IMPORTANT NOTICE: Although this crafting system leverages many existing mechanics published under the 5e SRD and OGL, the final product is completely home-brewed. The finer details of this system are still being revised, and those changes will slowly be introduced into this document. However, the system as a whole is totally functional and ready to be used in any campaign. Furthermore, the rules and concepts discussed are intended to work in-tandem with the expanded artisan's tools rules found in Xanathar's Guide to Everything. If nothing else I hope this document and its siblings can be used as a source of guidance and inspiration for whatever crafting system you decide to go with.
The Carpenter’s Tools At A Glance
RAW Cost: 8 GP
RAW Weight: 6 lbs
*Items: Ruler, Framing Square, Nails, Clamp, Chisel, Knife, Framing Hammer, Level, Saw
Crafting Restrictions: Requires a workshop.
Mundane Item Crafting: Shields, Laminar Armor**(wooden ring mail), Bucket, Chest, Ladder, Portable Ram, and Vehicles.
Magic Item Crafting: None
Artwork Creation: Can create high quality furnishings such as tables and desks.
QA Artwork Bonus: Time to find a buyer is cut in half.
Structure Building: One of the core toolkits used when creating structures.
Adventuring Utility: Can be granted bonuses when interacting with objects created via carpentry.
* These items are specific to the Questionable Arcana system. Other similar crafting systems may utilitize a different list of items.
** Laminar armor is a home-brewed ring mail variant.
Not too long ago we went through the finer details of the incredibly practical art of woodcarving. We stepped away from the workings of wood for a bit, but now it is time to use our knowledge of woodworking as a building block towards the process of well… building with blocks! The Carpenter’s Tools is next on the list for this slightly silly crafting compendium, and like its predecessor I think you might be surprised how useful one of the oldest trades in existence can be in your campaign.
As usual the first step in the Questionably Arcana process is to establish what carpenters did/do in the historic and modern world. The answer to that question is quite a lot! It turns out that there is a wide range of carpenter archetypes that specialize in everything from creating cabinets in houses to creating scenery for theaters and movie sets. However instead of digging into each and every archetype, I want to focus on what I believe are the three most important archetypes; the framer, the finish carpenter(or joiner), and the ship’s carpenter.
Structures made of wood typically require at least one framer to build. These are the guys you bring in to set up the “frame” of a building. They are responsible for setting up the the scaffolding and supplemental construction required to stand a building up.
Finish carpenters or “joiners” work on objects that require exact joins and minimal margins of error. These tend to be smaller objects such as cabinetry, instrument making, and wooden dolls. This knowledge can also be applied to large-scale construction that requires precise measurements. In short, if you are working on an object that leaves little margin for error to be assembled properly, you are a joiner/finish carpenter.
I would generally consider the ship’s carpenter to be a combination of a framer and a joiner with an emphasis on working with nautical vessels. However, what really separates a ship’s carpenter from the pack is their ability to practice their craft under pressure. Most warships house at least one ship’s carpenter on-board to manage emergency repairs during an attack or a storm. Although ship’s carpenters are more than capable of building nautical structures when things are calm, their archetype really starts to shine when the heat is on.
And Three Became One
At this point it might be tempting to force your players to choose one specialization, but I strongly recommend against it. In practice most artisan’s tools not associated with making you better at killing things are rarely used through out a campaign. Since carpenters are focused on construction as opposed to destruction I think that artificially limiting what a carpenter can do would be a disservice to the campaign.
It is unlikely that more than one character in a party will be a carpenter, and denying them the opportunity to take creative action because they guessed the wrong archetype at character creation will destroy some potentially amazing moments. Instead of making a carpenter choose between being able to save the party’s ship during a fight with a kraken, or constructing a Trojan horse to infiltrate a religious cult, let them do both.
The Takeaway: Don’t split the carpenter into archetypes. If you have proficiency in the Carpenter’s Tools you are able to do everything each of the discussed archetypes can do.
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So What Can I Make For You?
As always you can apply any crafting system you wish to your campaign, but I am going to approach the rest of this guide under the assumption that you are either using base 5e rules or The Questionable Arcana Crafting System.
Questionable Arcana Item Crafting Rules At A Glance
Overview: The Questionable Arcana Crafting System is a homebrew set of rules that builds on the RAW crafting system. The goal of the system is to increase the rate that items are crafted while introducing an element of variability(aka dice rolling).
FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR THE COMPLETE RULES
Crafting Requirements
- A Lead Artisan - An artisan with the appropriate tool who can lead the crafting process.
- Crafting Materials - Materials to craft with. The items should be valued at 50% market value for mundane items and 100% market value for magical items.
- Means of Production - Any special equipment or location requirements such as a forge for blacksmiths.
- Instructions - Memorized instructions for mundane items or a written blueprint for magical items.
- Labor - Time and energy measured in 8 hour increments and proficiency dice rolls!
Crafting Capabilities Definitions
- LEAD - You can serve as the lead artisan when creating this item.
- ASSIST - You can work under a lead artisan to create this item.
- OPTIONAL - You could potentially create a non-RAW version of this item at the DM's discretion.
- N/A - You cannot use this toolkit to contribute to the creation of this item.
- SPECIAL - Special cases defined on a case by case basis.
Crafting GP Progression Formula
[PROGRESS IN GP] = 5 + (Proficiency_Dice_Roll * 5)
Important Disclaimer: The Questionable Arcana Crafting Rules and lists are not official material. The concepts and ideas provided by this write-up are simply suggestions. I happen to think they are good suggestions, but ultimately your table's DM has the final say when it comes to any and all crafting rulings.
As far as your basic adventuring gear goes there are actually only a handful of items a carpenter could realistically create from scratch. It is reasonable to assume that a carpenter could work on the following items:
Weapon Crafting List | |||
---|---|---|---|
Weapon | Cost | Weight | Crafting Capability |
Club | 1 SP | 2 | ASSIST |
Greatclub | 2 SP | 10 | ASSIST |
Handaxe | 5 GP | 2 | ASSIST |
Javelin | 5 SP | 2 | ASSIST |
Light Hammer | 2 GP | 2 | ASSIST |
Mace | 5 GP | 4 | ASSIST |
Quarterstaff | 2 SP | 4 | ASSIST |
Sickle | 1 GP | 2 | ASSIST |
Spear | 1 GP | 3 | ASSIST |
Crossbow, light | 25 GP | 5 | ASSIST |
Dart | 5 CP | 0.25 | ASSIST |
Shortbow | 25 GP | 2 | ASSIST |
Sling | 1 SP | – | ASSIST |
Flail | 10 GP | 2 | ASSIST |
Halberd | 20 GP | 6 | ASSIST |
Lance | 10 GP | 6 | ASSIST |
Maul | 10 GP | 10 | ASSIST |
Morningstar | 15 GP | 4 | ASSIST |
Pike | 5 GP | 18 | ASSIST |
Trident | 5 GP | 4 | ASSIST |
War pick | 5 GP | 2 | ASSIST |
Warhammer | 15 GP | 2 | ASSIST |
Blowgun | 10 GP | 1 | ASSIST |
Crossbow, hand | 75 GP | 3 | ASSIST |
Crossbow, heavy | 50 GP | 18 | ASSIST |
Longbow | 50 GP | 2 | ASSIST |
Armor Crafting List | |||
---|---|---|---|
Armor | Cost | Weight | Crafting Capability |
Shield | 10 GP | 6 | LEAD |
Ring Mail | 30 GP | 40 | OPTIONAL |
Adventuring Gear Crafting List | |||
---|---|---|---|
Item | Cost | Weight | Crafting Capability |
Abacus | 2 gp | 2 lb. | LEAD |
Arrows (20) | 1 GP | 1 lb. | ASSIST |
Blowgun Needles (50) | 1 GP | 1 lb. | ASSIST |
Crossbow Bolts (20) | 1 GP | 1.5 lb. | ASSIST |
Arcane Focus, Rod | 10 gp | 2 lb. | ASSIST |
Arcane Focus, Staff | 5 gp | 4 lb. | ASSIST |
Arcane Focus, Wand | 10 gp | 1 lb. | ASSIST |
Barrel | 2 gp | 70 lb. | LEAD |
Bell | 1 gp | — | OPTIONAL |
Block and Tackle | 1 gp | 5 lb. | LEAD |
Bottle, Glass | 2 gp | 2 lb. | OPTIONAL |
Bucket | 5 cp | 2 lb. | LEAD |
Candle | 1 cp | — | OPTIONAL |
Case, Crossbow Bolt | 1 gp | 1 lb. | LEAD |
Case, Map or Scroll | 1 gp | 1 lb. | OPTIONAL |
Chest | 5 gp | 25 lb. | LEAD |
Fishing Tackle | 1 gp | 4 lb. | ASSIST |
Flask or Tankard | 2 cp | 1 lb. | ASSIST |
Hammer | 1 gp | 3 lb. | OPTIONAL |
Hammer, Sledge | 2 gp | 10 lb. | OPTIONAL |
Healer’s Kit | 5 gp | 3 lb. | ASSIST |
Ink Pen | 2 cp | — | LEAD |
Jug or Pitcher | 2 cp | 4 lb. | ASSIST |
Ladder (10-foot) | 1 sp | 25 lb. | LEAD |
Manacles | 2 gp | 6 lb. | OPTIONAL |
Mirror, Steel | 5 gp | ½ lb. | OPTIONAL |
Paper (one sheet) | 2 sp | — | ASSIST |
Pole (10-foot) | 5 cp | 7 lb. | LEAD |
Ram, Portable | 4 gp | 35 lb. | LEAD |
Scale, Merchant’s | 5 gp | 3 lb. | ASSIST |
Shovel | 2 gp | 5 lb. | LEAD |
Signal Whistle | 5 cp | — | ASSIST |
Spikes, Iron (10) | 1 gp | 5 lb. | OPTIONAL |
Spyglass | 1,000 gp | 1 lb. | ASSIST |
Tent, two-person | 2 gp | 20 lb. | LEAD |
Tinderbox | 5 sp | 1 lb. | LEAD |
Torch | 1 cp | 1 lb. | LEAD |
On the magic item front the Carpenter’s Tools can lead the construction of a handful of interesting items, and assist in the construction of a wide array of items as well.
Magic Item Crafting List | |||
---|---|---|---|
Magic Item | Rarity | Category | Crafting Capability |
Ammunition, +1 – Arrows | Uncommon | Weapon | LEAD |
Ammunition, +2 – Arrows | Rare | Weapon | LEAD |
Ammunition, +3 – Arrows | Very Rare | Weapon | LEAD |
Ammunition, +1 – Blowgun Needles | Uncommon | Weapon | LEAD |
Ammunition, +2 – Blowgun Needles | Rare | Weapon | LEAD |
Ammunition, +3 – Blowgun Needles | Very Rare | Weapon | LEAD |
Ammunition, +1 – Crossbow Bolts | Uncommon | Weapon | LEAD |
Ammunition, +2 – Crossbow Bolts | Rare | Weapon | LEAD |
Ammunition, +3 – Crossbow Bolts | Very Rare | Weapon | LEAD |
Animated Shield | Very Rare | Armor | LEAD |
Armor +1 – Ring Mail | Rare | Armor | OPTIONAL |
Armor +2 – Ring Mail | Very Rare | Armor | OPTIONAL |
Armor +3 – Ring Mail | Legendary | Armor | OPTIONAL |
Armor of Resistance – Ring Mail | Rare | Armor | OPTIONAL |
