Publication:Unearthed Arcana/Craft Points

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Craft Points

This variant is designed specifically for campaigns that don't offer a lot of "downtime" to the PCs. It unifies the rules for crafting items and creating magic items, while also replicating a character's ability to come up with just the thing he needs for a specific task in the nick of time. It glosses over the realities of such work-tool kits, alchemical reagents, laboratories, long hours of toil, and the like-to keep the game moving along at an exciting pace. After all, fighting giants, demons, and dragons is generally a lot more fun than waiting for the wizard to finish crafting a new ring of protection.

To craft an item without spending the normal labor time, a character with the appropriate item creation feat (such as Craft Masterwork Armor, Brew Potion, or Craft Staff; see below) can pay one-tenth the item's market price in craft points (minimum 1 point). He must also pay material costs equal to one-half the item's market price (this replaces the normal material cost for crafting an item). For a magic item, the character must also pay the normal experience point cost for crafting the item. Once the character declares that he is spending these craft points and gold pieces (and experience points, for a magic item), the item is automatically completed one day later (typically the next morning).

Though this makes it appear as if the item was created "instantly," the assumption is that the character has actually been working on it for a while, but only now got around to finishing it. For instance, a wizard might have been tinkering with a fighter's sword for some time, but only now has finished improving on the enhancement bonus. The system simply assumes that characters are always working on various projects in their spare time, whether between forays into the dungeon, while on the road, or even when gathered around the campfire after battling goblins. Thus, when the time comes, they simply spend the requisite gold and craft points, and the item is "finished" one day later.

To spend craft points towards the creation of an alchemical, masterwork, or magic item, you must have the requisite Craft feat (such as Craft Masterwork Armor for creating a masterwork chain shirt) or assist someone who does (see Assisting, below). Crafting nonmasterwork armor and weapons or simple items- tools, chests, saddles, and the like- doesn't require a Craft feat. Anyone who helps with the creation of such an item can contribute craft points at the normal rate.

For nonmagical items, you must make a successful Craft check to complete the item. For a masterwork item, use the DC of the item or of the masterwork component, whichever is higher. A failed check means you waste one-half of the gold pieces and craft points required for the item, but you may try again as soon as the next day if you still have enough gold pieces and craft points to complete the item. Magic items require no skill checks to complete.

You can reduce the amount of craft points required by increasing the amount of time you spend working on the item. For nonmagical items, reduce the craft point cost by 1 point for every 100 sp of work you contribute to the item's creation(see the Craft skill). For magic items, each 8-hour day spent working on the item reduces the craft point cost by 100.

Example One: A masterwork suit of full plate armor has a market price of 1650 gp. A character with the Craft Armor feat could pay one-third of this price and make daily or weekly Craft (armorsmith) checks to slowly complete the suit of armor, or he could pay one-half of this price and spend 165 craft points to complete it one day later with a successful DC 20 Craft check. (A failed check at this point would cost him 412 gp and 82 craft points.) Alternatively, he could spend some days or weeks working on the item (making regular Craft checks), then finish it quickly by spending craft points equal to 165 minus 1 per 100 sp of work he has already completed.

Example Two: A +2 longsword has a market price of 8,000 gp (not including the material cost of the masterwork longsword itself). Assuming you had the Craft Magic Arms and Armor feat (and didn't have to make the masterwork longsword from scratch), you could either spend 8 days of time to craft the item, or you could spend 800 craft points to finish it "instantly." (In either case, you have to spend 4,000 gp in addition to the time or craft points.) If you wanted, you could save 200 craft points by spending two 8-hour days working on the item.

