Crafting for 7^th Sea

Vendel merchants, Eisen scholars, Vodaccean composers and Montaigne artists are all attempting to immortalize themselves through their creations. Whether composing an opera or forging a new sword, the process is the same. First the game master tells the player what knack should be used (called the primary knack) and how long the process typically takes. A few examples are listed below. Note, that the focus of swashbuckling games tends to be on action rather than mundane matters, so these examples tend to be shortened a bit.

Creation Knack            Process Time

Bottle (Glassblowing) : 1 day

Sword (Smithing) : 2 weeks

Lantern (Lantern-Making) : 3 days

Opera (Musician) : 6 months

Play (Writing) : 3 weeks

Wine (Vintner) : 1 season

Clock (Clock-making) : 1 week

Meal (Cooking) : 3 hours

Second, the player determines if he is using standard construction or a new design.  If using a standard design, go to the next step. Those attempting a new design are trying to fashion something unique and special at the risk of complete failure. The player spends a drama die and the game master secretly rolls a Wits+Primary knack with a target number of 15 (10 for simple projects and 20 or 25 for complex ones). Failure indicates that the design contains a basic flaw that ruins the final product. Success indicates the design has some merit. For every 5 points about 15, the hero gets a free raise during the crafting stage. The design process takes 1/3 of the time to create an object in addition to the normal crafting time. This can be reduced by ½ by calling two raises or doubled for one free raisesto this roll.

The Crafting stage – After deciding on a design, the hero makes a crafting check using their primary knack and whichever knack is most appropriate (Panache for music or artwork), Wits for scholarly work, Finesse for clockwork or smithing, etc). The base target number is 20 (10 for simple projects and 30 for complex projects. This check is only made after the full creation time has passed. The player can reduce this time by ½ for every 2 called raises or provide 1 free raise by doubling the creation time.

Modifiers to the Target Numbers

To reduce the crafting time in half  : 2 raises (may be taken multiple times)

To double the crafting time : Provides one free raise

Interruptions : The crafter much call one raise for each serious interruption

Assistants : +3 to the crafting roll for each assistant with Primary knack at 3 or more

Odd Materials : 1 raise

Expensive Materials : 1-2 raises

Quality : If the crafting roll fails, the product has a flaw that makes the product unusable. If it fails by 10 or more, there is a hidden flaw that only appears when used in public for the first time. If the roll succeeds, the item is properly created. If the roll succeeds by 10 or more it is of fine quality (which makes it more difficult to break).

Masterpieces : If the player used his own design, the result may be a masterpiece. If the hero’s roll exceeds his target number by 25 or more (not counting Materials modifiers), the piece is of such fine work that it is well-remembered and even renowned. The hero gains one reputation point for the piece. Results exceeding the target number by 50 or more are legendary which gain the hero 5 reputation points.

Income : Roll a number of dice equal to your knack plus the number of weeks of the base creation process (as determined by the game master) and keep 1 die. Add one additional die for each of the following : using original design, using odd materials, using expensive materials (or 2 additional dice if two raises were called), creating a fine quality product, creating a creating a masterpiece and creating a legendary product (2 additional dice) . Use the normal rules for rolling more than 10 dice. This is the net profit on the product after all expenses are paid.

Example : Domingo is hired to craft a new sword for a Castillian noble. The game master tells him this will take 2 weeks and use the Smith knack. Domingo, who has a Finesse of 3 and a Smith knack of 4, decides to use an original design to make the weapon truly unique and spends a drama die for the attempt. This increases the time by 5 days (14 days / 3 = 4.66 days) and requires a Wits+Smith check with a target number of 15. The game master rolls a 26 which provides 2 free raises to the crafting stage. Confident that his design is good, Domingo declares that he will produce a blade with gold and silver entwined filigree (expensive materials - 2 raises). He decides to take twice as much time as normal (for a free raise) for a total of 33 days (two weeks doubled plus five days for the design time). The game master states that the target number if 20. Domingo has to make a Finesse+Smith check with 3 free raises (2 from the design roll and 1 for doubling the crafting time) and 2 called raises (1 for using expensive material) and a target number of 20. Domingo rolls really well and gets a 45 (including the free raise). He succeeded in the crafting roll so he created a fine quality blade. In addition, the blade is considered a masterpiece since he exceeded the target number by 25 or more. The pleased nobleman pays Domingo for the blade. The income is worth 11 dice (4 for his Smith knack +2 for the normal creation time + 1 for using an original design + 2 for using expensive materials +1 for creating a fine quality product +1 for creating a masterpiece) which translates to 10k2 guilders.