My group has been playing the Lost Mines of Phandelver for almost a year now and nearing the end. We started from level 1 and are now level 4. My character is a Rock Gnome Artillerist Artificer with fairly good stats all round (we rolled 4D6, discard the lowest). He therefore has a Str 14 and an Int 18.
I've recently picked up the Spider staff from the Drow in the mines and had a thought about using it when my character hits level 5. The Spider staff adds 1D6 poison damage to a hit, making it comparable damage to a greatsword. Add Green Flame Blade and the Arcane Firearm and it looks like good damage. Here is my math for average damage.
Attack +5 (not great, but serviceable)
2D6+2 (1D6 bludgeoning, 1D6 poison, +2 Str). Average of 3.5 + 3.5 +2 = 9
1D8 Arcane Firearm damage and 1D8 Green Flame Blade fire damage to first target.Average of 4.5 + 4.5 = 9
1D8 +4 Green Flame Blade fire damage to second target within 5ft. Average of 4.5 + 4 = 8.5
Actually yeah that's pretty good damage. If you open combat by casting Web from the staff, you'll have Advantage to hit any restrained targets, too. Oh and if you have a flame cannon out, you can set the web on fire to do even more damage! I don't usually see Artillerists wading into melee combat, but if you have a decent armor class, why not?
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Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
My group has been playing the Lost Mines of Phandelver for almost a year now and nearing the end. We started from level 1 and are now level 4. My character is a Rock Gnome Artillerist Artificer with fairly good stats all round (we rolled 4D6, discard the lowest). He therefore has a Str 14 and an Int 18.
I've recently picked up the Spider staff from the Drow in the mines and had a thought about using it when my character hits level 5. The Spider staff adds 1D6 poison damage to a hit, making it comparable damage to a greatsword. Add Green Flame Blade and the Arcane Firearm and it looks like good damage. Here is my math for average damage.
Attack +5 (not great, but serviceable)
2D6+2 (1D6 bludgeoning, 1D6 poison, +2 Str). Average of 3.5 + 3.5 +2 = 9
1D8 Arcane Firearm damage and 1D8 Green Flame Blade fire damage to first target.Average of 4.5 + 4.5 = 9
1D8 +4 Green Flame Blade fire damage to second target within 5ft. Average of 4.5 + 4 = 8.5
Average damage = 26.5 (assuming a second target).
Is that good damage at level 5?
You thoughts would be appreciated.
Unless your DM or the encounters in that particular module treat npc enemies like a bunch of tightly packed unthinking meatbags. I would consider any second target damage from Green Flame Blade as a bonus rather than expected. Keep it in mind that it happens but don't be afraid to go after targets where it can't. One of the things that can cause problems with green flame blade at times is always trying to make it hit two targets.
I agree, the secondary damage will not always come off. Saying that, the single target average damage is still 18, which is better than the firebolt spell using arcane firearm (average 15.5). There is not a clear difference like the two target damage though.
The bonus here is flexibility, firebolt for distance, green flame blade for melee.
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My group has been playing the Lost Mines of Phandelver for almost a year now and nearing the end. We started from level 1 and are now level 4. My character is a Rock Gnome Artillerist Artificer with fairly good stats all round (we rolled 4D6, discard the lowest). He therefore has a Str 14 and an Int 18.
I've recently picked up the Spider staff from the Drow in the mines and had a thought about using it when my character hits level 5. The Spider staff adds 1D6 poison damage to a hit, making it comparable damage to a greatsword. Add Green Flame Blade and the Arcane Firearm and it looks like good damage. Here is my math for average damage.
Attack +5 (not great, but serviceable)
2D6+2 (1D6 bludgeoning, 1D6 poison, +2 Str). Average of 3.5 + 3.5 +2 = 9
1D8 Arcane Firearm damage and 1D8 Green Flame Blade fire damage to first target.Average of 4.5 + 4.5 = 9
1D8 +4 Green Flame Blade fire damage to second target within 5ft. Average of 4.5 + 4 = 8.5
Average damage = 26.5 (assuming a second target).
Is that good damage at level 5?
You thoughts would be appreciated.
Actually yeah that's pretty good damage. If you open combat by casting Web from the staff, you'll have Advantage to hit any restrained targets, too. Oh and if you have a flame cannon out, you can set the web on fire to do even more damage! I don't usually see Artillerists wading into melee combat, but if you have a decent armor class, why not?
Canto alla vita
alla sua bellezza
ad ogni sua ferita
ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty
To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me
The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
Unless your DM or the encounters in that particular module treat npc enemies like a bunch of tightly packed unthinking meatbags. I would consider any second target damage from Green Flame Blade as a bonus rather than expected. Keep it in mind that it happens but don't be afraid to go after targets where it can't. One of the things that can cause problems with green flame blade at times is always trying to make it hit two targets.
My AC will be pretty good at level 5. Either 18 or 19, depending on whether I use the enhanced defence infusion or not.
Also another thing to consider. I took the Fey Touched feat at the level 4 ASI. I could add Hex to a single target as well.
I think it is definitely something to consider for Artillerists that have a reasonable Str stat.
I agree, the secondary damage will not always come off. Saying that, the single target average damage is still 18, which is better than the firebolt spell using arcane firearm (average 15.5). There is not a clear difference like the two target damage though.
The bonus here is flexibility, firebolt for distance, green flame blade for melee.