Step 1: Learning Recipes

Every magic item has a Recipe which lists the monster parts required to craft the item and the type of workshop used to construct it.

Most items require between three and ten parts to create. For example, a +1 Weapon must be created at an Uncommon Workshop and requires the following Uncommon Components:

• Animus Any Animus.
• Bones Any bones.
• Natural Weapon Any horns, claws, teeth, or fangs.
• Hide Any hide.

Recipes vary from item to item, but most call for monster parts from at least two or three different creatures or sources.

Characters can learn Recipes in three main ways: Finding Schematics, Purchasing Schematics, or through Research.

Finding Schematics

Most often, characters learn how to craft a particular magic item by finding a Schematic. These documents reveal the rarity, type, and full properties for a crafted magic item, as well as all Components needed to create it.

A Schematic may be found as treasure placed by the Game Master or given as a reward for completing a quest. A Schematic takes the form of written or illustrated plans, such as a diagram on parchment, an instruction manual, or inscriptions upon ancient ruins. A master craftsperson might be able to teach the player characters how to make an Uncommon or Rare magic item, whereas Schematics for Very Rare and Legendary items may be knowledge gleaned from the whispers of an otherworldly entity, ancient archmage, or powerful dragon.

Learning Components from a Schematic is an ideal method to kick off a “scavenger hunt” side-quest for the player charac ters. Plans in hand, they know what they need to get, but it’s up to them to locate the monsters and Components needed. Schematics encourage the characters to keep a careful eye out for rare or interesting creatures, and perhaps search a little more thoroughly through the deep dungeons and dark streets of Drakkenheim for a rare prize.

Purchasing Schematics

Occasionally, player characters may have the opportunity to purchase a Schematic. The Schematic Pricing table below de tails suggested prices based on the rarity of the finished item:

Research

During their adventures, player characters may gather all manner of curious Components, but they may not know exactly what magic items can be created from these collected materials. In such cases, the player characters may study the found parts to discover possible Recipes on their own. This method allows the player characters to discover a magic item Recipe piecemeal, and creates the feeling the characters are inventing or discovering something new.

During a Long Rest, a character can examine a number of Components equal to their Intelligence modifier (minimum one Component). Once they finish a Long Rest, the character learns the Recipe for one magic item the studied Component can be used to create. Since some monster Components can be used to create a variety of different items, an individual Component can be studied multiple times.

Instant Discovery

If the player characters have collected all the monster parts needed to craft an item, but haven’t yet learned the Recipe, they discover the full Recipe once they research any one of the required parts. Seeing all the parts together is enough for a flash of inspiration! Tool Proficiency Player characters gain knowledge of a few basic Recipes based on their tool proficiencies, as indicated in the table below.