Help with my Artificer

[Dannyalcatraz]

No, a +1AC shift = 5% change is absolutely true.

Situations like this only occur because gaming systems allow you to have a greater than 100% probability of success (ignoring the 5% chance of failure on a roll of 1 on a D20)- a statistical impossibility.

Autofailure aside, the 5% shift is lost in the noise of modifiers that allow the probability of an event's occurence (here, a successful attack) to be greater than 1 (absolute certainty).

In other words, while the 1 point shift IS absolutely a 5% shift in probabilty, the fact that the system allows for probabilities in excess of 100% overwhelms the normal math.

 

[Caliban]

No, a +1AC shift = 5% change is absolutely true.

Situations like this only occur because gaming systems allow you to have a greater than 100% probability of success (ignoring the 5% chance of failure on a roll of 1 on a D20)- a statistical impossibility.

Autofailure aside, the 5% shift is lost in the noise of modifiers that allow the probability of an event's occurence (here, a successful attack) to be greater than 1 (absolute certainty).

In other words, while the 1 point shift IS absolutely a 5% shift in probabilty, the fact that the system allows for probabilities in excess of 100% overwhelms the normal math.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on whether a change to your AC that doesn't actually affect the probability of you getting hit is somehow modifying the probability of you getting hit.

 

[Scion]

Even in the limiting cases it is still nice to be able to focus your money for ac in other areas to have the same ac. Plus, keeping the enemy from power attacking for as much or making iterative attacks fail are all good things as well.

Anything that helps take away your opponents options is good

 

[Ero Gaki]

My character has 14 Str, 14 Dex, 18 Con, 18 Int, 14 Wis, and a 14 Cha. I choose con over dex because this DM is somewhat infamous for throwing around high damage dealing enemies.

I guess so far I want to focus a little on not being focused on any one thing. I've visited the WotC boards, and all I see is talk about "blastificer," "buffificer," and so on. I want to be good at several things, not give my DM a headache everytime I act.

I guess I would like to be able to dish out some damage, so that I will feel useful in a fight, and I want to be sort of a utility type of character; I want to have the right tool for the job.

And I have another question: does anybody know of anyway to use alchemy? I've got several ranks so far, but almost all of the stuff in the PH is kinda useless as you gain levels. Any thoughts?

 

[Caliban]

Even in the limiting cases it is still nice to be able to focus your money for ac in other areas to have the same ac. Plus, keeping the enemy from power attacking for as much or making iterative attacks fail are all good things as well.

Anything that helps take away your opponents options is good

Oh, I agree. I never said Dex and AC wasn't important. I'm just saying that it's not always the most important thing, and it becomes less important as you go up in levels. At higher levels, other methods of damage avoidance become more important: High saves, Evasion, Mettle, DR, and Uncanny Dodge.

Just don't make the mistake of focusing on AC and Damage Avoidance to the exclusion of all else. If you can't hurt your opponents, being hard to hit doesn't help much.

 

[Scion]

Actually, at high levels a good initiative is 'very' important. Just a side effect of a good dex

 

[Caliban]

Actually, at high levels a good initiative is 'very' important. Just a side effect of a good dex

True, although my high level tank has pretty much given up on ever going first. An 18 Dex just isn't good enough to win that particular contest.

He just counts on being able to survive anything that attacks him for at least two rounds before needing a cleric. I get a little worried when he takes over 150 points of damage. (Many times he can go the entire fight without needing to be healed, which is a pretty good trick at high levels.)

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

And I have another question: does anybody know of anyway to use alchemy? I've got several ranks so far, but almost all of the stuff in the PH is kinda useless as you gain levels. Any thoughts?

Like I said before:

...The last one I played took levels in locksmithing, alchemy, metalworking, glassworking, and similar skills., and made his own firebombs, acid grenades, sleeping potions, itching powders, etc.

The firebombs, acid grenades, etc. are all from alchemy, and can be very disruptive, even at medium levels. If he has the spells to work with the end products (like pyrotechnics), he can be even more disruptive.

Acids can also do a number on locks that even oils can't budge or weaken the bars of a cell.

Its also the skill that lets you make tanglefoot bags (useful as last resort grapples, BTW), sunrods, etc.

Of course, you can always buy the stuff...unless the GM says otherwise. However, I never had a GM block a PC using his skills.

 

[Ero Gaki]

Are there any books or what not that give rules for firebombs and the like? The stiff in the PH is meh at best, and alchemers fire at 6th level seems like a waste of time to me.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I used the stuff in the PHB to great effect. When you're using this stuff, you're not going to be wiping out huge swaths of foes, you're creating confusion that others can take advantage of.

You're setting spellcasters on fire so they can't cast, obscuring lines of sight, buying yourself a little time.

Firebombs can be made with anything flammable/explosive- a typical one is just a flask of oil or high-proof alcohol. However, there are other things in this world that are flammable/explosive, like pine sap and gunpowder. Finding those things and refining them for use requires skills like herbalism or alchemy.

Alchemist's Fire's main advantage is that it doesn't require lighting a fuse, and as such, can be used quickly, from conplete concealment and in absolute darkness.

Where to find some other stuff? Admittedly, there isn't much in 3.5 proper. You'll either have to find something in other sources, like a setting with blackpowder weapons, or do your own research. The TV show MacGuyver was a good source of inspiration. You could also ask a HS chemistry prof.