1st Life Crafting Artificer (Dragon Marked)

[sooktest]

I've been out of the game for so long I definitely didn't know what I was doing here. I'm looking for a crafter-bot for all intents and purposes.

That said... I assume I'll need to level to 20 in order to get all the high end crafting recipes?? If so I figured he should have some use in a group....or solo. I figured I'd solo him a TON hence the use of the pet...felt it might be fun although I heard the AI is sorta buggy. Didn't know anything about Artificer spells so went with stuff that either toughened me up...or helped my pet.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.12.01
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 True Neutral Human Male
(20 Artificer) 
Hit Points: 192
Spell Points: 1157 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 7
Reflex: 14
Will: 12

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             10                    10
Dexterity            14                    16
Constitution         12                    12
Intelligence         16                    26
Wisdom               10                    10
Charisma             15                    17

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

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               2                     4
Bluff                 2                     4
Concentration         1                     2
Diplomacy             3                    17
Disable Device        7                    36
Haggle                6                    29
Heal                  0                     1
Hide                  2                     5
Intimidate            2                     4
Jump                  2                    12
Listen                0                    12
Move Silently         2                     7
Open Lock             6                    31
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                4                    12
Search                7                    36
Spot                  4                    28
Swim                  0                     1
Tumble                2.5                   5
Use Magic Device      6                    27

Level 1 (Artificer)
Feat: (Selected) Augment Summoning
Feat: (Human Bonus) Least Dragonmark of Making


Level 2 (Artificer)


Level 3 (Artificer)
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot


Level 4 (Artificer)
Feat: (Artificer Bonus) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons


Level 5 (Artificer)


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


Level 7 (Artificer)


Level 8 (Artificer)
Feat: (Artificer Bonus) Rapid Shot


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


Level 10 (Artificer)


Level 11 (Artificer)


Level 12 (Artificer)
Feat: (Artificer Bonus) Precise Shot
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 13 (Artificer)


Level 14 (Artificer)


Level 15 (Artificer)
Feat: (Selected) Negotiator


Level 16 (Artificer)
Feat: (Artificer Bonus) Empower Spell


Level 17 (Artificer)


Level 18 (Artificer)
Feat: (Selected) Insightful Reflexes


Level 19 (Artificer)


Level 20 (Artificer)
Feat: (Artificer Bonus) Maximize Spell
Enhancement: Artificer Crossbow Attack I
Enhancement: Artificer Crossbow Attack II
Enhancement: Artificer Improved Rune Arm Use I
Enhancement: Artificer Improved Rune Arm Use II
Enhancement: Artificer Improved Rune Arm Use III
Enhancement: Artificer Improved Rune Arm Use IV
Enhancement: Artificer Rune Arm Overcharge I
Enhancement: Artificer Rune Arm Overcharge II
Enhancement: Uncaring Master
Enhancement: Arcane Empowerment
Enhancement: Extra Dragonmark Use I
Enhancement: Adamantine Companion
Enhancement: Iron Companion
Enhancement: Mithral Companion
Enhancement: Steel Companion
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Improved Disable Device I
Enhancement: Improved Disable Device II
Enhancement: Improved Disable Device III
Enhancement: Improved Disable Device IV
Enhancement: Improved Open Lock I
Enhancement: Improved Open Lock II
Enhancement: Improved Open Lock III
Enhancement: Improved Open Lock IV
Enhancement: Improved Search I
Enhancement: Improved Search II
Enhancement: Improved Search III
Enhancement: Improved Search IV
Enhancement: Improved Spot I
Enhancement: Improved Spot II
Enhancement: Improved Spot III
Enhancement: Improved Spot IV
Enhancement: Artificer Intelligence I
Enhancement: Artificer Intelligence II
Enhancement: Artificer Intelligence III
Enhancement: Artificer Wand and Scroll Mastery I
Enhancement: Artificer Wand and Scroll Mastery II
Enhancement: Artificer Wand and Scroll Mastery III
Enhancement: Artificer Wand and Scroll Mastery IV
Enhancement: Artificer Wand Heightening I
Enhancement: Artificer Wand Heightening II
Enhancement: Artificer Wand Heightening III

[unbongwah]

Why the heck did you put so many pts into STR, WIS, and CHA; yet neglect your DEX & CON? Your feats are kinda scattershot too; in particular I don't see the pt of WF:R or Negotiator while more metas would help.

Here's my take on a human arty crafter. The enhs need some work, I think, but you get the gist of it.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.12.01
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 True Neutral Human Female
(20 Artificer) 
Hit Points: 252
Spell Points: 1157 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 9
Reflex: 10
Will: 12

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength              8                    10
Dexterity            16                    19
Constitution         14                    16
Intelligence         18                    26
Wisdom                8                    10
Charisma              8                    10

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

Level 1 (Artificer)
Feat: (Human Bonus) Least Dragonmark of Making
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot


Level 2 (Artificer)


Level 3 (Artificer)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 4 (Artificer)
Ability Raise: INT
Feat: (Artificer Bonus) Augment Summoning


Level 5 (Artificer)


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


Level 7 (Artificer)


