I've never liked burning a feat to make magic items. One of my solutions is just to automatically grant the feats to spell casters. Here's another solution:
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Craftsman's Guides
Aura faint, moderate, or strong universal; CL variesSlot -; Price varies; Weight 5 lbs.
Description
These well constructed books contain magical writings which impart the user with the ability to create magic items. Each book is tuned for a specific magic item creation feat. The user must still meet the minimum caster level to use the book. The book must be present during the entire item creation process.
Brew Potion: CL 3rd: 3,000 gp
Craft Magic Arms and Armor: CL 5th: 5,000 gp
Craft Rod: CL 9th: 9,000 gp
Craft Staff: CL 11th: 11,000 gp
Craft Wand: CL 5th: 5,000 gp
Craft Wondrous Item: CL 3rd: 3,000gp
Forge Ring: CL 7th: 7,000 gp
Scribe Scroll: CL 1st: 1,000 gpConstruction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, Selected Item Creation Feat; Cost half market price.
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I'm still unsure of the prices of the books. I'd appreciate any comments on these items.
IMarv
Does the book disappear (or turn to dust, or pages erased etc) after the item is created?
'findel
The intent is to be a permanent item that is not used up.IMarv
If that's the case it can be passed around; each such book (with a different item crafting feat) could potentially benefit every member of a party.
It should probably work like the Tomes and Manuals of Stat Boosting; once you've read it, the magic is gone but you permanently retain the benefits.
I don't like the huge number of feats either but there should be some character investment into item creation. In my game I halved the number of feats to make it easier for players who are interested.
CL1 Scribe scroll, Brew Potion
CL3 Craft Wondrous items, Magic Arms and Armor
CL5 Craft Wand, Forge Ring
CL9 Craft Rod, Staff
If you do something like this, I'd actually prefer it be in a permanent book form. But you'd have to read it (the usual 48 hours over at least 6 days) to get the benefit (and no prior reader can use it until they read it again).
Prices seem a bit low to me (about the cheapest "feat" items are 10k). Maybe leave off scribe scroll and double the prices, or 10K + prices.
Edit: Hmm Dulsin, you just gave me an idea - how about "Craft Wand/Rod/Staff" as a single feat, wands available at 5th, rods at 9th, staves at 11th. While they can be good, they tend to be the least useful feats, compared to the "I can do anything you can do better" craft wondrous. They also overlap a good bit - you're less likely to make wands at higher level, and make staves instead. Plus, more rods (besides silly metamagic ones) would be cool.
If you do something like this, I'd actually prefer it be in a permanent book form. But you'd have to read it (the usual 48 hours over at least 6 days) to get the benefit (and no prior reader can use it until they read it again).
Prices seem a bit low to me (about the cheapest "feat" items are 10k). Maybe leave off scribe scroll and double the prices, or 10K + prices.
Edit: Hmm Dulsin, you just gave me an idea - how about "Craft Wand/Rod/Staff" as a single feat, wands available at 5th, rods at 9th, staves at 11th. While they can be good, they tend to be the least useful feats, compared to the "I can do anything you can do better" craft wondrous. They also overlap a good bit - you're less likely to make wands at higher level, and make staves instead. Plus, more rods (besides silly metamagic ones) would be cool.
Silver Marches has a cool alternative to crafting feats. One of the benefits to being a member of the Lady's College, is that you can use the college's laboratories and libraries to craft items without having the feats. You still need to meet all the other requirements as well as paying a special fee equal to 10% of the market price.
Hmm Dulsin, you just gave me an idea - how about "Craft Wand/Rod/Staff" as a single feat, wands available at 5th, rods at 9th, staves at 11th. While they can be good, they tend to be the least useful feats, compared to the "I can do anything you can do better" craft wondrous. They also overlap a good bit - you're less likely to make wands at higher level, and make staves instead. Plus, more rods (besides silly metamagic ones) would be cool.
That is an idea. I grouped them into 4 feats based on the level requirements but your idea is more organic.
How about
Brew Potion, Scribe scroll
Craft Wondrous, Ring
Craft Arms & Armor
Craft Wand, Staves, Wands
The only reason craft ring is a separate feat is because of Tolkien they are really just a category of magic jewelery which are all in Wondrous.
Actually, this is an idea I am using in my campaign. In the vein of the Tome of X granting a level, I am adding books that give bonus feats of all categories, one feat per book. I have not worked out the particulars for each one yet, but it will ease the nail-biting decisions over feat selection. A couple of extra feats per character should be enough, and maybe it will reduce level-dipping.
Craft Permanent (9th) - Everything else, wondrous items and rings.
Yes, I severely push back wondrous items. It is the best of the item creation feats so I felt it should have the highest requirement.
It is defiantly the most useful but I would disagree with it being the most powerful compared to staves and swords. It is versatile but if you put it at the end who is going to be making the Boots of Elvin kind?