Melee Arti Buzz

[ThomasHunter]

Seems to be a fair amount of buzz talking about melee artificers. I've read a few of the posts and think I have an initial idea with a dwarf ready to TR.

However when reading one thread the possibility of going with 6 fighter seemed to have been a decent idea. Obviously I lose a nice capstone but not sure what else. I would also gain a few feat - maybe a net 1?

Any insight from anyone? Thanks!

[unbongwah]

The main advantages of fighter 6 / arty whatever is getting Strike w/No Thought early on for +1 crit multiplier (pure arty gotta wait until 20) and Stalwart Defense bonuses stack with RMM, IIUC. Downsides are giving up at least 6 arty lvls (lvl 6 spells, last two cores, etc.) and APs are tight if trying to spread between 3-4 trees instead of 1-2.

You might be able to adapt slarden's Reaper build for melee arty instead. And you've probably already seen it, but here's Strimtom's thread.

[ThomasHunter]

More reading, more noodling this idea...

I have a dwarf who is at 20 and could simply be reincarnated. I'm really looking for a build for him and haven't found one yet. So, maybe a combination of both threads listed, how about 14/6 melee Arti/Fighter?

Thoughts/Goals:

• Want to try Construct Essense and its ilk.
• RM tier 5.
• Kensai third core for the crit damage increase.
• SWF line (I think this is what I want?).
• Dwarven Axes since I already have plenty.

I'm looking for a "new" project toon, and this could be it. Any additional thoughts on this build? Anything that I might have missed?

Thanks!
Taleisin

[Grace_ana]

More reading, more noodling this idea...

I have a dwarf who is at 20 and could simply be reincarnated. I'm really looking for a build for him and haven't found one yet. So, maybe a combination of both threads listed, how about 14/6 melee Arti/Fighter?

Thoughts/Goals:

• Want to try Construct Essense and its ilk.
• RM tier 5.
• Kensai third core for the crit damage increase.
• SWF line (I think this is what I want?).
• Dwarven Axes since I already have plenty.

I'm looking for a "new" project toon, and this could be it. Any additional thoughts on this build? Anything that I might have missed?

Thanks!
Taleisin

My eventual arty tank is doing a melee life for epic leveling right now. I also did SWF, which works well with the runearm. I'm Aasimar, so hammers instead of dwarven axes, but the same idea. The 3 piece heroic set from Disciples of Rage is worth farming out for a melee arty. I also did construct essence/improved construct essence, and in conjunction with some points in RMM it's very effective. I have both repair and heal amp so I'm covered in all situations. I have pally instead of fighter (because she's in her eventual tank split), but if I was going to be an actual melee fighter is the way to go. Just make sure you map it all out on a character planner to ensure that you aren't spreading points too thin.

Mine does passable damage, but if I had fighter and kensai she would be doing better. She does well when in LD, and kensai is kind of the heroic equivalent.

[ThomasHunter]

Thanks - I'll be mapping it out tomorrow I think. See how the feats and levels line up.

[adrian69]

Thanks - I'll be mapping it out tomorrow I think. See how the feats and levels line up.

I ran one for 6 of my racial lives. It comes in on its around 12 or 13. I had more fun with it on the WF I think.