Arrow-Catching Shield | Rare | Armor | LEAD |
Arrow of Slaying | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Berserker Axe – Handaxe | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Berserker Axe – Battleaxe | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Berserker Axe – Greataxe | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Berserker Axe – Halberd | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Bowl of Commanding Water Elementals | Rare | Wondrous Item | ASSIST |
Broom of Flying | Uncommon | Wondrous Item | ASSIST |
Candle of Invocation | Very Rare | Wondrous Item | OPTIONAL |
Decanter of Endless Water | Uncommon | Wondrous Item | ASSIST |
Dimensional Shackles | Rare | Wondrous Item | OPTIONAL |
Dwarven Thrower | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Feather Token – Swan Boat | Rare | Wondrous Item | ASSIST |
Folding Boat | LEAD | ||
Giant Slayer – Handaxe | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Giant Slayer – Battleaxe | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Giant Slayer – Greataxe | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Giant Slayer – Halberd | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Hammer of Thunderbolts | Legendary | Weapon | ASSIST |
Instant Fortress | Rare | Wondrous Item | LEAD |
Javelin of Lightning | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Mace of Disruption | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Mace of Smiting | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Mace of Terror | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Pipes of Haunting | Uncommon | Wondrous Item | ASSIST |
Pipes of the Sewers | Uncommon | Wondrous Item | ASSIST |
Shield +1 | Uncommon | Armor | LEAD |
Shield +2 | Rare | Armor | LEAD |
Shield +3 | Very Rare | Armor | LEAD |
Shield of Missile Attraction | Rare | Armor | LEAD |
Spellguard Shield | Very Rare | Armor | LEAD |
Staff of Charming | Rare | Staff | ASSIST |
Staff of Fire | Very Rare | Staff | ASSIST |
Staff of Frost | Very Rare | Staff | ASSIST |
Staff of Healing | Rare | Staff | ASSIST |
Staff of Power | Very Rare | Staff | ASSIST |
Staff of Striking | Very Rare | Staff | ASSIST |
Staff of Swarming Insects | Rare | Staff | ASSIST |
Staff of the Magi | Legendary | Staff | ASSIST |
Staff of the Python | Uncommon | Staff | ASSIST |
Staff of the Woodlands | Rare | Staff | ASSIST |
Staff of Thunder and Lightning | Very Rare | Staff | ASSIST |
Staff of Withering | Rare | Staff | ASSIST |
Trident of Fish Command | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Club | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Greatclub | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Handaxe | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Javelin | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Light Hammer | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Mace | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Quarterstaff | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Sickle | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Spear | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Crossbow, light | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Dart | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Shortbow | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Sling | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Flail | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Halberd | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Lance | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Maul | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Morningstar | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Pike | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Trident | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – War pick | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Warhammer | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Blowgun | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Crossbow, hand | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Crossbow, heavy | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Vicious Weapon – Longbow | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Wand of Binding | Rare | Wand | ASSIST |
Wand of Enemy Detection | Rare | Wand | ASSIST |
Wand of Fear | Rare | Wand | ASSIST |
Wand of Fireballs | Rare | Wand | ASSIST |
Wand of Lightning Bolts | Rare | Wand | ASSIST |
Wand of Magic Detection | Uncommon | Wand | ASSIST |
Wand of Magic Missiles | Rare | Wand | ASSIST |
Wand of Paralysis | Very Rare | Wand | ASSIST |
Wand of Polymorph | Very Rare | Wand | ASSIST |
Wand of Secrets | Uncommon | Wand | ASSIST |
Wand of the War Mage, +1, +2, or +3 | Uncommon | Wand | ASSIST |
Wand of Web | Uncommon | Wand | ASSIST |
