Alright, if I have a Bonded Item - say, a weapon - then I can enchant it (and only it) as if I had the feat Craft Magic Arms and Armor for the same costs as someone with that feat, i.e. half of what would be considered its normal purchase price).
Do I need ranks in Spellcraft?
Do I need ranks in Craft: Weapons?
Now as I understand it, that applies to enhancement bonuses - what if I wanted to give the item special abilities? For instance, if I wanted to grant the item the Bane ability, would I need to know how to cast Summon Monster I?
I'm asking specifically in reference to spontaneous casters like Bards or Sorcerers who gain a Bonded Item through means other than Wizard levels.
Thanks in advance.
Everything that applies to normal crafting would apply in this instance.
So you would need to use Spellcraft or Craft (weapons) to be able to attempt to make the DC of the item. That also means that you could add other non-enhancement bonuses after you get that first enhancement bonus added to it.
As for what spells or requirements that you would need, you can provide them, have someone provide them, or increase the craft DC by 5 to compensate for each requirement not met. Just like standard crafting rules.
You're putting a bit too much thought into this.
A wizard can add additional magic abilities to his bonded object as if he has the required Item Creation Feats and if he meets the level prerequisites of the feat. For example, a wizard with a bonded dagger must be at least 5th level to add magic abilities to the dagger.
All it really gives you is the ability to enchant as if you had the appropriate feat. You have to follow all other craft magic item rules and requirements. You need to make the spellcraft checks, take the time to perform the crafting, and either have the spell or add to the DC in order to avoid it (per crafting rules). You can add enhancement bonuses or special abilities (though it must be at least a +1 weapon to have any special ability). And so on.
It only acts as a free feat in regards to your bonded item's type and only applicable to your bonded item.
Everything that applies to normal crafting would apply in this instance.
So you would need to use Spellcraft or Craft (weapons) to be able to attempt to make the DC of the item. That also means that you could add other non-enhancement bonuses after you get that first enhancement bonus added to it.
As for what spells or requirements that you would need, you can provide them, have someone provide them, or increase the craft DC by 5 to compensate for each requirement not met. Just like standard crafting rules.
So Spellcraft or Craft: Weapon, not both?
I'm also a little confused regarding the caster level requirement. Let's say that I have a +1 weapon as a Bonded Item and I want to add the Holy Weapon quality to it, what level would I need to be? And then later, I decide to add another +1 enhancement to it, what level would I need to be then?
Again, thanks in advance - this is a bit more complicated than I realized.
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Yes, Spellcraft or Craft (weapon), not both! Which ever one is better for you is the one that I would use. Spellcraft just applies to all crafting of magic items so it is the best bang for your buck if you are going to load up on skill points. Of course, I have dwarven characters who use the craft skill as it seems more appropriate.
The caster level to craft a +1 weapon is 3rd. So normally it would be DC 8 (CL 3 + 5). If for some reason you were not 3rd level but were able to craft (such as with a bonded item), then you can add 5 to the DC and skip the requirement so it would be DC 13 (CL 3 + 5 + 5 for requirement).
To make a +1 weapon Holy it would be DC 12 (CL 7 + 5) if the crafter was good and had Holy Smite. If you were good but did not have Holy Smite, then you could add 5 to the DC to make it DC 17 and skip that requirement, etc.
You do NOT have to be the caster level mentioned in the item or ability description. That just sets the DC. The only times that caster level becomes a requirement is if it is listed under requirements like for weapon enhancement bonus, bracers of armor, etc.
In your example you could be 3rd level and make a +1 weapon with no problem, just a DC 8 check, plus time and money. You could add Holy to the +1 weapon with no problem, just a DC 12 check, plus time and money. You could even later add an additional +1 later, but if you are not 6th level or higher, then you would have to add 5 to the DC to skip the requirement and so it would be either a DC 11 for a 6th or higher level caster or a DC 16 for a 5th or lower caster.
I hope I did not confuse things or make them too complicated. Once you get a hang of it, it is becomes very simple to understand. Feel free to ask more questions or give more information on what you are trying to do and what type of character this is.
I hope I did not confuse things or make them too complicated. Once you get a hang of it, it is becomes very simple to understand. Feel free to ask more questions or give more information on what you are trying to do and what type of character this is.
I'm not really looking for a specific scenario (we have a Dervish of Dawn bard who took Arcane Bond via Eldritch Heritage feats and they're going to want to try and enchant their weapon, but...), what I'm really trying to nail down is the formula regarding caster level and what he's trying to do. How about this - show me the formula for:
Making a masterwork weapon +1:
Making a +1 weapon a +1 Holy weapon:
Making a +1 Holy weapon a +2 Holy weapon:
If I can lock that down, I should be able to extrapolate whatever I end up needing to know.
I'm not really looking for a specific scenario (we have a Dervish of Dawn bard who took Arcane Bond via Eldritch Heritage feats and they're going to want to try and enchant their weapon, but...), what I'm really trying to nail down is the formula regarding caster level and what he's trying to do. How about this - show me the formula for:
Making a masterwork weapon +1:
Making a +1 weapon a +1 Holy weapon:
Making a +1 Holy weapon a +2 Holy weapon:
If I can lock that down, I should be able to extrapolate whatever I end up needing to know.
Sure, no problem! Just remember that the base craft DC equals the item or ability's caster level plus five. Also, the caster level for enhancement bonuses to weapons and armor is three times the enhancement bonus.
Making a masterwork weapon +1: Caster Level 3 so DC is 8 (CL 3 + Base 5) if the caster level is 3 or higher. DC is 13 (CL 3 + Base 5 + Skip Requirement 5) if caster level is 2nd or lower.
