Making Tools Useful in 5e: Jeweler's Tools
Today, we are going to review Jeweler’s Tools, and I’m going to be honest. I don’t know much about jewelry or fashion. The only jewelry I wear is a simple gold wedding band. I also never pay attention to if someone else is wearing jewelry, so trying to determine how this tool should work was a bit of a challenge. However, I think I came up with something pretty simple while still providing a lot of customization for anyone who uses this tool.
Jeweler’s Tools
Xanather’s Guide to Everything is a decent book. I’m not saying it’s 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 beautifying gems or telling 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!
For those that don’t care about the how of my tool:
For best results in GM Binder, use a Chrome Browser
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 end, we have two main categories that will affect our objects: Size and 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 that 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, or 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 to 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 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.
Other tools: Carpenter’s Tools, Forgery Kit, Disguise Kit, Herbalism Kit, Glassblower’s Tools, Navigator’s Tools, Leatherworker’s Tools, Cobbler’s Tools, Poisoner’s Kit, Cartographer’s Tools, Alchemist’s Supplies, Mason’s Tools, Gaming Sets, Tinker’s Tools, Healer’s Kit, Brewer’s Supplies, Smith’s Tools & Cook’s Utensils.
Like what we are doing here?
Support us on Patreon!
You’ll get early access to deep dives, our Homebrew Hoard, ad-free articles, voting on Deep Dives, and more!
