[Update: Finally found the source of this new class and here's a link where you can get it.] I received an interesting pdf in the mail yesterday. It’s for a class called the Artillerist (might have the spelling wrong) which is a ranged damage class. It looks very well done from what I can tell (without doing the math).  There’s no copyright or other claims of ownership to it so I’m reluctant to post it for the public to view given it might be a rip from an as unreleased commercial work. There is a Wizards of the Coast image on it with the phrase under it “Copyright Wizards of the Coast Used with permission.” but I can find absolutely no mention of it on google other than on torrent sites. The link on the torrent site does mention GSL though but frankly I could put anything I wanted to in association with anything so a GSL mention on a torrent site is meaningless to me.
It’s a feature complete class, all powers, paths and all that. The fact that it’s not been posted about anywhere though given the apparent quality of the class is enough though to make me keep it to myself.
The class itself is interesting, it’s a very ranger esque with two builds, the single target high damage build, classic striker stuff with a lot of similarities to the ranger, and some of the same complaints in terms of the math, or a more controller style build which lots of AOE, low damage to multiple targets. Â By math I mean you have a better shot of hitting by taking the Twin Strike clone than you do the Careful Shot (+2 to hit) clone not to mention more damage potential. +10% to hit doesn’t come close to getting to reroll a to-hit with the chance for double damage.
This has been argued many times for the +2 to hit attacks and the math trotted out. The +2 to hit is ONLY viable when you need a 20 to hit. Rolling twice trying to get two 20′s isn’t as good as rolling once to get an 18-20. Â Ones a 10% chance, the other a 15%. Â Drop that by one where you hit on a 19-20 and you have a 20% chance to do it with two rolls and a 20% chance to do it 20% chance to do it with a +2 on one die. Â But you have a small percentage chance of getting double damage with two rolls, not to mention a chance to get two critical damage hits which isn’t that bad a percentage chance given the one in two of your rolls is going to be a critical anway.
At first quick glance at the lower level powers they’re on par with other classes. A lot of the powers are very ‘shifty’Â as well giving the class a lot of the mobility of the rogue. So in that respect it might be OP. It can handle striker, controller duties with some degree of success at the same time and can bounce around the battlefield negating the need for a warlord.
If anyone knows anything about the class, whether I could put it up for download, let me know but please give me a link or links that I can verify that it’s a public domain work.
2 comments
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Anonymous
January 20, 2009 at 9:27 pm (UTC -5)
I have a copy, but I don’t remember where I got it. I did do the math, and it’s very on par with other classes – in fact, it’s almost identical in crunch to the 4e ranger, minus melee.
Dennis
January 21, 2009 at 10:06 am (UTC -5)
I did make a change to one of the first level powers the one that lets them hit up to 4 creatures? I gave it a burst 1 area, otherwise to me it was way overpowered as it was allowed significantly more damage out put than say scorching blast since it was only limited by the range of the weapon which is in itself signficantly better. And how often does a DM allow the players to catch more than a few minions in an AOE? Other than that minor change which to me seems like an oversight, I’m allowing it. I just wish I knew where it came from so I could post it for others as I really like the class.
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