A couple questions about the Artificer and Infusions

[UltimaGabe]

Hey, everyone.

My group and I bought the Eberron campaign setting the other day, and I have to say, we all love it. We're all making characters and we're planning our first Eberron adventure in the next week or so. Everything's going great- so far, the group's got a Shifter Fighter, a Warforged Paladin, a Human Sorcerer, and a Human Artificer (me!). I love the Artificer class, and it's all great- I just have a couple questions about Infusions.

Basically, all Infusions are are spells that must be cast onto items. This can usually take the form of a magic item-like thing (such as Bull's Strength or Shield of Faith, which you'd cast on an item a person wears, and they'd then get the benefit), while others take the form of just a spell you cast directly onto an item for an immediate effect (such as Identify, which works like in the PHB, or Inflict Light Damage, which is just cast directly onto a construct). However, a few of their higher-level Infusions don't really seem to make sense... for example, Blade Barrier. How do you cast this? Do you cast it onto an item? Onto a wall? Onto a Warforged? Considering it has a range much farther than touch, and there's no description in the book to relate it to Artificers, I don't see how an Artificer could make use of it. Same thing with Wall of Stone- I don't see how it relates to any of the other Artificer Infusions.

Does anyone know how to deal with this?

Also, one other question- when an Artificer makes a scroll, is it Arcane or Divine?

 

[jodyjohnson]

For the Wall spells and Blade Barrier the infusion is cast on the surface or area (I think the key part of the infusion is that it cannot be cast directly on a creature - only objects including 'air' for the spells not specific to items).

A scroll created by an artificier would be either Arcane or Divine based on the spell involved. An artificier makes no distinction between the two for purposes of UMD or crafting (could probably do psionics as well).

 

[UltimaGabe]

For the Wall spells and Blade Barrier the infusion is cast on the surface or area (I think the key part of the infusion is that it cannot be cast directly on a creature - only objects including 'air' for the spells not specific to items).

I guess that makes sense. I assumed for some reason that most (if not all) infusions had to have a range of Touch, and it didn't really make sense to touch "air". Oh well. Nevermind. Basically, spells with effects or areas work for an Artificer like they do for a Wizard or Cleric. Gotcha.

A scroll created by an artificier would be either Arcane or Divine based on the spell involved. An artificier makes no distinction between the two for purposes of UMD or crafting (could probably do psionics as well).

Well, what about, say, a scroll of Light? It appears on pretty much all spell lists. Does the Artificer just specify which version (Arcane or Divine) he's crafting? Or is it possible to make the scrolls neither Arcane nor Divine, since the Artificer himself focuses mostly on magic in its purest form?

(On the same note, can you make scrolls of Infusions? If so, I'm assuming they'd have no type, correct?)

 

[jodyjohnson]

I didn't mean to imply that an Artificer could cheese by casting infusions into the air. I was just thinking that you could base non-object effects off the air if you were looking for continuity.

After looking over the list and Infusion description I'd say that any infusion/spell that has a target entry must be cast on an item/raw material or construct. Any infusion without a listed target entry (usually area or effect instead) would be cast as normal. The Wall spells, globe of invulnerability, blade barrier, major and minor creation, etc. don't have Target entries. In that case I don't see the 'cast on object' part being a requirement. If you can anchor it to an object to fit the situation great, but not required.

In this context I could see an artificer tying an effect to the ground or air as flavor.

It probably is something that deserves an official clarification.

When you scribe a spell that belongs to both Divine and Arcane the Artificer would choose which type it is. It would make a difference when he may want to use UMD later to use it (minimum casting stat - so Arcane is probably favored, and depending on whether Charisma or Int is higher there might be a question whether to use the Sorceror or Wizard version).

 

[jodyjohnson]

Since it specifically says you can't use infusions to meet item creation spell requirements and infusions are not spells I'd say you cannot make scrolls, wands, staffs, or other magic items using the infusions as a base.

Scribe Scroll allows spells, Wands contain spells, etc. Infusions are not spells, they just function like them.

Of course an wizard could spell research a spell which would have a similar effect with DM permission. Those could be used in items/scrolls.

Looking forward to the official FAQs on some of this.

 

[UltimaGabe]

I see. Thanks a lot.