Is the "Inspired Creation" spell talking about rules that don't even exist?

[Landwalker]

Originally Posted by Magic p. 115: Inspired Creation

Inspired Creation (VH)
Regular

Helps a subject create one craft work - a weapon, suit of armor, painting, etc. - of a quality far beyond his usual ability... The work is as good as if it were made with a critical success by an artisan of skill 5 levels higher than the subject's actual skill; no roll is required...

So, my question: What on earth is this spell even talking about? I haven't been able to find in book or in search any rules that even think about discussing crafting rules, let alone how success vs. critical success or success at different skill levels work. If a craftsman benefits from this, what's the difference between whether he has Armoury: Melee Weapons (or Carpenter, or Leatherworking, or Artist: Body Art) at Skill 10 versus Skill 15 or Skill 20? Is this spell referencing rules that don't even exist?

Cheers.

[vicky_molokh]

I suppose it's a reference to the rules from old LT for 3e, but it seems unlikely. Yeah, Magic is like that.

[Landwalker]

Originally Posted by Molokh

I suppose it's a reference to the rules from old LT for 3e, but it seems unlikely. Yeah, Magic is like that.

I tried checking Low-Tech to see if that were the case, but never found any concrete crafting rules there, either. The call-out for the Armoury skill on LT 40-41 was the closest thing there was, but it never discussed things like margin of success (barring critical success) or the scaling effects of success at different skill levels, either.

Cheers.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Molokh

I suppose it's a reference to the rules from old LT for 3e,

I believe there will be general rules for crafting in the new Low Tech (or at leasr it's pdf Companions).

[Turhan's Bey Company]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

I believe there will be general rules for crafting in the new Low Tech (or at leasr it's pdf Companions).

There will be (in the Companions), though since they hadn't been written until a couple of months ago, I doubt that Inspired Creation points to them. Granted, they could have done it if they had access to Divination spells, but if they had, wouldn't they have done a better job of updating the spells in Magic itself?

[LargePrime]

Does that mean there is an error in "Inspired Creation"? errata?

[Landwalker]

Originally Posted by LargePrime

Does that mean there is an error in "Inspired Creation"? errata?

It doesn't seem like it's so much an error, since it doesn't contradict any established rules, but a gross omission (and not necessarily an omission in Inspired Creation, but an omission in the general rules of how crafting works).

Cheers.

[robkelk]

Originally Posted by Molokh

I suppose it's a reference to the rules from old LT for 3e, but it seems unlikely. Yeah, Magic is like that.

I remember that this came from 3e GURPS Japan, my copy of which is not available to me at the moment. Perhaps somebody else could look up the relevant rules for Landwalker, given this lead...?

[Anders]

Originally Posted by robkelk

I remember that this came from 3e GURPS Japan, my copy of which is not available to me at the moment. Perhaps somebody else could look up the relevant rules for Landwalker, given this lead...?

It is indeed from GURPS Japan (it does not appear in Ice Age), but I can't find any crafting rules in there (granted, I used my Speed-Reading skill...)

I say 'wing it'. According to Low-Tech, a roll to make a Cheap weapon is at +10, Fine is -10 and Very Fine is -20! That should give you a starting point.

[capnq]

Originally Posted by Landwalker

So, my question: What on earth is this spell even talking about? I haven't been able to find in book or in search any rules that even think about discussing crafting rules, let alone how success vs. critical success or success at different skill levels work.

I suspect this may be a reference to the old subgrouping of Craft Skills (3rd ed. Rev. pp. B53-54), which mention making a successful Skill Roll to build/create things. There's a free PDF at e23 that should have a list of 4th ed. Craft Skills.