Level 8 (Artificer)
Ability Raise: INT
Feat: (Artificer Bonus) Rapid Shot


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


Level 10 (Artificer)


Level 11 (Artificer)


Level 12 (Artificer)
Ability Raise: DEX
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)
Feat: (Artificer Bonus) Maximize Spell


Level 17 (Artificer)


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


Level 19 (Artificer)


Level 20 (Artificer)
Feat: (Artificer Bonus) Empower Spell
Enhancement: Artificer Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Artificer Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Artificer Crossbow Attack I
Enhancement: Artificer Crossbow Damage I
Enhancement: Artificer Crossbow Damage II
Enhancement: Artificer Improved Rune Arm Use I
Enhancement: Artificer Improved Rune Arm Use II
Enhancement: Artificer Improved Rune Arm Use III
Enhancement: Artificer Improved Rune Arm Use IV
Enhancement: Artificer Battle Engineer I
Enhancement: Artificer Rune Arm Overcharge I
Enhancement: Artificer Rune Arm Overcharge II
Enhancement: Arcane Empowerment
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Intelligence I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Improved Use Magic Device I
Enhancement: Improved Use Magic Device II
Enhancement: Improved Use Magic Device III
Enhancement: Improved Use Magic Device IV
Enhancement: Charged Spellcasting I
Enhancement: Kinetic Spellcasting I
Enhancement: Deadly Shocks I
Enhancement: Deadly Kinetics I
Enhancement: Storm Manipulation I
Enhancement: Storm Manipulation II
Enhancement: Storm Manipulation III
Enhancement: Storm Manipulation IV
Enhancement: Force Manipulation I
Enhancement: Force Manipulation II
Enhancement: Force Manipulation III
Enhancement: Force Manipulation IV
Enhancement: Artificer Intelligence I
Enhancement: Artificer Intelligence II
Enhancement: Artificer Intelligence III
Enhancement: Artificer Wand and Scroll Mastery I
Enhancement: Artificer Wand and Scroll Mastery II
Enhancement: Artificer Wand and Scroll Mastery III
Enhancement: Artificer Wand and Scroll Mastery IV

If you plan to solo a lot, you may want to slip Construct Essence in there early on so you can self-repair, then swap it out once your UMD is high enough to use Cure wands & Heal scrolls.

[Hajutze]

I'm not sure that high CHA is such a good idea ...

[sooktest]

I'm not sure that high CHA is such a good idea ...

Was thinking it can be used for Haggle and Diplomacy when I have my Pet active.

[Hajutze]

The only thing I'd change about unbongwah's build is to take quicken earlier, it REALLY helps with turret.

[unbongwah]

Was thinking it can be used for Haggle and Diplomacy when I have my Pet active.

A couple extra pts to CHA skills (one of which isn't a class skill) isn't worth gimping your other stats, IMHO. Esp. if you sacrifice Imp Prec Shot (reqs. base DEX 19).

The only thing I'd change about unbongwah's build is to take quicken earlier, it REALLY helps with turret.

Typically I lay down a turret, then pull mobs to it, so I don't find Quicken necessary early on. And since I'm trying to get all three Making DMs ASAP for the crafting bonus, there isn't a lot of wiggle room with feats early on.

[Cardtrick]

And since I'm trying to get all three Making DMs ASAP for the crafting bonus, there isn't a lot of wiggle room with feats early on.

In my opinion, this is a perfect human crafting artificer build. The only thing I might change would be enhancements, and even those are close to what I consider ideal. I would probably drop Wand & Scroll Mastery IV and Improved UMD IV in exchange for Human Versatility I and Greater Adaptability: Dexterity, but I could just as happily stay with what you've laid out.

[Rhysem]

A couple extra pts to CHA skills (one of which isn't a class skill) isn't worth gimping your other stats, IMHO. Esp. if you sacrifice Imp Prec Shot (reqs. base DEX 19).

Typically I lay down a turret, then pull mobs to it, so I don't find Quicken necessary early on. And since I'm trying to get all three Making DMs ASAP for the crafting bonus, there isn't a lot of wiggle room with feats early on.

Marks early is a bad plan. I have a similar crafting artie... here's what's wrong with it:

Marks (and artie levels) add to your crafting skill, so far, so good. In total they add 20 points. You can craft up to 10 levels over you. So that's crafting level 10 or level 30 items. Guess which cost more ingredients to craft? The XP difference between them isn't that huge (the 30 might be a bit higher, but not by as much as the increase in cost to craft will be).

So in your ideal world, you want to craft up to 70 as a level 1 artie, then level to 20 and take the feats -- assuming you're targetting 100 crafting as a goal for yourself. Further if you want to max at 150 for unbound crafting.

What I've found since doing similar (artie at 9, no craft feats) that is that getting to ~75 skill where I am now (4 from artie levels) isn't that hard and that had I to do it again I might have just done it on my main and been done with it. The artie levels and feats aren't really worth it to me compared to just collecting some more loot and grinding it up.

Now all that said, devs have already said the craft system is going to get a once-over. What it'll be like after that... who knows. Maybe an artie will be the best crafter in game bar none. It'd be nice since, you know, they are supposed to be. change the bonus levels to a static discount on recipe costs or something of that nature.