Help build 28 points

[keyusito]

Hey im looking for a 28 build points artificer thanks!

[Khatzhas]

Any particular style of play, or type of artificer? Or don't you care as long as its an artificer?
Do you have access to any extra content? Half-elves? Warforged?
Do you have any adventure packs? (Most rune arms are from additional adventure packs.)

[keyusito]

I have a WF and i love attack with crossbow

[Khatzhas]

Do you/are you likely to have access to Tomes? The big obstacle in Artificer builds, particularly low-point ones is getting your Dex to 19, while still getting Int as high as you can.

Have a look around at the Specialist section of the forum where the Artificer stuff is. While a 28-point, no 1/2 elf artificer is a novel concept there, :-) its not exactly a custom build unless you want it to do something unusual.

[Obeel]

I am also interested in an Arty build that focuses on the rogue type mechanics and specializing in crossbows. VIP account, with access to drow and 32 pt. build.

[Khatzhas]

All Artificers can do traps, locks etc. and crossbows. The only way you could get better at traps from the base class is splash Rogue or Monk for evasion.

I don't know anything about the character builders, so this will be longhand. Guidance only, since I don't know your circumstances.

You want to aim for Improved Precise shot. This has a Dex requirement of 19. The earliest you can take it with Artificer BAB is level 15. (I'd suggest your level 16 Bonus feat.)

Therefore assign ability scores with that in mind. If you think you'll have access to a +2 Tome, you could assign a Dex of 16 at creation, and drop a levelling point into it. If not, you can realistically expect to get at least a +1 tome, so you will have to put a couple of levelling points in.

Othwerwise, Int is your main stat for both casting and crossbow use. Once you have your Dex minimum, enough Con that you're happy with survival wise, put what you can into Int. Odd points can be used for Str to help you carry your 4 or 5 different repeaters, and Cha, for your UMD, Bluff and Diplomacy.

Skills are pretty obvious. Search, Spot, Disable, Pick, UMD. You have a decent Int, so you should have plenty more to spread around where you want.

Feat progression gives you a little wiggle room. I'd suggest:

Level Feat
1 Point Blank Shot
3 Toughness
4 Precise shot (Artificer bonus feat)
6 Rapid shot
8 Maximise Spell (Artificer bonus feat)
9 Spell Focus: Evocation
12 Imp Crit: Ranged (Artificer bonus feat)
12 Greater Spell Focus: Evocation
15 Empower spell
16 Improved Precise Shot (Artificer bonus feat)
18
20

Maximise and Empower are probably no longer necessary with the changes, but people like to drop the most powerful Blade Barriers that they can. Most of your other high-level offensive spells are good for CC so throwing more of them is better than throwing ones that hit slightly harder.
Spell Focus: Evocation boosts all of your offensive spells, but more importantly your Rune Arm DCs.

Enhancements: Go you the Battle Engineer Prestige. Otherwise you'll likely want to boost wands and scroll use since you will be using these to heal, Repair, to help you heal your pet.
I'd recommnd that you start off by also boosting Electrical damage. This improves your offensive spells, and the Flicker (From Shan-To-Kor) and Chimera's Breath (From Sentinels) Rune arms. Otherwise, just boost whatever element your favourite Rune arm is.
Somewhere between level 12 and level 15, you will want to reset your enhancements to boost Force damage, since that will now improve your high-level damage spells, and Rune arms such as Recoyle from Threnal and Lucid dreams.