Noob artificer questions RE: Shadar-Kai Rogue5/Artificer15

[Bart_D]

Disclaimer: I have never before played an artificer, please bear with me.

Build idea is Shadar-Kai Rogue5/Artificer15 (14/16/14/18+L/8/8, RAAAA AAAAA RRRRA AAAAA) focusing on intelligence and repeaters and taking tier 5 mechanic enhancements. Feats: PBS, Quicken Spell, A4: Rapid Shot, Insightful Reflexes, Precision, A8: Precise Shot, Imp Crit Ranged, (something L15), A12: Improved Precise Shot, (something L18), Overwhelming Critical, Combat archery, (something 26, 27, 28).

Now the questions I hope someone can help with:
- How self-healing can I hope to be? Is there any point in taking Construct Essence and Maximize Spell to be able to use reconstruct spells? Or just chug pots and wait for Cocoon in epics (sadly can't take Empower Healing Spell)
- Did I miss any feats that could boost repeater dps?
- Is there any point in taking Rapid Shot when Rapid Reload is freely granted?
- Should/can I do something to make the runearm more worthwhile? (have most named ones) I do not see any relevant feats.

Thanks :)

[Wh070aa]

Artificer self healing is pretty good, but hard to target(like potions fly taught the walls hard). Curative Admixture with maximize is okay healing. Also UMD level increase to scrolls, wands, and potions makes them way better than you think. Its annoying as all hell when you need healing, and you miss the potion, or if flies taught wall or enemy.And I think you forgot to include artificer bonus feats?
(You should change the sequence, just copy pasted from my arti/ranger build, with some added feats, so they are out of reasonable order)
1)Point blank(1)
2)rapid shot,(3)
3)Maximise (4A)
4)Quicken(6)
5)Precision(9)
6)Precise shot(8A)
7)Ranged critical(12)
8)Insigtful reflexes(15)
9)Improved precise shot(18)
10)Emp heal(12A)
e21,e24,e27, ed26,ed28,

Rapid shot and rapid reload stack/do different things. Be warned most of the information in forums are before the reload animation changes, it actually got buffed recently-ish. They change speed of certain animations, witch is all wonky, as to actual effects. Both make you shoot more arrows per minute, so its all good.
Combat archery needs base 21 dex, so if you are starting with 16, you need +5 tome (or investment in dex). (IPS need 19 base dex).

Reconstruct is slotted in really high slot, and competes with deadly weapons, blade barrier, and tactical detonation. Would not recommend getting it, unless war forged(/blade forged, but they got the SLA).

As for rune arm , I mostly use it for special shots, and effects on arrows (see hand of tombs). Great door breaker and stuff.Be warned, the slowdown from active it makes it really hard to use. You use it like this.
1)Put down turret/pet/CC in a door/choke point(if possible)
2)stand back, and don't move
4)charge up your Rune arm (be warned some shots work betther than others, go for ones that hit multiple enemies)
5)Aggro monsters with repeater
6)Blast AOE rune arm shots in crowd gathered around turret, while shooting repeater IPS would shine here, but you don't have it yet.
7)Hope that the turret duration of turret does not run out, or it does not get smashed. Healer hires sometimes help, unless turret is 1 slotted, or healer hire is not running off the clift on ohter side of map, when you ordered him to stay still.
8) if broken imitatively drop your rune arm charging, and run, kiting stuff, unless they are 1 shot from death.
It does not work against ranged enemies, casters, archers, and ghosts, and is not worth the trouble in higher levels, as turret instantly dies. You can still open the doors and smash barrels with rune arm.

Also keep up jump clickies/potions (they are really good with Artificer Knowledge, when you up them to level 9+), and haste potions(that free time extension).

What else, you should plan your spells better, the lightning sphere is mad emergency CC. You use it just before healing vs stunable enemies, and you use Admixture directly targeting nearby undead enemies.

