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I don't recall if this has been brought up here before (it probably has), but a quick search didn't find what I was looking for.
What is the Spellcraft DC to create a magic item supposed to be?
Successfully creating a magic item requires a Spellcraft check with a DC equal to 10 + the item's caster level. Alternatively, you can use an associated Craft or Profession skill to attempt this check instead, depending upon the item being crafted. See Magic Item Creation for more details on which Craft and Profession checks may be substituted in this manner. The DC of this check can increase if the crafter is rushed or does not meet all of the prerequisites. A failed check ruins the materials used, while a check that fails by 5 or more results in a cursed item. See Magic Items for more details
LINK Right under "Item Creation Feats."
The DC to create a magic item is 5 + the caster level for the item. Failing this check means that the item does not function and the materials and time are wasted. Failing this check by 5 or more results in a cursed item (see Cursed Items for more information).
LINK First paragraph.
Emphasis mine.
Thank you in advance.
Looks to me like you have caught an inconsistency. I have hit the faq button. Good catch.
Well, that is 3 FAQs thus far. To anyone that pops in that does not know the answer I would appreciate if you would add to that number.
The unofficial faq quotes a response from Jason Bulmahn stating that it should be 5 + caster level.
Q: In Chapter 4: Feats (pg. 112), the DC to craft a magic item is 10 + the item's caster level. In Chapter 15: Magic Items (pg. 548), the DC is listed as 5 + the item's caster level. Which is correct?A: (Jason Bulmahn) I believe the Magic Items chapter is correct and the DC should be 5 + caster level, but I am still looking into the issue. Either way, this will be corrected. [Source]
Ah, that is helpful; thank you, bigmac44. Hopefully the PRD will eventually be corrected. I'd still encourage people to FAQ it, since that unoffiial quote is from (appearently) partway into 2010 and the PRD still contradicts itself and FAQing seems to be a good way to get it noticed and get an offical answer in the Paizo CRB FAQ/errata.
The intent (per the discussion during the Beta) was to make it a simple check for anyone taking their time, with full ranks, with the prerequisites, who wasn't lower level than the item they were trying to make. Essentially, automatic as it was in 3.5.
So with a +1 Int, full ranks, and equal level, your bonus would be 1 less than the DC (so made on a 1). That's with 5 + item caster level. It really wouldn't make sense with 10+. Imagine a 1st level wizard failing to write a 1st level scroll (DC11, with as low as +5 to +7 for a less than optimized wizard).
But agreed, needs to be fixed.
This would go in the New PRD thread over in website feedback, not in the FAQ.
I was always thinking in the sense of taking 10, where there would be a gulf of difference (5 whole CL) in what you could reliably make, so both numbers seemed possible to me. For example, a 7 Int cleric with 1 rank would have a +2 Spellcraft (or 12 taking 10), still good enough to make a scroll at the 10 + CL difficulty, but if it is intended that you have to roll, 5 + CL makes much more sense.
Fairly sure the DCs were designed without the Take 10 rule in mind. There is no explicit rule against taking 10 on the spellcraft check to craft magic items, but I don't allow it at all.
Fairly sure the DCs were designed without the Take 10 rule in mind. There is no explicit rule against taking 10 on the spellcraft check to craft magic items, but I don't allow it at all.
Which is fine and all, but you should at least be aware that the developers have explicitly said you can take 10 on magic item creation. It's a base assumption of the magic item creation rules.
This should certainly be updated to reflect the intent of the developers.
This should be in the FAQ because it needs to be changed and updated because the erroneous text appears in the Core Rule Book and PRD.
9 FAQs so far.
Honestly, I could care less which way the errata rules as long as it is consistant. 5 + CL and 10 + CL will usually make little difference to me, but it would be nice to have something hard.
Fairly sure the DCs were designed without the Take 10 rule in mind. There is no explicit rule against taking 10 on the spellcraft check to craft magic items, but I don't allow it at all.Which is fine and all, but you should at least be aware that the developers have explicitly said you can take 10 on magic item creation. It's a base assumption of the magic item creation rules.
Personally I don't allow taking 10 on magic item creation checks, but if your skill is high enough you can succeed on a 1.
If FAQ Tuesday rolls back around I think this could be a solid topic to be clarified- the number of FAQs have exploded overnight.
Item Creation Feats, Core Rulebook, 5th printing, Page 112:
Skill Check: Successfully creating a magic item requires
a Spellcraft check with a DC equal to 5 + the item’s caster
level.
Magic Item Creation, Core Rulebook, 5th printing, Page 548:
The DC to create a magic item is 5 + the caster level for the item.
Once again, this is not an issue with the rules. This is purely a PRD issue, and the New PRD thread is where this should be. The OP has even posted in there.
I was not aware that it had been updated in later printings. I only have a 1st printing, and my copy matches the current PRD.
That's completely understandable. And quite unfortunate too, as the PRD is usually correct.
Having just looked at my latest PDF download of the CRB confirms that what you are saying is correct, Cheapy, it is merely a PRD issue, rather than both PRD and rules. My PDF says 5 + CL in both sections.
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Curse your desire to be thorough Cheapy! *shakefist*
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PRD fixed.