Random arti thoughts leading towards a build

[Hobgoblin]

I am reaching the end of my first dwarf life. I am starting to consider my next life and plan out what gear i need to farm.

I have 3 rules for it. 2 of which are inflexible and the third which may be.

It needs to have the arti class symbol.

most be a dwarf.

i would like to use d axes and swf

so just some random thoughts and then will put together a build from a fevered dream. lol.

first off i suck at melee - i enjoy but i suck at it.

first off, to multiclass or not to multiclass? I know fighter/monk gives me feats, but arti already gives me a fair number of feats and the capstones look good thoughts im almost randomly considering are 18 arti fighter 2: a deeper splash of 14/6 arti/fighter: 18/2 arti/monk/rogue for evasion: 14/6 arti/pally: and last 14/3/something arti/bard/something. I keep coming back to pure being solid but not sold on it


second, if i go melee what do i use for damage? str seems straightforward, but doesnt mesh as well with the arti abilities...... int with a dip into harper seems like it would work and is also already in gear i have. I could go cha or dex with the 2 newest trees, which i do have, but it seems to have the same issues as str.

third - im concerned about gear. there dont seem to be a lot of named d axes that are worth it for leveling; ie ratcatcher/redemption etc. about the only good one i see is sever, and that is fairly late in heroics. is it mostly gonna be cannith crafted stuff til 14?

finally, is melee really a good option?
I could make a pure arti caster - it looks really fun now that they can strip immunity. and i do have a lot of caster gear on this guy!
I used to run a long long long time ago a generalist pure arti that was a ranged repeater build that could also do some casting. i dont know if this is viable anymore, but might be more useful

so ya. lots and lots of words here

tl;dr
multi or no?
what stat
what gear
do i do it?

[Hobgoblin]

reserved for build
Character name:
Classes: 20 Artificer, 10 Epic
Race: Dwarf · · · · · · · ·Alignment: Lawful Neutral

· · ·Start Tome Final
Str:· · 12· · 8 · ·22 · · ·HP:· · · · 882 · · ·AC:· · 17
Dex:· · 12· · 8 · ·24 · · ·PRR: · · · ·24
Con:· · 18· · 8 · ·36 · · ·MRR: · · · ·37 · · ·+Healing Amp:· · ·5
Int:· · 18· · 8 · ·44 · · ·Dodge: · ·2/25 · · ·-Healing Amp:· · ·0
Wis:· · ·8· · 8 · ·19 · · ·Fort:· · · ·5% · · ·Repair Amp:· · · 80
Cha:· · ·6· · 8 · ·18 · · ·SR:· · · · · 0 · · ·BAB: · · · · · · 15
DR:
Immunities: Sleep, Hold Person, Energy Drain, Nauseated, Exhausted, Paralysed, Magic Missiles

Class and Feat Selection
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Level Class · · · · · ·Feats
1 · · Artificer(1)· · ·Standard: Single Weapon Fighting
2 · · Artificer(2)· · ·
3 · · Artificer(3)· · ·Standard: Completionist
4 · · Artificer(4)· · ·Artificer Bonus: Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Dwarven Axe
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
5 · · Artificer(5)· · ·
6 · · Artificer(6)· · ·Standard: Precision
7 · · Artificer(7)· · ·
8 · · Artificer(8)· · ·Artificer Bonus: Empower Healing Spell
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
9 · · Artificer(9)· · ·Standard: Improved Single Weapon Fighting
10· · Artificer(10) · ·
11· · Artificer(11) · ·
12· · Artificer(12) · ·Standard: Insightful Reflexes
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Artificer Bonus: Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
13· · Artificer(13) · ·
14· · Artificer(14) · ·
15· · Artificer(15) · ·Standard: Greater Single Weapon Fighting
16· · Artificer(16) · ·Artificer Bonus: Construct Essence
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
17· · Artificer(17) · ·
18· · Artificer(18) · ·Standard: Power Attack
19· · Artificer(19) · ·
20· · Artificer(20) · ·Artificer Bonus: Improved Construct Essence
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
21· · Epic(1) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Overwhelming Critical
22· · Epic(2) · · · · ·
23· · Epic(3) · · · · ·
24· · Epic(4) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Toughness
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
25· · Epic(5) · · · · ·
26· · Epic(6) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Perfect Two Handed Fighting
27· · Epic(7) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Blinding Speed
28· · Epic(8) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Perfect Single Weapon Fighting
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
29· · Epic(9) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Dire Charge
30· · Epic(10)· · · · ·Epic Feat: Past Life: Sneak of Shadows
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Legendary: Scion of the Ethereal Plane

