Scrolls?

[kenobi65]

I think the general rule is "it takes one day per 1000gp to craft ANY magical item. Regardless of the cost of the item, it always takes at least one full day to complete."

Just so:

Creating an item requires one day per 1,000 gp in the item’s base price, with a minimum of at least one day. Potions are an exception to this rule; they always take just one day to brew. The character must spend the gold and XP at the beginning of the construction process.

The caster works for 8 hours each day.

So, by the RAW, a cantrip scroll (base price: 12 1/2 gp) and a 4th level scroll (base price: 700gp) would both take the exact same amount: a full day of 8 hours of work.

Scrubkai, by your interpretation, a PC could write 40 1st level scrolls in a day. IMO, that's a bit much.

 

[MerakSpielman]

"Potions are an exception to this rule; they always take just one day to brew."

Crap, I need to update my calculator again.

 

[Staffan]

My equations might be off.

So, quick question: When calculating the time to craft an item, do you use the gp the character pays to craft it, or the gp it would cost if it were to be bought new? I know it says "base price," but which is the base price?

Base price = the cost for just the magic stuff.
Creation gp cost = Base price/2 plus expensive components.
Creation XP cost = Base price/25 plus spell XP component.
Creation time = Base price/1,000 in days.
Market price = Base price plus expensive components plus 5 * spell XP component.

So, let's say you want to make a scroll of magic missile. That's:
Base price = Caster level * Spell level * 25 gp = 1*1*25 = 25 gp.
Creation gp cost = Base price/2 = 12.5 gp
Creation XP cost = Base price/25 = 1 XP
Market price = Base price = 25 gp.

Compare this to a scroll of identify:
Base price = CL * SL * 25 = 25 gp
Creation gp cost = Base price/2 + expensive component = 12.5 + 100 = 112.5 gp
Creation XP cost = Base price/25 = 1 XP
Market price = Base price + expensive component = 25+100 = 125 gp.

Same base price, different market price. This gets more complicated for staves that have multiple effects, but the principle remains.

 

[MerakSpielman]

OK, in a fit of inspiration, I've redone my Crafting Calculator again.

It now includes options for XP and component costs of spells. And assuming Staffan is correct about how the prices interact with final crafting xp costs, the equations should all be correct. I've also improved the formatting and layout.

I promise this is the last time I'm posting this thing in this thread.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Close, Merak.

There's still a couple issues remaining, however.

1. An additional XP component increases the market price by 5x the XP component. Thus, the *market price* a CL 1 scroll of a 1st-level spell that costs 10xp when cast is:

1 * 1 * 25 + (5 * 10) = 75gp

2. Extra components for spells placed in a wand are priced for 50 charges. So, for a wand of Identify, the base price is:

1 * 1 * 750 = 750gp, and it costs 375gp and 30xp to create.

However, you must pay the component cost for the 50 charges:

50 * 100 = 5,000

Thus, the final cost to create a wand of identify is:

375 + 5,000 = 5,375 gp

and the Market Price is:

750 + 5,000 = 5,750 gp

Make sense?


EDIT: I looked over what you were doing. I see your error. The "market price" is not 2x the cost to create. It's the base price + additional stuff (XP components, material components).

 

[Saeviomagy]

Scrubkai, by your interpretation, a PC could write 40 1st level scrolls in a day. IMO, that's a bit much.

Or he can write a single scroll with 40 1st level spells on it, which is just fine within the current RAW.

He does still have to spend 1000gp doing it... Seriously - if he spent 2000, he could buy the same scrolls, and it would probably take him less than a day.

 

[Geoff Watson]

Are there ways to beef up the ammount of spells you can cast?

I mean, i'm level 2, and shooting 3 Magic Missles is crap.

Well, Magic Missile is a crap spell at low levels. You'd be better off shooting your crossbow. It starts getting OK at 5th or 7th level.

Try using other spells. Sleep, Burning Hands and Colour Spray are good offensive spells at low levels. Indirect combat spells such as casting Enlarge Person on the fighters in the party can be excellent.

Scrolls are a good way of having utility spells when you need them. It only costs you 12.5 gp to make a scroll of a first level spell, so you should make a whole bunch when you have time.

Geoff.