Help me optimize a Pure Halfling Artificer

[Failedlegend]

OK so I've been officially convinced to actually go single-class on Artificer despite my love of multiclassing and my fear of rolling a character w/o evasion...now I need help with this..how do I build this guy and how do I make him a Halfling (because I want to)

Also what are some good target items for various times during leveling from 4-20 I have access to pretty much all the adventure packs except the Cannith stuff (although I WILL be making an Arty ring using the free tokens)

So far this is what I have.


Halfling Artificer20

Str 10
Dex 16 (1 lvl up here, +2 dex tome by lvl 15)
Con 14
Int 18 (4 Lvl ups here)


1 Point Blank Shot
3 Precise Shot
6 Rapid Shot
9 Toughness
12 SF: Evo
15 Improved Precise Shot
18 GSF:Evo

Alternatively I could put toughness at 18 and SF/GSF:Evo @ 9&12

4 Augment Summoning
8 Construct Essence
12 IC:Ranged
16 Empower
20 Maximize

Skills: Balance,Concentration,Disable Device,Haggle, Open Lock, Search, Spot,UMD,

Spells (In order taken..repair spells are free)
1st Conjure Bolts, Ablative Armor, Enchant Weapons,???, ???
2nd Elly Weapons, Lucky Cape, Byeshk, ???, ???
3rd Insightful Damage, Flame Turret, Addy Weapons, Pos energy Infusion
4th Armor of Speed, Thundering Armor, Cold Iron, ???
5th Radiant Forcefield, Planar Weapons, Silver Weapons
6th Deadly Weapons, Blade Barrier,

[unbongwah]

Normally I hate starting with low STR, but what about base STR 8 DEX 17? That way you don't need to put any lvl-ups into DEX (w/+2 tome natch) and can max INT instead: base 18 + 5 lvl-ups + 3 enhs + 2 tome = 28.

Rather than Construct Essence (which is a trap unless you always solo, IMHO), have you considered using your extra feats to squeeze in the halfling DMs instead? With Emp+Max you ought to be able to do some pretty decent heals, even without any Devotion enhs etc. The downside is having to backload some of your ranged and/or meta feats to fit them in, unfortunately.

[unbongwah]

Feat order probably needs optimizing, but something to start with:


Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.11.02
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Level 20 True Neutral Halfling Female
(20 Artificer)
Hit Points: 222
Spell Points: 1128
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 10
Reflex: 11
Will: 12

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(32 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20)
Strength 8 8
Dexterity 17 19
Constitution 14 16
Intelligence 18 25
Wisdom 8 8
Charisma 8 8

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7

Level 1 (Artificer)
Feat: (Selected) Least Dragonmark of Healing


Level 2 (Artificer)


Level 3 (Artificer)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 4 (Artificer)
Ability Raise: INT
Feat: (Artificer Bonus) Point Blank Shot


Level 5 (Artificer)


Level 6 (Artificer)
Feat: (Selected) Lesser Dragonmark of Healing


Level 7 (Artificer)


Level 8 (Artificer)
Ability Raise: INT
Feat: (Artificer Bonus) Maximize Spell


Level 9 (Artificer)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Dragonmark of Healing


Level 10 (Artificer)


Level 11 (Artificer)


Level 12 (Artificer)
Ability Raise: INT
Feat: (Artificer Bonus) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons
Feat: (Selected) Precise Shot


Level 13 (Artificer)


Level 14 (Artificer)


Level 15 (Artificer)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Precise Shot


Level 16 (Artificer)
Ability Raise: INT
Feat: (Artificer Bonus) Augment Summoning


Level 17 (Artificer)


Level 18 (Artificer)
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell


Level 19 (Artificer)


Level 20 (Artificer)
Ability Raise: INT
Feat: (Artificer Bonus) Rapid Shot

[Maxallu]

If you really want to optimize this arty, go wf.

[Cardtrick]

If you really want to optimize this arty, go wf.

I don't know about that, halfling definitely has some decent synergy with artificer. The +2 base dex helps with IPS qualifications, the sneak attack (halfling cunning/guile) enhancements are awesome, and I think Hero's Companion will be an especially interesting option since you can use it on your own pet while soloing.