Skills
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skill Points· · ·32 ·9· 9 10 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 13 13 13 13 14
Skill Name· · · ·01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20· Total Buffed
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Balance · · · · · 2 ·½· ½ ·½· ½ ·½· ½ ·½· ½ ·½· ½ · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 7.0 · 36.0
Bluff · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 23.0
Concentration · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 33.0
Diplomacy · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 22.0
Disable Device· · 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 61.0
Haggle· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 22.0
Heal· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 21.0
Hide· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 24.0
Intimidate· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 21.0
Jump· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 23.0
Listen· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 21.0
Move Silently · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 25.0
Open Lock · · · · 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 50.0
Perform · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 23.0
Repair· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 35.0
Search· · · · · · 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 61.0
Spell Craft · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 36.0
Spot· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 22.0
Swim· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 23.0
Tumble· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 24.0
Use Magic Device· 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 46.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Available Points 12 ·4· 4 ·5· 5 ·5· 5 ·6· 6 ·6· 6 ·8· 8 ·8· 8 ·9· 9 ·9· 9 10
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Enhancements: 80 APs, Racial 9, Universal 1
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Dwarf - Points spent: 17
1 Core ·(1) Toughness I
2 Tier1 (2) Weapon Training I: Axe Training
3 Core ·(2) Constitution I
4 Core ·(1) Toughness II
5 Tier2 (2) Weapon Training II: Axe Training
6 Core ·(2) Constitution II
7 Tier3 (2) Weapon Training III: Axe Training
8 Core ·(1) Toughness III
9 Tier1 (1) Iron Stomach
10 Tier1 (1) Iron Stomach
11 Tier4 (2) Weapon Training IV: Axe Training
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Battle Engineer - Points spent: 41
1 Core ·(1) attle Engineer
2 Tier1 (2) Weapon Training I: Hand and a Half Training I
3 Tier1 (1) Field Engineer
4 Tier1 (1) Thaumaturgical Conduits
5 Core ·(1) Infused Weapons I
6 Tier2 (2) Weapon Training II: Hand and a Half Training II
7 Tier2 (1) Caustic Strike: Caustic Strike
8 Tier2 (1) Caustic Strike: Caustic Strike
9 Core ·(1) Infused Armor I
10 Tier3 (2) Weapon Training III: Hand and a Half Training III
11 Tier3 (2) Ability I: +1 Intelligence
12 Tier2 (1) Caustic Strike: Caustic Strike
13 Tier1 (1) Field Engineer
14 Tier1 (1) Item Defense
15 Tier1 (1) Field Engineer
16 Tier2 (1) Wrack Construct: Wracking Strike
17 Tier4 (2) Weapon Training IV: Hand and a Half Training IV
18 Tier4 (1) Agility Engine
19 Tier4 (1) Agility Engine
20 Tier4 (1) Agility Engine
21 Tier4 (2) Ability II: +1 Intelligence
22 Tier4 (1) Battle Mastery: Haste Boost
23 Core ·(1) Infused Weapons II
24 Tier1 (1) Thaumaturgical Conduits
25 Core ·(1) Infused Armor II
26 Tier5 (1) Reconstructed Armaments: Reconstructed Edges
27 Tier3 (1) Shatter Defenses: Shatter Defenses (Melee)
28 Tier5 (1) Thunder Shock Weapon: Thunder-Shock Weapon (Melee)
29 Tier5 (1) Unlock Potential
30 Tier5 (2) Tactical Mobility
31 Tier1 (1) Thaumaturgical Conduits
32 Tier2 (2) Extra Action Boost
33 Core ·(1) Master Engineer
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Renegade Mastermaker - Points spent: 24
1 Core ·(1) Renegade Defender
2 Tier1 (1) Curative Admixture: Cure Light Wounds
3 Tier1 (1) Curative Admixture: Cure Light Wounds
4 Tier1 (1) Curative Admixture: Cure Light Wounds
5 Tier1 (1) Toughness
6 Core ·(1) Alchemical Shield
7 Tier2 (1) Mighty Slam
8 Tier2 (1) Mighty Slam
9 Tier2 (1) Mighty Slam
10 Tier2 (1) Kinetic Discharge
11 Tier3 (1) Battlefist
12 Core ·(1) Curative Admixture: Cure Serious Wounds
13 Tier3 (2) Ability I: Renegade Mastermaker: +1 Intelligence
14 Tier1 (1) Toughness
15 Tier1 (1) Toughness
16 Tier2 (1) Kinetic Discharge
17 Tier2 (1) Kinetic Discharge
18 Tier3 (1) Reinforced Armor
19 Tier3 (1) Reinforced Armor
20 Tier4 (1) Embed Component
21 Tier4 (1) Embed Component
22 Tier4 (1) Embed Component
23 Core ·(1) Constructive Conduit
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Harper Agent - Points spent: 8
1 Core ·(1) Agent of Good I
2 Tier1 (2) Strategic Combat I
3 Tier1 (1) Traveller's Toughness
4 Tier1 (1) Traveller's Toughness
5 Tier2 (1) Know the Angles
6 Tier2 (1) Know the Angles
7 Tier2 (1) Know the Angles
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[Hobgoblin]

