Crafting using exotic materials

[Space_Pirate_Arrr]

My character has craft(weaponsmithing) of 13, and wants to make an adamantine greatsword for himself. I have worked out, however, that it will take me a over a year to complete. Here's my calculations so you can tell me if I've missed or misinterpreted something.

The cost of a adamantine greatsword is 2050gp (50gp for a greatsword + 2000gp for masterwork adamantine).

My average craft check will be 23.5, vs. a DC of 15, meaning I will craft an average of 335sp (=23.5*15*0.95) per week toward the creation of the item. The 0.95 is because I will fail the craft check if I roll a one. For convenience I have ignored the fact the the masterwork component is created separately with a DC of 20 (it doesn't make a big difference).

To craft the sword will therefore take about 20500 / 335 = 61 weeks = more than a year of downtime.

If I had armorsmithing instead, and wanted to craft a suit of adamantine full plate, it would take a whopping 520 weeks = over ten years of downtime.

Obviously I'd like to vanquish my enemies before they (or I) die of old age. I am aware that there are a few things I can do to get bonuses (bonii?) on the check, but not enough to significantly affect the result. I'm sure that the DM and I could come up with a suitable houserule, but before we do I'm very keen to hear your takes on this.

Go nuts.

 

[nittanytbone]

You might want to check out the craft points variant from UA. It is in the SRD online.

Also, consider things that let you squeeze more "days" of work into a day. With a ring of sustenance, you might be able to get an extra shift in, for example. A small army of level 1 commoners to make Aid Another checks for +2 might be quite helpful in speeding things along, as well, making each day's labor more efficient and effective.

 

[frankthedm]

Obviously I'd like to vanquish my enemies before they (or I) die of old age. I am aware that there are a few things I can do to get bonuses (bonii?) on the check, but not enough to significantly affect the result. I'm sure that the DM and I could come up with a suitable houserule, but before we do I'm very keen to hear your takes on this.

I think that is a perfect creation time for a weapon made from a legendary material usually worked by long lived races.

 

[Kerrick]

The cost of a adamantine greatsword is 2050gp (50gp for a greatsword + 2000gp for masterwork adamantine).

+3000 gp, not 2000. (DMG, p. 283)

For convenience I have ignored the fact the the masterwork component is created separately with a DC of 20 (it doesn't make a big difference).

Adamantine is automatically masterwork, thus no need for a "masterwork component":

Adamantine is so costly that weapons and armor made from it are always of mastework quality; the masterwork cost is included in the prices below [see the chart on p 283].

As for bonuses and such... there are a couple discussions going around about crafting, and variant crafting systems in the House Rules forum. Spatzimaus has a really interesting one that you might want to take a look at.

 

[GorTeX]

My character has craft(weaponsmithing) of 13, and wants to make an adamantine greatsword for himself. I have worked out, however, that it will take me a over a year to complete. Here's my calculations so you can tell me if I've missed or misinterpreted something.

The cost of a adamantine greatsword is 2050gp (50gp for a greatsword + 2000gp for masterwork adamantine).

My average craft check will be 23.5, vs. a DC of 15, meaning I will craft an average of 335sp (=23.5*15*0.95) per week toward the creation of the item. The 0.95 is because I will fail the craft check if I roll a one. For convenience I have ignored the fact the the masterwork component is created separately with a DC of 20 (it doesn't make a big difference).

To craft the sword will therefore take about 20500 / 335 = 61 weeks = more than a year of downtime.

You can take 10 on craft checks (makes life alot easier, and no chance of lost materials). This gives you a check of 23 all the time
The weapon part (50gp) and the masterwork part (adamantine) are seperate, with a DC of 20 for the adamantin/masterwork portion. You don't want to ignore this part.

50gp=500sp.
you craft the weapon portion in a week and a half (approximately) (dc15xcheck23=345sp/week=1.45 weeks)

2000gp=20000sp
you craft the adamantine/masterwork part in 43 and a half weeks (DC20xCheck23=460sp/week. 20000/460=43.48) (yes, the hard something is to create, the faster you make it)

so, it takes 45 weeks to make it...by the rules.

If you don't have masterwork tools..get them so that your skill is 15. makes your check 25. This also alows you to add 10 to the DC of the greatsword portion, making it a DC25 with a check of 25..means you make that part in less than a week, and the adamantine part will be made in 34.5 weeks...for a total time of 35.8 weeks. See how significant just a +2 to your rolls makes?

 

[Stalker0]

As others have mentioned, helpers with aid another can make a difference.

But, if your trying to say you think the craft rules are wonky, you'll get plenty of sympathy on these boards. I've seen more alternate craft rules than I have pennies in my change bin.

 

[Space_Pirate_Arrr]

Thanks for that everyone.

I think I'll leave it there, because I was pretty much trying to say that the craft rules seemed "wonky" as I understood them. Thanks for the tips on speeding things up.

In fact, given that downtime normally only takes the DM to say "a year passes...." I guess it's not really a problem for me making my sword. Ten years for the full plate seems a bit much though. I'd be feeling ripped off if I had armorsmithing.

Cheers.