Also Scroll/clickie all the things. Blurr, heroism, Divine Power, stone skin wands (better than using the actual spell lol), Divine Favor, spell resistance, ice storm, and so on. Also some attack spells are kinda worth it, at level they become available (fireball, ice storm and such). Use fire arrow wands for arrows.

As for weapon Cannith craft holy of bleeding, and holy of undead bane(lesser, minor, greater, depending on level you can) repeaters, with red slot, if you can. They are awesome.

Also fort bypass and stuff. Assassins leathers, black dragon scale, or whatever else.

Level 3, 4 and 5 spells really suck, and only some are situationaly useful. Besides healing, and occasional buff you probably are gonna be using from scrolls or potions instead. Only usable ones healing Admixtures, Armor of Speed (aka artificer haste), and tensers (aka worse Divine Power). Also Insightful Damage if you don't take Harper, but you should take Harper. Harper is basically a must have (KtA gives +0.5 int mod to damage, int to hit, and to damage, ranged power, and multiple +1 to damage. + Improved deception for capstone(I tend to use the Harper capstone). Also you need quicken for most spells, since casting times are painfully slow.

Construct essence is for BE capstone, Weapon Attachment. Since you are not taking it, I don't think its worth. If you take it, and reconstruct as your level 15 spell, you get nice attack speed bonus, that stacks with haste(I think so?), but you loose out on positive healing(especially cocon), and level 6 arti spells. Replace empower healing with it.

[unbongwah]

- Did I miss any feats that could boost repeater dps?
You could take WF:Ranged + Power Crit, which nets you +2 Ranged Power +2 Seeker. Personally I don't think it's worth the two-feat cost, but you do have a couple feats to spare, so....

- Is there any point in taking Rapid Shot when Rapid Reload is freely granted?
Yes: both feats stack. This thread (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/443151) is the most recent I can find testing atk speed, but it predates the U25 changes, so no idea how relevant it still is.

- Should/can I do something to make the runearm more worthwhile? (have most named ones) I do not see any relevant feats.
No feats, it's mostly a matter of # of arty lvls and Battle Engineer enhs.

EDIT: truth be told, I think rog 18 / arty 2 is better ranged DPS, thanks to Expert Builder, extra sneak atks, Opportunist, etc. So rog 5 / arty 15 only makes sense if either you're going for a ranged / caster hybrid or you want an arty PL when you ITR.

[Bart_D]

EDIT: truth be told, I think rog 18 / arty 2 is better ranged DPS, thanks to Expert Builder, extra sneak atks, Opportunist, etc. So rog 5 / arty 15 only makes sense if either you're going for a ranged / caster hybrid or you want an arty PL when you ITR.Perceptive eh? ;) Yes I want arty PL as well. Actually I ended up starting something slightly different which also gives an iconic PL i can use:

Morninglord Clr1/Rog7/Art12 (12/16/12/20+L/8/8, CRAAA AAAAR RRRRA AAAAR) 1-PBS, 3-Insightful, 6-Precision, A4-Rapid Shot, 9-Precise Shot, 12-IC:R, 15-IPS, A8-Quicken, 18-Emp Heal, A12-Maximize, 21-OC, 24-Combat Archery, 26D-?, 27-Epic Reflexes. Lots of skills.

This loses Deadly Weapons but gains higher Int, two big heals, allows empower healing for cocoon and (to mention little things too) +1d6 SA. I am not sure that Maximize will be useful for anything, haven't taken it yet. Any comments and suggestions are very welcome.

[dummeskind]

Running atm 15 Arti and 5 Rog,and thinking about this 12 Arti 7 Rog 1 Cleric change,Bladebarrier didnt get that Power i wish to make that mass Dmg.

Using Sentinel Destiny at Main,and got Prism from Shiradi in Fate Slot.(didnt make big difference if u stay Shiradi or not as i see after 1 Month Senti),but u get 500 more HP or go more Tanky and got 300 more HP.Coocon for Selfheal,but missing Empheal to Boost it more.