New FAQ at Wizards - Behind the Screen with magic item creation

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

That 3rd level bard cannot meet the prerequisites, because he can't cast suggestion.

A 3rd-level Wizard can meet the prerequisites, because he doesn't have to cast suggestion. He just needs it to be cast, once per day, by anyone, as he's making the item.

The creator sets the caster level of the item. The creator doesn't need to personally cast all the spells that go into the item. Therefore, you end up with a harp of charming at CL 3.

 

[Artoomis]

Man... that utterly flies in the face of logic. I don't know how to use Full Plate armor, but suddenly, based on my experience with chainmail, I can use it. Not in my game pal! Rule 0.

How about a mroe reasonable example:

I don't know how to wear chainmail but, suddenly, it's so light as to be practically like normal clothes and my experience with leather armor let's me use mithral chainmail just fine.

I'm good with that. Especially considering the signifcant extra cost.

 

[Hypersmurf]

A 3rd-level Wizard can meet the prerequisites, because he doesn't have to cast suggestion. He just needs it to be cast, once per day, by anyone, as he's making the item.

The creator sets the caster level of the item. The creator doesn't need to personally cast all the spells that go into the item. Therefore, you end up with a harp of charming at CL 3.

So does that mean I can scribe a CL1 scroll of Dimension Door (costing only 60 gp - 15 x 4 x 1) by having a Wiz-1 designated the creator and supplying the XP, and a Wiz-7 supplying the spell?

The Wiz-1's caster level is used (since he's supplying the XP), and since the prerequisite of Dimension Door is being met, he's demonstrably a high enough caster level for that clause to be satisfied.

-Hyp.

 

[Artoomis]

So does that mean I can scribe a CL1 scroll of Dimension Door (costing only 60 gp - 15 x 4 x 1) by having a Wiz-1 designated the creator and supplying the XP, and a Wiz-7 supplying the spell?

The Wiz-1's caster level is used (since he's supplying the XP), and since the prerequisite of Dimension Door is being met, he's demonstrably a high enough caster level for that clause to be satisfied.

-Hyp.

I think maybe it does mean that.

And that's why the DMG errata on the Caster Level requirement should NOT have been re-written. Alas, it was.

 

[Borlon]

So does that mean I can scribe a CL1 scroll of Dimension Door (costing only 60 gp - 15 x 4 x 1) by having a Wiz-1 designated the creator and supplying the XP, and a Wiz-7 supplying the spell?

The Wiz-1's caster level is used (since he's supplying the XP), and since the prerequisite of Dimension Door is being met, he's demonstrably a high enough caster level for that clause to be satisfied.

-Hyp.

Finally, a reason why a wizard would want to have an apprentice!

 

[Corsair]

So does that mean I can scribe a CL1 scroll of Dimension Door (costing only 60 gp - 15 x 4 x 1) by having a Wiz-1 designated the creator and supplying the XP, and a Wiz-7 supplying the spell?

The Wiz-1's caster level is used (since he's supplying the XP), and since the prerequisite of Dimension Door is being met, he's demonstrably a high enough caster level for that clause to be satisfied.

-Hyp.

No, because the eratta in question applies to wondrous items only.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

So does that mean I can scribe a CL1 scroll of Dimension Door (costing only 60 gp - 15 x 4 x 1) by having a Wiz-1 designated the creator and supplying the XP, and a Wiz-7 supplying the spell?

No - because the text you are referring to says, "For other items ..."

It is therefore not referring to scrolls, wands, staves, or potions.

You could, however, create "Boots of the Long-Step," which have a prereq of dimension door, that allow you to, once per day, take a single long step (as per the spell dimension door, except you can't take anyone with you), at CL 1. You'd be able to make a 440 ft. step with them - and they'd cost in the realm of 1,500 gp.

It's really no different than creatures with fireball as a spell-like ability and a CL of 4.

EDIT:

I'll just leave this "error in potentia" up here.

 

[Infiniti2000]

The creator sets the caster level of the item. The creator doesn't need to personally cast all the spells that go into the item. Therefore, you end up with a harp of charming at CL 3.

But, the creator can never create a magic item "lower than the minimum level needed to cast the needed spell." So, no, the minimum CL on the harp would be 5 if created by a wizard and the Wiz1 can not be the 'creator'.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

But, the creator can never create a magic item "lower than the minimum level needed to cast the needed spell."

Where do you see that?

For potions, scrolls, and wands, the creator can set the caster level of an item at any number high enough to cast the stored spell and not higher than her own caster level. For other magic items, the caster level is determined by the creator. The minimum caster level is that which is needed to meet the prerequisites given.

EDIT: Found it. Later on in the section.

While item creation costs are handled in detail below, note that normally the two primary factors are the caster level of the creator and the level of the spell or spells put into the item. A creator can create an item at a lower caster level than her own, but never lower than the minimum level needed to cast the needed spell. Using metamagic feats, a caster can place spells in items at a higher level than normal.

This is interesting, because it leads to the following problem. When it says, "the minimum needed to cast the needed spell," whose minimum are we talking, here?

For instance, take a cleric 2 providing the CLW prereq to a wizard 3 who is attempting to make an arcane scroll of CLW for his bardic (1) friend.

The cleric can cast CLW as a 1st-level spell, CL 1.

The bard can cast CLW as a 1st-level spell, CL 2.

The wizard can't cast CLW at all, CL -.

If the cleric helps the wizard make the scroll, what's the lowest the CL can be set? If the bard helps the wizard make the scroll, what's the lowest the CL can be set? Is the minimum based on when who provides the prereq can cast it, or the lowest the creator can cast it, or is it based on the lowest level someone, anyone, could cast the spell?

If it's #1, then the minimums are 1 for clerical help and 2 for bardic help.
If it's #2, then the scroll can't be created by a wizard (though he could help a bard or cleric make one, he himself cannot be the creator).
If it's #3, then the minimum is 1 for everyone.

Interesting question.

 

[irdeggman]

Man... that utterly flies in the face of logic. I don't know how to use Full Plate armor, but suddenly, based on my experience with chainmail, I can use it. Not in my game pal! Rule 0.

Problem is that the armor proficiency feat isn't for each specific armor (unlike the martial weapon proficiency feat). It specifically is for a category of armors (heavy, medium and light).

So if you are proficient with heavy armors you can equally well wear full plate, half plate, banded and splint – even though they function (and are worn) differently.