D&D 5E (2024) What's New with the Artificer in Eberron: Forge of the Artificer

[GarrettKP]

And Cartographer? Sorry, a bit of a rant. So, they moved the free teleport down to 3, which is decent. They then turned the level 5 feature into something that boosts damage either when you cast an Artificer spell, or your artificer hits a critter under your Faerie Fire effect; you also don't drop Concentration on Faerie Fire due to damage. Here's the thing, though. Cartographer will never not be hitting with spells - either True Strike or a cantrip at minimum, so that hitting-under-FF-effect will never proc. It’s always going to be a spell. And the sub-class as a whole is meant to be a support-buffer class of some kind, but you want it to rely on Faerie Fire, while almost all buffs are Concentration? Gods, if you're going to try and have a focus on FF, actually make it worthwhile for everyone to benefit from it! The subclass is playable, but... that's it. Its just minor teleport hijinks and Faerie Fire. Its entirely possible to feel like you don't really have subclass benefits compared to others. Oh! And they slightly fixed the spell list, and gave them... Call Lightning and Banishment. Both Concentration spells.

You’re misreading the Cartographers level 5 ability.

It gives extra damage when they:

Cast a spell from their Cartographers spell list (this includes Call Lightning).

Hit with an attack roll against a FF’d target (this includes spell attacks like True Strike and Firebolt).

So a Cartographer can either use their Faerie Fire and get the benefits for all their spell and weapon attacks, or rely on Call Lightning and still get those benefits. It works both ways.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

LOL, if I don't have a +1 weapon long before 9th level I'd find a new DM.

You can't get magic armorer weapons.

Can WOTC drop this whole "magic items are optional" crap, at least with the magic item duplicating class?

You seem to misunderstand that ability.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

The artificer is buffed compared to 2014.

At level 5 you have a permanent humunculous that you can control without using an action. So you always have a summon.

In my opinion this spell should be always prepared as it is such a core feature.

A little sad that extra attack don't get to use true strike with extra attack but on the bright side this makes non extra attack subclasses comparatively more competitive.

The 2 times I saw the 2014 artificer in action (noth up to level 8 both times), they were really powerful (armorer, battlesmith).

 

[Remathilis]

So now I guess I can give feedback on the reanimator artificer. It's not too late, right?

 

[GarrettKP]

A serious question: what in the 2024 rules prevents the Armorer from making their weapon a +1 or +2 weapon?

Their replicate feature lets them make any Weapon, +1. The Weapon +1 page in the DMG says any simple or martial weapon is applicable. Their Armorer weapons all say the weapons count as Simple Weapons.

Nothing really screams “this weapon isn’t eligible for a Magic enhancement.” Even if you want to say “well, the replicate feature isn’t enchanting your weapons it’s making a new one” you could still just… make a new version and wield it anyway, right?

I think basically any reasonable DM is going to read the features together and come to the conclusion that they can work together. I know I will for my games at least.

 

[Remathilis]

A serious question: what in the 2024 rules prevents the Armorer from making their weapon a +1 or +2 weapon?

Their replicate feature lets them make any Weapon, +1. The Weapon +1 page in the DMG says any simple or martial weapon is applicable. Their Armorer weapons all say the weapons count as Simple Weapons.

Nothing really screams “this weapon isn’t eligible for a Magic enhancement.” Even if you want to say “well, the replicate feature isn’t enchanting your weapons it’s making a new one” you could still just… make a new version and wield it anyway, right?

I think basically any reasonable DM is going to read the features together and come to the conclusion that they can work together. I know I will for my games at least.

I think the issue is +1 thunder gauntlets aren't a real magic weapon anyone can pick up and use. It's like how certain species had natural attacks that counted as weapons. You couldn't make +1 teeth for example.

That Said, I'm fine with that being a house rule. It's within the spirit to allow it.

 

[GarrettKP]

I think the issue is +1 thunder gauntlets aren't a real magic weapon anyone can pick up and use. It's like how certain species had natural attacks that counted as weapons. You couldn't make +1 teeth for example.

That Said, I'm fine with that being a house rule. It's within the spirit to allow it.

Yes but species natural weapons do not say they “count as a simple weapon,” which is what all three of the Armorer weapons say. So just, make +1 Thunder Gauntlets and take the ones on your armor off, put the new ones on, and profit. Nothing in the Armorer rules I can see say the weapons can’t be replaced.

It’s seems perfectly RAW even if it isn’t RAI.

 

[Remathilis]

Yes but species natural weapons do not say they “count as a simple weapon,” which is what all three of the Armorer weapons say. So just, make +1 Thunder Gauntlets and take the ones on your armor off, put the new ones on, and profit. Nothing in the Armorer rules I can see say the weapons can’t be replaced.

It’s seems perfectly RAW even if it isn’t RAI.

"Your fanged bite is a natural weapon, which counts as a simple melee weapon with which you are proficienct".

Dhampir as it was originally printed. Thankfully it was errata'd in Book of Hungers.

 

[GarrettKP]

"Your fanged bite is a natural weapon, which counts as a simple melee weapon with which you are proficienct".

Dhampir as it was originally printed. Thankfully it was errata'd in Book of Hungers.

Hmm I stand corrected. Though I stand by my sentiment since they errata’d the Dhampir. Seems like that’s them acknowledging the unintended interaction.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

You couldn't make +1 teeth for example.