I love crafting in games but I found d&d and pathfinder crafting a bit too unusable for crafting centered players. So I made up this system which my players have enjoyed. I wanted to get some seasoned opinions on my rules however. Here is what I wrote, sorry for any typos I wrote this on my smart phone at work.
Crafting for pathfinder:
This is my preferred system for crafting. In my opinion it is more rewarding and plays more to skill and acts as a mini-game.
New terms/rules:
Scavenging: when you loot equipment you can roll an appraise check (DC 10) followed by a craft check (DC = craft check for item being scavenged, result = material balance)
Material balance (MB): this is a floating number gained from scavenging equipment. This number/bank can be used for crafting costs instead of money. Ex: crafting an item would cost 1000sp, you have 500MB. You empty your MB so now you only have to pay 500sp for the item material cost.
1. Decide what you would like to craft and pay for the materials. With either sp or MB.
2. Find out the DC for the craft check according to the normal rule set. Then subtract 5 to a minimum of 5. Write down that number and the original number twice. Ex: DC = 20. So write 15,20,20.
3. Categories: identify each category for the numbers.
For armor: the DCs are labeled fitting, padding, and protection.
Fitting: (DC -5) this determines how well your armor fits. (Max Dex/armor check penalty/spell fail.)[for bonuses choose one stat]
Padding: this determines the HD of the armor. (HD)
Protection: this determines the AC of the armor. (AC)
For weapons: the DCs are labeled hilt, make, damage.
Hilt: (DC -5) this determines how easy the weapon is to wield. (Attack/crit.) [for bonuses choose one stat]
Make: this determines how well the weapon holds together. (HD)
Damage: this determines how sharp a sword is or how damaging the head of a war hammer is etc. (Damage)
4. Roll your checks for each category. Place the d20 to the side or write the numbers down.
5. For each category you can allocate the numbers as you wish between each other. Ex: for DCs 15,20,20 you roll 18,17,20. You can take 3 from the 18 and add it to the 17 making your new results 15,20,20.
6. Determine weapon quality. For each DC category, add +1 (or +10 HD/-1 for crit.)to the affected stat for every 5 you beat the score by (max +3/+30HD/-3 crit). Subtract 1 (or 5HD/+1 for crit.) if you missed a DC by 1 to 5, the item is scrapped if you miss any DC by more then 5. An item with any + in any category is considered masterwork. Any item with bonuses in all categories is considered a +# item (+1 long sword). Categories that affect multiple stats (fitting/hilt) can apply one bonus for each stat per +5. Ex: you beat the hilt category DC by +10. You could get +2 to attack or +1 to attack and lower the crit by -1.
Ex: crafting a longsword.
1.Pay 66sp or MB. For item cost.
2. DC for longsword is 15, so write 10,15,15
3. hilt|make|damage
10|15|15
4. Roll 3d20 + craft skill (+4)
Rolls 14|12|22
5. Allocate:
10|15|23 that's (14-4)(12+3)(22+1)
6. Quality:
Damage category exceeds DC by +8. So for being +5 over but not +10 damage gains +1. The finished product is this:
Long sword: attack +0, HD 10, damage 1d8+1, crit 19-20x2.
