Craftsman Masterwork Item Qualities

Adapted from "Crafting Legends" article in Dragon #358 for 5e

In many tales both legendary and fantastic, heroes and villains weapons, some experimental craftsmen have attempted to
alike seek out revered craftsmen in order to obtain weapons mimic the process with other metal weapons and armor. Acid
of great quality and make. The last descent of a line of kings washing creates elaborate and beautiful patterns on the
takes his throne only after receiving a weapon re-forged by surface of the weapon. Items created with the acid washed
elven craftsmen. A vengeful bride enlists the aid of a retired quality gains advantage on saving throws made against acid,
sword maker, forcing him to break a promise he made to rust, or disintegration.
himself, in order to procure a blade intended to slay those
who nearly killed her. These stories are not unique, but they Restriction: May only be applied to metal weapons and
do represent a common theme in epic storytelling: a tool can armor.
be equally as legendary as the hero or villain who wields it.
Additional Cost: +100gp (light and weapons), +200gp
The reason such legendary heroes seek out the talented (medium and heavy); +5 to Craft DC of masterwork
craftsmen is because the items they create are unique in some component.
way. Perhaps a blacksmith in a remote mountain village is
Basket Hilt
renowned for creating extraordinarily durable maces or a
A basket hilt is an elaborate guard piece that serves to protect
dwarven armorsmith who lives in a major city creates armor
the hand holding the sword against attacks. Basket hilts come
specifically designed for spellcasters. In order to create this
in many forms, from a nearly solid curved shield to metal to
aspect of storytelling in your game, this article offers a new
an elaborate woven pattern. Regardless of its appearance a
system by which craftsmen are able to create amazing
basket hilt grants advantage on saving throws against being
weapons and armor fitting of their own place in legend.
disarmed (as per DMG p. 271).
Using this system, each craftsman becomes unique, so that
every item he creates bears a unique signature, identifying the Restriction: May only be applied to swords.
item as one of that craftsman's manufacture.
Additional Cost: +50gp

A New Feat - "Artisan Craftsman" Blood Groove

The system of custom item creation presented here revolves The fuller, also known as the blood groove, is a furrow that
around adding new special item qualities to weapons and travels down the length of the blade from the hilt to just
armor produced by a particular craftsman. Only players or before the tip, designed to reduce the weight of the blade
NPCs with an Artisan Craftsman Feat are able to craft items and increase its strength. This allows the craftsman to create
with these qualities. With this feat, the first time an item a lighter blade without diminishing the strength of the
quality is attempted during crafting requires a Wisdom ability weapon, a process difficult to perfect but, when successful,
check or else the item is ruined. Once an item is successfully produces a weapon both strong and light. The fuller reduces
crafted with a craftsman quality, you are then proficient in weight of the weapon by 20% or 1/2 lb, whichever is greater.
crafting it and can craft additional items with this quality It also removes the heavy property (see PHB p. 149) from a
without the ability check. Only one new (never before crafted) sword, and gives any sword that does not normally have the
quality may be added to an item at a time, although multiple heavy property the light property.
qualities that you are already proficient in crafting may be
Restriction: May only be applied to swords.
applied to an item (as long as it meets any noted restrictions).

Additional Cost: +200 gp

New Item Qualities

Caster Armor
Most common in magic-rich societies, some armorsmiths
specialize in creating suits of armor specifically designed to
Acid Washed
the needs of spellcasters. Craftsmen occasionally create more
Swords made from two or more metals are acid washed in
flexible armor that allows for the complicated movements of
order to bring out the contrast in appearance between the
somatic components. A suit of armor with this item quality
two metals. Although typically performed on bladed
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 Craftsman Masterwork Item Qualities
Adapted from "Crafting Legends" article in Dragon #358 for 5e

