What do Artificers use to Artifice?

[Turtlejay]

I am looking at putting one together for our current campaign as a backup. I like to have one ready so that if I bite it there is less downtime.

The first one I built I went all ranged and took Greatbow Proficiency. It works okay at first, but there were an increasing list of implement powers that I liked and could not use (without shenanigans, like disembodied hand or something).

In desperation I turned to the charop board and the Artificer guide up there: Whoops! Browser Settings Incompatible

If anything I am *more* confused now. What to do, weapon & implement? Focused Expertise?

To be clear, I am not trying to break anything, I just would like to make a useful Artificer.

9th level, any race/feat/multi combo, thinking about the Battle Engineer for a PP.

Anyone played an Artificer? What do you think?

Jay

 

[Flipguarder]

From what I can gather you kind of have 4 options as an artificer (more options = good)

You can go all ranged like you did with your first build.
You can go melee for the most part.
You can go implement for the most part.
You can take quick draw and use a combination of the other three.

I would suggest this last one personally