One of my players is going to be an Artificer in our new campaign. I've house ruled that he can create very minor permanent magical items, starting at level 3 or 4. None of the items can be combat or travel related. Basically, these minor items will be experiments. Depending on what he wants to create, I'll set a time scale, calculate what costs it might take, and set a DC. I'll also look up what spells and other items might do the same thing to help set the DC.

Success results in the item being created, failure... well, you're out a few days/weeks/months of work as well as the materials. It's sort of a downtime activity to show off the Artificers research and experimentation toward crafting those wonderous items. 

Im not allowing combat or travel related spells/items because I don't want it to outshine other class abilities and spells that already do a great job at this. And I want to see what kind of weird things he can come up with to benefit the party.

Thoughts? Any input is welcome.

this seems great i have an entire character where this is all she does make thing use thing get money for thing repeat