Help Please. Artificer Magic.

How do you explain the ability for the artificer to use magic.
Do Artificers use magic? Are they truly a caster?

The way I'm reading it about Artificer is that they do have an innate magical ability and they just choose to focus that ability through their tools and into objects.

Quote from Sneak_Thief1 >>

How do you explain the ability for the artificer to use magic.
Do Artificers use magic? Are they truly a caster?

The way I'm reading it about Artificer is that they do have an innate magical ability and they just choose to focus that ability through their tools and into objects.

 Artificers are the inventor class. They use the weave through specific contraptions and gadgets, studying how it works. Where a wizard memorizes spells, an artificer invents them. It is similar to some of the magic systems in Brandon Sanderson's books. 

Yes, I get they are an inventor class. But would you say they have the ability to use and manipulate magic? Are they magic casters?

Also, thank you for answering.

Quote from Sneak_Thief1 >>

Yes, I get they are an inventor class. But would you say they have the ability to use and manipulate magic? Are they magic casters?

Also, thank you for answering.

 Evidently, yes, they can use magic.

Thank you for responding again.
Okay, awesome. You're saying yes they can use magic.

I understand it that way. That is what allows them to manipulate magic the way they do in Magical Tinkering, creating Right Tool For The Job and their ability to in 6 seconds go poof, "Blank" Item.

Anyone else want to confirm what we are saying, and I'm not leading Jurmondur down a path of misinformation?

You can kind of give it the backstory you like.

Mechanically, they cast through tools rather than items. They use tools as a focus and there is not a RAW mechanical obligation for there to be an item for their cantrips or spells, only for Magical Tinkering or Infusions.

So to cast, say, lightning lure, you could have a designed gadget with a tool in your hand also, or you could just make a spark with your tinker's tools.

How you want to manifest an individual's magic is really your own choice, whether they are more of a caster who can wear armor or if they are more of an engineer or even something like a thread mage or a drawing mage.

Awesome.

Thank you sir.

On the topic of Articer Magic... Looking for help to further clarify Artificer Magic under the new 2024 rules the previous posts were helpful overall!

In my current game, I just multiclassed to 2024 Ranger 2/Artificer 1. None of us in the group had ever played with an Artificer before and we broke out into an argument over how I am reading the use of magic spells by the Artificer class. Please correct me if I'm wrong but does the Artificer gain all spells at level 1 like Clerics do? I said that I have access to all 17 spells but can only prepare 3 daily (this is where the argument got going). As I read the rules I should be able to swap out after a long rest if I wish to and change the current prepared Artificer spell list (3) with any of the 17 spells I have access to since Artificers don't have a spellbook.

Thanks!

Yes: As a level 1 Artificer, 2024 or 2014, you can choose any two cantrips and any N spells from the entire Artificer list. There's no spellbook or other requirement to get these spells. You can change all of your first level spells at the end of a long rest if you so choose, again from the entire list of Artificer spells.

The 2024 level 1 Artificer can only prepare 2 1st level spells. The 2014 Artificer can prepare the int modifier + half the level (round down, min 1) number of spells. So if you have Int 16, 2014 Artificer can prepare 4 spells.

The 2024 Artificer can also change one of their cantrips after a long rest (not both/all). The 2014 Artificer can only change cantrips at level-up.

Quote from FoolishMortal18588 >>

Yes: As a level 1 Artificer, 2024 or 2014, you can choose any two cantrips and any N spells from the entire Artificer list. There's no spellbook or other requirement to get these spells. You can change all of your first level spells at the end of a long rest if you so choose, again from the entire list of Artificer spells.

The 2024 level 1 Artificer can only prepare 2 1st level spells. The 2014 Artificer can prepare the int modifier + half the level (round down, min 1) number of spells. So if you have Int 16, 2014 Artificer can prepare 4 spells.

The 2024 Artificer can also change one of their cantrips after a long rest (not both/all). The 2014 Artificer can only change cantrips at level-up.

Great thank you! I was thinking about this but didn't communicate it clearly in the last session. This will greatly help my discussions with my DM about how I use my character.

Yes. They are supposed to very much right tool for the job, even when it comes to their spells and Cantrips allowing them to switch them out similar to how Clerics do.

Artificers, especially the level 3+ Battle Smith is a very big support class. Able to help fill in for roles or help pick up some of slack of the party.

If you take Sage Background and Wizard Magic Initiate that enables even more utility options.

I just started a 2024 Artificer Rock Gnome, Sage for our new campaign. His specialty is inscription on items, tools, inventions and tattoos on himself.

Quote from FoolishMortal18588 >>

Mechanically, they cast through tools rather than items. They use tools as a focus and there is not a RAW mechanical obligation for there to be an item for their cantrips or spells, only for Magical Tinkering or Infusions.

