Artificer

Playing an Artificer in Tanaria: Pros & Cons

Pros (Why Play an Artificer?)

1. Magic & Technology Combined
   • Artificers can craft magical weapons, armor, and gear for themselves and allies.
   • They blend arcane knowledge with engineering, allowing for a unique roleplaying experience.
   • They can enhance or modify their creations, making them adaptable in any situation.
 
2. Infusions = Free Magic Items
   • Artificers can infuse mundane items with magic, turning them into powerful tools.
   • They can create enhanced armor, weapons, or utility items for their party.
   • Their infusions can be changed over time, allowing flexibility in what they create.
 
3. Multiple Roles in the Party
   • They can be tanks (Armorer), ranged attackers (Artillerist), or pet-based fighters (Battle Smith).
   • They can support allies with healing, buffs, and magical enhancements.
   • Their versatility allows them to adapt to different party needs.
 
4. Ritual Casting & Utility Spells
   • Artificers have access to ritual casting, allowing them to conserve spell slots.
   • Their spell list includes support, utility, and defensive spells, making them great problem solvers.
   • They can cast spells like Identify, Detect Magic, and Cure Wounds without needing to be full spellcasters.
 
5. Strong Scaling with Magic Items
   • Unlike other classes, artificers can use, craft, and attune to more magical items.
   • They benefit more from enchanted gear, allowing them to scale in power as they find more items.
   • With the right infusions, they can bypass normal limitations on attunement.

Cons (Challenges of Playing an Artificer)

1. Limited Spellcasting
   • Artificers are half-casters, meaning they get fewer spell slots than wizards or sorcerers.
   • They rely more on infusions and magic items than raw spellpower.
   • They don’t get high-level spells like Meteor Swarm or Wish.
 
2. Requires Preparation & Planning
   • Artificers need to choose infusions carefully since they can only have a few active at a time.
   • They must balance spells, item crafting, and combat abilities effectively.
   • Their playstyle is less intuitive than traditional spellcasters or melee fighters.
 
3. Mediocre Damage Output
   • Compared to full casters, artificers deal less spell damage.
   • Their martial capabilities don’t match fighters, rangers, or barbarians.
   • They rely on infusions, cantrips, and magic items to boost their effectiveness.
 
4. Complex Mechanics & Resource Management
   • Artificers must track infusions, spell slots, attunements, and crafted items.
   • Their abilities often require more bookkeeping than other classes.
   • New players may struggle with the many different mechanics at play.
 
5. Dependent on Magic Items & Short Rests
   • Artificers shine in magic-rich campaigns but may struggle in low-magic settings.
   • They need time to craft, tinker, and maintain their infusions between adventures.
   • If the DM limits magic items, an artificer loses much of their class identity.

• Play an Artificer if:
  • You love tinkering, crafting, and making magic items.
  • You enjoy problem-solving and using creative mechanics in combat.
  • You want a versatile class that can fight, heal, and support allies.
  • You like blending technology with magic for a unique playstyle.

• Avoid Artificer if:
  • You want high damage spells or martial prowess.
  • You don’t like tracking multiple mechanics like infusions and attunements.
  • You prefer a simpler, more straightforward spellcasting class.
  • You dislike relying on magic items for effectiveness.