Skippy rides again!

From the recent Rules of the Game article on making magic items:

Skippy the ex-Sage said:

In addition, the item's creator must have a caster level at least as high as the item's caster level (see page 215 in the Dungeon Master's Guide).

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However,

DMG Errata said:

Caster Level
Dungeon Master's Guide, page 215
Problem: The last two sentences in the section on Caster Level are ambiguous and potentially misleading.
Solution: Replace with this text: For other magic items, the caster level is determined by the creator. The minimum caster level is that which is needed to meet the prerequisites given.

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Is it really too much to ask that the person who's supposed to educate people on how the rules work take the time to actually read the rules?

How do these conflict? Both say that the caster must meet the item's minimum caster level.

Enforcer said:

How do these conflict? Both say that the caster must meet the item's minimum caster level.

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Not really.

Periapt of Wisdom: Although it appears to be a normal pearl on a light chain, a periapt of wisdom actually increases the possessor’s Wisdom score in the form of an enhancement bonus of +2, +4, or +6 (depending on the individual item).

Moderate transmutation; CL 8th; Craft Wondrous Item, owl’s wisdom.

The Rules of the Game article says that the creator must have a caster level of at least 8th.

The DMG errata says that the creator can set the caster level wherever he likes, as long as it's high enough to meet the prerequisites - 3rd level, to cast the 2nd level spell Owl's Wisdom, in this case.

So a 5th level cleric with Craft Wondrous Item can create a CL3 Periapt of Wisdom according to the DMG errata, but the RotG says he has to be at least 8th.

(We know that the 'spellcaster level 5' prerequisite of CWI does not put a minimum caster level of 5 on all wondrous items, since there are CL1 wondrous items in the DMG - Phylactery of Faithfulness, for example.)

-Hyp.

Hypersmurf said:

(We know that the 'spellcaster level 5' prerequisite of CWI does not put a minimum caster level of 5 on all wondrous items, since there are CL1 wondrous items in the DMG - Phylactery of Faithfulness, for example.)

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[Nitpick]You need to be only 3rd level spellcaster to take CWI.[/Nitpick]



But seriusly, I would really want to know which way is right and/or official. I suppose I'd go with the DMG errata rule myself though.

Enforcer said:

How do these conflict? Both say that the caster must meet the item's minimum caster level.

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They are saying two different things.

Take, for example, the weapon enhancement Icy Burst.

It has a "creation block" of:

Moderate evocation; CL 10th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, chill metal or ice storm; Price +2 bonus.

Now, if you want to make an longsword +1, you first need to have a caster level of 3 or better. Why? Because you need to make a +1 Enhancement weapon.

Now, if you wanted to make an icy burst longsword +1, you'd need to be at least 3rd caster level (for the longsword) and at least 7th caster level (to meet the prereqs of ice storm).

The Caster Level in the description is the *default* caster level - should the party find an icy burst longsword +1, it's got a CL of 10, unless you have reason to specify otherwise.

If the players, instead, *make* an icy burst longsword, it can have a CL anywhere from 7 (the minimum to meet the requirements) to the PC's own caster level.

In short, the Errata say that the CL in the creation block is the default, and is therefore not a prerequisite, while the RotG article says that the CL in the creation block is the minimum, and is therefore a prerequisite.