The thing is there actually IS a RAW obligation for an item.

Even spells that don't require material components require a focus as an artificer, they can't just cast fire bolt without tools. This sets them apart from *every other casting class* where the focus is optional unless material components are involved.

If you, for example, stripped an artificer of all of his gear and threw him in jail, he could not cast ANY spells. At all. 

Tell that to great mythical artificer, MacGuiver!  Just give him a pin and a little duct tape, and he'll shatter the bars down.  :) 

Yes, artificers are truly a caster.

Masters of invention, Artificers use ingenuity and magic to unlock extraordinary capabilities in objects. They see magic as a complex system waiting to be decoded and then harnessed in their spells and inventions.

The artificer first level abilities are spellcasting and tinker's magic.

You have learned how to channel magical energy through objects.

Artificers produce spells through objects.  They are spells.

Tools Required. You produce your Artificer spells through tools. You can use Thieves’ Tools, Tinker’s Tools, or another kind of Artisan’s Tools with which you have proficiency as a Spellcasting Focus, and you must have one of those focuses in hand when you cast an Artificer spell (meaning the spell has an M component when you cast it).

The language and mechanics for artificer spells demonstrate these are spells and this is magic.  Tool's are required.  It's not unclear.  ;-)

EDIT:  Note that Tinker's Magic specifically requires Tinker's Tools and not any of the other items that artificers can use for spell casting.

I think it depends on the crafting when it comes to that but they can cast spells. As for crafting I say it depends because Alchemy only involves magic at the moment of brewing a potion afterwards they produce a spell like effect and not actual magic. I believe it is the same for other crafts because their effects still work where spells won't like in Wild Magic areas but I can only confirm this about Alchemy because Ed Greenwood gave me the break down on why Alchemist are the most broken class in the entire game.

At least when it comes to Alchemist there is also no one deity that controls the aspect so it isn't natural or divine magic either which is why we got the RNG table of Experimentals. Gond would have authority over the mundane alchemical crafts like tanglefoot bags and alchemist fire. Mystra has authority over potions that replicate spells but she only knows when a potion is going to be crafted replicating a spell six months in advance not when it is used nor can she prevent the potion from being made directly. I'll circle back to that second point in a moment because Talona controls poisons and Sylvanus controls healing potions specifically. The reason Mystra cannot affect potions after they are crafted is because the magic is in the crafting not the potion itself. This comes from 1e when they created Alchemist as a Wizard Specialization for the purpose of allowing parties to run adventurers that could use a Wizard but when magic would extremely hinder the party. As such Alchemist have access to potions that are stronger than magic such as the Philter of Love which has no Save DC against the Charm and they have access to potions that replicate spells that no longer exist. However, there is more as the reason none of them control Alchemy or have complete control over their own aspects of the craft and the reason for the RNG is because they are all fighting for complete control over it all.

(EDIT: The above is also why each of those aspects of an Alchemist requires different tools such as Alchemist Supplies for crafts and spell potions, Poisoners Supplies for poisons, and a Herbalist Kit for healing potions and anti-toxins. I assume it would be the same with the other Artificers like Mystra might know six months in advance that you stored a spell in your armor but she cannot control that directly because Gond is interfering due to you doing it as a craft and/or maybe Talona as well if it is a poisonous or toxic spell but there isn't an RNG table for random stuff for the other subclasses like there is for the Alchemist to represent the interference so I am not sure.)

I main a human Alchemist, Lord Heydan Seegil of Menzoberranzan House Vahadarr, who I've played since 2e AD&D was standard. I went to Maztica with Baulderian but refused to commit genocide against the Wild Elves so Baulderian kicked me out of the party which saved my life and I found the Elixir of Life extending my own life indefinitely. I was asking Ed Greenwood all these questions because my Drow wife (the marriage is a sham she is evil) took over my pharmaceutical company and turned it into a Drug Cartel hijacking my character's identity to run it without people knowing. In response I began praying to Ao to become "The Drug Lord" or patron of drugs and pharmaceuticals or synthetic medicines realizing there is no deity in control of any of that. Ed Greenwood confirmed no deity is the patron of drugs and then put out a couple of Realms Lore newsletters with details on known drugs and pharmaceuticals through-out the Realms. Drugs mostly come from 3.5e Book of Vile Darkness but you can find them in excerpts until 5e came out and they are featured in a good number of books. Drizzt smokes Ginyak (DnD weed)! Hahaha!

Anyway, I think I have a good chance at a canonical ascension to regulate the drug trade. Not all drugs are bad but they can do bad things. Aspirin isn't going to bring about someone's down fall but it can cause liver problems. Not all drugs are medicine like Tansabra (DnD smack) isn't going to heal you but it sure will feel like it did. We need a patron for the Alchemist a.k.a. drug dealers.