Anyone currently or planning to playtest Artificer/Barb?

[Rechan]

Just what the title says.

After the rigmarole in the Barb thread about what's broken and not, I'm interested in seeing that puppy in action, and to see the proof in the pudding. On paper is a whole different beast from in-action.

Any out there currently playtesting the Artificer? Or are going to use the Barb?

I'm curious if there has been any response from WotC to those currently playtesting the artificer. Or if they've released any eratta based on observations.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Once my swordmage dies I'll see if I can't talk my DM into letting me hulk out with the barbarian. I've had a gnoll concept I've wanted to do for a while that would work pretty well with that guy, and the dwarf looks too badass not to want to try a dwarf barbarian (even though I normally prefer techie dwarves to brawling dwarves, but meh)

...so maybe next week.

If I can't do that, I dunno...most of the PHB classes kind of yawn me.

 

[Rechan]

If I can't do that, I dunno...most of the PHB classes kind of yawn me.

Again, I find someone worlds apart from me. I've yet to play any class beyond a demo, so I am just aching to play something from the PHB. (I'd love a swordmage or a barb too, or some non-PHB races, but still).

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I sorta want to push them on two of my players for one setting of mine. Mixes Arabian and Bayou culture.

Since a Barbarian be AWESOME! as some mad, frenzying voodoo priest/ess who has let a Loa (in the case of this setting a Djinn) spirit into their body and thus all their crazy powers.

With the Artificer it would be someone who is imbuing various items to forms talismans, etc. with various spirit-energy. So you got a person walking around absolutely covered in all manner of trinkets.

So we shall see if I am lucky perhaps we will try them out.

I will probably give them both a go in just little combat/rp sessions to try them out. Sooo from now to a few weeks from now, may put up a thread with my thoughts on it.

 

[RefinedBean]

I'm planning to run a Barb in my local LFR group, but sadly it's not "legal" until November.

An Orc Barbarian...because sometimes, outright slaughter is too fun to pass up.

 

[Vael]

I've used Artificers in some theoretical parties that I have thrown into a few encounters. I've been trying to build stealth parties, where every party member is trained in stealth and at least half decent at it. Until the Swordmage and Artificer ... it was difficult because every Leader and Defender in the PHB is dependent on heavy armour, which is kinda of anathema to a mobile, stealth-focused party.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I've yet to play any class beyond a demo, so I am just aching to play something from the PHB. (I'd love a swordmage or a barb too, but still).

I look at it like this:

Cleric: Probably the class I have the most ideas to play; I'd probably go with him if the swordmage sinks, but our party already has one cleric, so it'd be an interesting experirence...
Fighter: Was gonna do the gnoll concept with this, but it doesn't work as well with heavy armor (just not how I see the character). Party has a fighter, too....
The cleric and fighter, btw, are warforged, so, being immune to death, they won't be retiring any time soon.
Paladin: Meh. No clear concept for a godwarrior for me that can't be done better with either a cleric or a fighter.
Ranger: Meh. No love for TWF or arrows from me.
Rogue: Without an Int-based build, I will fart in its general direction. Plus, if I wanted to play a ninja, I'd call 'em a ninja.
Warlock: I miss the fun of constant summon swarm effects that I loved out of my 3e warlock. Possibly an idea I heard mentioned here about a feylock who is possessed by their muse, but the party's got a feylock, so...
Warlord: No clear concept. Plus, moving minis around is too much effort.
Wizard: I miss the fun of nigh-infinite Unseen Servant spells carrying wizards around in tiny little thrones and gnomes with massive tomes. I have little desire to play the pyrotechnic.
Artificer: Meh. No love for temporary enchantments.
Barbarian: Yes please.

If he lasts 'till Martial Power comes out at least, I might have an "animal companion" ranger build that might be fun instead of the barbarian.

Anyway, that's a long-winded way of saying yeah, I wanna give the barbarian a try, and I might get a chance to, soon (my swordmage is a pretty reckless character).

 

[Zsig]

I'm starting a new campaign this saturday, and while the players were making their characters last saturday, one of them told me he'd like to play a Barbarian, and I told him it wouldn't be released up until monday... he went with TWF ranger... I'll see if he wants to change it in time.

Otherwise, I don't see a barbarian anywhere near any tables around here. Nor artificer for that matter.

If I'd play one? No, definitely not my style. I could play an artificer though, I like leader types.

And since we're here talking about this, I guess the only classes I'd be willing to play (if ever I get the chance again, other than demos) would be:

Swordmage
Fighter
Warlord
Wizard
Cleric (maybe)
Paladin (maybe)

Priority, top to bottom.

 

[Monkey Boy]

I am playing a two handed fighter at the moment. I am immediately converting him into a barbarian. The power gamer within me won the battle at the first sight of those encounter 3[w]. What can I say other than I like winning.

 

[cdrcjsn]

I play in the RPGA and the Artificer has been legal in the LFR campaign for over a month now. I have one that is currently second level. I've seen one in a Return to the Moathouse game at 5th level and I've seen two other people play it, at 2nd and 3rd levels.

So far it seems a fairly balanced class. It definitely is not a replacement for a cleric (nobody can beat a cleric for healing), but it holds its own as a party buffer.

It also has a strong controller aspect, so it has a great secondary role in situations where you don't need to do any healing or buffing (highly recommended for any leader class).

At times it feels like a 3e bard when you have to remind players about the bonuses to hit you're granting them. The healing infusion where they give everyone temp HPs seem to be extremely situational (so much so that I have never seen it used). It's nice that they have an alternate option...but I sorta wish it can see more use.