Artificer – An Alchemist Archetype

Artificer

Artificers are a group of alchemists who pursue the art of magic item creation over the more traditional discoveries of their contemporaries. They believe in the flexibility and power of a good set of scrolls or a wondrous item, and are typically well received in larger communities.

A dwarven artificer and his homunculus.

An artificer has the following class features. (The alchemist base class can be found here)

Item Creation (Ex)

An artificer is a master of crafting magic items of all kinds. At first level, the artificer receives Scribe Scroll as a bonus feat.

At 3rd level, and every two levels thereafter, the artificer may select one item creation feat they meet the prerequisites for.

Additionally, an artificer can create potions, spell-trigger and spell-completion items of spells not on their extract list. The Spellcraft DC to do so is 20+2x the caster level of the item.

This ability replaces Brew Potion and Discovery.

Trapfinding (Ex)

As the rogue ability.

This ability replaces Poison Use.

Trap Sense (Ex)

An artificer has an intuitive sense that alerts them to danger from traps. At 2nd level, an artificer gains a +1 bonus on Reflex saves made to avoid traps and a +1 dodge bonus to AC against attacks by traps.

At 5th level, and every three levels thereafter, this bonus increases by one to a max of +7 at 20th level.

This ability replaces Poison Resistance.

Metamagic Spell Trigger (Ex)

At 6th level, the artificer gains the ability to apply a metamagic feat they know to a spell trigger item (typically a wand). They must have the appropriate item creation feat for the item they are using (Craft Wand for wands, etc). Using this ability expends a number of extra charges from the item equal to the number of effective spell levels the metamagic feat would add to the spell.

For example, an artificer can quicken a spell cast from a wand by spending five charges (one charge plus four additional charges, since Quicken Spell increases a spells effective level by four). The Still Spell feat confers no benefit when applied to a spell trigger item.

This ability cannot be used on a spell trigger item that does not have charges (such as a strand of prayer beads).

This ability replaces Swift Poisoning.

Metamagic Spell Completion (Ex)

At 10th level, an artificer gains the ability to apply a metamagic feat they know to a spell completion item (generally a scroll). They must have the appropriate item creation feat for the spell completion item they are using.

Doing this is difficult, and the artificer must make a Spellcraft check with a DC of 20+(3 X the modified level of the spell). For example, applying the Empower Spell feat to a scroll of cone of cold, creating a 7th level effect, has a DC of 20 + (3 X 7), or 41. An artificer can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + their Int modifier.

This ability replaces Poison Immunity.

Legendary Artificer (Ex)

At 20th level, the Artificer has truly become a master of magic item creation. They now create magic items at a rate of eight hours of work per 10,000 gp of the base price, with a minimum of eight hours spent working on the item. Scrolls and Potions who’s base prices is 1000 gp or less take two hours to craft.

Additionally, the artificer expends 1/3rd of the base price in resources instead of 1/2 when crafting magic items.

This ability replaces Grand Discovery.

*Editors note: this archetype creates dead levels. Due to the caster level requirements for Item Creation feast, however, it is necessary to switch from 2nd level and every even level thereafter to 3rd level and every odd level thereafter.