D&D (2024) D&D Beyond Article on Crafting

[DrJawaPhD]

Stories need to make some kind of sense. Grunt the barbarian arrives back in town with a huge pile of looted gold, but rather than resupplying at the store then hitting the tavern he rushes home to dip some candles.

This example suggests that you are completely missing the point of what people want in a crafting system. I think we do have common ground that we can probably all agree that the crafting rules in the PHB are completely pointless and a waste of space, because yeah, crafting candles and other mundane crap is not what people want

A better example would be that Grunt the Barbarian slays the dragon, harvests the dragon's teeth and crafts them into a powerful magical sword, while his Wizard buddy harvests the fundamentum and use it to imbue a powerful staff, the Druid harvests the dragon blood to craft into resistance potions, etc. That is compelling gameplay and enhances the storytelling. Crafting candles do not enhance anything, I can fully agree with you there

 

[Paul Farquhar]

This example suggests that you are completely missing the point of what people want in a crafting system

Indeed. I’ve asked for and explanation, but no one seems to be able to explain the point of playing let’s pretend to do stuff we can do in real life. If I want to make candles I can make real candles. I can’t fight a real dragon, so pretending to do that makes sense.

A better example would be that Grunt the Barbarian slays the dragon, harvests the dragon's teeth and crafts them into a powerful magical sword

That makes sense - but everyone seems to be talking about crafting mundane stuff, not powerful magic items.

And, of course, if it’s assumed characters are routinely crafting magic items, then you need to ajust the game balance to accommodate those more powerful PCs.

 

[Chaosmancer]

No, I read the bit where you said it was post-apocalyptic, and therefore was not a standard D&D campaign.

So only standard games count?

Stories need to make some kind of sense. Grunt the barbarian arrives back in town with a huge pile of looted gold, but rather than resupplying at the store then hitting the tavern he rushes home to dip some candles.

Oh no. A character with hobbies and joys OTHER than rampant alcoholism? You are right, that makes no sense at all. Why would any DnD character not immediately rush to get wasted the second they get money and instead go and pursuit an art, a craft, or something else they enjoy. They should just buy things from a store then get wasted. Who bothers with hobbies?

 

[Chaosmancer]

This example suggests that you are completely missing the point of what people want in a crafting system. I think we do have common ground that we can probably all agree that the crafting rules in the PHB are completely pointless and a waste of space, because yeah, crafting candles and other mundane crap is not what people want

A better example would be that Grunt the Barbarian slays the dragon, harvests the dragon's teeth and crafts them into a powerful magical sword, while his Wizard buddy harvests the fundamentum and use it to imbue a powerful staff, the Druid harvests the dragon blood to craft into resistance potions, etc. That is compelling gameplay and enhances the storytelling. Crafting candles do not enhance anything, I can fully agree with you there

You know what, I would disagree.

Candles (despite being easy to make poor quality candles) have high symbolic value. Grunt might slay a dragon, then use the mystically infused hair and fat from the dragon to make sacred candles, which he then uses to bless the shrine of his God, bringing blessings of power and health upon his village.

I mean, votive candles are a BIG thing. Lighting candles for the fallen to remember them by is a BIG thing. Just because the item itself is simple doesn't mean it cannot carry magic or significance.

 

[Chaosmancer]

Indeed. I’ve asked for and explanation, but no one seems to be able to explain the point of playing let’s pretend to do stuff we can do in real life. If I want to make candles I can make real candles. I can’t fight a real dragon, so pretending to do that makes sense.

I said it in my first post. I do not have the time, energy, skill or space to craft many things. Could I make candles? Maybe.

I can't brew alcohol (not that I would want to)
I can't build a statue.
I can't carve a totem.
I can't make beautiful jeweled necklaces.
I can't forge armor and shields.
I can cook, but I can't cook meals worthy of the spirits of the forest, or that can cure a King's madness.

That makes sense - but everyone seems to be talking about crafting mundane stuff, not powerful magic items.

Because the moment we start making it into "powerful magic items" then we get accused of power gaming.

Of course I want my blacksmith character to make a cool magical sword. I also want him to make an iron rose, or a metal slats to reinforce a temples walls, or anything else I can imagine them making. If we get a good system, then mundane AND magical gear are both achievable, because you just use rarer and more mystically significant materials to make the more powerful items.

 

[WanderingMystic]

First just as an FYI my character has been a crafter in every game, I have played in the last ... 10 years to some extent. I have had brew masters who kept the party in libations during our long rests, I have played a doll maker who was an assassin, my Viking was a shipwright and the list goes on. Most of these I am doing as downtime, or they are just story fluff but when i play an alchemist or an herbalist I want to be able to craft minor potions and alchemical devices while still gaming. These are activities that should take a day or two for me to do in my spare time while resting in the evening. If I had a calligrapher or maybe a totem carver, I could see something similar. A way to slowly make minor magical items or advanced regular equipment, yes, I could potentially just go out and buy it but knowing that you crafted it itself it just a great rp extra. If I wanted to make a sword or set of armor, I understand that that will take a stable home base to use but I am the player who wants to take dragon scale and turn it into a cloak of resistance, to have found a large hunk of an unknown meteor in a dungeon and forge a sword out of it.

 

[MichaelSomething]

Of course D&D should have complete crafting rules in the PHB. 4th edition didn't and look what happened to it!

 

[renbot]

That sounds suspiciously simulationist! Can’t be doing with these things taking real world times, it should be possible to make plate armor in an hour with nothing but a crafting bench and and iron ingot!

" But I'm not Tony Stark."