A new & specific question (hopefully!) about crafting inferior ioun stones

[itsneverfutile]

I have done a decent amount of searching and I cannot seem to find an answer to my exact ioun stone question. I would appreciate that any answers offer direct rules citations if possible, but I think it's not possible, having researched for quite a bit before finally posting this out of frustration.

Here it is:

There are a number of inferior ioun stones which are pretty useful to the low-level adventurer. If a character wants to craft one of them (let's take the Incandescent Blue Sphere ioun stone, cracked as an example)

Incandescent Blue Sphere

...then what are the new stats for the crafting? From the stat block, it would appear that everything stays the same (CL, Prerequisites, Aura, etc) except for the price, which becomes less. Most of this makes sense.

-- Same aura due to being the same family of magical effects
-- Same CL due to the magical powers necessary to evoke those effects
-- Different price due to the fact that the effects are usually of a lesser magnitude.

But should the prerequisite of "creator must be 12th level" really exist for an item that only gives +1 competence bonus on one Wisdom-based skill? The full ioun stone gives a +2 slotless enhancement bonus to wisdom (a much more significant magical effect). By the time a character is level 12, they have much more important things they should be focusing on crafting over such a small bonus item.

Am I missing something? Every single ioun stone has the exact same prerequisite. Did the creators simply not want the ioun stones being crafted by low-level adventurers?

I'll *gladly* accept homebrew rules if you can also back them up with why you chose to do so! Please help me understand!

[Drahliana Moonrunner]

itsneverfutile wrote:

Did the creators simply not want the ioun stones being crafted by low-level adventurers?

More than likely the idea is that the inferior stones aren't crafted that way, but represent once normal stones that had suffered adversity.

But yes, I do believe that the intention is not to let low level characters create them.

Home GMs of course, can rule differently.

[GM Rednal]

Note that the prerequisite can be bypassed, like other prerequisites, by increasing the DC to make the item. So it's possible for a low-level adventurer to make it, it's just harder.

(I'm relatively sure that only feat requirements can't be bypassed that way. XD)

[itsneverfutile]

GM Rednal wrote:

Note that the prerequisite can be bypassed, like other prerequisites, by increasing the DC to make the item. So it's possible for a low-level adventurer to make it, it's just harder.

(I'm relatively sure that only feat requirements can't be bypassed that way. XD)

Oh. My. Goodness.

I have been SO focused on that line in the rules usually meaning spell requirements to me that I never even thought about it for the level requirement!!!

Is this how the rest of you would read that as well? Emphasis mine.

From D20pfsrd wrote:

Note that all items have prerequisites in their descriptions. These prerequisites must be met for the item to be created. Most of the time, they take the form of spells that must be known by the item's creator (although access through another magic item or spellcaster is allowed). The DC to create a magic item increases by 5 for each prerequisite the caster does not meet. The only exception to this is the requisite item creation feat, which is mandatory. In addition, you cannot create potions, spell-trigger, or spell-completion magic items without meeting its prerequisites.

[Daw]

When did it change that the creation of ioun stones is no longer a lost art?

It was one of those Pathfinder sneaks, wasn't it.

[GM Rednal]

It says "the only exception", so it means "the only exception". Note that a bit earlier, it says most of the time, prerequisites are spells. This means not all of the time. XD Looks to me like you're in the clear.

[Dr Styx]

itsneverfutile wrote:

-- Different price due to the fact that the effects are usually of a lesser magnitude.

Skill bonus squared X 100gp for mat cost (1/2 market cost)

1 X 1 X 100gp = 100gp mat cost (200gp market cost)

Right out of creation pricing

[Drahliana Moonrunner]

I wouldn't allow the crafting at all since it makes as much sense as asking... Can I craft a broken magic item?

[Prof. Löwenzahn]

Na, it's a little different...

Ioun stones are some diamonds or other valuable stones that are enchanted for magical effects. Why not go to the market, buy a less expensive cracked diamond (since money purse is almost empty) and enchant it via craft wondrous item?

I think the high difference in cost can be explained with the high value of the mundane component (and thus the high prize difference), whereas a broken longsword is only some few gold coins cheaoer than a regular.

[taks]

Unless a caster level is listed in requirements line, it is only a recommendation. The relevant FAQ entry is here.

Examples of a caster level requirement are weapon/armor enhancements, e.g., flaming requires CL 10 even though a cleric caster level of 9 is all that is required to cast flame strike (7 for druid). Constructs, I believe, also have specific requirements.

Generally speaking, this means you can set the caster level to anything as long as it is sufficient to cast the spells.

[GM Rednal]

In the case of these Ioun Stones, it's actually in the requirements line. ^^

[taks]

Yeah, I'm not surprised. I tried to check but the d20pfsrd website is blocked from here so I couldn't.