Artificer

[TNychka]

Guns and gears has been released, and with it the Inventor rules. The inventor is very cool, but definitely not like an Artificer. The two classes are just similar enough that to build an Artificer would create a lot of overlap between the two, so some creativity will need to go into the Artificer design. Potential approaches:

Artificer as a full-fledged class.

Pros:

• Capture the full scope of the artificer.
• Integrate Eberron lore directly into the mechanics
• Creative control over the direction of the Artificer.

Cons:

• Extremely difficult to balance. Most of the feats created in this document are based on others - Artificers would need to move away from that to create brand new content (otherwise it's just a reflavoured class). In addition, any "playtesting" that might happen would be limited at best.
• Enough similarity with the inventor that there could be overlap in specific feats. Primarily the crafting design.

Artificer as a standalone Archetype dedication.

Pros:

• Artificer can be interpreted as a profession, and as a result any class can technically take it.
• Reduced number of feats to create.
• Easier to balance.

Cons:

• Artificer isn't quite a profession.
• Still steps on the Inventor Dedication.

Artificer as an Inventor "Innovation"

• Artificers primarily seem to revolve around the supercharging of existing magical items - this could be taken further to suggest that this is their "Innovation". They wish to provide some method of better integrating with these sorts of items. Pros:
• Don't need to write and balance an entire class.
• Limited number of feats to create
• Building off the inventor inherently prevents any overlap in features
• Allows players to capture the feel of the artificer they want (and also, the existing modifications: Armor, Weapon, Construct are all 5e subclasses)

Cons:

• Not necessarily as unique or integrated as a full fledged Artificer
• Some extra inventor features don't closely match Eberron lore
• Prevents GMs from restricting the Inventor class or "Gears" book entirely. Requires Guns and Gears.

TODO

• [x] Investigate what an Artificer "is" (research)
• [ ] Design the implementation
• [ ] Breakdown required tasks to achieve this
• [ ] Balance and testing

[TNychka]

Design concepts: http://keith-baker.com/dm-artificer/ http://keith-baker.com/dragonmarks-the-evolving-artificer/

Arcane info: http://keith-baker.com/dm-arcane-science/ http://keith-baker.com/dm-arcane-arts/ http://keith-baker.com/dm-arcane-history/ http://keith-baker.com/ifaq-wizard-circles/ http://keith-baker.com/dm-arcane-industry/

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0AdRINvx3WGPMaeaYC3H8i?si=Y-CsLHNxRRmIZ2CpFZBCBQ&utm_source=copy-link&dl_branch=1

[mparker546]

I'm not sure if you've seen this, but there is someone else's conversation from a couple of years ago. I'm not an expert on class balance, but this looks fine (at least as a starting point). https://scribe.pf2.tools/v/1t2mO6R0-artificer-homebrew-v1-4

[Khunkurisu]

What about Artificer as a Class Archetype for Inventor, rather than a separate dedication. Similar to Spellshot Gunslinger or Elementalist casters. It provides a lot of the Pros of both the Innovation space and the Dedication space, while mitigating a lot of the Cons. It's also generally an underused design space by official content, despite being a really flexible way to add a more unique twist to a class role.