Help with Gnome Artificer

[OracleOfNarion]

I am considering playing a character who wants to become a gnome artificer (from MoF), but I'm starting to wonder if the idea is workable. Or, by the time I can meet the prereqs, will I be too far behind the power curve to be able to catch up?

Assuming no bonus for high Int, a 5th level Rogue will have had 64 skill points to distribute, and can have a maximum skill rank of 8. However, after meeting all the prereqs that are class skills for a Rogue (Craft 8, Craft 4*2, Disable Device 2, and Profession 3) there are only 43 left for Rogue stuff - roughly the same as a second level Rogue with a 12 intelligence. And I still need Knowledge 4*2 and Alchemy 3, which I can get by taking a few levels of Illusionist. At 2 skill pts per level, that will take 4 levels, making the character 9th level overall.

I can already see how important a high Int. is for a character like this. Problem is, I don't yet know how we'll be determining attributes, so I can't make any plans.

Anyway, at Character Level 9 I can start as an Artificer, with 4 o-level and 2-1st level powers at my disposal. If I'd gone Wizard the whole way, I'd be casting 5th level spells!

At this point, based on the opportunity cost of getting here, I am a liability to my party. I know, I can already hear the cries of "its role playing, not roll playing!", but getting my butt kicked over and over again isn't what I play for.

So I ask you, is there a better way to get here (keeping in mind that the character must be functional at each level - we're not starting at 5 or anything like that)? Or is this PrC really for NPCs? Or am I just a big wimp?

Thanks for your positive feedback.

For anyone whose still interested, the skill prereqs for Gnome Artificer are:
Craft - armorsmithing, blacksmithing, gem cutting, lock smithing, metalworking, trap making, or weapon making: One at (8) ranks, and two others at (4) ranks each.
Knowledge - architecture and engineering: (4) ranks each.
Profession - apothecary, engineer, or siege engineer: (3) ranks of one.
Alchemy - (3) ranks.
Disable Device - (2) ranks.

 

[Conaill]

Someone else (either here or over on the Wizards boards) suggested taking a Gnome Artificer as a cohort. If your DM will let you start with Leadership at lvl 9, that would be a very nice alternative. The Artificer's creations can be used by anyone.

I'm working towards Gnome Artificer myself with my little tinker gnome alchemist. Yeah, I do think the PrC is underpowered compared to the (very) hefty requirements. To make it more viable as a PC class (compared to the cohort idea) it really needs something more that is *only* a benefit to the Artificer. Otherwise you'll probably wind up getting asked by everyone in the party to make devices for them.

PS: Make sure to take advantage of the 50% recharge cost (and persuade him NOT to allow the same for wands etc.). That's one of the few features that makes this PrC worth it. Just make items with 5 charges and keep recharging them as needed.

 

[Conaill]

Just thought of something else: AEG's new book "Magic" has a section on Technomancy, including a Tinker core class. If your DM allows it, that would make for a great complement to Gnome Artificer. You can probably fulfill all the requirements by Tinker6 or so.

It's an Int based class, with 4 skill points/lvl, plus 2/lvl that you have to put in tinkering related skills. Skill list probably includes all prereqs for GnArt, and you gets some spells as well. Plus you get to craft up to twice your lvl in HD of little constructs that follow you around. Essentially, the class is based on the Druid, with construct "animal companions" and a different skill and spell list.