[Failedlegend]

I don't know about that, halfling definitely has some decent synergy with artificer. The +2 base dex helps with IPS qualifications, the sneak attack (halfling cunning/guile) enhancements are awesome, and I think Hero's Companion will be an especially interesting option since you can use it on your own pet while soloing.

All that and its awesome that your Dog ends up just as big as you :P

@DMs : Meh those don't really interest me especially if they delay my ranged and caster feats

[Deathdefy]

Unasked for wishy-washy build critique; all pretty biased, so take or leave as you please:

-AP will be even more mega-tight than on an ordinary Artificer if you want much halfling SA or HC; that said I think it's up there for artificer race choices, just something to be aware of.

-Get Empower; mostly for BB too. Maximize and Empower also help with the healing infusions (and lightning spells which in my experience are the way to go with lightning spec for levelling due to the preponderance of decent lightning rune arms and that until end-game very little is lightning immune or resistant). Can always respec AP if you score a Titan's Fist haha.

-I will be taking SF: Evocation and GSF: Evocation on all my artificers from now on; I didn't have it on my current guy and regret it. From testing in the threads about the place - http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=351847&page=7 (which I know you're in anyway :P) and http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=345259&highlight=DC it seems that it does affect rune arm DC.

-I don't know if you need SF: UMD. My hideous WF bot of 6 CHA and nothing too special gear-wise save an epic Spyglass was no-fail UMDing heal scrolls at cap (with 4AP into UMD; which has come down to 0 at last), but if you want it for early usage I get that. Actually, given I reckon your AP will be tighter than your feats, maybe it's a great decision for a halfling in particular.

-Oh, and I'm the Construct Essence is a trap camp, but lacking first hand-experience with it I can't say for sure. Can always swap it out if you hate it.

-You'll still have spare feats. Arti feat smash.

Levelling gear advice:
-Ring of expeditious retreat; goes forever. Yay.

-Force / Lightning damage clickies. Craft them; they're not too horrendously high crafting level for the Superior VI BtC ones.

-One of the explosive fire arms... I think the tangleroot one has it, as does Hand of the Tombs and Animus. For busting doors and breakables primarily.

-Crossbow with the biggest possible guild augment slot you can use. Just recraft over it periodically, and ML -2 it with Cannith Favor if you can. Early on to-hit is pretty rough, so a +2/3/4 Small/Medium/Large Guild crystal of accuracy is huge. Aside from that, just go with Holy of Bleeding of the biggest plus you can find.

-Some people struggle with undead or constructs due to their dr, so it's not the worst idea to grab a bane of each. Or smiters/disruptors at 10. IPS and paralyzing is allegedly good. Don't feel obliged to drink the koolaid though; your dps with IPS can kill those mobs pretty darn fast with a damage prefix.

-Many haste clickies. Many DP clickies. Standard scrolls.

--> Mask of Comedy for Good Hope clickie! <--- A pain to farm like Kronzek's though. Hopefully you need both haha.

-DT of something/+6 Dex/+4 Insight with a +1 dodge alchemical ritual for the dog will make it not die virtually ever. Dog AC is spectacular (+81 self-buffed, and since you can't take him into epics yet that's really enough) all the way through to end-game if you give it stability docents once invulnerality isn't cutting it anymore too. People seem to like unbalancing on the dog docent too for another effective -2AC.

If you really, really care about dog AC, you can gimp its dps with a greater parrying module too. I wouldn't though as its damage isn't too awful.

-Pea Shooter. It's a game changer from when you get it due to the potency and nice blast pattern. My route was then 'the Turmoil Within' from the black tor dragon, then 'Glorious Obscenity' till I got Lucid Dreams at last. That rune arm progression is subjective, but Pea Shooter is objectively awesome.

-That Frozen Tunic thing. It's ridiculous at all levels according to my guildie. I concur based on what I've seen running with him.

