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I was looking into gem values and while I generally like the gem rules in ultimate equipment there are a few things I'd like to nab for DnD and I'm wondering does this seem reasonable or is it potentially broken?
Gem Cutting rules from ultimate equipment.
1) Roll on the appropriate chart (Ultimate Equipment Guide or UEG p.g. 388).
2) Roll added value and add to base value to determine total value.
3) Odd rolls are unworked and 1/2 value.
4) Even rolls are worked gems and can't be improved.
5) Unworked gems can be turned into worked ones with a craft jewelry check, gem counts as raw material.
E.g. a roll on least semi-precious stones gets a 11 so its an uworked piece of Alabaster .5 X (Base Value + 2d4) or .5 x (5 + 4) or 4.5 GP worth piece of Alabaster you can work to improve its value to 9 GP.
Now here's my adapted house rules.
1) If you fail a check by 5 or more you damage the stone reducing its value as follows.
Step 1 one added value die is reduced to the minimum result starting at the highest result.
Step 2 if all added value die are reduced to minimum values you subtract 1 added die.
Step 3 if all added value die are gone you split the stone resulting in 2 gems each worth 1/2 base value.
Step 4 an already split stone shatters leaving you with shards and dust worth 1/4 base value that can't be further worked.
2) You can attempt a masterwork stone by making a second seperate DC check equal to the base check and adding the base value a second time to determine additional crafting time. Any failed result means a gem can't be masterworked. This masterwork component can be selected from 2 options.
Option 1 is an exceptionally brilliant or popular cut and doubles the gems base value.
Option 2 produces a gem worth base value and powder worth the added value.
So to use the above Alabaster it is worth 5 + 2d4 and we rolled 2 two's giving us a total value of 9. However its unworked so currently only worth 4.5 GP and we want to craft it into a worked gem (DC 10) to increase its value.
Our character however just keeps failing their rolls with the following results . . .
Failure by 11
The stone is damaged so we reduce one added value result to mininum as they are both 2 it doesn't matter which if one were 2 and the other 3 we'd reduce the 3 to 1. The alabaster is now only worth 8 GP worked or 4 GP unworked.
Failure by 5
More damage to the stone and we reduce the other added dice. It is now worth 7 GP worked and 3.5 GP unworked.
Failure by 9
Even more damage to the stone we now start reducing the added dice number. So the Alabaster is now worth 5 + 1 or 6 GP worked and 3 GP unworked.
Failure by 6
Our character is sweating and gazing tearfully at the mess they made of the stone which now worth only the base price of 5GP worked and 2.5 Unworked they've cost themselves a huge amount of money but they don't give up.
Failure by 8.
Another failure and this time they split the stone leaving them with 2 pieces of Alabaster each worth 2.5 GP worked or 1.25 GP unworked.
Failure by 12
They've now completely shattered one of the gems leaving them with 1 large piece of Alabaster worth 2.5 GP worked and a bunch of shard that are only worth 1.25 GP and can't be worked further.
Failure by 9
They shatter the other gem leaving them with just a pile of unworkable alabaster shards worth only 2.5 GP
Alternatively the character is easily able to meet the DC 10 for Alabaster and decides to masterwork it.
Success by 5
They succeed in working the stone so they now have a piece of worked Alabaster worth 9 GP.
Success by 11
They also succeed in making a masterwork cut and can choose to either increase the gems base value to the next step or to make a bunch of powder worth the added value. Since there is no use for Alabaster powder they take option 1 and now have a piece of Alabaster worth 14 GP, 9 GP base item and 5 GP masterworking. So then you tally crafting time.
15 x 10 = 150/90 = 1.6. They have succeeded in meeting the base price but not doubled it so they spend 1 week for the base cutting.
21 x 10 = 210/50 = 4.2. They have gotten 4 times the masterwork price so they complete that component in 1/4 the time.
It takes them a total of 9 days to craft a masterwork piece of Alabaster turning their unworked gem worth 4.5 GP into a worked piece worth 14 GP.