Quick Links
Crafting? InDungeons & Dragons? It’s more likely than you think. This is a downtime activity players can partake in, whether it’s to make a product to sell, an item to gift, or a good to keep and use that can come in handy on their adventures.
But how the heck does crafting work exactly? How much time is spent and which materials are used can be a confusing place to start if you feel unsure about the rules. This guide will break down what crafting looks like in the 2024 Player’s Handbook, the kinds of things that can be made, and how to calculate gold and time spent.
What Is Crafting?
Crafting is what’s considereda downtime activity, which basically means any time the players spend in a campaign thatisn’t spent on a quest, mission, or in combat. Other downtime activities include the belovedbar hopping, studying, gambling, and so the list goes.
Just like crafting in other games or in real life, it allows youto devote time, energy, and, in D&D’s case, gold to a project. This can range from wood and metal-basedgoods to useable equipment and even potions. However, that will be explored later in this guide.
Why Spend Downtime On Crafting?
There’s a reason why your character may want to spend some of their downtime on crafting. These items you produce, like armor, can beused by you or a party member. Youcan sell the items you’ve made, netting you a bit of profit if you’re either struggling in the financial department or simply want to make some money while honing this skill. You can alsomake gifts for the other party members or for NPCsif you’re looking to gain favor or impress someone. Maybe starta little romance.
The reasons why are as endless as a never-ending campaign because it comes down toany reason a player can think of or for a Dungeon Master (DM) to help facilitatethe players. And, even if a specific item isn’t covered by the rules,those rules can be applied to the creation of anythingyou think to make.
What are the rules for crafting? Depending on what you want to make, the rules vary slightly, but it comes down to three basic choices.
Crafting Non-Magical Items
In order to craft any non-magical items, you have to have theproper tools and materials. Depending on the type of campaign you’re in, you may have to actually go aboutgathering the right materials, or the DM may elect to instead make it sothat you spend the amount of gold neededfor the supplies. You then alsoneed to set aside the timein order to craft the good.
Tools
There are two types of tools:artisan tools and other tools. Yes, that’s what they’re named in the 2024 Player’s Handbook. Each of them has acost to purchase the tools or kits, whatskill proficiency is neededto use them, some different ideas ofhow to utilize them, and a brief list ofwhat they can be used to make.
50gp
20gp
10gp
8gp
15gp
5gp
1gp
30gp
25gp
Dexterity
The Gaming Sets and Musical Instruments vary because there ismore than one option for both the sets and instrumentsto choose from. A dice set and chess set will vary because ofthe formulas for cost and time. This is explained further below.
Utilization means that there aredifferent things you may use these tools foroutside of crafting with them. Forthe Alchemist’s Supplies, for example, you canutilize them to start a fire. Whether that’s for a campfire, some good old property damage, or lighting up a torch or lantern isall completely up to youand the circumstances you’re in.
However, when it comes to crafting, things likeAcid, Alchemist’s Fire, and Oilare listed as thingsyou can create with your Alchemist’s Supplies. Youaren’t limited to only what is suggested, of course. These simply give players and DMs a baseline when it comes to what common items can be made.
For any item you want to craft that isn’t listed with its appropriate tool,the DM decides what tool you use. If you are ever unsure about a ruling,consult your DM.
To craft an item, youhave to use a set of toolsand youhave to be proficient with that tool. And, if anyone is helping you, theymust also be proficientwith that same tool.
Raw Materials
As stated above, your DM may rule that youmust gather appropriate materialsthemselves, or you can justexpendthe amount of goldneededfor those materials. Either way, the materialsmust be worth half of the item’s sell price. If this results in a fraction or decimal,you round down.
As a DM, you can further decide that gathering the actual materials lessens the cost burden. Or, if you want to make planning easier,you can skip the gathering processaltogether and just haveyour player(s) pay the required amount of money.
The example given in the book is of plate armor. Plate armorsells for 1,500gp. So you would need raw materialsworth 750gp in order to craft the armor. It doesn’t state if this is all paid upfront, so you can always confirm with your DMas to when the money is paidand if youcan pay in installments.
Time
To know how much time is needed to complete an item, youdivide that item’s worth by ten gold pieces. So, in the example above, it would take75 days to finish crafting your plate armor. If the division leads to a fraction or decimal,you round up a day.
A day, when it comes to D&D crafting, is defined asan eight-hour working day.
These daysdon’t need to be consecutive, and party members or other assistantscan help lessen the amount of timeby helping you craft the item. The book does say that, while usuallyonly one helper would be allowed, the DM can make the rulingthat more people can lend a hand.
Brewing Healing Potions
The rules are so much more simplistic when it comes to brewing a healing potion. Youdo have to use a Herbalism Kit, and youspend 25gp on the raw materialsas well asone eight-hour day brewing it. That’s it.
It is worth noting that, like anything,a DM can alter these rules. Some DMs, like myself, might rule thatAlchemist’s Supplies or Brewer’s Toolscould also be utilized. After all, you are crafting a potion and/or brewing it.
Scribing Spell Scrolls
Back to the more complicated rules. Scribing a spell scroll requires a couple of different thingsbesides time and money. You have to either beproficient with the Arcana skill or the Calligrapher’s Supplies. You then must alsohave the spell in question prepared for each dayof the scribing process. You must also have access tothe material components a spell requiresif it requires any.
Each spell level hasits own requirements for how much time and moneymust be set aside. This makes it so thatthe higher the spell level, the longer and more expensiveit is to craft.
1st Level
2nd Level
100gp
3rd Level
150gp
4th Level
1,000gp
5th Level
1,500gp
6th Level
10,000gp
7th Level
12,500gp
8th Level
15,000gp
9th Level
50,000gp
120 Days
When you use a cantrip spell scroll, you use itbased on your current level,not the scribe’s level.
