Pure Artificer by a relative newbie: Shoot stuff and kill stuff

[ozziezombie]

Hello!

I've been playing DDO on and off for a very long time but never really got farther than lvl 12 with any of my characters. Now I've reignited my love for the game and finally found a class I want to play through up to 30 level to farm epic destinies or whatever you do there.

I'm currently level 18 with a "test the waters" build that I intend to change at level 20 using lesser reincarnation. This means I'll have the privilege of not having to care about the right order of feats for levelling up. While playing the game I came to the following conclusions:

- shooting stuff is fun, I don't need to run up to the ranged mobs behind tanks/on scaffoldings;
- my doggie is fun to have, but it's completely gimped by the AI, thus unworthy of investing feats/enhancements*;
- self-repair is awesome;
- other spell casting is mostly meh, with exception for the vastly available self buffs and AOE lvl 6 spells to help with crowds;

I've sat around with the character planner for a short while and this is what I have imagined I could get when LRing:


Character name: Dainvincible Ironman
Classes: 20 Artificer,
Race: Human · · · · · · · ·Alignment: Lawful Good

· · ·Start Tome Final · · ·Incorp:· · ·0% · · ·Displacement:· · 0%
Str:· · ·8· · 8 · ·16 · · ·HP:· · · · 610 · · ·AC:· · 19
Dex:· · 14· · 8 · ·22 · · ·PRR: · · · ·20
Con:· · 16· · 8 · ·30 · · ·MRR: · · · ·30 · · ·+Healing Amp: 4294967281
Int:· · 18· · 8 · ·42 · · ·Dodge: · ·0/25 · · ·-Healing Amp:· · ·0
Wis:· · ·8· · 8 · ·16 · · ·Fort:· · · ·0% · · ·Repair Amp:· · · 70
Cha:· · ·8· · 8 · ·16 · · ·SR:· · · · · 0 · · ·BAB: · · · · · · 20
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: Point Blank Shot
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Human Bonus: Rapid Shot
2 · · Artificer(2)· · ·
3 · · Artificer(3)· · ·Standard: Heavy Armor Proficiency
4 · · Artificer(4)· · ·Artificer Bonus: Precise Shot
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
5 · · Artificer(5)· · ·
6 · · Artificer(6)· · ·Standard: Quicken Spell
7 · · Artificer(7)· · ·
8 · · Artificer(8)· · ·Artificer Bonus: Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
9 · · Artificer(9)· · ·Standard: Construct Essence
10· · Artificer(10) · ·
11· · Artificer(11) · ·
12· · Artificer(12) · ·Standard: Spell Penetration
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Artificer Bonus: Improved Construct Essence
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
13· · Artificer(13) · ·
14· · Artificer(14) · ·
15· · Artificer(15) · ·Standard: Power Critical
16· · Artificer(16) · ·Artificer Bonus: Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
17· · Artificer(17) · ·
18· · Artificer(18) · ·Standard: Greater Spell Penetration
19· · Artificer(19) · ·
20· · Artificer(20) · ·Artificer Bonus: Improved Precise Shot
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up

