Starting a Project

When a character wants to craft something their first step is to start a project with the approval of the DM. The player and the DM must discuss and agree on the following aspects of the project:

• Resulting Item. This aspect is resolved when the player and DM both have a clear understanding of what the character is crafting. Both parties must understand exactly what the item will be and what it will do. This must include the base item, weight, and mechanical effect of the item. It can help to make an Crafting Project card when agreeing on this aspect to avoid any confusion for either party involved. If the character is trying to craft an existing item, use the listed weight and mechanical effects of the item.
• Value. This aspect is resolved when the player and DM agree on the average gold value of the resulting item. If the character is trying to craft an existing item, use the listed price for the item.
• Tool & Workstation Requirements. This aspect is resolved when the player and DM agree on whether or not a workstation is required and which tool is appropriate for the crafting of the resulting item.

Once the player and DM have resolved these aspects, the player may name the project and add it to their list of ongoing projects. A character can have any number of ongoing projects at a given time.

Working on a Project

Characters with ongoing projects can spend time working on projects to move them toward completion. First, the character chooses an ongoing project to work on, then they choose a work period from the Craft Roll table (below). In order to work on a project a character must have access to the necessary crafting station, tools, raw materials, and the in-progress item they are trying to craft (if any). Once a character meets these requirements and chooses a work period, they are considered to be crafting.

While crafting, a character has disadvantage on ability checks to perform tasks unrelated to the creation of their desired item. Crafting is considered light activity for the purposes of completing a long rest. A character can choose to stop crafting at will.

Starting a Magic Item Project

In order to start a Magic Item Project the player and the DM must discuss and agree on the following aspects of the project:

• Resulting Item Effect(s). This aspect resolves once the player and DM are clear on what the completed item will do. This usually involves the player proposing a magic item effect to the DM and the DM offering changes to their idea until both parties are satisfied. Make sure to discuss whether the item requires attunement as part of this step. It can help to make a Magic Item Project card when agreeing on this aspect to avoid any confusion for either party involved. If the player is creating an existing magic item, use the listed effects of the item.
• Resulting Item Rarity This aspect resolves once the player and DM are clear on what rarity the completed item will be. It can help to compare the desired effect of the item to existing magic items and the guidelines for custom magic items in the DMG. If the player is crafting an existing magic item, use the listed rarity of the item.
• Key Ingredient This aspect resolves once the player and DM are clear on whether there is a key ingredient for this project and what the key ingredient is. See the Key Ingredients section for more details on what key ingredients are and what they do. If a key ingredient exists but may not be known to the player, the DM may require an Intelligence (Arcana) check with a DC of 15 to identify the key ingredient.
• Workstation Requirements. This aspect is resolved when the player and DM agree on whether or not a workstation is required for the crafting of the resulting item.

Once the player and DM have resolved these aspects, the player may name the project and add it to their list of ongoing projects. The value of the resulting item is determined by the Magic Item Crafting table below.

Working on a Magic Item Project

Working on a magic item project follows the same basic structure as working on mundane project. Characters will select a work period from the Craft Roll table, pay their crafting fee, make their craft roll, and advance the project based on the result. However, magic item projects differ in the following ways:

• Craft rolls use Intelligence (Arcana) instead of a tool check
• To make craft rolls towards completing the project, a character must meet a minimum spellcaster level requirement as shown on the Magic Item Crafting table
• The character must have access to the mundane item they are infusing with magic throughout each work period
• Most magic item projects will have key ingredients (see below)

The Curse Roll

While most craftsmen won't want to make cursed items they are sometimes created anyway due to lack of skill or luck. When a character completes a magic item project they must make a DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana) check to determine whether the item bears a curse. Roll a d100 on a success or a d6 on a failure. If the result of this roll is equal to 5 or less, roll on the table of minor detrimental properties (DMG p220) or work with your DM to determine a suitable curse for your item. If the result of the roll is a natural 1, roll on the table of major detrimental properties instead (DMG p220) instead.

Key Ingredients

Key ingredients are a unique concept to magic item projects. Key ingredients represent a highly specific arcane ingredient that makes infusing the magic in to the mundane item much easier. For example, the key ingredient for a flametongue longsword might be the heart of a fire elemental. Depending on the rarity of the item being created, key ingredients might require their own adventure to obtain.

Characters that have the key ingredient for one of their ongoing magic item projects may halve the value of the project for the purposes of crafting. When the item is completed the key ingredient is consumed.

Crafting Consumables

Consumable items such as scrolls and potions follow the same rules as other magic items with a few exceptions:

• The value of consumable projects is halved
• Consumable projects require no mundane item to serve a base
• The DM may rule that tool proficiencies can be used in place of Intelligence (Arcana) for craft rolls. For example, making potions might be an alchemist's supplies check instead.

Weaponsmith

You are skilled at reinforcing and sharpening weapons, granting you the following benefits:

• Increase your Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, or Wisdom by 1, to a maximum of 20.
• You gain proficiency with your choice of smith's tools or woodcarver's tools.
• As part of a short rest, you can temporarily apply oils and prepare a weapon of your choice. The next time a creature hits an attack with the weapon, it deals additional damage equal to 1d8 + your proficiency bonus.
• Once during each long rest, you can sharpen or reinforce a weapon of your choice. You must spend at least 1 collective hour throughout your rest working on the chosen weapon using your chosen tools. A creature wielding the weapon adds half of your proficiency bonus to attack and damage rolls made with that weapon until you complete another long rest.

Crafting Example