Why would a 3rd level character take craft wonderous item?

[The_Dood]

My 3rd-level cleric just took craft wonderous item. After all the crafting was done, The DM informs us that you must meet the minimum caster level for the item being created. So what's the point of taking Craft Wonderous Item at 3rd level?

 

[Treebore]

So you odn't have to wait until 7th level?

 

[wingsandsword]

My 3rd-level cleric just took craft wonderous item. After all the crafting was done, The DM informs us that you must meet the minimum caster level for the item being created. So what's the point of taking Craft Wonderous Item at 3rd level?

Well, with that House-Rule, not as much. Maybe qualifying for PrC's, or being able to make the weaker items with lower Caster Levels.

I don't know if there is a ruling on it in 3.5, but I know it was clarified in 3.0 that the "Caster Level" was for randomly rolled items and items bought from NPC's, and PC created items were made at whatever level the PC made them at. The only requirements were the feat and spells (and sometimes special requirements like racial or alignment requirements).

 

[Saeviomagy]

So you can punch your DM in the face?

Seriously. Ask him what the benefit of this house rule is.

I bet he comes back with an answer that is, when all is said and done "to screw you over".

 

[Treebore]

There is a specific caster level requirement for making an item, it is to be of the level to cast the spell. Where things get questionable is what level do you need to be to make a +6 belt of giant Strength? They are much clearer about weapon and armor bonuses, but if you read the wondrous items you will notice the caster level is the level necessary for the item to function as described, such as Haste lasts 10 rounds (Boots of Haste/speed), so a 10th level caster. But there are a lot of times that the description/requirements don't seem to account/match up. So your DM "house ruling" that the stated CL is required to craft the item isn't a bad idea, especially for the item to function as described. There are a few wondrous items you can make at 3rd level, such as boots of striding and springing, I believe. Many others you will have to wait until 5th, 8th, or higher to make. But if you wanted to craft boots of speed at 5th level, you could, but the duration would be 5 rounds, not 10.

How would I determine the CL for crafting a Belt of Giant Strength? I would use the armor CL rules for enhancements. CL= enhancement bonus times 2.
So I would say a +4 Belt would require a CL of 8 and a +6 would require a CL of 12. But then you have to ask why can't you make a Belt +8 at 16th level? According to the rules those can't be made until you have Epic Craft Wondrous Items Feat.

So his house rule isn't bad for simplifying things.

 

[Nifft]

If that were true, there wouldn't be items that specified things like "creator must be X level spellcaster", such as the Caster's Shield or the Spell Storing weapon enhancement.

-- N

 

[Li Shenron]

My 3rd-level cleric just took craft wonderous item. After all the crafting was done, The DM informs us that you must meet the minimum caster level for the item being created. So what's the point of taking Craft Wonderous Item at 3rd level?

Clarifications that the "caster level" written in the item's entry is not a prerequisite have been attempted several times by the authors, but have often been unnoticed.

 

[Thanee]

Even if you have to meet the item's caster level (which, I think, is the better rule, BTW), there are still plenty possibilities to use the feat even at 3rd level. It's not like you can afford to create much by then, anyways.

Bye
Thanee

 

[robberbaron]

Why would anyone take a feat without knowing how it works?

 

[Whisper72]

Just shows you that it is wise to discuss with your DM about how to advance / develop your character in stead of thinking every rule in the books is automatically active in the campaign...

If a DM wants to have it such that making magical items is something special and can only be done by higher level (N)PC's, then that is the way things are... perfectly legit...