Fabricate?

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Is a Craft check needed to turn a purple masterwork cloak into a red masterwork cloak? What about changing minor, non-mechanical aspects of a magic item? (e.g., changing the eagle atop a helm to a griffon)


Fromt the SRD:

Fabricate

Transmutation
Level: Sor/Wiz 5 Components: V, S, M Casting Time: See text Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels) Target: Up to 10 cu. ft./level; see text Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: No

You convert material of one sort into a product that is of the same material. Creatures or magic items cannot be created or transmuted by the fabricate spell. The quality of items made by this spell is commensurate with the quality of material used as the basis for the new fabrication. If you work with a mineral, the target is reduced to 1 cubic foot per level instead of 10 cubic feet.

You must make an appropriate Craft check to fabricate articles requiring a high degree of craftsmanship.

Casting requires 1 round per 10 cubic feet (or 1 cubic foot) of material to be affected by the spell.

Material Component: The original material, which costs the same amount as the raw materials required to craft the item to be created.

 

[lukelightning]

I'd say for changing the color, no. For changing the eagle to a griffon, yes. You could do it without a check, but the result wouldn't be as detailed as you want and you'd have to put up with people saying "is that a four-legged turkey on your helmet?"

 

[Delemental]

The spell itself isn't really clear, but I'd say a good rule of thumb would be, "Would you require a Craft check if the person were making these changes non-magically (ie, dyeing the cloak or using tools to resculpt the helm crest)?" If you wouldn't require a Craft check, or would require one with a very low DC, I'd say Fabricate can pull it off without a check.

IMO, I say if the alterations are purely cosmetic, then let it go.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Is a Craft check needed to turn a purple masterwork cloak into a red masterwork cloak?

This cannot be done. I see nothing in fabricate that allows you to change th color or other aspects of the material. Then again, I don't see that as a bad ruling either (it's certainly not gonna break anything). In that case, merely changing the color of something should not require a craft check.

What about changing minor, non-mechanical aspects of a magic item? (e.g., changing the eagle atop a helm to a griffon)

This is also not possible. You cannot transmute a magic item. But, if you want to allow it (again, this is not game breaking for only thematic reasons), yes I would require a craft check. But, then you have to come up with rules for what happens when you fail. Also, keep in mind that this allows PCs to circumvent possibly story-related reasons for some magic item's forms. I would personally not allow it because if I have a skull etched into the bad guy's (non-evil) sword, I want the player to have to make a decision to use the sword with the skull, cover it up, or not use it. It's an interesting RP situation that I do not want simply resolved with fabricate. He may also want to get a master craftsperson to fix it (mundanely), but then that has some good RP value, too.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

This cannot be done. I see nothing in fabricate that allows you to change th color or other aspects of the material.

Why not? Couldn't you cast the spell and change purple thread to red thread?

 

[Infiniti2000]

Why not? Couldn't you cast the spell and change purple thread to red thread?

Is purple thread a product of red thread? No. It's a product of red thread AND purple dye. I'm not sure if multiple types of material may be used in the casting. If so or if you allow it then no problem. Anyway, like I said it's certainly not gonna break anything. In a previous edition long ago there was a cantrip named color. It lasted a month or so IIRC. Was it in the original UA?

 

[lukelightning]

I'm not sure if multiple types of material may be used in the casting.

If so, then it is largely useless; most things are made of multiple materials. Make a sword? Only if you already have the right alloy of steel. Make glass containers? Only if you already have glass.

 

[Deset Gled]

Make a sword? Only if you already have the right alloy of steel. Make glass containers? Only if you already have glass.

I was under the impression that those limitations are exactly what was meant by "You convert material of one sort into a product that is of the same material" and "quality of items made by this spell is commensurate with the quality of material used as the basis for the new fabrication."

 

[pallandrome]

I generally rule that fabricate is useful for making as long as you have a source of the same SORT of material availible, as that tends to keep the spell as useful as a non-combat 5th level spell should be, and is generally not going to make large-scale changes to the game anyway. Since it can't affect magic items anyways, thematics that you want to avoid ruining can be kept safe that way. Now, as for changing the color of a cloak...just have him cast prestidigitation on the damn thing till he can take five minutes and have it professionally altered.

but in the end, no I would not require a check, as requiring a check for suck a thing does not sound like it would add to the entertainment value of my game.

 

[Jack Simth]

It takes a team to convert a +2 Flaming Burst Small Shortsword into a +2 Flaming Burst Medium Dagger. You have one person sitting there with Detect Magic up, another with a couple of (Greater) Dispel Magic's. Dispel Magic the thing until it no longer detects as magic. Dispel Magic temporarily turns a thing into a nonmagical item. For the 1d4 rounds of that non-magicalness, it's subject to Fabricate. Afterwords, it returns to being a magical item.

Whether or not the magical properties survive that is DM call. But RAW, you can do that to change a magical item into something else with Fabricate. Or Polymorph Any Object. Or a great many other things.