking about a spell completion type item, which has stricter rules)

None of this stuff is very well written. Prerequisite, requisite and requirement are all basically the same thing in real life, but it's weird to use synonyms if something's supposed to be a specific gameplay term.

It is implied but never directly stated that the caster level associated with armor special abilities is a requirement.

Prior to the FAQ we would probably have assumed that the caster level associated with the Pearl of Power was also an (implied) requirement.

Personally I'd see lowering the caster level of other items to be strictly 'ask your GM' territory. Why would the default caster level be X in the first place unless the item would be worse if it was lower?

Essentially there are two possible interpretations:

- the CL listed in any point of the description of the special ability matter;
- the CL requirement matter only if it is listed after the feat requirement.

The problem is born from the different formatting of the special abilities in the CRB when paragoned to the majority of the other magic items.

The typical formatting for an Armor or Weapon:

Moderate evocation; CL 10th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor and flame blade, flame strike, or fireball; Price +1 bonus.

The typical formatting for Rings, Rods, Saves and Wondrous items:

Aura faint enchantment; CL 3rd

Slot ring; Price 10,800 gp; Weight —
...
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Forge Ring, charm animal; Cost 5,400 gp

A few Rings and Wondrous items have a CL requirement in the requirement:

Requirements Forge Ring, shield of faith, caster must be of a level at least three times the bonus of the ring; Cost 1,000 gp (+1),

4,000 gp (+2), 9,000 gp (+3), 16,000 gp (+4), 25,000 gp (+5)

A few Armors and Weapons special abilities have a CL requirement after the feat requirement:

Strong evocation (plus aura of stored spell); CL 12th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, creator must be a caster of at least 12th level; Price +1 bonus.

So it is unclear if the prerequisite is all the CL in the description of the special ability or only what is listed after the Crafting feat.

Ultimate Equipment e latter books use for Armor and Weapons special abilities the same formatting used for Rings, Rods, and Wondrous items.

Spell storing Price +1 bonus Aura strong evocation and varies CL 12th Weight -

....
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS COST +1 bonus
Craft Magic Arms and Armor, creator must be a caster of at
least 12th level

Taking that into consideration I must amend my previous position.

I recall reading somewhere that the game writers were aware the default caster levels were not generally the default for a created item using the written crafting rules. They were set that way to port over ease of use from older editions; i.e. they needed to be more or less resilient to dispeling. So, the preprinted defaults are set that way on purpose and if you make an item or customize an item, you have to record keep the caster level for such a purpose (i.e. dispel).