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Since taking a look at the Magic Item Creation feats and rules, I was wondering if some changes could be make to the prerequisites.
In Pathfinder, a crafter needs to make a skill check in order to craft an item (DC 5 + the caster level of the item). The check increases by +5 for every prerequisite of the item the crafter does not possess.
This being the case, is it completely necessary that only Casters should be able to take the Item Creation feats? Currently, one has to have a caster level to take the feats, but since the item creation is based on a skill check, why not make it so that anyone can take the Item Creation feat.
It would be a simple fix. The item would be more difficult for non-casters to create, given that they do not possess the necessary spells to make the item. In addition, since they are not casters, a mundane crafter could consider the Caster Level of the item as another Prerequisite they do not meet (that is just another +5 to the craft DC).
I propose that the Prerequisites of the Item Crafting feats be Character Level rather than Caster Level. This way, one can get those dwarven or elven smiths of legend without them having to be spellcasters on top of it all.
If folks think this is too unbalanced, I have another idea to layer atop this suggestion. If an item crafter is not a spellcaster, perhaps they should have to create the item "whole-cloth" from the ground up. These non-casting item crafters would not be able to take a pre-existing masterwork item and enchant it, as is the current rule; they would have to forge the item themselves before they could put any enchantments upon it.
This entire proposition is also limited in scope. Obviously, some magical items cannot be crafted by just anyone. Casters should be the only ones to make scrolls (after all, the spells are in their heads). This proposition was mainly targeted at such Item creation as Craft Arms and Armor (again, to simulate those legendary non-caster blacksmiths) and Brew Potions (for alchemists, herbalists, and apothecaries).
What do folks think?
I think Jason B has already put up a feat much like you are talking about early on in the skills and feats focus. It was buried in a bunch of other feats he released all at once.
I think it is a novel idea, however, I can solve this situation with one fell swoop. If you propose to add higher DC's to the Craft check, as a person who plays alot of wizards and has currently converted his over to PF, I would just say screw it and buy the item and proceed from there. I would do this for a number of reasons:
1. Don't have to blow skill points on creating items to masterwork then proceed into making them magical.
2. Takes less in game time.
3. Spend about the same amount of money to buy the item as to create it.
4. Plus, have to spend gp on the tools to create the item to masterwork. Especially, if you get adamantine or another metal from certain planes, normal iron or steel tools are not going to be able to work the metal.
I actually ran into this problem while converting my enchanter from 3.5 to PF!!! (lost alot in the transfer but also gained alot). So I actually got rid of all my skill points in Craft and put them elsewhere.
Nice idea (which is covered by the Master Craftsman feat already). But the increase for the DC of not having a relevant spell available should mirror its difficulty to be cast. So the increase could be equal to the level of the (highest) spells not being available (minimum +5 of course).
Or the difference (or half that value for Non-casters with the Master Craftsman feat) between needed caster level and actual level could be added to the DC.
Well, here there has some math to be done.
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Perhaps someone could then tell me where I might find this Master Craftsman feat. I have looked around, but things do not seem to be in any appreciable order that is easy to find on the site.
It took me forever just to find the Magic Item and Prestige Class web enhancements...
I have to agree with this frustration...
I knew those feats had been posted somewhere... but several searches really didn't find what I was looking for and I couldn't find them (Announcements? What is a list of feats for playtesting doing in the Announcements messageboard??). The only way I was able to get back to them was to go back to an email that a buddy had sent out with a direct link in it.
Chaos! Chaos I tell you! :)