Artificer analysis and build

[Asmodeus451]

if i were to list the best races for Art, it would prob look a little like this:

1. Warforged
2. Half-elf
3. Drow
4. Human
5. Halfling
6. Dwarf
7. Elf
8. Half-orc

Warforged: obvious reasons

Half-elf: Rogue Dilly on an Art is a potent combo, plus you get all the Human enhancements on top of that, without any real disadvantages

Drow: lack of Racial enhancements means more AP for Art ones, plus wat this guy says

dex 17 = 8 points vs 13 for human/helf (ie saves 5 points)
int 18 = 10 points vs 16 for human/helf (ie saves 6 points).
con 14 = 10 points vs 6 for human/helf (ie costs 4 points).

even if we bump that int up to 19 base (to match human/helf potential exactly), that's saving 4 points over helf/human, and allowing further investment elsewhere (cha or str would be likely good choices). and as an added bonus, a bit more UMD/haggle/etc. heck, int 20 (either getting a higher DC/damage or saving 6 AP from not needing int 3) even still leaves you 1 point ahead plus that charisma bonus.

Human: ranks below Drow only because the extra feat doesn't mean much on a feat heavy class like Art, but can be spent on something like Bsword proff to enhance melee capability even on non-melee specced Arts (there is always a point at which you should put down the xbow and start swinging a sword).

Halfling: Halfling Guile and Dragonmarks make Pint-sized Arts an ok choice, but they rank low on the list because Guile costs AP on an AP starved class and the Dragonmarks require 3 feats to be useful.

Dwarf: about the only thing Dwarves have going for them IMO is free proff in Daxes. good thing if you want a Melee Art, but Human with Bsword proff (also free w/human bonus feat) is munch better IMO

Elf: penalty to CON without much to make up for it kills the potential of Elves as Arts

Half-orc: Penalties to INT (your primary stat) and CHA (which hurts UMD, Arts bread-and-butter skill) make Horc Arts a Bad Idea(tm). The only case i can make for a Horc Art is a STR based Melee Art that uses no DC based spells at all and has gear to make up for the loss of skill points and the hit to UMD from low CHA

[Therrias]

Damage:
2d8 base greensteel heavy repeater lightning II(waiting on alchemical crafted info, have a lit II and earthgrab already)
2d8 point blank shot
15 intelligence(insightful damage)
4 past life ranger
5 weapon enhancement
2 battle engineer enhancement
2 crossbow damage
1 howling bracers
2 good hope(epic mask of comedy 9 minutes 3/day)
2 berserker set
1 litany of the dead
2d6 holy
1d6 shocking
shocking blast
shocking blow epic charged gauntlets
shrieking bolt howling bracers
12 lightning strike
4-16 electrical IV tovens hammer
3d6 sneak rogue dilettante
8 sneak tharnes
100+ per hit before crits
17x20 x2 +10% speed from AA set, fusilade, Helf damage boost, fighter haste boost

Do the epic charged gauntlets's shocking blow actually go off on ranged attacks? Because the normal ones specify (since update 9) that it is only melee attacks.

http://ddowiki.com/page/Charged_Gauntlets

[Xyfiel]

I ask if anyone wants to continue the which race is best for Artificer discussion to start a new thread. I posted my analysis and why I choose my build in the op. I want helf versatility and rogue dilettante. HV also allows me to gain +5 skills if I want to bypass a fight with conversation like in relic or crucible, allows me to gain 5 to hit if needed, and +5 saves for a difficult trap disarm.

All races have pros and cons with Artificers, I am not saying any of them are bad. They just aren't as good for what I want to do with my build.

Thank you.

[Stillwaters]

Thankx Xyfiel for inspiring me to use this template to make my craftbot based strongly off your original version.

I know craftbot has to be human and you love Helf (i do too) and im sorry. This build is 2 crafting bonus lower than the max, but seems a lot more viable build.

