I've been getting back into 2e after years of not playing (and after finding a bunch of books in storage) and just stumbled across this thread. There's something that I'd like to point out that should alleviate some of the problem with creating permanent magic items in AD&D 2nd Edition.
Here's how the
Permanency spell reads in the PHB:
"This spell affects the duration of certain other spells, making the duration permanent. The personal spells upon which a permanency is known to be effective are as follows:
comprehend languages
detect evil
detect invisibility
detect magic
infravision
protection from cantrips
protection from evil
protection from normal missiles
reed magic
tongues
unseen servant
The wizard casts the desired spell and then follows with the
permanency spell. Each
permanency spell lowers the wizard's Constitution by 1 point. The wizard cannot cast these spells upon other creatures. This application of permanency can be dispelled only by a wizard of greater level than the spellcaster was when he cast the spell.
In addition to personal use, the
permanency spell can be used to make the following object/creature or area-effect spells permanent:
enlarge
fear
gust of wind
invisibility
magic mouth
prismatic sphere
stinking cloud
wall of fire
wall of force
web
Additionally, the following spells can be cast upon objects or areas as only and rendered permanent:
alarm
audible glamour
dancing lights
solid fog
wall of fire
distant distortion
teleport
These applications to other spells allow it to be cast simultaneously with any of the Iatter when no living creature is the target, but the entire spell complex then can be dispelled normally, and thus negated.
The
permanency spell is also used in the fabrication of magical items (see the 6th level
enchant an item spell). At the DM's option,
permanency might become unsalable or fail after a long period, at least 1,000 years. Unstable effects might operate intermittently or fail altogether. The DM may allow other selected spells to be made permanent. Researching this possible application of a spell costs as much time and money as independently researching the selected spell. If the DM has already determined that the application is not possible, the research automatically fails. Note that the wizard never learns what is possible, except by the success or failure of his research."
From
enchant an item spell: "No magic placed on an item is permanent unless a permanency spell is used as a finishing touch. This always runs a 5% risk of draining 1 point of Constitution from the wizard casting the spell."
I'll admit that, at times, the books written back then weren't very clear and I think this is one of those instances. If you look at how the description is broken up, it's in parts; making personal spells permanent (i.e., spells cast on the caster themselves), making spells cast on objects/creatures or area-effect spells permanent, and creating permanent magic items.
When
permanency is cast on the caster will the caster receive a permanent -1 to CON. Additionally, when
permanency is used to create permanent magic items, there is a 5% chance the caster loses 1 CON. When
permanency is cast on creatures or areas, there is no CON penalty.
Thanks to Legatus_Legionis for the correction.