Table 3-5: Sample Crafted Items

Item	Market Price	Craft Cost
Arrows, 100 1	10 gp	5gp, 1 craft
Acid	10 gp	5 gp, 1 craft
Chainmail 1	20 gp	10 gp, 2 craft
Lock, simple 1	20 gp	10 gp, 2 craft
Scroll of cure light wounds	25 gp	12.5 gp, 1 XP, 2 craft
Greatsword 1	50 gp	25 gp, 5 craft
Masterwork chainmail	170 gp	85 gp, 17 craft
Potion of cure moderate wounds	300 gp	150 gp, 6 XP, 30 craft
Masterwork greatsword	350 gp	175 gp, 35 craft
+1 chainmail 2	1000 gp	500 gp, 40 XP, 100 craft
Ring of Protection +1	2000 gp	1000 gp, 80 XP, 200 craft
+1 greatsword 2	2000 gp	1000 gp, 80 XP, 200 craft
Wand of fireball	11250 gp	5625 gp, 450 XP, 1125 craft
Gloves of Dexterity +4	16000 gp	8000 gp, 640 XP, 1600 craft
+5 chainmail 2	25000 gp	12500 gp, 1000 XP, 2500 craft
+5 greatsword2	50000 gp	25000 gp, 2000 XP, 5000 craft
Robe of the Archmagi	75000 gp	37500 gp, 3000 XP, 7500 craft
Tome of Understanding +5	137500 gp	68750 gp, 5500 XP, 13750 craft
Staff of Power	200000 gp	100000 gp, 8000 XP, 20000 craft
1 Does not require a Craft feat. 2 The market prices and craft costs for these items assume that you already have the masterwork item to be enhanced.

Assisting

In addition to the primary crafter- who must have the appropriate Craft feat- up to three assistants can contribute craft points to the creation of the item.

Assistants who have the appropriate Craft feat contribute craft points at full normal value. For untrained assistants (those who don't have the appropriate Craft feat), each craft point contributed counts as 1/2 point of assistance.

The primary creator must contribute at least half of the craft points required to create an item.

It doesn't matter who contributes the gold piece cost that goes towards creating the item. Only the primary creator can contribute experience points towards the creation of a magic item.

For example, a fighter has 1,000 gp and a masterwork sword, and wants to help the wizard imbue the sword with a +1 enhancement bonus (turning it into a +1 longsword). This task would normally cost 200 craft points. The wizard must supply at least half of this, or 100. The fighter doesn't have Craft Magic Arms and Armor, so he must spend twice as many craft points to achieve the same contribution. Assuming he's the only assistant, he could contribute up to half the effort required to achieve the goal (100 craft points). Since his craft points only count for half value, he has to spend 200 craft points to contribute 100 points worth of value. When those 200 points are added to the wizard's contribution, the gold spent on materials, and the masterwork longsword, the process is complete.

If the rogue (also untrained) assisted the wizard as well, the two assistants combined could still contribute no more than the equivalent of 100 craft points (half the total craft point cost). However, each would have to spend only 100 craft points (50 points of value each) to achieve this goal.

Gaining Craft Points

A 1st-level character has 100 craft points. With each class level gained, he gains a number of craft points equal to his new level x 100. A 2nd-level character can have as many as 300 craft points, and so forth, all the way up to a 20th-level character, who would have a total of 21,000 craft points (assuming he never spent any).

Creatures with Intelligence of 3 or higher have craft points as a character whose level equals their class levels + Hit Dice. A creature with 8HD, for instance, has the craft of an 8th-level character. If that creature gained a class level, it would gain an additional 900 craft points. Of course, not all creatures can use their craft points- despite being at least reasonably intelligent, a griffon or pegasus is unlikely to be in a position to craft an item or assist another character in crafting an item. The DM must use his best judgement when determining whether a creature can use its craft points.

Creatures with Intelligence of 2 or lower (or without an Intelligence score) never gain craft points.

Familiars or special mounts never gain craft points, regardless of their Intelligence or Hit Dice.

Table 3-6: Craft Points Gained by Level

Character Level	Craft Points Gained	Total Craft Points 1
1st	100	100
2nd	200	300
3rd	300	600
4th	400	1000
5th	500	1500
6th	600	2100
7th	700	2800
8th	800	3600
9th	900	4500
10th	1000	5500
11th	1100	6600
12th	1200	7800
13th	1300	9100
14th	1400	10500
15th	1500	12000
16th	1600	13600
17th	1700	15300
18th	1800	17100
19th	1900	19000
20th	2000	21000
1 Subtract any craft points already spent from this total, and add any craft points gained from feats.