Xpression
HUMAN 16 Arty/2Monk/2Ftr

Stats: 36 point
STR 9 [+7] (+2 tome, +2 guild, +2 rage, +6 encrusted ring, +3 profane, +1 ex encrusted) = 25
DEX 17 [+11] (+2 tome, +2 guild, +7 spectral gloves, +1 lit of dead, +3 Ex AA set) = 32
CON 14 [+11] (+2 tome, +2 guild, +2 rage, +7 envenomed cloak, +1 lit of dead, +3 ex encrusted ring/boots of corrosion, +1 human) = 32
INT 18 [+16] (+2 tome, +2 guild, +5 levelups, +7 Diabolist robe, +1 lit of dead, +3 ex Tovens hammer/diabolist, +4 human/arty) = 42
WIS 8 [+4] (+2 tome, +2 guild, +1 lit of dead, +6 Conc opp) = 19
CHA 8 [+4] (+2 tome, +2 guild, +1 lit of dead, +6 Epic Mask of comedy) = 19

Feats : {Monk} : (Fighter) : @Artificer@ : ^Human^ :
1* Point Blank Shot, @Rapid Reload@, @Exotic Weapon Xbows@, ^Least Dragonmark of Making^
2 {Toughness}
3* Rapid Shot
5 @Construct essence@
6* Empower Spell
9* Augment Summon {Lightning Reflexes} {Evasion}
10 @Lesser Dragonmark of Making@
12* Quickdraw (Imp Crit Ranged)
15* Precise shot (Imp precise shot)
16 @Quicken Spell@
18* Maximise Spell
20 @Greater Dragonmark of Making@

Skills:
ART 1 {36} Tumble 2(4), Jump 2(4), Open lock 4, Disable device 4, Search 4, Spot 4, UMD 4, Repair 4, Haggle 4
MNK 2 {9} Balance 5, Move silent 2, Hide 2
ART 3 {9} Disable device, Search 2, Spot, UMD, Move silent 1(2), Hide 1(2)
ART 4 {9} Disable device 2, Search, Spot, UMD, Move silent 1(2), Hide 1(2)
ART 5 {9} Disable device, Search, Spot 2, UMD, Move silent 1(2), Hide 1(2)
ART 6 {9} Disable device, Search, Spot, UMD 2, Move silent 1(2), Hide 1(2)
ART 7 {9} Disable device, Search, Spot, UMD, Move silent 1(2), Hide 1.5(3)
ART 8 {11} Disable device, Search, Spot, UMD, Move silent 1(2), Hide 1.5(3), Balance 1(2)
MNK 9 {11} Balance 6, Move silent 3, Hide 2
ART 10 {11} Disable device 2, Search, Spot 2, UMD 2, Move silent 1(2), Hide 1(2),
ART 11 {11} Disable device, Search 2, Spot, UMD, Move silent 1(2), Hide 1(2), Balance 1(2)
FTR 12 {9} Disable device 1(2), Search 1(2), Spot 1(2), UMD 1(2), Balance .5(1)
ART 13 {11} Disable device, Search, Spot, UMD, Move silent 2(4), Hide 1(2), Balance .5(1)
ART 14 {11} Disable device, Search, Spot, UMD, Move silent 1(2), Hide 2(4), Balance .5(1)
FTR 15 {9} Disable device 1(2), Search 1(2), Spot 1(2), UMD 1(2), Balance .5(1)
ART 16 {12} Disable device, Search, Spot, UMD, Move silent 2(4), Hide 1(2), Balance 1(2)
ART 17 {12} Disable device, Search, Spot, UMD, Move silent 1(2), Hide 2(4), Balance 1(2)
ART 18 {12} Disable device, Search, Spot, UMD, Move silent 1(2), Hide 1(2), Balance 2(4)
ART 19 {12} Disable device, Search, Spot, UMD, Move silent 1(2), Hide 1(2), Balance 2(4)
ART 20 {12} Disable device, Search, Spot, UMD, Move silent 1(2), Hide 1(2), Balance 2(4)

MAX: Disable device, Search, Spot, UMD, Move silent, Hide, Balance. Open lock/Repair/Haggle @4 ranks. Jump/Tumble @2 ranks.

