D&D 5e – Questionable Arcana – Crafting: Jeweler’s Tools

The Jeweler’s Tools At A Glance

RAW Cost: 25 GP
RAW Weight: 2 lbs
*Items: Pliers, Wire Cutters, Needle and Thread, Clasp, Ruler, Wire
Crafting Restrictions: None
Mundane Item Crafting: Arcane Focus(Crystal, Orb, Rod, Staff, Wand), Holy Symbol(Amulet, Emblem, Reliquary), Signet Ring
Magic Item Crafting: All magical rings, amulets, and jewelry. The full list can be found below.
Artwork Creation: Can create luxurious jewelry that can fetch a high price.
QA Artwork Bonus: Artisan is grant a crafting inspiration dice that can be used on themselves or a crafting companion that is working on the same object during that crafting session.
Structure Building: None
Adventuring Utility: Gains a bonus when attempting to identify gemstones, or prove the validity of gemstones.

* These items are specific to the Questionable Arcana system. Other similar crafting systems may utilitize a different list of items.

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

1. A Lead Artisan - An artisan with the appropriate tool who can lead the crafting process.
2. 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.
3. Means of Production - Any special equipment or location requirements such as a forge for blacksmiths.
4. Instructions - Memorized instructions for mundane items or a written blueprint for magical items.
5. 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.

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Artwork Example: Malachite Signet Ring

A player proficient with the jeweler’s tools decides that they want to make a signet ring, then install malachite gems along the outside of the ring.

On the first day the jeweler rolls to create as many signet rings as possible. Because a signet ring is a mundane item there is no ability check. The player rolls a 3 on their crafting progress check, resulting in 20 GP worth of crafting progress. Since mundane items require half of an item’s value in material costs, the player spends 10 GP to create 4 signet rings valued at 5 GP each.

The player then takes one signet ring, and spends 7 days adding full malachite gemstones to the ring in an artistic manner. The player is able to succeed their ability check on the first six days and they roll the following scores on their crafting progress roll: 3, 5, 2, 6, 6, and 4.

This means after 6 days the ring is worth 6*5(base value added) + 28*5(crafting progress rolls)+6*10(value of malachite gemstones) = 170 GP Artistic Value + 60 GP Gemstone Value = 230 Estimated Artwork Value.

On the 7th day the player must beat a difficulty check of 17(The material value of the gemstones is not included when calculating the artisan’s tool ability check DC) to increase the value of the artwork, but even after using the crafting inspiration die their highest roll is an 11. This means that not only did the jeweler fail to improve the quality of the artwork, but they actually damaged the artwork. The malachite gemstone is not added to the artwork, and after rolling a 5 on the crafting progress roll a total of 5(base value added) + 5*5(crafting progress roll) = 30 GP is REMOVED from the estimated value of the artwork. This leaves the artwork at a value of 140 GP artistic value + 60 GP gemstone value = 200 GP Estimated Artwork Value.

Not wanting to press their luck any further, the player decides stash the artwork away to be sold later. The player then moves on to adding gems to the next of the 3 remaining signet rings.

Crafting Inspiration Token

An artisan with a crafting inspiration token is able to use the token when rolling an artisan’s tool ability check. Using the token grants themselves, or another player working on the same item advantage on the artisan’s tool ability check. You can choose to use a token after the artisan makes its roll, but before the DM determines the check’s outcome.