I was looking at the Artificer in Unearthed Arcana and saw that they have d8 for hit dice. Having never played as (or, honestly much with) an Artificer, I checked out the class as published in TCoE, and see it is d8 there, as well. Yay for consistency.
But why would they get d8 instead of d6 like Sorcerers and Wizards? For that matter, I would ask the same question about Bards. Artificers, at least, do not come across to me as close-quarters martial-type characters, nor do they have any of the physical abilities (STR, DEX, CON) as a primary ability. Even their skill selection has only 1 of the 7 that is physical (DEX Sleight of Hand).
And yet they are given Light and Medium Armor and Shields as proficiencies, which (in my opinion) doesn't really fit with the statement "Masters of invention, artificers use ingenuity and magic to unlock extraordinary capabilities in objects."
It feels to me like they should have d6 for hit dice instead of d8. Is there some justification for d8 that I'm missing by not being overly familiar with the class?
To me the closest parallel to the Artificer in terms of use is the Cleric which also gets a d8. Artificers are only half casters, so comparing them to full casters like Wizards is a bit faulty, and they’re are mostly designed for support and occasionally front line fighting similar to Clerics which is why they’ve got the same armour proficiencies. Don’t forget as well that at least one of their subclasses is entirely built around having heavy armour and soaking up attacks on the front lines.
Armourists are intended to fight like martials, often up close.
They're not d6 like Wizards and Sorcerers because Wizards and Sorcerers are very powerful Casters. They're meant to be glass cannons. Artificers aren't that powerful in terms of magic, being mostly useful for providing buffs. So they get an extra HP per level. As CS said, they're more like the Cleric than Wizard or Sorcerer in their role.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Two of the subclasses for Artificer - Armorer and Battle Smith - are solid melee fighters. As noted, they are half-casters. Battle Smith can use INT as their mod for any magic weapon and can apply infusions to shields and weapons (melee and ranged).
they are not really good at anything but yet they can everything, they are heavy support class, they are mix of all caster and yet they are not that good, they mainly use medium armor
The real answer is probably that d8 is the default hit die. You get a d8 unless you're expected to be mixing it up all the time (fighter, barb, ranger, paladin), or a squishy wizard (wizard, sorcerer). Even monks only get a d8.
The real answer is probably that d8 is the default hit die. You get a d8 unless you're expected to be mixing it up all the time (fighter, barb, ranger, paladin), or a squishy wizard (wizard, sorcerer). Even monks only get a d8.
I'm actually really surprised Monks didn't get boosted to a d10 in the new rules considering how frequent a complaint their HP was
Thanks for chiming in, everyone. I can definitely see how they are intended to be more front-line than wizards and sorcerers. I guess maybe it was my interpretation of the description and the lack of familiarity with the class overall and subclasses in particular that made me question it.
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I was looking at the Artificer in Unearthed Arcana and saw that they have d8 for hit dice. Having never played as (or, honestly much with) an Artificer, I checked out the class as published in TCoE, and see it is d8 there, as well. Yay for consistency.
But why would they get d8 instead of d6 like Sorcerers and Wizards? For that matter, I would ask the same question about Bards. Artificers, at least, do not come across to me as close-quarters martial-type characters, nor do they have any of the physical abilities (STR, DEX, CON) as a primary ability. Even their skill selection has only 1 of the 7 that is physical (DEX Sleight of Hand).
And yet they are given Light and Medium Armor and Shields as proficiencies, which (in my opinion) doesn't really fit with the statement "Masters of invention, artificers use ingenuity and magic to unlock extraordinary capabilities in objects."
It feels to me like they should have d6 for hit dice instead of d8. Is there some justification for d8 that I'm missing by not being overly familiar with the class?
To me the closest parallel to the Artificer in terms of use is the Cleric which also gets a d8. Artificers are only half casters, so comparing them to full casters like Wizards is a bit faulty, and they’re are mostly designed for support and occasionally front line fighting similar to Clerics which is why they’ve got the same armour proficiencies. Don’t forget as well that at least one of their subclasses is entirely built around having heavy armour and soaking up attacks on the front lines.
Armourists are intended to fight like martials, often up close.
They're not d6 like Wizards and Sorcerers because Wizards and Sorcerers are very powerful Casters. They're meant to be glass cannons. Artificers aren't that powerful in terms of magic, being mostly useful for providing buffs. So they get an extra HP per level. As CS said, they're more like the Cleric than Wizard or Sorcerer in their role.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Two of the subclasses for Artificer - Armorer and Battle Smith - are solid melee fighters. As noted, they are half-casters. Battle Smith can use INT as their mod for any magic weapon and can apply infusions to shields and weapons (melee and ranged).
It is a very fun class to play.
they are not really good at anything but yet they can everything, they are heavy support class, they are mix of all caster and yet they are not that good, they mainly use medium armor
The real answer is probably that d8 is the default hit die. You get a d8 unless you're expected to be mixing it up all the time (fighter, barb, ranger, paladin), or a squishy wizard (wizard, sorcerer). Even monks only get a d8.
I'm actually really surprised Monks didn't get boosted to a d10 in the new rules considering how frequent a complaint their HP was
Thanks for chiming in, everyone. I can definitely see how they are intended to be more front-line than wizards and sorcerers. I guess maybe it was my interpretation of the description and the lack of familiarity with the class overall and subclasses in particular that made me question it.