allows Wizards, Sorcerers, and Warlocks to cast spells without Strength-based limitations on Movement (as per PHB p.
penalty as if they were proficient in the type of armor, but 144-145).
note that this proficiency applied to just this particular armor
crafted specifically for this purpose, and not all armor of that Restriction : May only be applied to armor.
type. Casters must also pay for training to use the armor to
Additional Cost: +200gp (light and medium), +500gp (heavy).
gain the advantages.
Long Range
Restriction: May only be applied to armor
After long trails and many errors, bowyers and crossbow
Additional Cost: +400gp (light), +800gp (medium), +1000 gp makers learned the secrets to making long-ranged weapons.
(heavy) Although not a difficult process once the trick is known,
discovering how to increase the range on a weapon can often
Deceptive be an arduous task. A weapon with the long-range item
Although the technique is frowned upon by many, especially quality increases its range increment by +20ft.
law-abiding citizens and city guards, some craftsmen perfect
the technique of making a weapon look like another item Restriction: May only be applied to bows and crossbows
entirely. For example. a bow might be made to slide into a
Additional Cost: +100gp
wooden container that resembles a walking stick, or a sword
and its sheath might appear as a cane. A deceptive weapon Ornate
grants its bearer advantage on any ability checks or saving Although most soldiers in the field care little for the
throws trying to detect the weapon in situations where the decorative aspect of a weapon or suit of armor, many
weapon is being kept hidden. craftsmen come to pride themselves on the ability to make an
item both utilitarian and beautiful. An ornate weapon or suite
Restriction: May only be applied to weapons.
of armor brings with it a certain amount of prestige, especially
Additional Cost: +800gp since quality decoration is often a sign of great honor or
station. Ornate weapons and armor grant the owner
Folded Metal advantage on Persuasion or Intimidate checks (chosen when
A technique perfected by blacksmiths to increase the strength the weapon or armor is crafted) when wielded or worn in an
of their creations, the folded metal technique makes for highly appropriate setting.
durable weapons. This process involves folding two or more
heated metals onto each other numerous times during Restriction: May be applied to any weapon or suit of armor
forging. A weapon crafted with this item quality gains
Additional Cost: +400 gp (light), +600gp (medium and heavy),
advantage on any saving throws against shattering or
+500gp (weapon)
deforming and gives a +2 object AC in cases where the
weapon would be assigned an object AC (DMG p. 246). Perfect Balance
Weapon smiths know the value of stability, and they often
Restriction: May only be applied to metal weapons.
strive for the perfect balance point in every weapon they
Additional Cost: +100gp create. While a poorly balanced weapon can make the
wielder clumsy and awkward in combat, a weapon with
Lightweight perfectly distributed weight can help a combatant remain
One of the most valuable techniques an armor smith can learn effective even when unstable. A melee weapon with perfect
is how to reduce the overall weight of the armor without balance gives the weapon the finesse property (as per PHB p.
sacrificing any of the protection it provides. Lightweight 147).
armors are extremely valuable and are sought after by
adventurers and soldiers. The overall weight of a suit of Restriction: May only be applied to melee weapons.
armor with this item quality is reduced by 20% or 1 lb,
Additional Cost: +100gp
whichever is greater, and the armor is not subject to

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 Craftsman Masterwork Item Qualities
Adapted from "Crafting Legends" article in Dragon #358 for 5e

Razor Sharp Serrated

Some craftsmen can coax a superior edge from a blade, Dealing particularly nasty wounds, a serrated weapon
Swordsmen consider such weapons extremely valuable as possesses small notches along its edge that ear the flesh,
such blades not only slice into opponents more easily but much like a saw. Often used both on swords as well as the
they also stick within such foes less frequently. A bladed tips of arrows, the serrated quality can cause excessive
weapon with this item quality induces a lingering injury bleeding beyond the initial damage. Weapons with this item
(DMG p. 272) when a critical hit is scored against an quality induces either a internal injury and/or a festering
opponent. It also allows you to cleave through creatures wound (50% chance of each, see DMG p. 272) on a critical hit.
(DMG p. 272) without reducing them to 0 hit points.
Restriction: May only be applied to piercing or slashing
Restriction: May only be applied to bladed slashing weapons. weapons

Additional Cost: +1000gp Additional Cost: +600gp

Resilient Silvered
Adventurers, more than people in any other profession, see As per the PHB p. 148.
the value in durable weapons and armor. Those craftsmen
who learn to create items that can stand up to damage as well Restriction: Only applied to weapons.
as normal wear and tear find their skills in high demand, as
Additional Cost: +100gp
constant usage can dull and break valuable items. For this
reason, many craftsmen take the extra time to create weapons Vital Coverage
and armor that can stand up to even the most extreme One of the greatest flaws facing armor are large number of
conditions and gain a reputation for producing excellent vulnerable points. Although no suit of armor can completely
wares. Weapons and armors with this item quality have 5 protect a wearer, some craftsmen make sure to reinforce the
more hit points (regardless of the original material they were armor near vital organs, provide flaps and panels that block
made from) than standard items of the same type in situations attacks against exposed flesh, and generally seal up any
where the item would be assigned object hit points (DMG p. vulnerabilities that could lead to a devastating attack. Any
247). suit of armor with this item quality allows a Dexterity saving
through to avoid the additional damage associated with a
Restrictions: May be applied to all weapons and armor.
critical hit, allows a Dexterity saving throw to avoid receiving
Additional Cost: +200gp long-term injuries (as per DMG p. 272), and gives advantage
on Constitution saving throws to avoid System Shock affects
Segmented caused by Massive Damage (as per DMG p. 273).
One of the tricks armor crafters use to make their armor more
attractive to prospective buyers is to increase the flexibility. Additional Cost: +750gp
Heavy armor does many warriors little good when they rely at
least as much on their agility as their raw physical might.
Thus, many craftsmen learn to segment armor in order to
create more points of articulation. A suit of armor with this
item quality does not introduce Disadvantage on Stealth
checks (see PHB p. 145).

Restriction : May only be applied to armor.

Additional Cost: +200 gp (light and medium), +300 gp

(heavy).