[Failedlegend]

Unasked for wishy-washy build critique; all pretty biased, so take or leave as you please:

-AP will be even more mega-tight than on an ordinary Artificer if you want much halfling SA or HC; that said I think it's up there for artificer race choices, just something to be aware of. Meh enhancements are easily rearranged shouldn't be too hard to find the sweetspot set-up each level

-Get Empower; mostly for BB too. Maximize and Empower also help with the healing infusions (and lightning spells which in my experience are the way to go with lightning spec for levelling due to the preponderance of decent lightning rune arms and that until end-game very little is lightning immune or resistant). Can always respec AP if you score a Titan's Fist haha.

-I will be taking SF: Evocation and GSF: Evocation on all my artificers from now on; I didn't have it on my current guy and regret it. From testing in the threads about the place - http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=351847&page=7 (which I know you're in anyway :P) and http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=345259&highlight=DC it seems that it does affect rune arm DC. Hmmm...now I just got to see WHEN to take these...probably drop SF:UMD and take Empower, SF:Evo, GSF: Evo...just no idea how to fit them in (although I tried in the my first post)

-I don't know if you need SF: UMD. My hideous WF bot of 6 CHA and nothing too special gear-wise save an epic Spyglass was no-fail UMDing heal scrolls at cap (with 4AP into UMD; which has come down to 0 at last), but if you want it for early usage I get that. Actually, given I reckon your AP will be tighter than your feats, maybe it's a great decision for a halfling in particular. Yeah SF:UMD was mostly just a filler/temporary thing to get better scrolls faster

-Oh, and I'm the Construct Essence is a trap camp, but lacking first hand-experience with it I can't say for sure. Can always swap it out if you hate it. I'm mostly taking it so things like titans glove & The Arty Ring work on me...also I like the lore of it...and yeah there's always the free feat swap...hoping they either give an enhancement line for construct essence or that they make it so extend works on Arty spells and than I'll swap it for that

-That Frozen Tunic thing. It's ridiculous at all levels according to my guildie. I concur based on what I've seen running with him.Other than the freezing Ice -which sounds awesome- thing this armor doesn't seem very useful

Heh no worries big long posts of build advice is what I was hoping for :D left a couple comments in red


Normally I hate starting with low STR, but what about base STR 8 DEX 17? That way you don't need to put any lvl-ups into DEX (w/+2 tome natch) and can max INT instead: base 18 + 5 lvl-ups + 3 enhs + 2 tome = 28.


As much as I'm a supporter on dumping Str on a character that uses it for nothing but Carrying Capacity (8+2(Tome)+6(Item) = 16 is more than enough) Halfling are kind of the exception...isn't an 8 Str Halfling kind of dangerous


If you really want to optimize this arty, go wf.

Nope want to be a Halfling..trust me I've rolled this guy as WF, Human & Half-Elf...they just don't feel right...If we had Tinker Gnomes (+2Int/Dex,-2Str/Wis) I'd be using them but Halflings will do.

Also with a fleshy Arty I only have to get the good docents once instead of twice :D

Oh and Halfling does bring some good synergy to Arty who is first and foremost a support class. Halfling Companion will be highly useful in both Soloing (Use on Doggy) and group situations (Either Tank,Healer or Dog depending on situation depending on the situation) where they'll love me for having it....the to-hit & save bonuses will be a great help especially at early levels.

[Blank_Zero]

I started with a Halfling Arty (mostly cuz of gnome lore stuff :> ), but rerolled into a Half Elf.

Construct essence can be a pain, but with the extra Heal Amp afforded to Human/HElves, it's very handy. PLus, if you can find a way to fit in 13 WIS and a few extra APs, you can have monk Dilly with Heal Amp as well :3

[Failedlegend]

I started with a Halfling Arty (mostly cuz of gnome lore stuff :> ), but rerolled into a Half Elf.

Construct essence can be a pain, but with the extra Heal Amp afforded to Human/HElves, it's very handy. PLus, if you can find a way to fit in 13 WIS and a few extra APs, you can have monk Dilly with Heal Amp as well :3

I know Human/H_Elf are statistically better (the ability to mix damage boost and endless fusilade is reason enough) but it just doesnt FEEL right and if a character doesnt feel right Its unlikely I'll play him much so I'd much rather stick with Halflinf and optimize it within that constraint

I'm still hoping they give us tinker gnomes...they go with the Artificer class like bread and butter...or peanut butter and choclate