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I'm looking into starting an Artificer, this seems to be the only "handbook" thread out there...

The wiki shows heavy weapons as being sky blue choices for weapons.  The problem is, artificers are only proficient with simple weapons, and all heavy weapons are military or superior.  I know you can take Arcane Implement Proficiency to use a light or heavy blade as an implement, but without the weapon proficiency you can't actually use it for weapon powers.  I think I'm missing something - how does an artificer get to use a longsword, bastard sword, etc as a weapon/weapliment?

So to make sure I understand, to use the "go for the best" heavy blade option (bastard sword), I'll drop two feats: one for "Weapon Proficiency: Bastard Sword" and one for "Arcane Implement Proficiency: Heavy Blades"?  That's a pretty awkward way of consolidating my weapon and implement powers...

Personally, I'm leaning towards taking a staff.  You are already proficient with it as both a weapon and an implement, and the Staff Proficiency feat has everything good you need: reach, +1/2/3 for both weapon and imp attacks, plus no AoOs for range/area powers.

The wiki currently shows staffs as black, but this feat alone makes it at least blue in my mind, and when you start to factor in Hafted Defense etc it gets pretty decent.

Working on the new Arti guide here ...

Accessories (Weapons and Implements) are very tricky for the Artificer because it's one of 2 classes that has good powers for Melee Weapon, Ranged Weapon, and Implement, however unlike the Bard (I refuse to count the Cleric because their ranged build is entirely based off the PP or feat that lets you use a bow as an implement), it's difficult to optimize without having a Ranged Weapliment.  Getting in Melee, however, is often inevitable, and the low base AC of the Artificer makes provoking OAs risky.

Because of this (and the gith silver + psychic lock + Headband of intellect combo), the Drow Long Knife (Heavy Thrown, Heavy Blade) in conjunction with MC (or hybrid) Swordmage or AIP Heavy Blade is very popular, as is MC/Hybrid Cleric or Invoker to gain a hands-free implement.
Dagger, of course, doesn't cost a feat to gain proficiency with, but still needs the feat to use as an implement (though, you CAN just use one of the many good staffs or wands available), and can't pick up the psychic combo (of course, thunder, force, frost, and radiant are all viable for artificers).
Using a Staff as a weapon, as mentioned, lets you take the superior Staff Expertise feat (Reach with Magic Weapon, no provoking with ranged/area implement powers) but you lose out on any powers that require a Ranged Weapon.
Crossbow Caster is the other popular one, since a Superior Crossbow (which requires a feat to use) is 1d10 and +3 prof and has much better range than Dagger or DLK (and believe me, you feel that range loss)
Recently we gained Hammer of Gond which lets us use a Warhammer as an Implement and Heavy Thrown (6/12) in addition to proficiency with it, it loses +1 hit compared to the other options but it opens up the hammer line of feats.

I personally have no issue with maintaining multiple accessories, but it's not favored on these boards because you can't do it as easily in a nice level 30 build.

I'm curious to see if they make any changes to the Tools of Two Trades article, but assuming they leave White Lotus Dueling Expertise's main use (ie. not the Arcana and Diplomacy bonus) anything other than that or Staff Expertise is meaningless (Eldritch Fusillade is a completely worthless feat, don't be fooled)

tl;dr - Staff isn't bad, but you're going to miss out on some of the killer Ranged Weapon powers, and your accuracy suffers (and as a bonus granting leader, hitting is everything).  You pretty much have to accept that you'll provoke OAs with ranged powers otherwise (Shadowdance Armor or Rod of Time Distortion is your only other options until Epic)

Dec 30, 2011 -- 9:48AM, Altos wrote:

Im not sure if this was posted or not but on my artificer I use an Hungering Spear Ugrosh, and took the axe profes. feat.  This gives me a thrown weapon, a malee weapon and +1 to AC al that with d12 attack rolls.  

I seem to be having trouble viewing the original post, the first page only says "a" for me on each post.  Has something happened to the handbook or maybe something wrong on my end?  

The handbook author rage quit a while back and deleted all the handbook posts. It was eventually revived in wiki format and this was kept as the discussion thread. 

You could do that with a Gouge as well. You lose defensive but you gain brutal 1 and you get a flat 2d6 damage instead lf a d12 and d6 end.