D&D 5E (2014) Artificer Rogue?

[doctorbadwolf]

As part of its 10-level characters class compendium, Giffyglyph focused the ranger on using ''scaps'' he gather on a long rest to make traps. You may want to use those mechanics to create a rogue archetype: Giffyglyph's Class Compendium | The Ranger

At 3rd, gain 2 traps, and 5 ''scraps''; the numbers increase at level X, Y and Z (you may want to reffluf them as more arcane if you want)

Also at 3rd add a ''animated tools'' with the same action economy as the new UA pets (steel defender, primal beast, wildfire thingy) that can use its action to cast ''mending'' and maybe alarm/knock/arcane lock, Int mod/Day.

at 9th level, gain the the improved tool function you created for that assassin's class we worked on (with grappling hook, disguise kit etc)

at 13th, gain advantage to disable magic locks and you can use you thieve's tool to ''hack'' portals sigil. Your animated tools can cast Dispel Magic, if the spell effect is disrupted, all enemies within 15 ft of it take Xd6 force damage.

17th, you can regain 4 scaps at the end of a short rest.

Not a bad start! Thank you!

 

[Paul Farquhar]

So, an artificer subclass with sneak attack instead of the robot dog.

 

[pukunui]

So, an artificer subclass with sneak attack instead of the robot dog.

That would be fun. One of my groups is starting a new campaign, and I wanted to play an artificer. I really like the repeating shot infusion, but the only subclass that can fully benefit from it is the battle smith (because it’s the only one that gets Extra Attack) ... but I don’t like playing characters with pets. I’d like a variant class feature for the battle smith to replace the steel defender. (And maybe a variant that grants the artillerist Extra Attack in place of the turret as well. Not a fan of that either. Why couldn’t the turret and the steel defender have both been optional infusions like the homunculus?!)

I also don’t like how you can only ever use half the number of infusions you know at any one time. I get that the idea is to make it so you can swap equipment around depending on the situation but I still don’t like it.

I’ve opted not to play an artificer as a result.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

That would be fun. One of my groups is starting a new campaign, and I wanted to play an artificer. I really like the repeating shot infusion, but the only subclass that can fully benefit from it is the battle smith (because it’s the only one that gets Extra Attack) ... but I don’t like playing characters with pets. I’d like a variant class feature for the battle smith to replace the steel defender.

I've actually been working on the idea, want to help me brainstorm it?

This is what I have so far

Artificer Specialism: Q-Branch

Level 3

Skill Proficiency: Learn one skill you do not already know from this list (Deception, Insight, Investigation, Perception, Slight of Hand, Stealth).

Skill Expertise: Choose one skill that you know. You add double your proficiency bonus with any check using your chosen skill.

Q-Branch spells: [get back to this]

Level 5

Trick weapon. You build a sneaky gadget into your weapon that does extra damage if you catch your opponent off guard. Once per turn, you can deal an extra 1d6 damage to one creature you hit with an attack if you have advantage on the attack roll. The attack must be with a weapon that you have infused. You don’t need advantage on the attack roll if another enemy of the target is within 5 feet of it, that enemy isn’t incapacitated, and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll. The amount of the extra damage increases as you gain levels in this class, as shown in the Sneak Attack column of the Rogue table - 4 levels.

Level 9

Improved Trick Weapon. When you infuse your trick weapon you may choose what damage type the extra damage does. Choose from: magical piercing, poison, lightning, thunder or acid.

Level 15

Reliable Talent. [As rogue].

 

[THEMNGMNT]

I definitely think there's room for an inventor rogue that takes inspiration from the artificer.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

You realize I'm the OP, yes?

And since you basically just admitted that you were being pedantic about the word familiar, I'm kinda tuned out now.

I tend to reply to the post rather than the person. Apologies for not spotting who that post was from.

I "admitted" that when you used the word "familiar" and referenced a 1st level spell, I thought you meant the D&D term "familiar" as from Find Familiar spell. If you choose to view that as pedantry, you do you.

s for the difficulty you reference, that is largely a result of your insistence on not just taking the OP at face value, and instead on trying to psychoanalyze some hidden motive behind the text of the OP. If I say that I'm interested in ideas and options for making an inventor rogue, and list as one option a familiar, why do you insist on trying to overthink what I really mean? I mean what I said.

I took the OP at face value, but since I wasn't aware of any 3pp rogue archetypes that use mechanics similar to the official artificer, I took a shot at helping out by creating one based on your later posts.

So: You seem OK with some of the mechanics, - What exactly do you want out of this pet other than "lower level than the homunculus infusion, and not a familiar"?
Is this just for tool use and ulility? Sounds like an infusion to animate a set of tools or piece of equipment to work on your behalf.
Combat? We can probably find a balance between something as powerful as a homunculus and as weak as a familiar.