Mundane Craft System

[Tinker Gnome]

Have we got any word if the mundane item craft system is going to be any different in 4e? Or if there will even be one?

 

[Celebrim]

Based on the direction the game is going, I'd guess the designers never gave it a thought. Mundane crafting is not 'heroic' by the definition being used is 4e. If it's there, it's almost certainly in the same form it is now. If it's changed, its probably changed to something that is more like a 'back pocket' system, in which you can use your mundane craft skill to whip simple products of that craft out of your (abstract) back pocket once per day (per encounter?) with some fluff about how you are assumed to have worked on these products offstage/between encounters.

And that's only half of my tongue in my cheek.

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

Beyond the hate, I assume that they'll put something together. There were several good 3rd party products put together that expanded on the current d20 craft rules, and I imagine they'll probably steal some notes from there.

Or, if they don't, it is something that can be added on with, again, brilliant 3rd-party expansion.

I had some stuff I had compiled and put together for a Skyships campaign I was running. Focused more on building and maintaining their skyship, so the expanded rules were fun and topical there.

--fje

 

[Jer]

Or, if they don't, it is something that can be added on with, again, brilliant 3rd-party expansion.

My suspicion is that this will be a niche that third party products will rise up to fill. If they put one in at all, I suspect it will be pretty much like what's there now.

OTOH - if they start leaking information on a new mundane crafting system, I predict more cries of "you're turning D&D into WoW"!

 

[Traycor]

They have already stated that Magic Item creation will not require a feat or XP. Also, in SW Saga they consolidated the craft skills into "Repair" which could be used to craft, work on droids, or even ships.

Perhaps they will do a similar method for 4E. A craft skill that allows you to crank out mundane items of any type, plus is the basis for creating magic items as well. This could allow non wizard/clerics to craft interesting items. Such as a Dwarven Fighter that uses his ancient skills to forge an axe of great power.

 

[Gort]

Yeah, I'd like to see a crafting system where you could make magical items even if you weren't a spellcaster yourself. Instead of the power coming from a spellcaster, it could come from magical components you adventure to acquire.

I always liked the idea that Dwarfs don't truck with casting magic, because that's dangerous, but they're fine with using it if they bind it into runes or metal first, to tame it.

 

[JoelF]

I thought I read somewhere that they were not including a craft skill in 4E because it wasn't "heroic" and it was boring. (That's my paraphrasing.) I don't really recall where, so I can't provide a link or direct quote. Personally, I think this is the wrong way to go, since it should be up to the individual players to decide if they want their characters to be good at non-heroic stuff also. Not only that, but in a campaign in which time actually passes between adventures, craft or profession are nice ways for non-magic item crafters to make a bit of extra money.

I also recall that they did say that there would be some system, but not reflected as skills using the skill system.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

I don't know that crafting needs to be represented by a skill within the system. I'd be fine with saying that the martial classes can craft weapons and armor, and that the arcane classes can craft magic items, without requiring that ability to be "purchased" in any way, and leaving it up to the player what they want to do. The 3E crafting rules were such a mess anyway (IMO) that I'd be happy with doing away with them.

 

[Rakin]

Based on the direction the game is going, I'd guess the designers never gave it a thought. Mundane crafting is not 'heroic' by the definition being used is 4e. If it's there, it's almost certainly in the same form it is now. If it's changed, its probably changed to something that is more like a 'back pocket' system, in which you can use your mundane craft skill to whip simple products of that craft out of your (abstract) back pocket once per day (per encounter?) with some fluff about how you are assumed to have worked on these products offstage/between encounters.

And that's only half of my tongue in my cheek.

Made me laugh.

"Oh crap, that troll disarmed me, good thing I'm a......crafter!" Pulls out a new sword out of nowhere. "Thanks, 'craft a longsword once per hour ability'"