Wand of Wonder | Rare | Wand | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Club | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Greatclub | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Handaxe | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Javelin | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Light Hammer | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Mace | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Quarterstaff | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Sickle | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Spear | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Crossbow, light | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Dart | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Shortbow | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Sling | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Flail | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Halberd | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Lance | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Maul | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Morningstar | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Pike | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Trident | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – War pick | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Warhammer | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Blowgun | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Crossbow, hand | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Crossbow, heavy | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +1 – Longbow | Uncommon | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Club | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Greatclub | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Handaxe | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Javelin | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Light Hammer | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Mace | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Quarterstaff | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Sickle | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Spear | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Crossbow, light | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Dart | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Shortbow | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Sling | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Flail | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Halberd | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Lance | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Maul | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Morningstar | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Pike | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Trident | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – War pick | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Warhammer | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Blowgun | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Crossbow, hand | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Crossbow, heavy | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +2 – Longbow | Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Club | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Greatclub | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Handaxe | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Javelin | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Light Hammer | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Mace | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Quarterstaff | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Sickle | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Spear | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Crossbow, light | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Dart | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Shortbow | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Sling | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Flail | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Halberd | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Lance | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Maul | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Morningstar | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Pike | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Trident | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – War pick | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Warhammer | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Blowgun | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Crossbow, hand | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Crossbow, heavy | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
Weapon +3 – Longbow | Very Rare | Weapon | ASSIST |
At this point you might notice that carpenters and woodcarvers have a lot of similarities. This is definitely true when it comes to many of the basic tasks around cutting and shaping material, but woodcarvers have the edge in the creation of smaller hand-held items such as weapons. The real strength of the carpenter’s tools lies in its ability to contribute to larger projects.
One such example of these larger items is vehicles. I would argue that a carpenter would be required to construct all of the following vehicles:
- Galley
- Keelboat
- Longship
- Rowboat
- Sailing Ship
- Warship
Beyond vehicles a carpenter can also lead the construction of wooden structures. A carpenter can also contribute to the construction of stone structures, but a mason is required to lead those construction projects.
