Gnome Artificer

[Stratovarius]

So, for those who have more experience with the game than I do, has anyone ever used (or seen used) the Gnome Arti from the FRCS?

It's always struck me as a very unusual PrC, and I was wondering what it was like in practice. Or if its Wall of Text attack scared everyone away?

[zook1shoe]

I've wanted to... yeah very interesting and tempting to play.

[awaken_D_M_golem]

Not really.
But if the DM is willing to connive usefulness just for it ...
those "spells" are (ex) effects
the Wand equivalents, don't have to have full charges, everyone else needs a backstory for this
shrink item on the devices

If you're playing a tier 4 or 5 -ish game, it's in that ballpark.
It's possible it could be a base for a late Shadowcraft cheese caster.
Possible, but idk, not my bag.

[Stratovarius]

Does sound a little weak when described that way. Sort of like a Factotum but without the overwhelming variety of class features.

It has rather been superseded by the base class of the same name, has it not?

[zook1shoe]

Its not same same as the new base class. But the base class blows the gnome artificer out of the water.

[Vizzerdrix]

Its not same same as the new base class. But the base class blows the gnome artificer out of the water.

To be fair Artificer blows most everything out of the water.

I'm still trying to find a good lead in for Gnome Artificer myself. I do have a few ideas but they need work first.

[zook1shoe]

Gnome building a mech suit?

[awaken_D_M_golem]

A few of these popped up at brilliantgameologists.

Feat Rogue 2 / Something Castery 3 / GA up to 9 / maybe Dual Caster but it'd be `houserule-ish ... and the point of the Castery part would be to get Illusion Shadow spells to switch over to (su)

[awaken_D_M_golem]

... or try to get the Craft 8 ranks via PLZ's trickery
combined with more trickery he doesn't like.

32 ranks is do-able at level 1, but you'd have to
use every feat/flaw slot, and go Major Bloodline
taking all 3 levels right after level 1.

Absolutely sub-optimal from levels 1 to 3.
However it could be the party Trapfinder.
Then the "spell" advancement is good if thin.

[Stratovarius]

A few of these popped up at brilliantgameologists.

Feat Rogue 2 / Something Castery 3 / GA up to 9 / maybe Dual Caster but it'd be `houserule-ish ... and the point of the Castery part would be to get Illusion Shadow spells to switch over to (su)

You can actually get in via going straight Spellthief 5, I think, and then if you're going for the house-ruleish, break out Ultimate Magus for the last couple levels. Or just more Spellthief, I guess.