Item creation

[MikeAlphaTangoTango]

Are there rules stating what the minimum caster level of the spell to be placed on an item can be?

For example

A ring of flying.

Spell level 3
Use activated item x2000
Caster level X
Cost 6000 x X

Do you have to use the minimum caster level able to actually cast the spell? I belive this NOT to be the case since it would really penalize Sorcerers. If there's a link or a page number I would be most appreciative.

Thanks

 

[Hypersmurf]

If you're creating an item that actually stores a spell - potion, wand, staff, scroll - then the formula is exact, and the spell's caster level cannot be reduced below the minimum at which you can cast the spell.

A Wand of Fly made by a Wizard could have a caster level as low as 5; made by a Sorcerer, it would have to be at least 6.

Anything else, however, is subject to the DM's decision as to what it should cost. Compare the price of the Ring of Invisibility in the DMG to what it would cost going purely by the guidelines. It does not exactly duplicate the spell, so the DM must exercise discretion in pricing.

A player cannot say "Look, I can make a Ring of Flying and it will cost X gp because of the pricing guidelines." Instead, he would say to his DM "I'd like to make a Ring of Flying." The DM would look at the pricing guidelines, compare other items with similar effects - Winged Boots, Wings of Flying, Feathered Armor, etc - and make a judgement as to what it would cost and how it would work.

-Hyp.

 

[andargor]

Oh, dcollins, where art thou?

Andargor

 

[dcollins]

Edit: The prior poster got me thinking this question was something other than what it was.

If it's a "new item", then it's intrinsically house-ruled -- as Hypersmurf says above, the caster level of the item (for non-potions/scrolls/wands) is whatever the DM dictates it must be.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Re: Re: Item creation

DMG p. 178 says that yes, you do: "Caster Level:... [for non-potions/scrolls/wands] the creator's caster level must be as high as the item's caster level (and prerequisites may effectively put a higher minimum on the creator's level)."

You've answered that question so many times that you've stopped reading the question in front of you

[EDIT] Gah. You edited yours after I started typing [/EDIT]

He's not talking about the caster level of items in the DMG. He's asking if a sorcerer can make an item that uses a 3rd level spell with a caster level of 5.

A sorcerer can only ramp a 3rd level spell down to CL6, because that's the minimum level at which a sorcerer can cast a 3rd level spell.

A wizard can get it down to CL5.

That means that a wizard making a Potion of Haste, say, can make it cheaper than a sorcerer. Obviously, it only lasts 5 rounds instead of 6, but once you start applying the guidelines for pricing a continuous-effect item, the duration of the base spell is meaningless.

-Hyp.

 

[andargor]

Re: Re: Item creation

Edit: The prior poster got me thinking this question was something other than what it was.

Sorry!

Andargor

 

[MikeAlphaTangoTango]

A sorcerer can only ramp a 3rd level spell down to CL6, because that's the minimum level at which a sorcerer can cast a 3rd level spell.

THAT'S what I was questioning... Can you, for example, make a wand of Fireballs at caster level 1. A wand of 1d6 fireballs. I believe I have my answer. Thanks.

 

[Maitre Du Donjon]

THAT'S what I was questioning... Can you, for example, make a wand of Fireballs at caster level 1. A wand of 1d6 fireballs. I believe I have my answer. Thanks.

No you can't. In order to cast a fireball, you need to be CL5 (wiz) or CL6 (sor), so, depending on who's making the wand, it couldn't be anything less than a wand of 5d6 (wiz) or 6d6 (sor) fireballs.

Maitre D

 

[andargor]

THAT'S what I was questioning... Can you, for example, make a wand of Fireballs at caster level 1. A wand of 1d6 fireballs. I believe I have my answer. Thanks.

There is no Fireball spell at 1st level. It's a 3rd level spell.

Make a custom spell for it if you want (and spend the time, money and XP for it), or use something like Lesser Fire Orb.

Andargor

 

[Hypersmurf]

Or use Craft Wondrous Item and make a Necklace of Fireballs

-Hyp.