aquatic artificer

[kinaka]

So we're starting an aquatic campaign soon and I;m going to be playing an artificer. What would be a good race to play that has water breathing but would still make a good artificer? Or should I just find a non water breathing race and use other means to give me that ability? Any advice appreciated. Thanks

[Maat Mons]

Will the campaign be fully aquatic or semi-aquatic?  That is, do you also need to be able to breathe air, and is a poor land speed an issue? 

You can check this list.  I list subtypes, and anything with the aquatic subtype can breathe water.  If a creature has the amphibious special quality, allowing it to also breathe air, I've noted that as well.  If a creature has water breathing or breathless as a special quality, I've noted that too. 

The amphibious and aquatic templates applied to normal races also merit consideration. 

Note also that warforged and necropolitans don't need to breathe by virtue of type. 

[kinaka]

We'll be spending quite a bit of time on a ship and might occasionally go onto land for an adventure so a decent land speed would be nice. Thanks for the awesome list

[Jackinthegreen]

Adding on to Maat's ideas, Warforged have a great artificer ACF that you can definitely take advantage of.  Take the 1st and 4th level substitutions, but don't even think about taking the 5th level sub because Retain Essence is way too good to trade away.

[JoshM]

Shoal Halflings are a perennial 0lv adj. favorite of mine for even mildly damp campaigns.  They are also god for artificers for all the reasons vanilla halflings are good artificers.
Racial Abilities:
× Strength-2, Dexterity+2
× Base land speed of 20 feet. Base swim speed of 20 feet.
× +1 racial bonus on all saving throws
× +2 morale bonus on saving throws against fear
× +2 racial bonus on Listen checks
× +8 racial bonus on swim checks.
× Amphibious(Ex): You can breathe water or air equally as well, without limitation.
× Favored Class: Rogue

[Endarire]

+1 to Warforged.  Because you don't need to breathe at all.  Just bring a light source for those dark recesses of the sea, since Warforged don't get Darkvision natively.

[Kasz]

+1 to Warforged.  Because you don't need to breathe at all.  Just bring a light source for those dark recesses of the sea, since Warforged don't get Darkvision natively.

I agree, although you will either want some way to gain a swim speed should you fall into the water... or you might sink...if you sink you'll want to be immune to pressure damage. We've always ruled a flight speed works underwater but at 50% speed and 2 steps lower manoeuvrability, and a flight speed is useful in and out of the water.

As far as a light source... take a piece of metal plating off your arm, create a see through compartment... glass/invisible spell wall of iron and fill it with liquid sunlight (complete scoundrel) have a retractable cover that can block it should you want to hide. Voilà, built in everburning torch for 20gp + cost of making the compartment + retractable cover. Added bonus is it looks like water-cooling or cool internal plasma / lava lamp.