So last time I said I would talk about spells a little as I finally found a little wiggle room in my spell list. Okay so a second 6th level spell slot to play with direct damage spells: Tactical Detonation and Blade Barrier. For a while I was using BB. I love BB. I feel it is one of the best spells in the game. Yes better then Wall of Fire.

But running around with mobs following me is not how my artificer plays or at least that is not how I mean for him to be played. So I started playing with Tactical Detonation.

Tactical Detonation if you know know the spell breaks down as follows:
1d3+3 fire damage per two caster levels @ level 16 8d3+24 (33-47 range with 40 points average )
knockdown
1d2+2 force damage per caster level (no save) @ level 16 16d2+2 (50-62 range with 56 points average)
Reflex for half fire damage and Negates knockdown.

Thanks http://anydice.com/ for some quick maths.

The area of effect is a little bigger then say fireball and handles a lot like Lightning Sphere. Guess the idea is artificers make little grenades and throw them. The height is lower so it doesn’t hit the ceiling and ruin the cast, but it also has issues getting to targets above you, win some loose some. Also like Lightning Sphere it breaks breakables, but doesn’t knock down doors or light torches in Inferno like a fireball would and I hopped.

But how does it feel?

I like it a lot. Enough I made both Superior Impact and Inferno clickies. And boy I love having those clikies around because they hit my newest favorite spell Prismatic Strike. Prismatic Strike is still holding up. Although I don’t think it will last too much longer as an removal spell 30d+30 for 90ish point base is not going to last, when you take out a 3rd because it is fire damage and we are about to encounter a ton of fire immune mobs.

Any way back to Tactical Detonation, toss a TD and most of the mobs get knocked down and I can melee safely.

Tonight, first think I get to level to 17. Woot! But then I get three more spell slots fill 1, 4 and 5. 1st is an easy grease, 4th Cold Iron I think, but 5 has some options. Align Weapons, Silver Weapons or Repair Serious Damage, Mass are all fair options. At some point I will want both Align and Silver Weapons will be musts in a few levels. But for now.. As long as I am using the Dog and Tobril is leveling his WF artificer with us a mass repair spell would be helpful. But idk, I might just start carrying Silver now and get used to it. Thoughts?

❤