Rune Crafting

Rune Crafting

Rune Crafting currently refers to the smithing system used to transfer magical item properties by converting them into runes and applying them to other items.

How It Works

1. Extract one supported property from a donor item into a rune.
2. Apply that rune to a compatible target item.

General rules:

• Extraction always destroys the donor item.
• Applying a rune always destroys the rune.
• Full GP cost is charged only on success.
• Failed attempts charge a tax equal to 10% of the full cost, minimum 1gp.
• Extraction DC is based on application DC:
  • Extract DC = ceil(Apply DC x 0.8)
• If you apply a property that already exists on the target item, the system does not merge or upgrade it automatically. It simply adds another property, which may be redundant.

Who Can Use It

• You need at least 5 base Smithing ranks to use the forge or mold station.
• Buffs and equipment do not count toward that requirement.

Supported Item Types

Smithing currently supports:

• Weapons, except ammo and throwables
• Shields
• Medium armors
• Heavy armors

Smithing does not currently support:

• Robes
• Light armors
• Ammo
• Throwables

Donor Restrictions

Items cannot be used as extraction donors if they are:

• plot-marked
• bound
• relic
• tailor-made or enhanced outfits from the tailoring enchant path

Items cannot be used as molding donors if they are:

• plot-marked
• bound
• relic

Compatibility Rules

• Weapons and shields: the rune must match the exact base item.
• Armor: the rune must match the exact armor type.
• The target item must also support that property type.

General Limits

• Normal items can receive up to 3 successful smiths.
• Molded items can receive up to 7 successful smiths.

Skill Focus

Skill Focus: Smithing provides two benefits:

• lower GP costs
• better extraction value retention

Property caps still apply even with Skill Focus.

Smithing Property Tables

Skill Increase

Rules:

• Maximum rune value with Skill Focus: +3
• Without Skill Focus, extracted value is reduced to +1

Value	Apply DC	Extract DC	Apply GP
+1	23	19	500
+2	30	24	1000
+3	40	32	2000

Saves Increase

Caps:

• Specific saves: +3
• General saves (Fortitude, Reflex, Will): +2
• Universal saves: +1

Amount limits:

• General saves: 2
• Universal saves: 1

Variant	Value	Apply DC	Extract DC	Apply GP
Specific	+1	25	20	750
Specific	+2	32	26	1500
Specific	+3	45	36	2500
General (Fort/Ref/Will)	+1	35	28	2000
General (Fort/Ref/Will)	+2	50	40	4000
Universal	+1	55	44	5500

Damage Immunity Increase

Physical types:

• Slashing
• Piercing
• Bludgeoning

Rules:

• Physical damage immunity is limited to 1 per item.
• Other damage immunity types have no amount limit.
• Without Skill Focus, extracted immunity is reduced to 5%
• With Skill Focus, extracted immunity is capped at 10%

Variant	Value	Apply DC	Extract DC	Apply GP
Physical DI	5%	40	32	2500
Physical DI	10%	50	40	4000
Other DI	5%	35	28	2000
Other DI	10%	45	36	3000

AC Increase

Rules:

• All AC rune values are capped at +4
• Without Skill Focus, extracted AC values are reduced to +1
• AC Increase (Normal) can only be successfully added once per item

Variant	Value	Apply DC	Extract DC	Apply GP
Normal	+1	40	32	3000
Normal	+2	45	36	4000
Normal	+3	55	44	5000
Normal	+4	65	52	6000
Racial	+1	30	24	1500
Racial	+2	35	28	2000
Racial	+3	40	32	2500
Racial	+4	45	36	3000
Alignment	+1	35	28	2500
Alignment	+2	42	34	3200
Alignment	+3	50	40	4000
Alignment	+4	58	47	4700

Damage Increase and Massive Criticals

Caps even with Skill Focus:

• Flat values: +3
• Random values: 1d8

Amount limits:

• Damage Increase (Normal): 1 on normal items, 2 on molded items
• Massive Criticals: 1

Damage Increase (Normal)

Value	Apply DC	Extract DC	Apply GP
+1	35	28	2000
+2	45	36	3500
+3	60	48	5500
1d4	50	40	4500
1d6	70	56	6500
1d8	80	64	10000

Damage Increase (Racial)

Value	Apply DC	Extract DC	Apply GP
+1	20	16	1000
+2	30	24	1500
+3	40	32	2500
1d4	35	28	2000
1d6	45	36	3000
1d8	60	48	5000

Damage Increase (Alignment)

Value	Apply DC	Extract DC	Apply GP
+1	30	24	1500
+2	38	31	2200
+3	50	40	3500
1d4	45	36	3000
1d6	55	44	4000
1d8	70	56	6000

Massive Criticals

Value	Apply DC	Extract DC	Apply GP
+1	30	24	1500
+2	35	28	2000
+3	45	36	3000
1d4	40	32	2500
1d6	50	40	3500
1d8	60	48	5000

Molding

Molding creates a new blank smithing base from an existing item.

Rules:

• The donor item is destroyed.
• No roll is made.
• Base molding cost is 500gp before discounts.
• The molded item keeps the original item's appearance and base identity.
• Only the owning smith can smith or edit it, though DMs can bypass this.
• Applying runes to a molded item gets an additional 0.9x GP discount.

Final Note

Rune Crafting will continue to be adjusted over time, especially GP costs, DC values, and supported item categories.

If the system works well, it is expected to expand to more item types in the future.