[Crawl-ref-discuss] Artificer class

[David P. <pl...@mi...>]

Hi folks!

Two activists have put together a new class, the Artificer. This is a 
class starting with a good feeling for technical stuff, which in Crawl 
translates to Evocations, Traps & Doors and Crossbows. (The Evocations 
being most important, I guess.) They start with two wands (one being of 
random effects, the other one a minor tier wand to be chosen).

I think that the class adds interesting gameplay: it would be an ideal 
choice for players intending to go with misc. items and/or with Nemelex. 
While our miscellaneous items are not overhauled yet, the second reason 
seems worthwhile already know. (And I still have my plans for the Deep 
Dwarf species, the one without innate healing. This would fit with the 
Artificer class very nicely.)

You can see the patch and a description here:

https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?func=detail&aid=2399438&group_id=143991&atid=757515

So I am asking if anyone has opinions on this, in either direction.

Here are some minor observations of mine:
* They start with two means of ranged attacks. Is a weapon even needed?
* One might consider rods, but giving wands, rod and crossbow is out of
   the question. What about having the rod be one choice for the second
   item (currently choice among four wands).
* I would change the flavour text (not mention Nemelex, for a start).

David