Jeweler’s Tools

Xanather’s Guide to Everything is a decent book. I’m not saying its great, though I hear it from people a lot, but it’s fine. The subclasses are nice, the charts to create a backstory are pretty handy for those who aren’t sure what type of character they want to create, the spells are mostly competent… except for healing spirit, and then the rest of it is just… well, I think they grabbed the first thing off of everyone’s desk and it doesn’t really make a cohesive book.

Why does a player need to know about traps or a shared campaign? It’s like they combined a Player’s Handbook and a Dungeon Master’s Guide, and I’m not sure it makes a great book as others keep claiming. A lot of the ideas are barely fleshed out and lack much mechanical use, which brings us to the Jeweler’s Tools on page 82:

Training with jeweler's tools includes the basic techniques needed to beautify gems. It also gives you expertise in identifying precious stones.

Components. Jeweler's tools consist of a small saw and hammer, files, pliers, and tweezers.

Arcana. Proficiency with jeweler's tools grants you knowledge about the reputed mystical uses of gems. This insight proves handy when you make Arcana checks related to gems or gem-encrusted items.

Investigation. When you inspect jeweled objects, your proficiency with jeweler's tools aids you in picking out clues they might hold.

Identify Gems. You can identify gems and determine their value at a glance.

Oh boy, you can look at gems and determine their value. Or you know the mystical use of gems, because… ? I’m not quite sure other than I guess you read ancient tomes of magical knowledge for a bit of light bedtime reading?

The only one that seems handy is Investigation, and even then… it has nothing going for it. There is nothing about creating jewelry, and everything about how to beautify gems or tell if a stone is precious or not. Which, sure, why not… but… are people really picking this tool so they can polish a stone?

No. They aren’t. They are taking this tool so they can create some jewelry, and by god that’s what we are going to do!

Jeweler’s Tools… This Time for Real

The first thing to know about making jewelry, is that I have a very basic understanding of it and so I created this tool to be fairly simple. This tool is created as a way to give a very basic idea as to what it requires for jewelry crafting without getting bogged down into minute details.

To that effect, we have two main categories that are going to affect our objects: Size & Complexity. To a lesser extent, we also have the type of jewelry, like rings or necklaces, and then the materials used in the project, like gold, skymetals or silver.

Size

Size is broken into three different sections: Small, Medium or Large. This represents a few different size projects you could be working, and I give a rough idea what each size would fall under. Small could be rings, necklaces or anything that can fit in the palm of your hand, followed by Medium sized projects would can be crowns, bracers or anything that can fit on two hands or on your arm. The last size is Large, which is anything larger than the other two and might be a crown fit for a giant, or a necklace for an over-sized jewel the size of your head.

Complexity

The complexity of a project is also broken into three different sections: Simple, Moderate or Intricate. Your Simple projects could be simple rings or a gold headband; anything with a simple shape. Moderate projects could require engraving or adding additional gems or beads to the project, while Intricate projects are complex in their construction and require a practiced hand and might include signet rings with detailed sigils or a lot of gems set into a silvery crown made to resemble vines intertwining.

Time & Difficulty

Each project requires at least 8 hours of time to create, and the time to create an object is determined by the size and complexity. Each category adds to the total, and as you can’t get a project any simpler than Small or Simple, the base time to create an object is 8 hours. Every step up in size or complexity will increase your dedicated time.

The difficulty to craft is also tied into the size and complexity, with the base DC starting at 8 plus the size and complexity bonus. A simple and small project will be DC 10, and it increases from there up to a DC 20 for a large and intricate object. A check must be made every 8 hours to determine if you are making progress on your project or not.

Materials & Gems

Because not all jewelry is a single band of gold or wood, you can add in gems or beads to your jewelry and it increases your materials cost. Expensive jewels might make a fairly cheap project, like a gold ring, to staggeringly high costs, while glass beads could keep the price fairly low so long as you don’t mind not having an actual diamond on your finger.

Finishing Up

Now, that’s my Jeweler’s Tools. It’s not a complicated system, despite the fact that creating jewelry is a complicated process. I didn’t want to create a system where you have 50+ options to choose from when creating something, as it will ultimately restrict you from creating your ideal project. Now, go forth and bedazzle the world with your jewels!

If you want a printer-friendly PDF of this tool, or any other tool, consider supporting us at the $1 tier on our patreon! Going forward, all tools that I’ve created or will create in the future will be uploaded to our patreon in printer-friendly versions.