UMD: 23ranks+4cha+4gh+2good luck+3 store rabbit hat+6greensteel+2artificer+5actionboost = 49 (15% fail lvl 9 spells)
Balance/Hide/Movesilent: 23ranks+11dex+4gh+6greensteel+2good luck+15item = 61
Disable/Search: 23ranks+16int+4gh+5greensteel+2good luck+15item = 65 (73-92 disable with +5tools)
Spot: 23ranks+4wis+4gh+5greensteel+2good luck+15item = 59
Openlock: 4ranks+11dex+4gh+6greensteel+2good luck+15item = 48-67 with +5 tools
All trapskills are 2 higher if arty action boost is avail (Save versatility boost for damage/umd)

Hit points:
20 base
10 draconic vitality
30 greater false life(belt)
45 shroud hp helm
20 item toughness
22 toughness
10 fighter toughness I
20 racial toughness II
220 con
20 fighter
16 monk
96 artificer
10 battle engineer
539

Spell points:
600 base
80 magical training
401 intelligence
200 archmagi(skiver before buffing or archmage belt)
150 shroud
1431 + bauble, archivists, talisman, ssr = 2k+


Saves:
5 resistance epic envenomed cloak
1 alchemical
4 gh
2 good luck
3 monk
3/0/0 fighter
5/5/10 arty
11/11/4 stats
0/1/1 rage and haste
0/2/0 lightning reflexes
34 fort/34 reflex/30 will
For traps:
+4 insight (superior parry item swap-in)
+2 saves vs traps (rogue past life)
+1 Way of monkey
41 Ref for traps

To hit:
20 bab(divine power)
4 greater heroism
1 haste
5 weapon
11 dexterity
2 arcane archer necklace
2 Epic spectral gloves
2 battle engineer
2 crossbow attack
2 howling bracers
1 litany of the dead
2 Battle skill craft
54
5 Sneak attack
59
-4 Kiting thru BB
55

Damage:
2d8 (9)base greensteel heavy repeater lightning II
2d8 (9)point blank shot
2d6 (7)holy
1d6 (3.5)shocking
4d4 (10)electrical IV tovens hammer
16 intelligence(insightful damage)
5 weapon enhancement
2 battle engineer enhancement
2 crossbow damage
1 howling bracers
2 good hope(epic mask of comedy 9 minutes 3/day)
2 berserker set
1 litany of the dead
12 lightning strike
8 sneak tharnes
1 sneak (rog past life)
90.5 avg per hit before
Shocking blast
Shrieking bolt
+25% Human damage boost
Fusilade
+10% firing speed from AA set
+15% firing speed Fighter haste boost
+ Rune arm offhand damage steadily pumping

Gear:
necklace/ring1: Arcane Archer set +2 dex
belt/ring2: berserker set +2con
rune arm: tovens hammer with +2 int and transform kinetic
helm: greensteel concordant opp/sp/+5int skills helm (sp/recharge/regen/trapgear), greensteel 3xair hp/dex skills (stealth/haste), epic mask of comedy
trinket: litany of the dead
bracers: wind howling
goggles: Tharnes / Disable+15
cloak: epic envenomed with toughness
robe: epic diabolists with +1 intelligence and heavy fort
boots: epic corrosion with good luck and +1 con
gloves: greensteel 3xpos sp/cha skills (umd/SP/raise dead), epic charged gauntlets with spell focus evocation (casting), or epic spectral gloves (repeater)
Misc: LitII RxHvy, E Hellfire RxHvy, Skiver/sup parry item.

Enhancements:
12 Arty int III
10 Human versatility IV
10 wand mastery IV
7 Force manipulation VII
6 Human Imp recovery II
6 Human con I/int I
4 Battle Engineer
4 Xbow damage
3 Arty damage boost II
3 Xbow attack
3 Racial toughness II
2 Rune arm overcharge I
2 Extra action boost I
1 Deadly kinetics I
1 Kinetic spellcasting I
1 Repair manipulation I
1 Extra dragonmark use I
1 Fighter toughness I
1 Fighter haste boost I
1 Way of monkey
1 Artificer skill boost I

Pet: lvl 16 (32 AP) Designed to dps in background with only occasional heals
Enhancements:
6 Dex II
5 Adamantium plating IV
5 Reinforced Armor IV
4 Distraction III
4 Danger avoidance III
2 Ruthless deception I
2 Evasion I
2 Skillful deception I
2 Takedown I

DT docent, or E blademark docent, alchemical module(wraps)

EDIT: changed to hit total re: /facepalm moment on flanking adding to ranged - (20+years of playing DND and STILL making newb mistakes)

[Yalughu]

Was fooling around on test again with a new low level elf arty, and noticed something fun....

So in good fashion artificer mode I'll throw in a spanner in the works.

