Heya artificers. With the new Eberron book releasing soon, I have seen others express disappointment in losing the Magical Tinkering feature. In the UA feedback, I specifically mentioned converting it to a cantrip, but I am not too confident that they will. As such, I decided to try and figure out what form that would take and got stuck. Copying Prestidigitation is probably the "safest" option for direct conversion, but I figure some may want the permanent effect instead. I dunno. Maybe combined we can figure something out.
Alternate ideas:
cantrip scaling number of objects with infinite duration
leveled ritual spell with increased effects
And of course, feel free to add your own suggestions below as well.
If it were a cantrip, I think we'd learn new edge cases and corners to take best advantage.
I like that the effect can be ended from a distance at a time of my choosing. Currently I do that by making a new item, but I think it would make more sense to just let me turn off individual ones. Even if there was a 1 hour limit, the ability to turn it off dramatically increases the utility.
I like that the effect can have an indefinite duration. I would still find that an hour covers many uses but it would be a very different skill. I also think this better fits the idea of an Artificer.
I appreciate that you can have more than one at a time. These are very minor magical effects. Given that the artificer is supposed to be able to make things, this skill is actually the most useful, like more useful than infusions, for making things and passing them out. They are support and RP effects and fun.
If I were making it as an Artificer cantrip, I'd fold in mending and the ability to clean things. You can't really be a person who makes things if you can't mend and clean them.
Right. And all that is what makes it tough to convert a "feature" to a "cantrip". They are definitely not 1:1, and I feel like there would have to be some sort of compromise to accomplish a conversion, unfortunately.
Well, if we are following common conventions, anyway.
I'd rather have this as a class feature but overall Artificers should have a class specific cantrip or two. And I wish they weren't so stingy with Artificer cantrips. Two is just not very many. I do hope they stick with giving Mending for free. As I mentioned, I feel like Artificers should have a mending/cleaning cantrip since any young apprentice builder or crafter is going to start out by cleaning and mending used/broken items.
I'd rather have this as a class feature but overall Artificers should have a class specific cantrip or two. And I wish they weren't so stingy with Artificer cantrips. Two is just not very many. I do hope they stick with giving Mending for free. As I mentioned, I feel like Artificers should have a mending/cleaning cantrip since any young apprentice builder or crafter is going to start out by cleaning and mending used/broken items.
I 100% agree, but that is straying from the original topic.
Here is another crazy idea: how do you feel about making it a leveled ritual spell with increased effects?
That could work too.
However, I've definitely used it within initiative to create distractions and for crowd control effects. And I think that's one of the coolest things I've done with it.
Here is another crazy idea: how do you feel about making it a leveled ritual spell with increased effects?
That could work too.
However, I've definitely used it within initiative to create distractions and for crowd control effects. And I think that's one of the coolest things I've done with it.
Right. I was thinking 1 action to cast, but having the ritual tag to make it "free" outside of initiative.
I guess at that point the question is at what strength would it have to be at to be worth a spell slot, which is even more tricky.
Keep in mind that by making it a spell you enable non-artificers to gain access to it as well. There are several ways for characters to gain spells off other classes spell lists.
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Playing D&D since 1982
Have played every version of the game since Basic (Red Box Set), except that abomination sometimes called 4e.
Keep in mind that by making it a spell you enable non-artificers to gain access to it as well. There are several ways for characters to gain spells off other classes spell lists.
Very good point, but I don't think it is an issue in this case. It is a niche thing to begin with, maybe even more so if it takes up a prepared spell slot. It would have a lot of competition in that space.
I would also argue that is a good thing. Some folks really like the feature and may very well want something adjacent without taking levels in artificer.
Personal opinion: I support tying cantrips to magical tinkering. While artificer cantrips should not exceed a full caster like wizard, they could be aligned with objects. Example would be Light cantrip tinkering infusion for a rod, but not overuse with preparation.
Personal opinion: I support tying cantrips to magical tinkering. While artificer cantrips should not exceed a full caster like wizard, they could be aligned with objects. Example would be Light cantrip tinkering infusion for a rod, but not overuse with preparation.
For my clarification: do you mean artificers should get more cantrips or the feature should be like current infusions but minor effects that certain cantrips provide?
It is unclear to me with my currently tired brain.
I meant the second / latter. Magical tinkering for 2014 rules currently means minor effects for objects, but with less potency (example: bright light from object, but only up to 5 feet). If an artificer could infuse the Light cantrip, it would mean 20 feet instead. Because it is infused instead of cantrip, it does not make them overpowered compared to a wizard or druid.
