Dwarven Artificer / Battlesmith - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Dwarven Artificer / Battlesmith

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Christof_Romulus
May 05, 2010 3:09:53 I was looking through Races of Stone and came across the Battlesmith - which is powerfully weak, unless you consider using it with Artificer - or so I think.

As a DM I would rule that the effective caster level of an artificer / battlesmith for crafting arms/armor is = (Artificer level +2) + (Battlesmith Level x3), but I'm just posting here to double check to see if anyone disagrees with that for whatever reason.
#2
Balthanon
May 06, 2010 13:59:25 Battlesmith has some nice abilities actually, particularly the ability to add Wisdom to damage with a hammer. It's been awhile since I read it, but I believe it also has full BAB while picking up those abilities. The ability to craft items with Battlesmith level times three is probably one of its lesser abilities truthfully. (Though it is nice for a dwarven artificer.)
#3
awaken_D_M_golem
May 06, 2010 14:41:34 hmm ... I'm a little too hazy on some details here, but

" ... crafting arms/armor is = (Artificer level +2) + (Battlesmith Level x3) ... "

I don't see why not.
Your talking about getting +3 , +4 and +5 type abilities on Armor and Arms, but early.
Certainly not in the ballpark of getting 9th level spells early, which you already get with Arty.
The dwarven PrC in Magic of Incarnum should spike these numbers higher.
The (?) Midgard Dwarf (?) also can fit here, perhaps via a PAO, say around level 13.
Sounds like an Arty Gish around levels 10 to 14, with some interesting and weird stuff going on.
After dipping the goodies from the PrCs, go back to Arty and finish out.

Much higher CLs have been achieved, doing more wizard-ry-ish stuff.
#4
Christof_Romulus
May 11, 2010 1:50:22 I have frostburn and I checked the Midgard Dwarf - but it appears to be a monster race, and not a playable one as it doesn't break down the stats for the Dwarfs as characters... is there another book or something they're in that I don't know about, or some place where they broke apart the template?

BTW, thanks for Schooling the hell out of me on this item creation topic.
#5
jeriah
May 11, 2010 17:05:23 They have 8 HD and a +4 LA. The formulas for breaking down the ability scores is of monsters as characters is in the MM. It is definitely possible to use it as your base race, but I would not.

What awaken_D_M_golem was suggesting was using a Polymorph Any Object spell to become a Midgard Dwarf. The only real benefit to doing that though is the Master Smith (Ex) that lets you craft magic items without needing spells to craft them, which means no UMD checks for the artificer to craft them. You would also pick up their 3 physical ability scores, which aren't terrible either.
#6
awaken_D_M_golem
May 11, 2010 18:37:45 C_R said: " ... School ... "
Nope this ain't school, this is FUN !!

Jeriah - nice. Like I said I'm a little hazy. It could be possible to make a functional build, especially if one was starting at a high enough level. Arty 1 / Moi Prc 1 or 2 / Battlesmith 1 / Bloodline 3 , would be something like 18th level on that Dwarf. But the combined crafting might be quite interesting. Corner case, though.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Christof_Romulus May 05, 2010 3:09:53	I was looking through Races of Stone and came across the Battlesmith - which is powerfully weak, unless you consider using it with Artificer - or so I think. As a DM I would rule that the effective caster level of an artificer / battlesmith for crafting arms/armor is = (Artificer level +2) + (Battlesmith Level x3), but I'm just posting here to double check to see if anyone disagrees with that for whatever reason.
#2 Balthanon May 06, 2010 13:59:25	Battlesmith has some nice abilities actually, particularly the ability to add Wisdom to damage with a hammer. It's been awhile since I read it, but I believe it also has full BAB while picking up those abilities. The ability to craft items with Battlesmith level times three is probably one of its lesser abilities truthfully. (Though it is nice for a dwarven artificer.)
#3 awaken_D_M_golem May 06, 2010 14:41:34	hmm ... I'm a little too hazy on some details here, but " ... crafting arms/armor is = (Artificer level +2) + (Battlesmith Level x3) ... " I don't see why not. Your talking about getting +3 , +4 and +5 type abilities on Armor and Arms, but early. Certainly not in the ballpark of getting 9th level spells early, which you already get with Arty. The dwarven PrC in Magic of Incarnum should spike these numbers higher. The (?) Midgard Dwarf (?) also can fit here, perhaps via a PAO, say around level 13. Sounds like an Arty Gish around levels 10 to 14, with some interesting and weird stuff going on. After dipping the goodies from the PrCs, go back to Arty and finish out. Much higher CLs have been achieved, doing more wizard-ry-ish stuff.
#4 Christof_Romulus May 11, 2010 1:50:22	I have frostburn and I checked the Midgard Dwarf - but it appears to be a monster race, and not a playable one as it doesn't break down the stats for the Dwarfs as characters... is there another book or something they're in that I don't know about, or some place where they broke apart the template? BTW, thanks for Schooling the hell out of me on this item creation topic.
#5 jeriah May 11, 2010 17:05:23	They have 8 HD and a +4 LA. The formulas for breaking down the ability scores is of monsters as characters is in the MM. It is definitely possible to use it as your base race, but I would not. What awaken_D_M_golem was suggesting was using a Polymorph Any Object spell to become a Midgard Dwarf. The only real benefit to doing that though is the Master Smith (Ex) that lets you craft magic items without needing spells to craft them, which means no UMD checks for the artificer to craft them. You would also pick up their 3 physical ability scores, which aren't terrible either.
#6 awaken_D_M_golem May 11, 2010 18:37:45	C_R said: " ... School ... " Nope this ain't school, this is FUN !! Jeriah - nice. Like I said I'm a little hazy. It could be possible to make a functional build, especially if one was starting at a high enough level. Arty 1 / Moi Prc 1 or 2 / Battlesmith 1 / Bloodline 3 , would be something like 18th level on that Dwarf. But the combined crafting might be quite interesting. Corner case, though.