Dragon 365 - Artificer

[Rechan]

Ha! I knew they would replenish magical weapon powers!

I wonder what the other build(s) will be. Probably something involving more offense (ye olde Blastificer). Whatever the case, the build will be utilizing Con.

Some of the language is a little weird. For instance, I thought Thundering Armor attacked the first target and the second. Also, at first I wasn't sure what the hell artifices are. It'd be easy to just say 'it's an object you squirt magic into that is thus a temp magical foci'.

Dancing weapon is nice. You can animate any old piece of junk, and use your implement's stats to facilitate it.

I like it. However, I had trouble figuring out how the hell things were related to Artificers/objects until I read the fluff text.

 

[OzTenaka]

Does anyone have any idea about the "aftereffect" addition to some powers

Burrowing Projectile Attack 19 for example


In general this class build seems to be amongst the least "damaging/ Healing" but most buffing/debuffing

Leader/Controller as opposed to the more Leadery Cleric and Leader/Minor Striker of the Warlord

 

[Shroomy]

I re-read the entire article and I quite like the artificer; it seems like it has lots of potential, and its abilities were a nice dichotomy between creating stuff and blowing stuff up (I bet the rules for alchemical items in the forthcoming Adventurer's Vault will synergize nicely). I also noticed that this is the second class whose combat schtick is centered around ranged weapons. The ranger and the artificer, who would've thunk it?

 

[Shroomy]

Does anyone have any idea about the "aftereffect" addition to some powers

Burrowing Projectile Attack 19 for example

Strangely, its not defined in the PHB, though it is in the MM. Basically, it is an effect that happens after the initial effect has ended. In your example, once the target saves against the first series of ongoing damage and the combat advantage, they start taking ongoing damage again until they make another save.

 

[Shroomy]

Maybe it is just me, but I do not really like it. I wonder if the other build that we do not get to see is more like the traditional artificer than this one. In any case, it seems strange that they get Ritual Casting for free, but they do not explictly gain Enchant Item and Disenchant Item automatically.

They can't, at least not at first level according to the RAW for mastering rituals, as Enchant Item is a 4th level ritual and Disenchant Item is a 6th level ritual. Until 4th level, the artificer would have to rely on a scroll to perform these rituals.

 

[Jack of Shadows]

Hmmm,

Did anyone else find Shielding Cube a little odd? Why do you think you need to have a range weapon in hand? All the effects seem to come from the artifice.

JoS.

 

[Shroomy]

Hmmm,

Did anyone else find Shielding Cube a little odd? Why do you think you need to have a range weapon in hand? All the effects seem to come from the artifice.

JoS.

I was under the impression that you would use a crossbow or sling to launch the artifice.

 

[Jack of Shadows]

I was under the impression that you would use a crossbow or sling to launch the artifice.

Maybe,

If the range were the range of the weapon instead of a fixed 10. Also given that artificers are only proficient in daggers, javelins, crossbows and slings for ranged weapons only the sling would make any sense for doing that. Just doesn't wash for me. I suspect this was a vestigial reference to a previous incarnation of the ability that snuck past revision.

JoS.

 

[portermj]

I think the idea of playtest articles has a lot of potential.

 

[OzTenaka]

Strangely, its not defined in the PHB, though it is in the MM. Basically, it is an effect that happens after the initial effect has ended. In your example, once the target saves against the first series of ongoing damage and the combat advantage, they start taking ongoing damage again until they make another save.

Thought that might have been the case.

Haven't really nailed down everything in the MM yet - but couldn't see it in the PHB so thought it must have been new