[Eberron] Designing Warforge advice

[yipwyg]

One of our GM's might run an Eberron campaign. I am planning on playing a Warforge Fighter with some levels of Artificer.

At first level I plan on taking the Adamatine Body Feat (+8 ac) and using a Tower Shield.

This would start me out, with a Dex mod of +1, with 23 AC. I know that I will be at -2 to hit because of the shield.

The reason I want to take some Artificer levels is to heal myself occasionly and craft some items. I am thinking about at least 5th level, so that I will have the ability to break down magic items and convert them into Craft Points.

I was wondering if this is possible.

Move up to my movement speed (movement phase)
If not engaged in combat, duck under cover of the shield. (Free?)
cast an infusion, or use a potion/scroll or if I choose to go higher in artificer a wand. (standard action).

According to what I read if you are in total cover you can't be targeted by those in front of you.

Also this is probably pretty obvious, but want my bases covered due to the GM being a rules lawyer. I can use the scrolls that I make, correct?

 

[MarkB]

One of our GM's might run an Eberron campaign. I am planning on playing a Warforge Fighter with some levels of Artificer.

At first level I plan on taking the Adamatine Body Feat (+8 ac) and using a Tower Shield.

This would start me out, with a Dex mod of +1, with 23 AC. I know that I will be at -2 to hit because of the shield.

The reason I want to take some Artificer levels is to heal myself occasionly and craft some items. I am thinking about at least 5th level, so that I will have the ability to break down magic items and convert them into Craft Points.

I was wondering if this is possible.

Move up to my movement speed (movement phase)
If not engaged in combat, duck under cover of the shield. (Free?)
cast an infusion, or use a potion/scroll or if I choose to go higher in artificer a wand. (standard action).

According to what I read if you are in total cover you can't be targeted by those in front of you.

True, except that any targeted spell will still affect you if targeted at the shield.

Also this is probably pretty obvious, but want my bases covered due to the GM being a rules lawyer. I can use the scrolls that I make, correct?

An artificer needs to make a Use Magic Device check to use any scroll or wand, including those he crafts himself.

 

[Merkuri]

Also, remember that you have to have at least one hand free to cast spells (which also goes for infusions, IIRC), so you'd have to drop (free action) or put away (move action, I think) your weapon to cast while holding the shield.

And the Adamantine Body feat gives you an arcane spell failure chance of 35%. I believe that affects the casting of infusions, but I'm not positive.

 

[Patrick O'Duffy]

And the Adamantine Body feat gives you an arcane spell failure chance of 35%. I believe that affects the casting of infusions, but I'm not positive.

It doesn't; infusions are not arcane spells.

 

[Klaus]

Indeed.

The disadvantage of a tower or heavy shield vs. a light shield or buckler is that you'll have to drop whatever is on your other hand in order to imbue an infusion. With the lighter shields, you could just switch your weapon to your shield hand while you imbue.

It's a very neat build. One of my PCs is a Warforged Ftr with Adamantine Body, who will take a few artificer levels and then take Spellcarved Soldier (RoE)

 

[yipwyg]

Hehe I was planning the same build potentially.

 

[Merkuri]

It doesn't; infusions are not arcane spells.

The disadvantage of a tower or heavy shield vs. a light shield or buckler is that you'll have to drop whatever is on your other hand in order to imbue an infusion.

Heh, one out of two ain't bad.

 

[Klaus]

Hehe I was planning the same build potentially.

'Guardian' is currently Ftr2. He'll take 2 levels of Artificer, then alternate Artificer and Fighter until he meets the prerequisites for SCS (at Ftr4/Art4, iirc). The player's also keen on mounted combat, so he'll be taking Mounted Combat, Ride-by-Attack and Spirited Charge later on, and is saving to buy a Warforged Steed (a modified Effigy Heavy Warhorse).

 

[yipwyg]

I was wondering why someone would take the final level of Spellcarved Soldier. It basically gives you DR 5/Magic. However, by the time you get it, a lot of creatures, and most npc's of your level will have magic weapons.

Also I am assuming the runes are 1 hour per level of spellcarved soldier, at the end of the duration can you keep on re-activating them.

 

[Klaus]

Aside from the DR 5/magic (yes, there are lots of creatures that can bypass it, but you'll probably not worry about mooks any longer), you get an extra hour of rune-activity.

And yes, once you activate a rune, it stays up for 1 hour per class level or until you deactivate it. You can then activate it again (and by 4h level you can have 2 runes running at the same time).