I meant the second / latter. Magical tinkering for 2014 rules currently means minor effects for objects, but with less potency (example: bright light from object, but only up to 5 feet). If an artificer could infuse the Light cantrip, it would mean 20 feet instead. Because it is infused instead of cantrip, it does not make them overpowered compared to a wizard or druid.
I see. I do indeed like that idea.
Having all three (new tinkering, this infusion idea, and new replicate magic item) would definitely be ideal, I think. Particularly at the first few levels when there isn't a whole lot for artificers.
Unfortunately that would make too much sense and we will most likely have to homebrew that it in.
Should be able to implement it as a feat, but I think that would be more difficult to deploy as a player. Maybe make it an origin feat?
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Heya artificers. With the new Eberron book releasing soon, I have seen others express disappointment in losing the Magical Tinkering feature. In the UA feedback, I specifically mentioned converting it to a cantrip, but I am not too confident that they will. As such, I decided to try and figure out what form that would take and got stuck. Copying Prestidigitation is probably the "safest" option for direct conversion, but I figure some may want the permanent effect instead. I dunno. Maybe combined we can figure something out.
Alternate ideas:
And of course, feel free to add your own suggestions below as well.
If it were a cantrip, I think we'd learn new edge cases and corners to take best advantage.
I like that the effect can be ended from a distance at a time of my choosing. Currently I do that by making a new item, but I think it would make more sense to just let me turn off individual ones. Even if there was a 1 hour limit, the ability to turn it off dramatically increases the utility.
I like that the effect can have an indefinite duration. I would still find that an hour covers many uses but it would be a very different skill. I also think this better fits the idea of an Artificer.
I appreciate that you can have more than one at a time. These are very minor magical effects. Given that the artificer is supposed to be able to make things, this skill is actually the most useful, like more useful than infusions, for making things and passing them out. They are support and RP effects and fun.
If I were making it as an Artificer cantrip, I'd fold in mending and the ability to clean things. You can't really be a person who makes things if you can't mend and clean them.
Right. And all that is what makes it tough to convert a "feature" to a "cantrip". They are definitely not 1:1, and I feel like there would have to be some sort of compromise to accomplish a conversion, unfortunately.
Well, if we are following common conventions, anyway.
I really like the idea of cantrip scaling the number of objects but with infinite duration.
I'd rather have this as a class feature but overall Artificers should have a class specific cantrip or two. And I wish they weren't so stingy with Artificer cantrips. Two is just not very many. I do hope they stick with giving Mending for free. As I mentioned, I feel like Artificers should have a mending/cleaning cantrip since any young apprentice builder or crafter is going to start out by cleaning and mending used/broken items.
I 100% agree, but that is straying from the original topic.
Here is another crazy idea: how do you feel about making it a leveled ritual spell with increased effects?
That could work too.
However, I've definitely used it within initiative to create distractions and for crowd control effects. And I think that's one of the coolest things I've done with it.
Right. I was thinking 1 action to cast, but having the ritual tag to make it "free" outside of initiative.
I guess at that point the question is at what strength would it have to be at to be worth a spell slot, which is even more tricky.
Keep in mind that by making it a spell you enable non-artificers to gain access to it as well. There are several ways for characters to gain spells off other classes spell lists.
Playing D&D since 1982
Have played every version of the game since Basic (Red Box Set), except that abomination sometimes called 4e.
Very good point, but I don't think it is an issue in this case. It is a niche thing to begin with, maybe even more so if it takes up a prepared spell slot. It would have a lot of competition in that space.
I would also argue that is a good thing. Some folks really like the feature and may very well want something adjacent without taking levels in artificer.
Personal opinion: I support tying cantrips to magical tinkering. While artificer cantrips should not exceed a full caster like wizard, they could be aligned with objects. Example would be Light cantrip tinkering infusion for a rod, but not overuse with preparation.
For my clarification: do you mean artificers should get more cantrips or the feature should be like current infusions but minor effects that certain cantrips provide?
It is unclear to me with my currently tired brain.
I meant the second / latter. Magical tinkering for 2014 rules currently means minor effects for objects, but with less potency (example: bright light from object, but only up to 5 feet). If an artificer could infuse the Light cantrip, it would mean 20 feet instead. Because it is infused instead of cantrip, it does not make them overpowered compared to a wizard or druid.
I see. I do indeed like that idea.
Having all three (new tinkering, this infusion idea, and new replicate magic item) would definitely be ideal, I think. Particularly at the first few levels when there isn't a whole lot for artificers.
Unfortunately that would make too much sense and we will most likely have to homebrew that it in.
Should be able to implement it as a feat, but I think that would be more difficult to deploy as a player. Maybe make it an origin feat?