Hi,
It's probably been asked before, but I'm hoping someone will not mind helping me out.
I'm about to, finally, get Craft Magic Arms and Armor for my Dwarf Cleric of Torag (lvl5) and I have all sorts of ideas for things to make for the other party members. Our rogue is very excited about the idea of a keen rapier. Given that a lot of our party kills are due to the sneaky one getting to do (comparitively) massive damage once she has snuck up while we were providing a distraction I'm quite happy with the idea as well. However, I've just been looking at the rules and I need to clarify something: I know my level needs to be 3 times the bonus on the weapon, but does that just mean the plus, or does it mean the total bonus? To put it another way, can my 5th level Cleric make a Keen rapier +1? (I know I'll be taking two lots of the +5 difficulty for not meeting the level and spell requirements, but I am prepared for that eventuality.)
Thanks in advance to anyone who can clarify this for me.
I had the sinking feeling that someone would say that...
Thanks for confirming (even if it does confirm my fears)
To enchant a Masterwork Rapier into a +1 Rapier requires a DC 8 check if you have the Craft Arms & Armor feat and are at least caster level 3 (which you would normally have to be to 5th to take the feat). To add Keen requires a DC 15 check if you have Keen Edge or a DC 20 check if you do not have Keen Edge.
If you are going to just craft a +1 Keen Rapier, then you can really ignore the first check and just make the DC 15 or DC 20 check.
The 3x only applies to the enhancement bonus of the weapon or armor and not the special ability. Each special ability has a caster level associated with it, caster level 10 for Keen. Just apply the highest caster level when combining the various bonuses or abilities.
Yes, provided your Spellcraft or Craft (Weapons) is high enough, you should be able to craft them. Do not forget that you can take 10 on the check and if you use the Craft skills (not Spellcraft), then you can also use Crafter's Fortune for a +5 luck bonus (sorry just noticed you were a cleric) and masterwork crafting tools for an additional +2 circumstance bonus. With all of that, anyone should be able to make a descent craft check.
Good luck!
Total Bonus is the answer. So 6th level for a +1 flaming short sword which is equivilant to a +2 weapon, or in your case, a +1 keen rapier.
Sorry, but that is not really correct.
PRD:
"Caster Level for Weapons: The caster level of a weapon with a special ability is given in the item description. For an item with only an enhancement bonus and no other abilities, the caster level is three times the enhancement bonus. If an item has both an enhancement bonus and a special ability, the higher of the two caster level requirements must be met."
The higher of the two caster levels is the one you use. Besides, if you add +5 then you could ignore the caster level 6 requirement for a +2 Rapier anyway. If you were a 6th level cleric then a +2 Rapier (not a +1 Keen Rapier) would be a DC 11 check. As a 5th level caster, it is a DC 16 check. Hopefully you could get there, but that is not what you were asking about in your original post.
Edit: As Cornellius corrected himself, I also retract my correction, except for the explanation which is still true. Thanks!!
Hrm... interesting question\thought: Is the "3 times the enhancement bonus" a prerequisite\requirement? And if so, can it be bypassed through the standard "add an additional +5 to the DC"?
Yes, the only requirement for most items that cannot be overcome by increasing the craft DC by +5 is the actual feat itself. Except for Potions, scrolls, and wands where the spell requirement must be fulfilled. However, this requirement may be fulfilled by someone or some item besides the crafter depending on how you read two sections of the rules on crafting magic items.
I and the party rogue will now do the happy dance...
Thank you for the advice everyone.
Hendelbolaf, I will be talking quite a lot to the team Sorceror about their future spell selection. Still can't understand why the Cats Grace buff spell is availabel to everyone but clerics...
Don't forget about Fox's Cunning also not being on the cleric list!