reserved for enhancements

[lukshad]

15 Arti/ 3 Bard/ 2 Rogue
Int-based
Melee
Trapper
Support
CC
Heals
Evasion

Light Hammer + Rune Arm (Grab a Daxe skin, my man!)

Light Hammer, as far as what I can find, is the *only* weapon that can be supported by both Battle Engineer and Swashbuckler trees.
Maybe T5 Battle Engineer, take enough Swashbuckler in order to grab things like Cannoneer and Resonant Arms, dip into Harper enough for your Trance and spend whatever else on things like Renegade Mastermaker, Warchanter or whatever.

Speaking of Resonant Arms, between it and your Rune Arm's imbues, you'd probably have a decent amount of bonus on-hit damage, as well.
Your crit profile is taken care of, so you don't need to worry about being obligated to investing into one specific tree if you don't want to, and if you go into Epics you can use Fatesinger for even more synergy.

Probably not the best build, but it's the one that my imagination thought up within a few moments!

[kmoustakas]

I am running this right now. Currently arti 7, dwarf.

I am in that wonderful part of the game that blast rod sla cleans rooms while I pew pew to grab aggro and finish off anyone left. I do have though the relevant past lives 3xranger 3xdruid 3x pdk, 5 racial points. I have taken so far augment summon, quicken, maximize, empower and all my points are in arcanotechnician. I solo everything on r1 up to this point. I could easily be running r2 or even r3 but I don't feel the investment of time vs the reward of rxp is worth going higher than r1 on heroics at all.

My plan is to at some point grab a level of paladin or two and turn meleeficer. You can turn the dwarven axes into your favourite weapon from dwarf (and get strikethrough), get more strikethrough and awesome cleaves from knight of the chalice while you use single weapon fighting to have an awesome attack speed. I am told that the capstone of battle engineer is what I should be looking forward to, due to the critical multiplier being there and if I multiclass I am going to miss out so I don't know yet how to handle that. Perhaps you don't need to but having played lot of warforged artificer and human or bladeforged paladin in epic, I am sure there is a sweet spot somewhere, somehow that this build is great for melee. For ranged it's a non issue as inquisitor gives you all the toys and an awesome capstone, makes xbows your favoured weapon too. I am thinking that the sweet spot might be level 13 arti/1 pally, as soon as the renegade mastermaker set with its dwarven axe come on line. Get the stuns from renegade tree, strikethrough from knight and weapon buffs from battle engineer?

There is also a distinct possibility this build is really better of as paladin 15/artificer 5 so you can get holy weapon as a spell.

[Stoner81]

D.Axe and SWF seems like a bad idea to me since D.Axe benefits from the THF feats and Strikethrough.

I'm half tempted to suggest something like 8 Arti, 6 Rogue and 6 Fighter. You would have feats out the wazoo and access to Kensei and all it's goodness there, take the full THF line and boom. Could still go INT based due to all the trapping skills etc so could be quite a versatile character YMMV.

As to if it's a good idea or not is another matter entirely

Stoner81.

[Hobgoblin]

D.Axe and SWF seems like a bad idea to me since D.Axe benefits from the THF feats and Strikethrough.

i did a really rough draft on paper and i was hitting something like 150% strikethrough on a pure arti

whether it works in game..... is another story

[kmoustakas]

i did a really rough draft on paper and i was hitting something like 150% strikethrough on a pure arti

whether it works in game..... is another story

You can get from dwarf 25%, from battle engineer 20%, 50% from perfect two handed fighting. Then you can get 20%+20% from fury of the wild destiny and the feats for free while the epic moment is active. Definatelly battle engineer and the perfect feat works, and so do the ones from fury of the wild my wf artie was using them.

[Hobgoblin]

added a build for swf arti