Elves and Halvelves get the racial prestige arcane archer, requirememnts for arcane archer has changed on test so needs:
point blanc
ranged focus
And one of: (lots of stuff +) Artificer Creation of Energy I

Now my level 20 arti is a human on test so cant test the enhancements, but this does make me think of using the "missile" anhancements "imbue acid arrow" and "imbue slaying arrows". The name says arrows, but description says all missiles. =)

As if enhancements where not hard enough already to pick ... think its worth dropping in some AA imbued arrows in the works?

Force arrow imbue sure would be helpfull hunting ghosts as well.

If it works on repeaters, is it one slayer effect per 3 shot max or can it be triggered on each of each three bolt salvo?

Not sure how many enhancement points total the slayer arrows would be and what other stuff one must drop to fit it in. Level 20 artificers need more enhancements points for sure ;-)

[Arovin]

AA imbues do not work on anything other than bows.

My original plan when Artificers where announced was to make a bow using Elf AA/Artificer. Since Artificers get so many benefits for using crossbow (Int Damage, Exotic feats, Rune Arm) I had to drop that plan.

Sadly Elfs AA and Artificers are not a good mix.

[Lifespawn]

Was fooling around on test again with a new low level elf arty, and noticed something fun....

So in good fashion artificer mode I'll throw in a spanner in the works.

Elves and Halvelves get the racial prestige arcane archer, requirememnts for arcane archer has changed on test so needs:
point blanc
ranged focus
And one of: (lots of stuff +) Artificer Creation of Energy I

Now my level 20 arti is a human on test so cant test the enhancements, but this does make me think of using the "missile" anhancements "imbue acid arrow" and "imbue slaying arrows". The name says arrows, but description says all missiles. =)

As if enhancements where not hard enough already to pick ... think its worth dropping in some AA imbued arrows in the works?

Force arrow imbue sure would be helpfull hunting ghosts as well.

If it works on repeaters, is it one slayer effect per 3 shot max or can it be triggered on each of each three bolt salvo?

Not sure how many enhancement points total the slayer arrows would be and what other stuff one must drop to fit it in. Level 20 artificers need more enhancements points for sure ;-)

unless they changed it ...again it doesn't work with repeters

[MrCow]

To hit:
20 bab(divine power)
4 greater heroism
1 haste
1 weapon focus
1 point blank shot
5 weapon
12 dexterity
2 arcane archer necklace
2 battle engineer
2 crossbow attack
2 howling bracers
1 litany of the dead
5 sneak attack
2 flanking
6 flanking yugoloth potion
-2 yugoloth potion
64

Just to toss out there, you can't flank a ranged attack (-7 to-hit if you abstain from the Yugoloth potion). However, you could tack on a crafted Battle Skill shard for the Competence bonus to To-Hit to a rune arm, the quality depending on your crafting level (being they have some room to craft stuff on and are considered "trinkets" for that purpose).

[fandutian]

sorry.. but am sorta confused.. but wouldn't it be better if you replace your artficer level with bard level?

bard have bard song, and many nice buff.. which should make up the artficer buff..

the weapon material can be overcome with crafting

the healing part.. bard have positive healing.. and you benifit 100% from it..

bard have better cc..so you likely have easy time soloing stuff..

trap part can be fixed with one level splasing rogue.. you save a feat slot from contruct essence.. your dd dc will be sorta low.. but should be enough after all buffed..

p.s. true that your dd skill likely not enough for epic.. but really your reflex likely not enough either XD doubt artficer could reach von5 trap box without most of the epic/end game gear..

[Xyfiel]

Just to toss out there, you can't flank a ranged attack (-7 to-hit if you abstain from the Yugoloth potion). However, you could tack on a crafted Battle Skill shard for the Competence bonus to To-Hit to a rune arm, the quality depending on your crafting level (being they have some room to craft stuff on and are considered "trinkets" for that purpose).

Why do you have to ruin all my hopes and dreams, are you my wife?

64 -7 +2 crafted = 59
That is self buffed, Inspire courage would add 3-4. With a few debuffs would hit everything in game. Not that many builds are running around with that much to hit self buffed imo.

[Asmodeus451]

Why do you have to ruin all my hopes and dreams, are you my wife?

