Power Attack or Craft Wondrous Item for mostly a meeler, with some spellcaster levels

[demon_jr]

I am raising a level this game session, and am trying to decide between Craft Wondrous Item and Power Attack.

My character is mainly a meeler, so for the past couple of weeks, I decided upon getting power attack for my character next time I level up.

However, I recently discovered that my character could also get the Craft Wondrous Item feat since he has a few spellcaster levels.

What would you suggest would be the more useful of the two?

If I get the create wondrous item feat, I see myself making "new" magic items, such as items that give bonuses to skills, or new abilities that aren't found in the DMG. My main problem with this is determining that caster level for these items.

In addition, if I wanted to craft wondrous items from the DMG, I am unsure if I need to be the caster level of the item to craft that particular item. I have read articles from Monte Cook and Sean K Reynolds that say otherwise, stating that caster levels are not a prerequisite. That being the case, could it be hypothetically possible to craft ANY wondrous item, just as long as you meet the prerequisites, regardless if you are a 3rd level caster, which is the requirement to obtain the Craft Wondrous Item feat?

On the other hand, I am a meeler after all, and find myself in combat quite a lot, so I am not sure if power attack would be the better choice, since I will not always have the time, xp, or spells, to make magic items.

 

[Crothian]

What classes and levels do you have? And what feats do you have?

 

[Vuron]

I would suggest that you need to be the appropriate caster level rather than total character level or else you could have PCs getting a few levels of spellcaster plus a scroll or two and being able to assemble some of the more potent miscellaneous items. (can you imagine a fighter 17/ wizard 3 being able to make a mirror of mental prowess?)

 

[demon_jr]

What classes and levels do you have? And what feats do you have?

Feats:

Dodge
Mobility
Spring Attack
Iron Will
Combat Reflexs
Expertise
Expert Tactician

Class levels (a 14th level character, going on to 15th):
6 - melee type
4 - rogue type
4 - spell caster - which qualifies me for craft wondrous items

 

[Crothian]

Well, your feats are already combat oriented, so Power Attack will be well served. Having only 4 spellcasting leves will really limit what you can create with the feat.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I would suggest that you need to be the appropriate caster level rather than total character level or else you could have PCs getting a few levels of spellcaster plus a scroll or two and being able to assemble some of the more potent miscellaneous items. (can you imagine a fighter 17/ wizard 3 being able to make a mirror of mental prowess?)

Well, "a scroll or two" is in this case seven hundred, minimum, for a total cost of 1,600,000gp. Plus the gp and XP cost of making the mirror.

Assuming he can cast Detect Thoughts, the character would need one scroll each of Clairaudience, Scrying, Gate, and Limited Wish (to mimic Commune, which he can't cast directly from a scroll) - 9,100gp worth of scrolls - each day of crafting. At one day for each 1,000gp in the base price of the item, it comes out to 175 days work.

That 1,600,000 assumes he doesn't flub any caster level checks while using the scrolls. In practice, the cost will work out higher.

If my characters want to spend two million gold to make a 175k magic item, then good on them. They beat the system. I'm not going to stop them...

-Hyp.

 

[demon_jr]

One of the reasons I am considering the Craft Wondrous Item feat is that while my spellcaster level is quite low, there is a cleric and wizard within the party who are 13th and 15th level respectively, who do not have the Craft Wondrous Item feat.

Using the rules for cooperation in the DMG, I think it would be feasible for my character to be the one with the feat while the others provide the spells. I still have to double check with my DM, wizard, and cleric on this though.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Using the rules for cooperation in the DMG, I think it would be feasible for my character to be the one with the feat while the others provide the spells. I still have to double check with my DM, wizard, and cleric on this though.

That's true - but the one with the feat is the one who pays the XP cost.

-Hyp.

 

[Stalker0]

I think the cooperation thing is fine. Just make sure your allies are willing to help you get the stuff you need too, since you are paying the xp cost.

For the most part, its not the caster level, its the spells you know that limit your ability to make wonderous items (the big exceptions are the +x to stuff, like bracers of nat armor, gloves of dex, etc) Since you have such high level wizards and clerics, this is not a problem, so I thing you could get a lot of bang for your buck with the feat.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

I'd take option 3 exotic weapon prof spiked chain. Why let those combat reflexes go to waste? And besides you can then flank at 10'.

But between power attack and craft wonderous I'd go with craft wonderous if enither the cleric or wizard have it and don't plan on geting it.(for which they are dumb, yeesh wonderous items is the best item creation feat in the game bar none what kind of anti-powergamers do you play with )