Item Creation Feats

Each time you gain an item creation feat, you gain additional craft points as noted on Table 3-7: Item Creation Feats. You don't have to spend these craft points on items appropriate to the feat- you can spend them on any item. For example, Craft Masterwork Weapon grants a bonus of 100 craft points, which you can use to craft weapons, armor, potions, or any other item.

In addition to the item creation feats found in the d20 system, this variant includes a number of feats dedicated to the creation of nonmagic items. Table 3-7 gives appropriate new prerequisites for all item creation feats, including those in the d20 system.

Table 3-7: Item Creation Feats

Feat	Prerequisites	Craft Points Gained
Brew Potion	Caster level 3rd	1500
Craft Alchemical Item	Craft (alchemy) 4 ranks	100
Craft Magic Arms and Armor	Caster level 5th	2500
Craft Masterwork Armor	Craft (armorsmith) 6 ranks	100
Craft Masterwork Ranged Weapon	Craft (bowyer) 6 ranks	1500
Craft Masterwork Weapon	Craft (weaponsmith) 6 ranks	100
Craft Rod	Caster level 9th	4500
Craft Staff	Caster level 12th	6000
Craft Wand	Caster level 5th	2500
Craft Wondrous Item	Caster Level 3rd	1500
Forge Ring	Caster Level 12th	6000
Scribe Scroll	Caster level 1st	500
Talented Crafter	Any other item creation feat	500

Craft Alchemical Item [Item Creation] You are capable of creating alchemical items and substances.Prerequisites: Craft (alchemy) 4 ranks.Benefit: You gain 100 craft points. You may use craft points to create alchemical items or substances, such as acid or tanglefoot bags.

You may spend your craft points to create alchemical items or substances at a rate of 1 craft point per 10 gp of market value of the finished item (minimum 1), even without spending the requisite creation time at work on the item. Normal: Characters without this feat cannot craft alchemical items.Special: If you take the requisite creation time at work on the item, you spend only 1 craft point per 50 gp of market value of the finished item (minimum 1).

This feat replaces the requirement of being a spellcaster in order to craft alchemical items as listed in the Craft skill.

Craft Masterwork Armor [Item Creation] You are trained in the creation of fine armor and shieldsPrerequisites: Craft (armorsmithing) 6 ranks.Benefit: You gain 100 craft points. You may use craft points to create masterwork armor or shields.

You may spend your craft points to build masterwork armor or shields at a rate of 1 craft point per 10 gp of market value of the finished item (minimum 1), even without spending the requisite creation time at work on the item. Normal: Characters without this feat can only craft nonmasterwork armor and shields.Special: If you take the requisite creation time at work on the item, you spend only 1 craft point per 50 gp of market value of the finished item (minimum 1).

Craft Masterwork Ranged Weapon [Item Creation] You are trained in the creation of fine ranged weapons and ammunition, such as bows, crossbows and arrow.Prerequisites: Craft (weaponsmithing) 6 ranks.Benefit: You gain 100 craft points. You may use craft points to create masterwork ranged weapons or masterwork ammunition.

You may spend your craft points to build masterwork armor or shields at a rate of 1 craft point per 10 gp of market value of the finished item, even without taking the requisite creation time at work on the item. Normal: Characters without this feat can only craft nonmasterwork ranged weapons.

Craft Masterwork Weapon [Item Creation] You are trained in the creation of fine melee and thrown weapons, such as swords, maces, daggers, and shortspears.Prerequisites: Craft (weaponsmithing) 6 ranks.Benefit: You gain 100 craft points. You may use craft points to create masterwork melee or thrown weapon.

You may spend your craft points to build masterwork armor or shields at a rate of 1 craft point per 10 gp of market value of the finished item, even without taking the requisite creation time at work on the item. Normal: Characters without this feat can only craft nonmasterwork ranged weapons.

Talented Crafter [General] You have an extraordinary talent for item creation.Prerequisites: Any item creation feat.Benefit: You gain 500 craft points, which may be used to craft items of any kind. Special: You may select this feat multiple times. Each time you select it, you gain an additional 500 craft points.

A wizard may select this feat as one of her bonus feats gained at every fifth level.

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