[Old Debate] Is the caster level of items a prerequisite?

[dcollins]

I just wanted to say thanks for posting the link to that article. I was someone who believed what Monte and Shawn said, that CL should not be a prereq. But after reading that article, I find myself having done a complete 180.

My pleasure. Thanks for the kind words.

Still, I have ruled in my home game that the caster level is a prerequisite, except for certain specific items like the Pearl of Power. In that case I ruled that the caster level in the DMG is a typo, and it should have a different caster level for each type of pearl.

Actually, that's probably the most agreeable modification/fix to the rules as written that I've heard to date.

 

[Quixon]

No caster level IS NOT a pre-req. Do the books say it is-Yes, but that was a error in both 3.0 and 3.5.

On the WotC boards Andy Collins specifically answered this question in the 3.5 Q&A thread(on the archived 3.5 board) and on his own boards as well. He said that part was copied from 3.0 in error and caster level is not part of the pre-req's.

 

[Artoomis]

No caster level IS NOT a pre-req. Do the books say it is-Yes, but that was a error in both 3.0 and 3.5.

On the WotC boards Andy Collins specifically answered this question in the 3.5 Q&A thread(on the archived 3.5 board) and on his own boards as well. He said that part was copied from 3.0 in error and caster level is not part of the pre-req's.

Despite the accuracy of your quote form Andy Collins, the official rule is still that Caster Level is required. That will not change until it is made "offical" - it still has not even made it into the FAQ.

If you want to change that rule, feel free, and you can even feel that you have "intent" on your side if you can believe the designers (and I would hope that we can).

There is just no way that I could state "the rule" is anything other than caster level is required as written in the DMG until some official word is put out otherwise. I would be very, very surprised if you found this rule not being followed at any sort of official RPGA event.

Note that I have not said a word about how you should play this is your own game, I am only speaking of what the rule is - after that you can make an educated decision.

 

[Olive]

No caster level IS NOT a pre-req. Do the books say it is-Yes, but that was a error in both 3.0 and 3.5.

On the WotC boards Andy Collins specifically answered this question in the 3.5 Q&A thread(on the archived 3.5 board) and on his own boards as well. He said that part was copied from 3.0 in error and caster level is not part of the pre-req's.

Can you post a link? I couldn't find it... thanks for the info guys!

 

[S'mon]

Actually, that's probably the most agreeable modification/fix to the rules as written that I've heard to date.

Makes sense to me too. IMC I doubt I'd allow pearls of power or other items to be created even more easily than the DMG says; but for a higher-magic campaign it's a sensible fix.

 

[Gez]

Generally, nope.

It's just the standard, by default, caster level for items. When you buy or find such items, they have this caster level unless the DM has another idea.


Some items do have a minimum caster level prerequisite. Like magic weapons, caster level needs to be at least 3 times the enhancement bonus you want to make (and actually, it's an error in 3.5; since the greater magic weapon spell was modified to be +1 for every four caster level, so should it, likewise, be for magic arms and armors). Outside of items that specifically have a minimum caster level as a prerequisite, none have.

And note that the listed caster level for a magic item with a caster level prerequisite is not necessarily the minimum caster level required...

 

[the Jester]

As is usually the case with issues where the intent and the wording came out, I'd say you should just pick and choose which way to rule it. If your game uses the rules strictly, CL is a prereq. Personally, I use it as a prereq because I want to limit the ability of low-level pcs to create disproportionately powerful items.