64 -7 +2 crafted = 59
That is self buffed, Inspire courage would add 3-4. With a few debuffs would hit everything in game. Not that many builds are running around with that much to hit self buffed imo.

Far as i know, the highest AC mob in the game is Epic Malicia. AC 60. so with just a Destruction Weapon or an Inspire Courage you ARE hitting everything in the game AFAIK

[Stillwaters]

Far as i know, the highest AC mob in the game is Epic Malicia. AC 60. so with just a Destruction Weapon or an Inspire Courage you ARE hitting everything in the game AFAIK

Remember to add in the -4 Kiting mobs thru BB penalty to hit (you don't have shot-on-the-run)

[Asmodeus451]

Remember to add in the -4 Kiting mobs thru BB penalty to hit (you don't have shot-on-the-run)

kinda doubt you'd be trying to kite Malicia on Epic.

but i see your point.

in that case hed just need to nab an Improved destruction weapon instead of plain Destruction

[Stillwaters]

if i were to list the best races for Art, it would prob look a little like this:

1. Warforged
2. Half-elf
3. Human <--- fixed that for ya
4. Drow
5. Halfling
6. Dwarf
7. Elf
8. Half-orc

Warforged: obvious reasons

Half-elf: Rogue Dilly on an Art is a potent combo, plus you get all the Human enhancements on top of that, without any real disadvantages

Human: ranks ABOVE Drow only because hasteboost+damageboost=win the extra feat doesn't mean much on a feat heavy class like Art, but can be spent on something like Bsword proff to enhance melee capability even on non-melee specced Arts (there is NEVER a point at which you should put down the xbow and start swinging a sword).

Drow: lack of Racial enhancements means more AP for Art ones, plus wat this guy says

Halfling: Halfling Guile and Dragonmarks make Pint-sized Arts an ok choice, but they rank low on the list because Guile costs AP on an AP starved class and the Dragonmarks require 3 feats to be useful.

Dwarf: about the only thing Dwarves have going for them IMO is free proff in Daxes. good thing if you want a Melee Art, but Human with Bsword proff (also free w/human bonus feat) is munch better IMO

Elf: penalty to CON without much to make up for it kills the potential of Elves as Arts

Half-orc: Penalties to INT (your primary stat) and CHA (which hurts UMD, Arts bread-and-butter skill) make Horc Arts a Bad Idea(tm). The only case i can make for a Horc Art is a STR based Melee Art that uses no DC based spells at all and has gear to make up for the loss of skill points and the hit to UMD from low CHA

Corrections in RED

[Asmodeus451]

*comments*

firstly: if you are gonna quote someone and comment on what they said, leave wat they said intact or omit it entirely. changing someones words to suit your own is assinign and rude

that said, i do see your point, i forgot about the damage boost/haste boost combo humans can do.

but i dont feel that this makes them BETTER than Drow for Arts. it makes them EQUAL as far as i am concerned, but not better. Drow still have alot of advantages over Human


sorry for derailing the thread again.

[Stillwaters]

firstly: if you are gonna quote someone and comment on what they said, leave wat they said intact or omit it entirely. changing someones words to suit your own is assinign and rude

that said, i do see your point, i forgot about the damage boost/haste boost combo humans can do.

but i dont feel that this makes them BETTER than Drow for Arts. it makes them EQUAL as far as i am concerned, but not better. Drow still have alot of advantages over Human


sorry for derailing the thread again.

Apologies.. In my defense i only changed a COUPLE of words, and I said CORRECTIONS in red (i should have said MY OPINIONATED CORRECTIONS) , please have some humor i didn't intend to offend, merely educate..

[EssenceofEvil]

Am I the only who noticed that with my lvl 10 arty..extend doesn't seem to work with.. any of the infusions?

[Letrii]

Am I the only who noticed that with my lvl 10 arty..extend doesn't seem to work with.. any of the infusions?

Spells tell you which metas can be applied to them.

[Therrias]

Do the epic charged gauntlets's shocking blow actually go off on ranged attacks? Because the normal ones specify (since update 9) that it is only melee attacks.

http://ddowiki.com/page/Charged_Gauntlets

Can anyone confirm/disprove this? My ranger wants to know

[Therrias]

The epic version specifically states melee only

http://itemwiki.cubicleninja.com/Ite...px?itemID=1209

Thank you. The OP should remove that from the damage calculation then.