Question: Practiced Spellcaster feat and crafting magic items

[Enforcer]

My question is whether the benefit you gain from the Practiced Spellcaster feat (Complete Arcane, Complete Divine) is applicable to your caster level to determine what magic items you can create.

From the way the feat is written, it's unclear. It mentions improving spell duration and caster checks to overcome SR, and certainly would improve the damage of say a fireball or the like. It doesn't specifically say that it affects item creation or not though. From the letter of the feat, I'd say better crafting is okay, but from the spirit of the feat it doesn't seem like that'd be kosher--the flavor is more powerful spells.

Thoughts?

 

[FireLance]

I don't see any problem with it. A Wizard 1/Fighter 4 with Practised Spellcaster (wizard) has a caster level of 5 for his wizard spells. When he next gains a level, he may select the Craft Wand feat, which has the prerequisite of caster level 5th. A Wizard 2/Fighter 4 with Practised Spellcaster (wizard) and the Craft Magic Arms and Armor feat has a caster level of 6th and can craft up to +2 weapons, armor and shields.

 

[shilsen]

I agree with Firelance. It should work fine as far as item creation is concerned, which usually references caster level (which is what the feat applies to).

 

[Staffan]

I'd let it help. It'd only help with caster level, which usually isn't a prerequisite though.

 

[Enforcer]

I'd let it help. It'd only help with caster level, which usually isn't a prerequisite though.

It's important when you want your Dwarf Paladin 8/Hammer of Moradin 2 to pick up a level of Battlesmith (Races of Stone). For crafting arms and armor he'd have a CL of 7 (4 from Paladin, 0 from Hammer, 3 from Battlesmith). This means a cap of +2 enhancement bonus and he'd be missing out on many of the special abilities. With Practiced Spellcaster, his CL for crafting arms and armor would be 11--+3 enhancement bonuses and more special ability access. Granted, he's gonna need help with the spell prereqs for things like Holy and Shock and Thundering, but hey, that's fine by me. I just eventually want a +3 holy, thundering, adamantine warhammer of shock...

I was amazed when I read in the DMG that Caster Level is calculated as the maximum of the CLs for enhancement bonuses and special abilities, not the sum or a CL based on total item bonus...(the +3 holy, thundering, adamantine warhammer of shock has a +7 item bonus but a total CL of 9 according to the rules). Really the only limit is cost and convincing the party wizard that he wants to show up everyday with lightning bolt and deafness prepared, heh.