Detail Discussion

[Ferrix]

There's also the issue that most 1st level characters can't hack the DC 20 Masterwork component by taking 10. Int 16 +3, 4 ranks, Skill Focus (craft whatever) +3 just makes it. That's a lot of focus just to make a Masterwork item at level 1. Most characters will have to roll to attain the DC and could easily fail and loose time and money.

I don't disagree with a Craft+Time system but I'd think a Market/Workplace setup would also serve to stem some of the ridiculousness.

 

[Rystil Arden]

I don't disagree with a Craft+Time system but I'd think a Market/Workplace setup would also serve to stem some of the ridiculousness.

I agree that either would work, but I lean heavily toward the Craft+Time system because the other one requires heavy supervision from some poor judge.

 

[Bront]

Is the problem in crafting items or making money by crafting items?

Both.

The issue is that in a normal campaign, time may be the precious comodity that limits the crafting of large items.

Take for example the crafting of Mithril Full Plate (10,500 gp). A 4th level character with a 16 Int can have a craft skill of +12 fairly easily (7 ranks, +3 int, +2 for MW tools). Crafting rules state that you create DC * Craft Check SP a week of work (A warforged can work double since he has no need to eat or sleep). Assuming taking a 10, the DC is 20 for the armor (technicaly 18 for the item, and 20 for the MW portion, which I would rule would be the special material, so we'll just use 20), You craft 22 * 20 = 440 SP a week (or 44 gp). So, in 239 weeks (Over 4 years), you'll have your Mithril Full Plate.

With no fixed time scale, you can simply zip through those 4 years. With Craft points, the time is negligable, but you need to spend craft points (in this case 1,050).

Craft points helps sorta streamline the time and is an abstract representation of that.

Also, I would rule that the 25% time discount feat applies to craft points as well. (Effectively, it would increase your production of SP by 1/3rd if you used the time model).

 

[Bront]

Currently, 6th. There was a temporary irregularity in that thanks to Bront and Rystil, but since it was temporary, it doesn't count.

I was only 12th level for 2 days realtime

 

[Ferrix]

I agree that either would work, but I lean heavily toward the Craft+Time system because the other one requires heavy supervision from some poor judge.

Well, you could always actually have both. Thus when anyone wants to craft something they post what they've crafted, their checks, etc. in the Workplace thread. When they want to sell something to NPC's they post it in the Market thread.

A check over by a judge assures that everything is legit and lets it take place, anything out of the ordinary can be brought into review, and its all in two easy to check over threads.

 

[Ferrix]

Also, I would rule that the 25% time discount feat applies to craft points as well. (Effectively, it would increase your production of SP by 1/3rd if you used the time model).

Very true.

Although I also believe the normal craft system is woefully inaccurate in the time spent on crafting things.

 

[Bront]

Very true.

Although I also believe the normal craft system is woefully inaccurate in the time spent on crafting things.

It is, but it's a compromise, and is fairly simple.

I like having a workplace thread where people post what they craft and when, so it doesn't clog up the general thread, and can be monitored by the judges.

 

[MavrickWeirdo]

This may seem like a childish observation as I have never participated in a 'Living' game world before, but isn't the point of this glorious game to role-play heroes and slay monsters? Are there actually characters/people that would prefer to sit around and craft stuff vs join adventures and kick monster booty?

As in every game, PCs may want to craft some useful stuff in their downtime, but I cannot fathom a character that simply wants to make money. Sure I can envisions characters motivated by greed but the actual player still lives for those magic words 'roll initiative',,, right?

You get 3 characters, I have know people who would use 1 PC just for crafting for their other PC's (and once an artificer reaches 5th level they can "salvage" XP from other magic items.)

 

[Velmont]

You get 3 characters, I have know people who would use 1 PC just for crafting for their other PC's (and once an artificer reaches 5th level they can "salvage" XP from other magic items.)

If we do as LEW, a player cannot thread item between them. Character's of the same palyer will never meet in a thread (you can assume they meet out of a therad, as long as it doesn't affect the play by lending gold, equipment or information). I have two character that are cousin in LEW, I frequently refer to ecah other, but never use anything else the the other background.

 

[Bront]

You get 3 characters, I have know people who would use 1 PC just for crafting for their other PC's (and once an artificer reaches 5th level they can "salvage" XP from other magic items.)

As Velmont said, LEW rules prevent trading items and equipment between your own characters, and that is a rule we would be carrying over for exactly that reason.

That's also why you have craft points, since eventualy said character would run out if all he did was craft for others.