can a Simulacrum craft for you?

[RUMBLETiGER]

the Simulacrum spell creates a partially illusion, part snow, who-knows-what type creature that is a duplicate of the material component contributor of the spell. It has half the HD, "and [half] the appropriate hit points, feats, skill ranks, and special abilities for a creature of that level or HD". this copy is under your absolute command.

So, if you make a Simulacrum of yourself, can it craft for you, mundanely or magically? Can it Craft Wondrous items, Magic Arms and Armor, scribe scrolls, etc. for you, if you provide the appropriate spells at the appropriate times? Heck, if half of your level can cast the spells, can it cast the spells itself?

Since crafting takes up so much time, would the use of this spell cut down your personal involvement, and therefore free you up to do other things while your copy does most of the work for you?

 

[domino]

Mundanely craft stuff, sure why not? Won't be as good as if you did it yourself, with half the relevant skill bonus, but looks like it.

Crafting wondrous items, magic arms, scrolls, etc... however, I don't think so. Those require XP and the simulacrum doesn't seem to have any.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Reading up on DMG Creating Magic Items, it appears that spells can be provided by another. It also says that xp and gold cost are paid at the beginning. Such a thing can be walked away from, but nothing else can be started.
Nothing about allowing someone else to do it for you.
Anything about that crafting Homunculus or any other rules for allowing someone else to participate in crafting of magical items?

 

[Greenfield]

I always thought it was funny that a Wizard could scribe a scroll for a spell that he didn't know.

But I'd have to agree that it isn't a real living thing, and has no Exp to infuse into a magic item.

Which brings up the interesting point of having it cast spells that require Exp. Can a Simulacrum of a high level Druid Awaken a plant or animal?

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

I always thought it was funny that a Wizard could scribe a scroll for a spell that he didn't know.

But I'd have to agree that it isn't a real living thing, and has no Exp to infuse into a magic item.

Which brings up the interesting point of having it cast spells that require Exp. Can a Simulacrum of a high level Druid Awaken a plant or animal?

I'd assume it couldn't cast xp spells. But it can cast all other sorts of spells.

Imagine making a collection of former heroes, granted at half power, after raiding a few tombs. Or copies of your party members for your own personal use. This spell can be used in many, many ways.

Sigh, just not for reducing the amount of time it takes to Craft Wondrous Items.

 

[the Jester]

Oh man, this totally reminds me of multi-empowered simulacra in 3.0.

Done right, they come out more powerful than the caster.

 

[Jack Simth]

I always thought it was funny that a Wizard could scribe a scroll for a spell that he didn't know.
[/url]They can't.

The creator must have prepared the spell to be scribed (or must know the spell, in the case of a sorcerer or bard)

But I'd have to agree that it isn't a real living thing, and has no Exp to infuse into a magic item.

That's debatable (1/2 your level when you're at an odd level puts the Simulacrum halfway between two levels - and hence, with half a level's worth of loose XP for crafting - although this is not a rock-solid interpretation).

Even without such things, though, the Book of Exalted Deeds and the Book of Vile Darkness have ways around that, if it's the only objection.

With the Book of Vile Darkness, it's a combination of the Liquid Pain (Sor/Wiz 4, Pain-4) spell, and the Eternity of Torture spell (Pain-9). Put a living subject under Eternity of Torture (or just use regular torture... but for that, you'll regularly need replacement subjects...), then regularly use Liquid Pain to harvest the pain... at 3 xp/day. So your Cleric-17 (or a 17 who's gotten domain access by some means... there's lots) with the Pain domain casts Eternity of Torture on some poor schmuck, uses Liquid Pain repeatedly for about a year (334 days), uses the XP to Miracle up a Simulacrum (or made normally), then has the Simulacrum take over harvesting duties while the main caster puts another sacrificial victim into an Eternity of Torture, and begins harvesting that one; 167 days later, another Simulacrum (paid for with Liquid Pain), and you've got one Simulacrum using Liquid Pain to feed the other XP for crafting. All it takes is about a year and a half, two victims, and about 1600 gp in material components to get it going.

With the Book of Exalted Deeds, it's Distilled Joy (Sor/Wiz 3, Joy 3) and just mundane pleasures, repeatedly applied to reasonably willing subjects ... at 2 xp/day. Otherwise, you basically just do the same thing as with the pain variant. Takes longer, though.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Oh man, this totally reminds me of multi-empowered simulacra in 3.0.

Done right, they come out more powerful than the caster.

Heh, Metamagic Feats applied to Simulacrum spell? Awesome, I'll go do some math in a little while.

 

[the Jester]

Heh, Metamagic Feats applied to Simulacrum spell? Awesome, I'll go do some math in a little while.

It only works in 3.0, but this became a MAJOR plot element in my 3e game.

 

[Jack Simth]

Heh, Metamagic Feats applied to Simulacrum spell? Awesome, I'll go do some math in a little while.

Only in 3.0.

In 3.5, As a Shadow spell, it's potentially enhanced by the Plane of Shadow, and a couple of feats common amongst Shadow Caster builds..... of course, it's not expressed as being a % real, merely half....