Special Materials
The land of Faerûn is filled with strange materials that seem to have an affinity for certain kinds of magic. Though other uses no doubt exist, the most common uses of these materials are as focus gems for wands and as the material used in the creation of weapons and armor. Unless otherwise noted, the special abilities inherent in these substances and items are extraordinary abilities, and they remain in effect even in areas where magic does not function (though in some cases, such as gems included in wands, this is a moot point).
Gems and Wands
Not only does a valuable jewel add beauty and flair to a wand, it can also increase the wand’s effectiveness. Mounting any one of the gems described below in a wand during the wand’s creation adds the given effect. You must pay the material cost for a gem of the proper size and quality, in addition to the normal cost of creating the wand. Adding a gem does not increase the XP cost to create the wand, though it does add one full day to the time required to create it. Only one gem can be included in a wand’s creation. The market price of such a wand is increased by the value of the gem.
Weapons and Armor
The special powers of these materials are nonmagical, and thus continue to function even in an area where magic does not. Any resistance granted by these materials does not stack with similar effects.
Any item fashioned from one of the materials listed here is treated as a masterwork item, except that the extra cost is as listed for the material. The masterwork quality does not affect the enhancement bonus of weapons or the armor check penalty of armor. The market price modifier always refers to the weight of a normal (steel) object, not the object’s weight in the unusual metal.