D&D 5E (2024) [Eberron, 5th Edition] A comparison of the 2020 Tasha's Artificer to the 2025 Forge of the Artificer

[Libertad]

So when I go to select what recipes I have with the new 2025 artificer it forces me to pick a specific item

It sounds like this may be a limitation of the specific website software in how it incorporates options, as opposed to something intended in tabletop play. It's an issue still worth raising to site support, although I wouldn't know who to contact as I don't use Beyond for chargen.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

What would y'all call the aesthetic style that they're going for with artificer? I imagine if I said "steampunk" that would cause some fits, 'cuz it's not using steam n' such, but the brassy color in both provided images really lends itself towards that vibe in my mind.

Artillerist:

Battle Smith:

 

[DrJawaPhD]

What would y'all call the aesthetic style that they're going for with artificer? I imagine if I said "steampunk" that would cause some fits, 'cuz it's not using steam n' such, but the brassy color in both provided images really lends itself towards that vibe in my mind.

I'd definitely agree that's the aesthetic style of the pictures in the book.

As far as the abilities themselves, if I were reading the text alone with no context or pre-existing knowledge of Eberron, I'd say the vibe was "standard DnD magic item shopkeeper" that would fit seamlessly into any DnD campaign setting

 

[WanderingMystic]

Victorian magitech is the aesthetic.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Victorian magitech is the aesthetic.

You can fluff it how you like. There was an Adventures of Sir Lancelot TV series in the 1950s, that was standard pseudo-medieval. And that made Merlin an artificer.

 

[Nord Ronnoc]

You can fluff it how you like. There was an Adventures of Sir Lancelot TV series in the 1950s, that was standard pseudo-medieval. And that made Merlin an artificer.

With how the other D&D settings become more like how Eberron initially was, it makes sense for them to go in a Victorian direction, at least in Sharn.

 

[Seramus]

Can they still craft Pipes of Haunting before 10th Level?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

With how the other D&D settings become more like how Eberron initially was, it makes sense for them to go in a Victorian direction, at least in Sharn.

Fashions are not tied to magic or technology level. People can dress how you like whenever you like.

Aside from Eberron, the other place you are likely to find a lot of artificers is Calimshan, where you can assume they wear fantasy-Persian outfits.

 

[Nord Ronnoc]

Fashions are not tied to magic or technology level. People can dress how you like whenever you like.

But it tends to correlate.

 

[Libertad]

Can they still craft Pipes of Haunting before 14th Level?

They can craft it at 6th level. Why should 14th level be the byline, in your opinion? There are spells that can do multi-target Frightened condition at much lower levels, and the save DC being static means that it doesn't improve like it would with a known/learned spell. It's an effective magic item to be sure, but by 14th level it kind of falls off IMO.