Class
Only two possibilities work well for Rasa's concept:
alchemist and shaman. Alchemists are tempting both
due to their ability to keep the party going after one
character runs out of healing surges and also because
of the way they provide so many flexible abilities.
From today's Character Concepts article. At first i thought it was a typo for Artificer, since its healing infusions do help the surge thing, but, it wouldn't match this guy's concept in the slightest.
I still think it's a typo. Alchemy's like rituals, it's not a class. I read it as Artificer, despite it being called Alchemist. I'm 99% certain they'll change it for the compilation. I bet the errata board is having fun with this one.
Yeah, i was thinking that, but Artificer doesn't match the character's concept in the slightest. Its like saying you want a guy who studies arcane power and summons elementals, and says "Well, you could make it a fighter or a wizard".
Besides, if its a new primal or divine class, we have yet another concept that the martial controller cant be 
.
Could be a build.
It could be a typo of Artificer, but it sounds like it's doing things that Artificers can't. For one I don't remember them having abilities for when healing surges run out.
This kind of Alchemist could be more of the "Taoist Alchemist" variety, even if I would think Alchemy would clearly in the realm of the Arcane. But both Western and Chinese Alchemist were about seeking perfection in their formulas, so their is a spiritual aspect in that.
It could be a typo of Artificer, but it sounds like it's doing things that Artificers can't. For one I don't remember them having abilities for when healing surges run out.
Healing Infusions do just that.
During a short rest, you or an ally can spend a healing surge to replenish one of the infusions expended.
Do you have a Fighter whose out of surges? No problem. Have your cowardly wizard who never gets hit spend two of his surges, and then let the fighter use your healing infusions. The fighter regains hit points despite not having any healing surges left.
Its essentially a healer's sash, but its a class feature instead of a magic item.
He's considering it because it's another healing option, not because it's possible. He wants to make the ultimate healer, and Healing Infusions are a good way of doing that.
It's also possible that it's a new class we haven't seen yet. It's an unlikely posibility, but you never know.
It doesn't sound like its referring to the Artificer, especially since its a primal themed article.
It sounds like a New Class to me.
Okay, let me explain both sides of this as best I can. First off, the "Alchemist = Artificer" side:
- Both can "Keep the party going after one character runs out of healing surges"
- Both have "flexible abilities"
- Alchemist is very similar to Artificer flavour-wise
- Wizards is known for grievous editing errors.
"Alchemist =/= Artificer" side:
- In an article on primal classes
- Alchemist has even thrown around as an idea for a class already
Some rebuttals:
- Against "="
- "keep the party going" and "flexible" are fairly general, and might imply a new philosophy for a leader
- Against "=/="
- Alchemist doesn't sound Primal either
- Just because the article was on primal, the idea for the character was just to make a flexible character who optimizes his party members
I'm certain they meant Artificer, since anybody who spends the feat is an alchemist and having a class and feat sharing the same name would just get confusing.
I'm certain they meant Artificer, since anybody who spends the feat is an alchemist and having a class and feat sharing the same name would just get confusing.
Agreed.
I'd really like WotC to try and tamp down on these typos...don't get me wrong, the typographical errors themselves don't really actually bother me. It's just these silly arguments that pop up after them with half the people convinced that the typo is actually an OMGSECRETMESSAGE/SUPERSPECIALSNEEKPREVUE!!1!11eleven that bother me. XD
I'm certain they meant Artificer, since anybody who spends the feat is an alchemist and having a class and feat sharing the same name would just get confusing.
While im not saying you're wrong, keep in mind we have rangers who are "Stormwardens" as well as wardens who are "Storm Wardens". We have rogues that are are "Shadow Assassins", while we also have a base class that is literally a "shadow" assassin. A cleric who is a "holy avenger" is not the same an avenger.
Basically, WotC doesn't seem to be afraid to recycle names regardless of how confusing it might be.
Don't forget that the example character is a Deva, and Devas get stat bonuses that fit very well with one of the two Artificer builds (+2 Int, +2 Wis).