Master craftsman

[Januel]

Hello all,

I start playing a caster who intend to create magical items.
So the question I'm asking it's if the feat "master craftsman" cumulate with my caster level to make greater item sooner ?
For exemple an item who need a NLS of 7: i'm a caster lv 5, and take this feats, and have 5 ranks in my skill, if I can use half as a lv caster. Can I create this item ?
I searched in the faq, and forum but didn't see anything about it.

Ps : Sorry for my bad english, i don't use to speak of rpg in english, i'm french ;)

[Dragonchess Player]

Master Craftsman only does what the feat description says: it allows you to use your skill ranks in that particular Craft skill in place of casting level for qualifying for and using item creation feats; you also use the Craft skill in place of Spellcraft for the skill check when creating an item.

Note that this is still a benefit to a spellcaster in that you can add +4 (+2 from Master Craftsman and +2 from masterwork artisan tools) on the check to create items. Of course, the benefit is limited to items you can make with the Craft skill.

Also note that the CLs listed in the magic item descriptions are mainly an indication of the power level of the item. They can often be treated as a prerequisite (see Core Rulebook pg. 549, "The DC to create a magic item increases by +5 for each prerequisite the [creator] does not meet."). Any level-based effects of the item (i.e., the damage caused by a fireball-like explosion for a necklace of fireballs sphere) could not exceed the actual/effective CL of the creator, however.

[David Thomassen]

The only time that Caster Level is a pre-req is when its listed in the requirements section or the item being created is a weapon or armour. (For straight '+' only)

Core RuleBook Faq

What is the caster level required to create a pearl of power?:

Though the listed Caster Level for a pearl of power is 17th, that caster level is not part of the Requirements listing for that item. Therefore, the only caster level requirement for a pearl of power is the character has to be able to cast spells of the desired level.

However, it makes sense that the minimum caster level of the pearl is the minimum caster level necessary to cast spells of that level--it would be strange for a 2nd-level pearl to be CL 1st.

For example, a 3rd-level wizard with Craft Wondrous Item can create a 1st-level pearl, with a minimum caster level of 1. He can set the caster level to whatever he wants (assuming he can meet the crafting DC), though the pearl's caster level has no effect on its powers (other than its ability to resist dispel magic). If he wants to make a 2nd-level pearl, the caster level has to be at least 3, as wizards can't cast 2nd-level spells until they reach character level 3. He can even try to make a 3rd-level pearl, though the minimum caster level is 5, and he adds +5 to the DC because he doesn't meet the "able to cast 3rd-level spells" requirement.

—Sean K Reynolds, 08/18/10