Skills
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Skill Points· · ·36 10 10 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 13 13 13 13 14 14 14 14 15
Skill Name· · · ·01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20· Total Buffed
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance · · · · · 2 ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ·11.5 · 30.5
Bluff · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 15.0
Concentration · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 2 ·3· 3 ·3· 3 ·4· ·18.0 · 43.0
Diplomacy · · · · 2 ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ·11.5 · 24.5
Disable Device· · 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 52.0
Haggle· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 13.0
Heal· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 16.0
Hide· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 16.0
Intimidate· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 13.0
Jump· · · · · · · · ·?· ? ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ·11.5 · 24.5
Listen· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 13.0
Move Silently · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 16.0
Open Lock · · · · 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 42.0
Perform · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 15.0
Repair· · · · · · 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 52.0
Search· · · · · · 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 49.0
Spell Craft · · · 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 49.0
Spot· · · · · · · 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 38.0
Swim· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 13.0
Tumble· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·1· 1 ·1· 1 1? 1? 1?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ? ·?· ·11.5 · 27.5
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 · 36.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Available Points· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enhancements: 80 APs
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Battle Engineer - Points spent: 41
1 Core ·(1) Battle Engineer
2 Tier1 (2) Weapon Training I: Crossbow Training I
3 Tier1 (1) Field Engineer
4 Tier1 (1) Field Engineer
5 Tier1 (1) Field Engineer
6 Core ·(1) Infused Weapons I
7 Tier2 (2) Weapon Training II: Crossbow Training II
8 Tier2 (2) Extra Action Boost
9 Tier2 (2) Extra Action Boost
10 Tier2 (2) Extra Action Boost
11 Core ·(1) Infused Armor I
12 Tier3 (2) Weapon Training III: Crossbow Training III
13 Tier3 (2) Ability I: +1 Intelligence
14 Tier4 (2) Weapon Training IV: Crossbow Training IV
15 Tier4 (2) Ability II: +1 Intelligence
16 Tier4 (1) Agility Engine
17 Tier4 (1) Agility Engine
18 Tier4 (1) Agility Engine
19 Tier4 (2) Battle Mastery: Endless Fusilade
20 Core ·(1) Infused Weapons II
21 Core ·(1) Infused Armor II
22 Tier5 (1) Reconstructed Armaments: Reconstructed Crossbows
23 Tier5 (1) Weapon Attachment
24 Tier5 (1) Unlock Potential
25 Tier2 (1) Action Boost Selector: Action Boost: Power
26 Tier2 (1) Action Boost Selector: Action Boost: Power
27 Tier2 (1) Action Boost Selector: Action Boost: Power
28 Tier5 (2) Tactical Mobility
29 Tier3 (1) Disable Construct
30 Core ·(1) Master Engineer
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Renegade Mastermaker - Points spent: 23
1 Core ·(1) Renegade Defender
2 Tier1 (1) Supporting Construction
3 Tier1 (1) Supporting Construction
4 Tier1 (1) Supporting Construction
5 Tier1 (1) Easily Fixed
6 Core ·(1) Alchemical Shield
7 Tier2 (1) Armor Mastery
8 Tier2 (1) Armor Mastery
9 Tier2 (1) Armor Mastery
10 Tier1 (1) Well-Rounded Maker
11 Tier3 (1) Reinforced Armor
12 Tier3 (1) Reinforced Armor
13 Tier3 (1) Reinforced Armor
14 Tier3 (2) Ability I: Renegade Mastermaker: +1 Intelligence
15 Tier1 (1) Well-Rounded Maker
16 Tier1 (1) Well-Rounded Maker
17 Tier1 (1) Toughness
18 Tier1 (1) Toughness
19 Tier1 (1) Toughness
20 Tier4 (1) Embed Component
21 Tier4 (1) Embed Component
22 Tier4 (1) Embed Component
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harper Agent - Points spent: 16
1 Core ·(1) Agent of Good I
2 Tier1 (2) Strategic Combat I
3 Tier1 (2) Harper Enchantment
4 Tier2 (1) Versatile Adept I
5 Tier2 (1) Versatile Adept I
6 Tier2 (1) Versatile Adept I
7 Core ·(2) Harper Training I: +1 Intelligence
8 Core ·(1) Agent of Good II
9 Tier3 (1) Versatile Adept II
10 Tier3 (1) Versatile Adept II
11 Tier3 (1) Versatile Adept II
12 Tier3 (2) Ability I: +1 Intelligence
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Here's what I think of it and what I tried to achieve.

It's a Human because I'm playing as a Human. I read that it's not that bad in comparison to Gnome or Warforged, so I'll stick to it and resort to other Reincarnations later on.

This is the character I want to be playing till I die, over and over, so I've invested in supreme tome +8. I did it later in the game though, so currently I didin't have the advantage of additional skill points to use on the way where I am now. This, and wanting to make use of 32-point-build, is what makes me wanna LR before epic levels.

I grew tired of trying to hit relevant mobs with Caustic/Shatter/Thunder strikes. Most of the time they're blown on random mobs that come to my face instead of what I really want to hit. Even then, without improvements to shatter and trip, they seem to not do much aside from damage. Well, why won't I try to do more damage with each bolt instead of just the couple few I get on cooldown?

I wanted to maximize my attack power and ratings as much as possible and increase chance for critical, inspired a bit by the Vorpal Queen build I read about. Next, I want to maximize my survivability when possible. Finally, I've added two spellcasting feats to help to get my AOE spell's damage through on higher levels, at least a bit. Didn't know what to take otherwise anyway.

Why no Concentration? Because all of the spells I want to use in fight will have to be quickened anyway. Why no other metamagic feats? Because I don't plan on using lots of spells, and I'm a complete newbie with all of this stuff, so I expect to be wrong.

Why Diplomacy? Well, I wanted to try going into Inquisitive tree and get double non-repeaters and the "chance for Diplomacy with every shot" thing, but... I couldn't figure out how to enable it in the Maetrim's 1.0.0.143 character planner, but I found out about it only after I went and levelled up all Heroic levels. Therefore I decided to stick to the Battle Engineer for strong shooting and faster running. Rune Arm was a fun gimmick at start, but turned out to be even harder to use than the Caustic/Shatter/Thunder strikes, so I mostly intend on having it charged up mainly for Universal Spell Power boost.

For weapons, I wanted to try to utilize Vorpal with Endless Fusilade. I don't need the infinite Fusilade, won't get it without multiclassing anyway, I will be spacing it out between rest shrines and saving it up for boss as I'm doing now, with Action Boost aiding me on my way as well. Halloween is coming soon, so I hoped to get a Spectral Crossbow for lvl 20 or 24 (if I get there soon enough). There are other vorpal weapons in different classes available as well, but I guess I'll just work with what I have on me.

I also thought about putting a few points into Falconry, but decided to boost Renegade Mastermaker a bit further instead. Them MRR and Constitution bonuses seemed worth more than whatever passive bonuses to hit I could get by playing with birds.

Took Disable Construct just so that I could get the last Core in Battle Engineer. Seemed like a decent, very situational, one-point-good-enough clicky to have.

*My brother, my guide and my main source of information, told me that there are planned some changes to the summoning system. I couldn't find any evidence of it, but then again - I didn't look deep since at the moment I am still inclined to be mainly shooting stuff. I'm happy to reconsider my Warmachine's worth if that's the case, but as it stands - the above stays.

Now please tell me why and where I'm wrong.

I can see that the Vorpal Queen (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...ificer-for-U36 , sorry I don't remember how to make a text hyperlink to the URL!) build doesn't use Power Critical feat. Does it not work with ranged weapons? Or is it simply not worth the slot for some reason?

Spell Penetration vs Spell Focus: I tried researching but came up without answers. My smooth brain thinks that bigger numbers equals better, so two Spell Penetration feats seem like a better choice than two of Spell Focus: Evocation, especially since they should work on other schools of magic as well (Flame Turret maybe?).

Should I care about Empower/Maximize metamagic? Again, main focus is to shoot stuff, and only soften small mobs in groups, so I honestly don't know.

Shoot on the Run feat sounds very useful but I haven't seen it being used in many builds. Is it not worth it if it requires Dodge and Mobility, two more feats I might not intend on having?

I have absolutely no idea of what to expect while playing levels 20+. Don't know what the difficulty will be, don't know if soloing will be possible, don't know how long in between the level ups... It's all a first time for me. I will most likely be playing with the aforementioned brother (Cid, if you're reading this - screw you for pulling me into the game and making me waste time&monet I could have spent productively! Also, I love you! ) and quite possibly grouping up with other players whenever possible, but I'd like to be able to solo some content with this build as well.

Thank you all in advance for reading through this and any help you have to offer. I'm looking forward to learning more... And now I'm off to farm up to 1750 Favor! Cheers!

[Kodwraith]

9 · · Artificer(9)· · ·Standard: Construct Essence
10· · Artificer(10) · ·
11· · Artificer(11) · ·
12· · Artificer(12) · ·Standard: Spell Penetration
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Artificer Bonus: Improved Construct Essence

G'Day and welcome. If you're having fun, your build is good.

I'd consider delaying Construct essence until 12 and taking them both at once at 12 (Construct Essence and Improved Construct Essence). At lower levels, the throw potion heals are better than the repair spells. I've found that taking Construct Essence early just messes up my healing from 9 to 12. The repair spells don't hit that hard until higher levels, so I usually do a hard cutover in self heal to repair around 12 on a fleshie.

Artificer is a lot of fun. You'll eventually develop a large collection of runearms and crossbows.

[C-Dog]

Not going to do the compare/contrast for you - here are 3 "standard" arti builds:

o https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post6127671