There are a number of semantic shenanigans flying around with a question like this....and artificers in general.
Technically speaking, Hellish Rebuke specifies a Creature that damaged you. When summoned, Eldritch Cannon is specified as being a Magical Object that requires your bonus action to fire. I'd personally have to rule that in all situations, the Artificer himself is the responsible party. A Hellish Rebuke would target the Artificer, and an invis would break on firing the Cannon.
It's worth noting that the Steel Defender is classified as a Construct, which is, technically, a creature.
It's an object. It's not intelligent. You give the order for it to fire at what. If you cant see your target, but the cannon has LOS, it would be disadvantage for shooting blind. Also, as Rebuke requires being able to see the Creature (and as previously established YOU are the creature, not the cannon), a successful blind shot, at disadvantage, would not proc a rebuke.
Again, artificer leads to some interesting semantics best discussed with your DM and other players. I'm simply giving my interpretation of RAW based on playing an artificer and as a DM. Maybe we'll get a Crawford Sage Advice update on this kind of situation someday.
A new class opens new doors to discuss. I haven't had a chance yet to play or run one yet, so just want to feel the field for ideas to avoid in game rules hunting.
Like if i make a flamethrower and give it to my barbarian buddy who stands in a hallway out of sight around a bend, can i say "burn anything in front of him" and hit a warlock, how would that play out?
What if it was a Protector bot instead? "Heal the guy holding you"?
You do for all intents and purposes. It's not really the cannon, exactly.
Take the Force Ballista.
Force Ballista
Make a ranged spell attack, originating from the cannon, at one creature or object within 120 feet of it. On a hit, the target takes 2d8 force damage, and if the target is a creature, it is pushed up to 5 feet away from the cannon.
Even the Flamethrower uses *your* spell DC.
The benefit is that this means magic items that increase your attack rolls and spell save DCs also boost your cannons.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Blood Frenzy. The quipper has advantage on melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn't have all its hit points.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage.
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When a cannon makes an attack / force a save, is it the Artificer or the cannon doing it?
Which would be affected by abilities like hellish rebuke?
If the Artificer has invisibility or sanctuary on him, can the guns keep blasting without losing the spell?
There are a number of semantic shenanigans flying around with a question like this....and artificers in general.
Technically speaking, Hellish Rebuke specifies a Creature that damaged you. When summoned, Eldritch Cannon is specified as being a Magical Object that requires your bonus action to fire. I'd personally have to rule that in all situations, the Artificer himself is the responsible party. A Hellish Rebuke would target the Artificer, and an invis would break on firing the Cannon.
It's worth noting that the Steel Defender is classified as a Construct, which is, technically, a creature.
Let's say the caster has total cover (around corner, in goliath backpack, etc) and still within 60 feet of the cannon.
Do you need to see the cannon? The target or AoE?
Can a rebuker blame the gun when it can't see who gave the order?
It's an object. It's not intelligent. You give the order for it to fire at what. If you cant see your target, but the cannon has LOS, it would be disadvantage for shooting blind. Also, as Rebuke requires being able to see the Creature (and as previously established YOU are the creature, not the cannon), a successful blind shot, at disadvantage, would not proc a rebuke.
Again, artificer leads to some interesting semantics best discussed with your DM and other players. I'm simply giving my interpretation of RAW based on playing an artificer and as a DM. Maybe we'll get a Crawford Sage Advice update on this kind of situation someday.
A new class opens new doors to discuss. I haven't had a chance yet to play or run one yet, so just want to feel the field for ideas to avoid in game rules hunting.
Like if i make a flamethrower and give it to my barbarian buddy who stands in a hallway out of sight around a bend, can i say "burn anything in front of him" and hit a warlock, how would that play out?
What if it was a Protector bot instead? "Heal the guy holding you"?
You do for all intents and purposes. It's not really the cannon, exactly.
Take the Force Ballista.
Even the Flamethrower uses *your* spell DC.
The benefit is that this means magic items that increase your attack rolls and spell save DCs also boost your cannons.
Blood Frenzy. The quipper has advantage on melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn't have all its hit points.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage.