D&D 5E (2024) +3 Vicious Weapon/Flametongue?

[NotAYakk]

It not having a duration completely changes the item - its value and how it's used.

It also creates strange "lore" questions. Why create this item, and not say, use it immediately to have the desired +3 weapon?

Assuming that magic items are made in factories with a standard cost per tier is a very modern thing.

Maybe you only know how to make oil of sharpness. Maybe the oil has to be made, then left in a flask for 100 years to finish. Then you can apply it to make a magic weapon. Maybe it becomes +1 at 100 years, +2 at 500 years and +3 at 2500 years, and you found an ancient vial someone stashed away and then their civilization fell before it was used.

 

[Zardnaar]

Assuming that magic items are made in factories with a standard cost per tier is a very modern thing.

Maybe you only know how to make oil of sharpness. Maybe the oil has to be made, then left in a flask for 100 years to finish. Then you can apply it to make a magic weapon. Maybe it becomes +1 at 100 years, +2 at 500 years and +3 at 2500 years, and you found an ancient vial someone stashed away and then their civilization fell before it was used.

Rules are fairly clear on how to make them.

Tge downtime is kinda DM dependent.