Making a +1 weapon a +1 Holy weapon: Caster Level 7 (see Holy under weapon abilities) so DC is 12 (CL 7 + Base 5) if alignment is good and have access to Holy Smite. DC is 17 (CL 7 + Base 5 + Skip Requirement 5) if one of the two requirements is not met or DC is 22 (CL 7 + Base 5 + Skip Requirement 5 + Skip Requirement 5) if neither requirement is met.
Making a +1 Holy weapon a +2 Holy weapon: Caster Level 6 so DC is 11 (CL 6 + Base 5) if the caster level is 6 or higher. DC is 16 (CL 6 + Base 5 + Skip Requirement 5) if caster level is 5th or lower.
I hope that helps!
I'm not really looking for a specific scenario (we have a Dervish of Dawn bard who took Arcane Bond via Eldritch Heritage feats and they're going to want to try and enchant their weapon, but...), what I'm really trying to nail down is the formula regarding caster level and what he's trying to do. How about this - show me the formula for:
Making a masterwork weapon +1:
Making a +1 weapon a +1 Holy weapon:
Making a +1 Holy weapon a +2 Holy weapon:
If I can lock that down, I should be able to extrapolate whatever I end up needing to know.
Sure, no problem! Just remember that the base craft DC equals the item or ability's caster level plus five. Also, the caster level for enhancement bonuses to weapons and armor is three times the enhancement bonus.
Making a masterwork weapon +1: Caster Level 3 so DC is 8 (CL 3 + Base 5) if the caster level is 3 or higher. DC is 13 (CL 3 + Base 5 + Skip Requirement 5) if caster level is 2nd or lower.
Making a +1 weapon a +1 Holy weapon: Caster Level 7 (see Holy under weapon abilities) so DC is 12 (CL 7 + Base 5) if alignment is good and have access to Holy Smite. DC is 17 (CL 7 + Base 5 + Skip Requirement 5) if one of the two requirements is not met or DC is 22 (CL 7 + Base 5 + Skip Requirement 5 + Skip Requirement 5) if neither requirement is met.
Making a +1 Holy weapon a +2 Holy weapon: Caster Level 6 so DC is 11 (CL 6 + Base 5) if the caster level is 6 or higher. DC is 16 (CL 6 + Base 5 + Skip Requirement 5) if caster level is 5th or lower.
I hope that helps!
Almost - its not the DC's I'm trying to determine, its the CL formula.
I get that to make a weapon +1 its the enhancement bonus (1) x 3, so CL 3.
To make a +1 weapon a Holy Weapon, is it the enhancement bonus of the Holy enhancement (+2), the existing enhancement bonus (+1), or the equivalent enhancement bonus of both combined (+3) that you multiply x3?
If for some reason you were not 3rd level but were able to craft (such as with a bonded item),Nope. You still have to meet the level requirement for the Item Creation feat.
Therefore, to enchant a weapon, you need to be 5th level.
I have never used it this way so I did not look up the Arcane Bond feature, but you are correct as it says a "wizard can add additional magic abilities to his bonded object as if he has the required item creation feats and if he meets the level prerequisites of the feat." So you would have to be at least a 5th level caster to be able to access the feat even though in this case you do not need to actually have the feat.
Almost - its not the DC's I'm trying to determine, its the CL formula.
I get that to make a weapon +1 its the enhancement bonus (1) x 3, so CL 3.
To make a +1 weapon a Holy Weapon, is it the enhancement bonus of the Holy enhancement (+2), the existing enhancement bonus (+1), or the equivalent enhancement bonus of both combined (+3) that you multiply x3?
It is under the ability description:
Holy: A holy weapon is imbued with holy power. This power makes the weapon good-aligned and thus bypasses the corresponding damage reduction. It deals an extra 2d6 points of damage against all creatures of evil alignment. It bestows one permanent negative level on any evil creature attempting to wield it. The negative level remains as long as the weapon is in hand and disappears when the weapon is no longer wielded. This negative level cannot be overcome in any way (including by restoration spells) while the weapon is wielded.
Moderate evocation [good]; CL 7th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, holy smite, creator must be good; Price +2 bonus.
So, the caster level is 7 and the formula is caster level plus five. The caster level of 3 to get a +1 weapon does not come into play here at all. Just think of each adjustment as it's own small piece of crafting. The earlier bonuses only add to it to tell you what the total "plus" bonus of the weapon is with enhancement bonuses plus special ability bonuses added together.
Actually, the Caster-level listed under "Holy" is just an example for discovered treasure. The developers have told us that we can use the minimum level for any spell requirements as the minimum CL. In this case, it is still 7th.
I don't think that is correct. If it is, could you please link to the developer's post.
I'm so confused...
FWIW, I'm not specifically interested in the 'Holy' special ability, I simply used it as an example because it has a '+2' enhancement equivalency.
Craft DC = Caster Level plus 5
The Caster Level can be found in the description of each item (unless Brf can link us to something that says otherwise) or special ability.
Adjustments to DC formula:
Skip a requirement +5 per requirement not met
Speed up crafting time to 2000gp/day +5
There may be more but those are the main ones.
Here we go. it is in the FAQ under Pearl of Power:
I see what you are talking about but that is pretty specific to the Pearl of Power as it is an item that crosses a lot of spell levels and hence a lot of caster levels.
I still read the caster level in the description as the targeted caster level for crafting. Like it is mentioned in the FAQ, the caster level is not normally in the requirements so a lower level caster can craft it without adding anything to the DC to craft. A few items do list caster level in the requirements so those items would need you to be that level or higher or add the +5 for not meeting a requirement.
That is how I understand the rules to read even with that particular FAQ.