D&D 5E Artificer: Alchemist Impressions

[Paul Farquhar]

Yup, and just now it occurred to me that an alchemist could use Right Tool For The Job to quickly knock together and airship...

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

Yup, and just now it occurred to me that an alchemist could use Right Tool For The Job to quickly knock together and airship...

The ability only allows you to create Artisan's Tools.
Vehicles, musical instruments, Herbalist's kit, Thieves tools etc are Tools, but not Artisan's Tools.

 

[Ashrym]

The ability only allows you to create Artisan's Tools.
Vehicles, musical instruments, Herbalist's kit, Thieves tools etc are Tools, but not Artisan's Tools.

Creation and fabricate are also on the spell list. I'm sure at some point I could quickly cobble quite a bit together.

 

[Parmandur]

The ability only allows you to create Artisan's Tools.
Vehicles, musical instruments, Herbalist's kit, Thieves tools etc are Tools, but not Artisan's Tools.

I'm pretty sure that the Expertise also only applies to Artisan tools, off hand.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I'm pretty sure that the Expertise also only applies to Artisan tools, off hand.

Tool Expertise makes no mention of artisan tools. It just says "tools", in which category 5e generally includes vehicles, instruments and gaming sets.

Right Tool For The Job does, unfortunately.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

House Rule: Right tool for the Job applies to everything, so long as the player can hum the theme tune from MacGyver whilst their character works.

 

[Ashrym]

I've decides the elixir's aren't that bad. They are worth pending a first level slot. Flaming sphere can take up the bonus action and cantrip casting still has a better offensive list than most support classes.

It's just more focused on healing than combat like the other two options. I"m not sure it's focused on healing enough but it's also a bit more versatile.

I'm getting a chance to try them out later this week for a better idea.

 

[Ashrym]

Okidokes, a couple of observations from others at this point.

1. Splashing warlock lets alchemists stock up on potions before entering a dungeon by use of short rest slots.

2. Spell storing item can be given to someone who otherwise does not use concentration or who has good concentration saves to add an additional concentration effect to the party. I allowed the homunculus servant to use the spell storing item based on the fact the homunculus is capable of being directed to attack and the text for spell storing item allows for casting the spell. The only requirement is being able to hold the item. This effectively gave the artificer 2 concentration effects at once.

3. Spell storing item would to give someone who does not have a bonus action a spell that makes use of the bonus action although that didn't come up yet. Most players already try to add that bonus action without outside help IME.

4. Using a bonus action to direct a homunculus to administer a potion seems to be an option. I could not see a good reason not to allow it, costing the artificer's bonus action and homunculus's action. I based that on the assumption "use an item" is redundant to put in every creature stat block with some intelligence, unless the artificer creates the homunculus without limbs for some reason it's reasonable. This allows alchemists to use their healing potions on incapacitated creatures that way.


Thoughts?

 

[Chaosmancer]

Okidokes, a couple of observations from others at this point.

1. Splashing warlock lets alchemists stock up on potions before entering a dungeon by use of short rest slots.

2. Spell storing item can be given to someone who otherwise does not use concentration or who has good concentration saves to add an additional concentration effect to the party. I allowed the homunculus servant to use the spell storing item based on the fact the homunculus is capable of being directed to attack and the text for spell storing item allows for casting the spell. The only requirement is being able to hold the item. This effectively gave the artificer 2 concentration effects at once.

3. Spell storing item would to give someone who does not have a bonus action a spell that makes use of the bonus action although that didn't come up yet. Most players already try to add that bonus action without outside help IME.

4. Using a bonus action to direct a homunculus to administer a potion seems to be an option. I could not see a good reason not to allow it, costing the artificer's bonus action and homunculus's action. I based that on the assumption "use an item" is redundant to put in every creature stat block with some intelligence, unless the artificer creates the homunculus without limbs for some reason it's reasonable. This allows alchemists to use their healing potions on incapacitated creatures that way.


Thoughts?

Not to sound too sarcastic, but this all tells us that the spell storing item and Homunculus infusions are very powerful and versatile options for all Artificers.

It is useful that the homunculus can take the potion use from an action to a bonus action, and that Warlocks pact magic is a powerful dip, but I'm not sure what else to take away from this.

 

[Ashrym]

Not to sound too sarcastic, but this all tells us that the spell storing item and Homunculus infusions are very powerful and versatile options for all Artificers.

It is useful that the homunculus can take the potion use from an action to a bonus action, and that Warlocks pact magic is a powerful dip, but I'm not sure what else to take away from this.

I'm not sure why there would be any sarcasm. Those were just observations. Spell storing item is very powerful was the main takeaway.

Neither that nor the homunculus belongs to the alchemist class, technically, but steel defender and eldritch cannon create bonus action competition that leaves the alchemist more likely to use the homunculus or other bonus actions. Without that competition the alchemist seems to have a bit more flexibility, although to be fair it's such stiff competition because those are strong benefits.

I was curious if there was something I might have missed in allowing the homunculus that much leeway. Other than my plan on playing an artificers crashed and I ended up DM'ing instead.