Thinking of dual classing, please help!

[scottyboy1979]

Been playing for only three months and iam a 19th level human artificer about to reach 20th and looking to start epic destinies. This is my first class and im ok with it for the most part but am thinking about maybe becoming dual class. I tend to want to melee alot in quests but i also like spells but am intrigued about dual weapons and healing as well. I was think of training as a ranger once i reach 20th level, to help fulfill some of melee cravings. Is this a smart move? Are artificers and rangers too similar to waste xp dualing on that class? I also thought of maybe a paladin but would have switch alignment and also have issues with sub par strength and wisdom. For the most part just wanted some feedback from some of you guys and thanks alot.

[Chaotiq]

No, really don't. Since you're already a level 19 arti, the only splash you could possibly make is a /1 splash which will gain you pretty much nothing. What do rangers get a level 1? Bow strength, a favored enemy and wild empathy. Doesn't affect crossbows, why would you want to charm wild animals, and what use is +2 damage lol? There's no need to melee but you're desperate to do so, make a melee class your next life ^^. If you're looking for bonus feat, don't since artis get a bonus feat at 20 and you lose the arti capstone which is pretty sweet tbh. So remain pure and good luck on your epic destinies

[Brennie]

With 19 level of artificer under your belt, you only have 1 level left to play with for multiclassing. If you are really interested in meleeing, Fighter is probably your best bet. The bonus feat, melee proficiencies, and haste boost are handy. 1 level of ranger or paladin doesn't get you anything interesting, unfortunately.

That said, i STRONGLY suggest you finish out your heroic levels by taking 20th level in artificer. Artificer has one of, if not THE best, capstones in the game. The extra caster levels are just gravy.

The general rule of thumb for multiclassing is - if you haven't planned for it from before you even created yoru character, its probably best not to do it at all. This goes double if you are not sure what the benefits of splashing are, or what you're giving up by doing it.

[Lonnbeimnech]

Been playing for only three months and iam a 19th level human artificer about to reach 20th and looking to start epic destinies. This is my first class and im ok with it for the most part but am thinking about maybe becoming dual class. I tend to want to melee alot in quests but i also like spells but am intrigued about dual weapons and healing as well. I was think of training as a ranger once i reach 20th level, to help fulfill some of melee cravings. Is this a smart move? Are artificers and rangers too similar to waste xp dualing on that class? I also thought of maybe a paladin but would have switch alignment and also have issues with sub par strength and wisdom. For the most part just wanted some feedback from some of you guys and thanks alot.

All I saw there is 'I want to hell-gimp my artificer'.

Seriously, you have other character slots, make a seperate melee character.

[scottyboy1979]

Thx for your feedback guys, so ill stay with artificer and go with a destiny but which one? I noticed that there isnt one really setup for the artificer, am i mistaken?

[Celastelin]

Not really. Magistar is the closest one that you can take to help out your DCs on Prismatic Strike and Tactical Detonation, both of which Evocation. There are a few other goodies as well on that destiny.

[BoBoDaClown]

Dual classing is ultra old-skool!

Hope you made a human.

[scottyboy1979]

Thx guys once again, one last question. I know being level 19 i should already know this but does heavy or light armor affect artificer spellcasting, i heard mixed things about that?

[Celastelin]

From http://ddowiki.com/page/Arcane_spell_failure:

"Any scroll with a spell on the Sorcerer/Wizard's list will be susceptible to "Arcane" Spell Failure even if the reader is an Artificer, Bard wearing light armor, or divine caster. (Thus, Clerics cannot reliably use Protection from Energy scrolls in their heavy armor). This behavior may be modified in the future, as developers have acknowledged it should not work this way."

So that means Artis can read divine scrolls ok, and if wearing Heavy armor with proficiency, he is ok to use spells without ASF, excluding wiz/sorc scrolls.

Edit: Next question is how is it *intended* to work?

[unbongwah]

I know being level 19 i should already know this but does heavy or light armor affect artificer spellcasting, i heard mixed things about that?

Artificers suffer no ASF from using their own spells (which aren't technically considered arcane); but they do have to worry about ASF when using arcane scrolls (but not arcane wands), inc. the bugged issue the wiki mentions.

[ZeebaNeighba]

That's interesting...I've never failed an arcane scroll. Huh.

Anyway, don't multiclass, you won't really be able to pull off all that stuff if you haven't planned it from the start. Better to just roll a new character, with most of the levels in ranger or paladin or whatever class it was you were trying to make.

[Brennie]

Not really. Magistar is the closest one that you can take to help out your DCs on Prismatic Strike and Tactical Detonation, both of which Evocation. There are a few other goodies as well on that destiny.

Shiradi Champion! Artis use very quick ranged attacks, and more attacks = more procs. Coupled with the fact that you can proc the same procs off spellcasting too (And THOSE procs evidently get boosted by spellpower, something that Artis can actually take advantage of). So drop lightning motes, or bladebarrier, or use wands with fun effects like ice storm or acid fog or whatever, and drag enemies through it while pewpewing, and get shiradi procs up the yingyang! Toss in a healy type ability and a few ranged tactic attacks, and you have one very arti-friendly package!