Page 294 - Reverse Engineering a Crafting Formula

[William Viking]

Pathfinder 2e Remaster - Player Core pg 294:

If you have a formula, you can Craft a copy of it
using the Crafting skill. You can also Craft a formula by
reverse-engineering it from an item you possess. Use the
formula’s Price and the item’s Craft DC. You must meet
any requirements to Craft the item, except you don’t
need to have access to the item or meet any special Craft
Requirements listed in the item’s stat block unless the
GM determines otherwise.

"From an item you possess." then later "you don't need to have access to the item"

Which of these is correct?

[Riggler]

William Viking wrote:

Pathfinder 2e Remaster - Player Core pg 294:

If you have a formula, you can Craft a copy of (THAT FORMULA)
using the Crafting skill. You can also Craft a formula by
reverse-engineering (THAT FORMULA) from an item you possess. Use the
formula’s Price and the item’s Craft DC. You must meet
any requirements to Craft THE ITEM, except you don’t
need to have access to THE ITEM or meet any special Craft
Requirements listed in the item’s stat block unless the
GM determines otherwise.

"From an item you possess." then later "you don't need to have access to the item"

Which of these is correct?

First it's talking about crafting a COPY of a FORMULA or crafting a NEW formula that you have reversed engineered. Either way the early part of the test describes crafting a formula. The latter part of the text is about crafting the ITEM. I've edited the quoted part above.

Why would this matter? You might borrow, or temporarily be in possession of an item and want to craft a formula for that item, so that when it is no longer in your possession, you possess the formula you've crafted in order to make more without having access to the actual item.

[NorrKnekten]

In pathfinder, Having access to an item is different from being in possession to the item or having it at hand.

Access is basically "Can your character select this, craft or purchase this". This most notably is all part of the rarity system and the GMCore speaks about "having access" Here

So the text

Player Core pg 294 wrote:

You can also Craft a formula by reverse-engineering it from an item you possess. Use the formula's Price and the item's Craft DC. You must meet any requirements to Craft the item, except you don't need to have access to the item or meet any special Craft Requirements listed in the item's stat block unless the GM determines otherwise.

Litterary tells us that that if you were to get your hands onto an item you otherwise would not be able to craft. (Due to rarity or access entry). Such as the Lion's Call Then you can reverse engineer it to get the formula and thus

Player Core pg 294 wrote:

If you obtain a formula for an uncommon or rarer item, you have access to that item so you can Craft it.