Each masterwork item has two components, the standard component and the masterwork component. These two components are not actually seperate from each other since there is only one item. You just have to put additional work in making an item masterwork.
If you fail to Craft the masterwork component, but succeed in Crafting the standard component, then you have a more expensive standard item.
If you fail to Craft the standard component, then you have a piece of junk.
If you fail to Craft the standard component, but succeed in Crafting the masterwork component, then you have a more expensive piece of junk.
Calling it a "component" is what confuses some people.
The process is pretty much as Queen Moragan described; the only thing not mentioned is that you can't create a standard item, use it for a while, then "add the Masterwork component" later. You must decide at the start whether you are making a standard item, or a Masterwork one.
If you choose to make a standard item, you follow the rules for that, and you are done when the standard item is completed (or fails).
If you choose to make a Masterwork item, you follow the rules for making a standard item. If that is successful, you immediately begin the process for the "Masterwork Component".. which is really just additional Craft checks (at a higher DC) to finish what you started.
Note: Pathfinder Unchained has a set of alternate rules for Crafting, including Masterwork items.
where is this Pathfinder Unchained you speak of?
Many gaming and book stores, as well as Amazon and other online retailers. Or buy a PDF from Paizo. It's one of the big hardcover books, and has a few other items like reworked barbarian, rogue, monk, and summoner classes.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
the only thing not mentioned is that you can't create a standard item, use it for a while, then "add the Masterwork component" later.
...well, except for the cleric spell that does exactly that. But that is a spell and as such it is a separate issue from crafting.
Plus it costs a bit more since you have to pay full masterwork price (rather than crafting price), and maybe you have to pay the local cleric to cast the spell (it is a level 1 spell- pretty much any barebones church should at least be able to provide that much of a spell caster that you could then pay).
where is this Pathfinder Unchained you speak of?Many gaming and book stores, as well as Amazon and other online retailers. Or buy a PDF from Paizo. It's one of the big hardcover books, and has a few other items like reworked barbarian, rogue, monk, and summoner classes.
To elaborate, Pathfinder Unchained is, as Qaianna mentioned, one of the rulebooks in the Pathfinder RPG line. It is a collection of variant rules that you can pick and choose which ones to use. Among them are modified skill rules (including alternate Crafting and Profession). There's a LOT of options in the book, not all of which can be used at the same time (some skill options, for example, are the opposite of each other and cannot be used together).
the only thing not mentioned is that you can't create a standard item, use it for a while, then "add the Masterwork component" later....well, except for the cleric spell that does exactly that. But that is a spell and as such it is a separate issue from crafting.
Plus it costs a bit more since you have to pay full masterwork price (rather than crafting price), and maybe you have to pay the local cleric to cast the spell (it is a level 1 spell- pretty much any barebones church should at least be able to provide that much of a spell caster that you could then pay).
I wasn't getting into magical modifications after the fact. :)
The spell also requires you to pay the Weapon Masterwork cost for all items, even armor (which masterwork cost is only 1/2 that of weapons, 150 gp) and tools (which is 1/3 the cost of weapons, 100 gp).
It is an interesting spell, but not really part of the Crafting process, as it happens afterward.