Pixie dust + Paper

[PhamTrinli]

It used to create a random magic school scroll, but now it only creates witchcraft scrolls.. wtf???

[Orb of Undervalued]

Running any mods to change it? And I don't really remember being able to craft witchcraft scrolls at all :/

[Syrris]

You need to use a different item with the paper to create scrolls of that element now. IIRC it's the elemental essences.

[Wazat1]

It's entirely possible you're used to an old version of the game, or a mod you were playing?


Here's an excellent list of all recipes in the base game:
http://larian.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=526585#Post526585

Step 1: Blank Scroll
To create your random scroll, create a blank scroll of the element you want, then use your magic quill. This actually gives you more control over the scroll you get, since you often want a specific element. By fine-tuning your crafting level by taking items on and off, you can even improve your chances of getting the specific spell you want (though it's still pretty random...).

1st Piece: Sheet of Paper, Deck of Cards, or Parchment.
2nd Piece: Pixie Dust (witchcraft) or Fire/Water/Wind/Earth Essence, depending on spell school you want.

Pixie Dust is easy to craft from stardust + bone dust. Essences are rare at first but become increasingly common as you go up in level.

Step 2: Magic Ink Pot and Quill
The Magic Ink Pot and Quill item is not used up when crafting scrolls, so you'll only ever need one. The recipe is pretty easy too, thankfully.

Ink Pot + Quill + Pixie Dust (similar to the magic needle & thread)

There are lots of merchants that sell these components. I'd check with the lady in Cyseal who sells ice and air spellbooks. Silverglen also has a merchant for this purpose, and you'll find them randomly around the world.

Step 3: Random Spell Scroll
Now combine the blank scroll with a Magic Ink Pot and Quill. This requires crafting 2+. Depending on your crafting level, you'll have a random spell scroll from that school (the higher your crafting, the higher level spells you can get).

Optional Step 4: Spellbooks
To create a blank spellbook, combine two blank scrolls of the same school. These are valuable because they let you create spellbooks to learn spells you possibly can't find in the shops, or that don't exist in the game otherwise (e.g. Boulder Dash). All you need is a scroll of that spell and a blank spellbook of the right school.

To create a specific spellbook, combine the blank book with a scroll of the spell you want. This requires the same Crafting skill as is needed to create the scroll. The boulder dash spell cannot be gained any other way, and it's a fantastic spell. You can't learn a couple of spells this way though, like Magic Unlock (they're scroll only). Check the Skills Wiki if in doubt: http://divinity.wikia.com/wiki/Divinity:_Original_Sin_Skills

I hope that helps!

[Raze_Larian]

That was changed in one of the updates (from being random to using pixie dust for witchcraft and elemental essences for elemental scrolls), quite awhile ago.

[PhamTrinli]

I REALLY wish they hadn't changed that... :(

Also, Funny you should mention that link Wazat1, because I wrote one of the first complete recipe guides :)

Although, I guess it is out of date now :\

[Hugo]

This just in ... Is there any way of obtaining an ink pot whitout stealing? At least, I have not found anyone selling ink. I would not like to steal exepct for those items you really have to (like quest items)

[Orb of Undervalued]

Ink pot can be obtained in random crates, much as needles in containers too. Other than that, Stealing doesnt really have a penalty if you aren't caught.

[Wazat1]

Yea, I've found certain items to be very inconsistently available in the early game. Shears, ink pots, mortar&pestle, and a few other such items often have to be found at random in crates beneath or outside of Cyseal because the shops fail to carry them and the ones I see are marked red.

I usually filch 'em, assuming those NPCs will be grateful later when I save their hides with the magic items I crafted from these inexpensive but stolen goods. :)

[PhamTrinli]

as a rule of thumb I steal everything that isn't bolted to the ground... unless I have my bolt cutters..

[Xerxes Aragon]

Originally posted by Wazat1:

It's entirely possible you're used to an old version of the game, or a mod you were playing?

Here's an excellent list of all recipes in the base game:
http://larian.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=526585#Post526585

Optional Step 4: Spellbooks
To create a blank spellbook, combine two blank scrolls of the same school. These are valuable because they let you create spellbooks to learn spells you possibly can't find in the shops, or that don't exist in the game otherwise (e.g. Boulder Dash). All you need is a scroll of that spell and a blank spellbook of the right school.

To create a specific spellbook, combine the blank book with a scroll of the spell you want. This requires the same Crafting skill as is needed to create the scroll. The boulder dash spell cannot be gained any other way, and it's a fantastic spell. You can't learn a couple of spells this way though, like Magic Unlock (they're scroll only). Check the Skills Wiki if in doubt: http://divinity.wikia.com/wiki/Divinity:_Original_Sin_Skills

I hope that helps!

Seems to be an ommision on that recipe page. They don't list a Blank Air Spellbook. They have the other three elements plus Witchcraft. I don't have a level 5 crafter ATM so I can't verify if an Air skillbook can't be done.

It also seems odd that you can't create blank scrolls and skillbooks for the other skills - Man At Arms, Scoundrel and Expert Marksman. You're apparently at the mercy of what you stumble across for these.

[Wazat1]

And further, you cannot create skillbooks for non-magical skills. So if you want to craft a skillbook of Rapture, tough luck. That seems odd to me.

BTW, the recipe page does list blank air skillbook (it's just out of order with the others):
[Crafting 5] Blank Air Skillbook = Blank Air Scroll + Blank Air Scroll

[Orb of Undervalued]

air skillbooks are craftable too; it's essentially the same as the other elemental ones, just using air essence in place for the scrolls. However, I didn't know about the witchcraft ones, as it was missing from the crafting webpage I looked at (I tried void essence - since it made more sense to me than pixie dust, which is abundant)

[Wazat1]

Yea, I'm surprised about using pixie dust, which is more widely available than essences. It has to be, since it's used in so many recipes. But void essence would be brutal because it's so rare. Its ability to add tenebrium resistance to shields and +1 stealth to each piece of armor makes it so valuable.

Essences never felt common enough for scroll crafting. They're around the rarity of sinew and tormented souls. The only time I used them for scrolls was to get a blank book of water to craft a skillbook I couldn't find in stores (and for some reason I'd run out of water books).

[Xerxes Aragon]

Originally posted by Wazat1:

And further, you cannot create skillbooks for non-magical skills. So if you want to craft a skillbook of Rapture, tough luck. That seems odd to me.

BTW, the recipe page does list blank air skillbook (it's just out of order with the others):
[Crafting 5] Blank Air Skillbook = Blank Air Scroll + Blank Air Scroll

Ah, yeah. I see it now. Expected it to be in the same group of recipes as the other books.