So for the next campaign, doing the Wild beyond the Witchlight, I'm planning out an artificer build modeled somewhat on characters from Iain Banks' Culture series (for those who know - a Special Circumstances operative). I started off as an alchemist but as I start to think it out a bit more armorer might be a better model for that kind of character. The premise being someone who mostly ranges and throws alchemical bombs (my flavoring of fire bolt and acid splash) at a target, and otherwise is focused on crowd-control or support, but can be a face if needed depending on the circumstances (the "special" circumstances, if you will).
SO, in thinking that out, I came across someone's comment about how an Artificer-Armorer with Xbow Expert at level 5, using a hand crossbow, would be able to 1) lighting launch w/ 2d6, 2) Xbow action, and 3) Xbow bonus action. Throw in an Enhanced Weapon infusion on that hand crossbow and that could make for some potent damage from one turn. Crossbow Expert as a feat isn't highly praised for this class, as compared to sharpshooter or just ASI though.
Input appreciated. Currently got it looking like a level 6 variant human, +3 DEX and +4 INT with the rest kinda dumped, Xbow Expert at lvl 1 and +2 INT at level 4 (for the +4 total), and the 6 infusions: radiant weapon (for blind if hit), enhanced weapon (on hand crossbow), enhanced defense (shield, so 19AC in breastplate), replicate magic item - goggles of night, enhanced arcane focus (support - if the party has a spell caster), and spell-refueling ring (support - if the party has a spell caster). (Other infusions I'd like include replicate magic item - pipes of haunting, for CC, and having goggles of night as an item instead of a spell lets me have Web).
You are pretty much always better off with Repeating Shot over Enhanced Weapon for crossbows. Take that instead.
Also, I suggest you swap either Radiant Weapon (which you can’t stack on your crossbow with Repeating Shot) or Spell-storing Ring for Homonculus. You could flavor your homonculus as a tiny droid that shoots knife-missiles. That’s very on-point for your theme. Alternatively, you could go Battlesmith and have a bigger (older model) bot in your Steel Defender.
You could consider multiclassing to Fighter for Battlemaster if you want a Player of Games-type approach. Every battle is a game of tactics, and you’re the best at every game. With Archery style it would have synergy with your existing idea, though you’ll need at least a 13 STR to do it. Combine with a Soldier background for your SC training and a game of chance proficiency, and you’re set.
The reason I opted for Enhanced Weapon is because of the Crossbow feat, which gives me the same perks as Repeating shot + the BA ability. When I was originally envisioning an Alchemist I had the guy go repeating shot as you suggested - it really is a great infusion, so if I dropped Xbow Feat I'd have that one for sure. Trouble being then, I give up on the BA shot. There's something pretty cool sounding about at level six having 3 attacks primed.
Definitely on board with the homunculus/SC drone who shoots knife-missles - and I suppose RAW I can use my BA to have the drone attack so still getting 3 attacks if at level 5. I'm gonna see just who rolls what for party makeup, might make more sense to have that but I'm trying to go range-support and gifting an Enhanced Arcane Focus to a spellcaster could be pretty cool.
I'm considering multiclassing with fighter but at level 6 that basically means I take 1 level of one and 5 of the other to get 2 actions/turn, or go 3 fighter for BM and 3 for artificer but lose out on 2 action fighting for 2 levels.
Yeah, Player of Games was one of the vibes I was influenced by. Look to Windward's conclusion and of course Use of Weapons as well.
UPDATE - thinking about this a bit more and maybe the biggest influence (Inversions) on my character, AND seeing that thrown weapon style is a thing (+2 damage), now I'm thinking a cool build would be a dagger-throwing Artificer (w/ lvl 1 fighter) with returning infusion on the dagger, and sharpshooter as my feat.
Before it was +9 to hit with hand crossbow and 1d6+4 damage; now it's +7 to hit with dagger with 1d4+6 damage.
SO the question is do I want +9 to hit or +6 damage! Swapping out Xbow Feat though makes the homunculus servant essential so my BA can be that guy's knife-missiles (aka force strike).
Depending on how your DM rules repeating shot, it allows you to use a crossbow without needing a free hand. Since most will let you use the crossbow one handed, that means the other hand can use a shield or something else.
