Normal grade materials verse high grade?

[Githsarrin]

Besides saying that it's a better quality metal, does it do anything for the armor or the weapon in question? The price difference between the two is crazy I don't see a benefit. Does anyone have the time to explain this to me? I know I'm missing something but any help would be appreciated, thanks

[MEATSHED]

core rulebook pg 578 wrote:

Low-grade items can be used in the creation of magic items of up to 8th level, and they can hold runes of up to 8th level. Standard-grade items can be used to create magic items of up to 15th level and can hold runes of up to 15th level. High-grade items use the purest form of the precious material, and can be used to Craft magic items of any level holding any runes. Using purer forms of common materials is so relatively inexpensive that the Price is included in any magic item.

It effects the level of the runes the item can hold/ the max level of crafted magic items. Its a little confusing to find.

[Githsarrin]

Thank you so much. :)

[Wheldrake]

The ambiguous part is that normal steel (you know that stuff your starting weapons are made of) is never specified "high" or "low" grade. So you never have to worry about special materials unless you need them for some specific reason, like penetrating resistances.

[Perpdepog]

Higher quality items also increase the weapon/armor's durability as well, for those hopefully rare instances when it becomes a factor.

If I remember rightly this is currently the only thing that higher-grade adamantine does for armor, for example, aside from granting access to better runes.

[Zapp]

Wheldrake wrote:

The ambiguous part is that normal steel (you know that stuff your starting weapons are made of) is never specified "high" or "low" grade. So you never have to worry about special materials unless you need them for some specific reason, like penetrating resistances.

Perpdepog wrote:

Higher quality items also increase the weapon/armor's durability as well, for those hopefully rare instances when it becomes a factor.

If I remember rightly this is currently the only thing that higher-grade adamantine does for armor, for example, aside from granting access to better runes.

Core Rulebook page 578:

"Using purer forms
of common materials is so relatively inexpensive that the
Price is included in any magic item."

In other words, you can absolutely consider a regular +2 longbow to have been upgraded from low-grade wood to standard-grade wood, you just handwaved the process (and any costs - in gold and as well as time).

Looking at the rules this way makes them more consistent and logical, IMHO.