If you go beyond the items available in SRD and Official Books the list of items that a player with carpenter’s tools proficiency can make is potentially massive. Rather than itemize all possibilities I will leave the valuation of these items to the DM. My only recommendation is that you use the existing objects in the Dungeon Master’s Guide for reference when creating custom vehicles(PHB-157, DMG-119) and structures(DMG-128).
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It Smells of Rich Mahogany
When constructing well defined objects such as a functional table from an existing blueprint use the RAW crafting system or the Questionable Arcana base crafting rules. However, should a player try to cut and assemble their own custom designed reclaimed wood table for a nobleman, then using rules for crafting artwork would be more appropriate.
Questionable Arcana Artwork Crafting Rules At A Glance
Overview: The Questionable Arcana Artwork Crafting System is a homebrew set of rules that allows your players to create potentially valuable artwork. The goal of the system is to allow for crafting options beyond the defined RAW items. This is especially important for artistic toolkits such as the painter's supplies where RAW crafting options are limited.
FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR THE COMPLETE ARTWORK CRAFTING RULES
Crafting Process
- Obtain Means of Production - Obtain any special equipment or set up in a location that allows you to use the artisan's tools. This step does not apply to all kits. For example a smith needs a forge to create art, but a painter can create artwork anywhere.
- Roll Artisan's Tool Ability Check - A skill check that involves using the artisan's tool to create a piece of artwork. If you succeed the check add Crafting Progress Roll value to the estimated value of the artwork. If you fail the check no progress is made. If you fail the check by 5 or more you subtract the Crafting Progress Roll value from the estimated value of the artwork.
- GP Progression Roll - Roll your proficiency dice to determine how much value is added or subtracted to the estimated GP value of the artwork being created.
Artisan's Tool Ability Check Formula
[Ability Check DC]* = [Target Item's Current Estimated Value]** / 10
* Values are rounded down and the Max DC is 20
** Does not include the value of materials used to create the artwork. For example the value of any gemstones installed using a jeweler's tools are not used to calculate the ability check DC.
Crafting Progress Roll
[Target Item's Estimated Value] = [Target Item's Current Estimated Value] +/- ([Proficiency Dice Roll] x 5)
Important Disclaimer: The Questionable Arcana Artwork Crafting Rules and lists are not official material. The concepts and ideas provided by this write-up are simply suggestions. I happen to think they are good suggestions, but ultimately your table's DM has the final say when it comes to any and all artwork crafting rulings.
A good rule of thumb is that if there are very few instructions provided on how to assemble something, then you should probably use the artwork system.
While carpenters have no real advantages in the artwork creation process, the people of all walks of life desire the goods they create. As a result they typically have an easier time finding a buyers than most other artisans. If you are using the Questionable Arcana Artwork System, a carpenter can cut the “time to find a buyer” roll in half when rolling against the Salable (Magic) Items table.
The Takeaway: Carpenter’s can create a handful of adventuring items, but can lead or contribute in the construction of nearly all vehicles and structures. Use the basic crafting systems when creating known items from blueprints, and the artwork crafting system when creating custom goods.
When One Door Closes, Disassemble It and Carry On
The last item to discuss is the adventuring implications being proficient in the carpenter’s tools. A carpenter’s knowledge of building assembly, furniture creation, and general construction acumen allows them view and manipulate the environment differently than non-carpenters.
For example, if the party is walking up to a dilapidated structure a normal adventurer might notice that it looks like the building will collapse soon. However, a carpenter would be able to correctly identify the load bearing columns holding the building up. With that knowledge they can then use their tools to fortify the structure once it has been cleared, or use the information to collapse the building on the unsuspecting thieves inside.
A carpenter could also apply their knowledge when searching through furnished goods. For example when the party is searching the room a carpenter might be familiar with the design of a desk or bureau. This would likely give him a significant edge in location any hidden compartments inside of the furniture.
The potential applications of these tools are virtually endless, but as a rule of thumb I would recommend adding the carpenter’s tools proficiency to any skill checks that involve observing or manipulating wooden framed structures and finished goods.
The Takeaway: A player with proficiency in the carpenter’s tools should add their proficiency bonus to any checks that involve observing or manipulating wooden framed structures and finished goods.
Conclusion
Players with carpenter’s tools proficiency are extremely desirable to any party that is interested in building vehicles and structures. Their ability to assess structures and furnishings could also prove to be a game changer in the right situation. Although the goods created with the carpenter’s tools will rarely help slay the beast at the end of the dungeon, they will likely be instrumental in your ability to get there.
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