So for the next campaign, doing the Wild beyond the Witchlight, I'm planning out an artificer build modeled somewhat on characters from Iain Banks' Culture series (for those who know - a Special Circumstances operative). I started off as an alchemist but as I start to think it out a bit more armorer might be a better model for that kind of character. The premise being someone who mostly ranges and throws alchemical bombs (my flavoring of fire bolt and acid splash) at a target, and otherwise is focused on crowd-control or support, but can be a face if needed depending on the circumstances (the "special" circumstances, if you will).
SO, in thinking that out, I came across someone's comment about how an Artificer-Armorer with Xbow Expert at level 5, using a hand crossbow, would be able to 1) lighting launch w/ 2d6, 2) Xbow action, and 3) Xbow bonus action. Throw in an Enhanced Weapon infusion on that hand crossbow and that could make for some potent damage from one turn. Crossbow Expert as a feat isn't highly praised for this class, as compared to sharpshooter or just ASI though.
Input appreciated. Currently got it looking like a level 6 variant human, +3 DEX and +4 INT with the rest kinda dumped, Xbow Expert at lvl 1 and +2 INT at level 4 (for the +4 total), and the 6 infusions: radiant weapon (for blind if hit), enhanced weapon (on hand crossbow), enhanced defense (shield, so 19AC in breastplate), replicate magic item - goggles of night, enhanced arcane focus (support - if the party has a spell caster), and spell-refueling ring (support - if the party has a spell caster). (Other infusions I'd like include replicate magic item - pipes of haunting, for CC, and having goggles of night as an item instead of a spell lets me have Web).
You are pretty much always better off with Repeating Shot over Enhanced Weapon for crossbows. Take that instead.
Also, I suggest you swap either Radiant Weapon (which you can’t stack on your crossbow with Repeating Shot) or Spell-storing Ring for Homonculus. You could flavor your homonculus as a tiny droid that shoots knife-missiles. That’s very on-point for your theme. Alternatively, you could go Battlesmith and have a bigger (older model) bot in your Steel Defender.
You could consider multiclassing to Fighter for Battlemaster if you want a Player of Games-type approach. Every battle is a game of tactics, and you’re the best at every game. With Archery style it would have synergy with your existing idea, though you’ll need at least a 13 STR to do it. Combine with a Soldier background for your SC training and a game of chance proficiency, and you’re set.
The reason I opted for Enhanced Weapon is because of the Crossbow feat, which gives me the same perks as Repeating shot + the BA ability. When I was originally envisioning an Alchemist I had the guy go repeating shot as you suggested - it really is a great infusion, so if I dropped Xbow Feat I'd have that one for sure. Trouble being then, I give up on the BA shot. There's something pretty cool sounding about at level six having 3 attacks primed.
Definitely on board with the homunculus/SC drone who shoots knife-missles - and I suppose RAW I can use my BA to have the drone attack so still getting 3 attacks if at level 5. I'm gonna see just who rolls what for party makeup, might make more sense to have that but I'm trying to go range-support and gifting an Enhanced Arcane Focus to a spellcaster could be pretty cool.
I'm considering multiclassing with fighter but at level 6 that basically means I take 1 level of one and 5 of the other to get 2 actions/turn, or go 3 fighter for BM and 3 for artificer but lose out on 2 action fighting for 2 levels.
Yeah, Player of Games was one of the vibes I was influenced by. Look to Windward's conclusion and of course Use of Weapons as well.
UPDATE - thinking about this a bit more and maybe the biggest influence (Inversions) on my character, AND seeing that thrown weapon style is a thing (+2 damage), now I'm thinking a cool build would be a dagger-throwing Artificer (w/ lvl 1 fighter) with returning infusion on the dagger, and sharpshooter as my feat.
Before it was +9 to hit with hand crossbow and 1d6+4 damage; now it's +7 to hit with dagger with 1d4+6 damage.
SO the question is do I want +9 to hit or +6 damage! Swapping out Xbow Feat though makes the homunculus servant essential so my BA can be that guy's knife-missiles (aka force strike).
Depending on how your DM rules repeating shot, it allows you to use a crossbow without needing a free hand. Since most will let you use the crossbow one handed, that means the other hand can use a shield or something else.
Just for thematic purposes, I like the throwing Sharpshooter idea more. The returning dagger could itself be a rudimentary drone.
Or another hand crossbow with repeating shot.
You can do that, but it doesn't get you any benefit aside from aesthetics, just uses up an infusion slot and your empty hand.