3.5 Warforged - Artificer or Transmuter?

[Rapidghoul]

At last weekend's session, we were short one member (who often flakes on us), so we decided to roll up new characters and start a campaign we can play without him to avoid the awkward "he's... in the tavern!" or "he's... dead!" moments.

We're starting at level 4, one flaw allowed, most any source available up to DM's discretion. The party thus far is a silverbrow human dragonfire inspiration bard, a gold dwarf paladin of moradin, and a wild / wood elf ranger/scout/swift hunter. I decided to play a warforged caster focused on buffing since it's out of my element (I usually play skill based characters or a blaster). It also splits the bard and paladin's heals between three people instead of four since I can Repair myself, and I don't want to play the dedicated healer really.

Originally, I had the idea of a Focused Transmuter / Master Specialist character that focuses on time magic (he's clockwork, aspiring to be a Quarut (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/ff_gallery/50174.jpg)). However, I'm beginning to look more and more into Artificer. I'd still be able to buff and repair, plus it just looks really cool to be able to enchant your own body. I've also never been one to use item creation feats due to losing experience, and the craft pool would let me get around that a little.

So, having played neither a transmuter nor an artificer (or a warforged, or even a caster that wasn't a Conjurer, Evoker, or Bard), I'm turning to the playground for advice and experiences. Anything I'm overlooking, good or bad, about either class? I'm not looking for cheese or munchkin builds necessarily, just a fun class that can offer a lot of options.

[Dusk Eclipse]

If you have races of Eberron, I suggest Artificer, the first two racial substitution level are pure gold. Also check The Unofficial Artificer's Handbook (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=2829)so you can read what to expect from the class, which I must warn you it is a book-keeping nightmare; but if you are up for the challenge, go ahead.

[Psyren]

Artificer is a lot more complicated; if you can handle that, it's the better option. It gets many spells earlier than Wizards do, gets more general usefulness out of its infusions because it can enchant itself, doesn't have to deal with arcane spell failure, and on top of everything else can be a trapmonkey for the group.

[Rapidghoul]

I have access to all the books; it's a matter of the DM being cool with it. She's used to 4th and only played a little 3.5, but she's usually fine with anything so long as there's a book explaining it.

I'm up for a challenge and bookkeeping. My group calls me the party rulebook for a reason, but I admit Artificer is kind of daunting. The ASF thing is very nice, as otherwise I'd have to spend a feat or 4000 gold to get rid of it (or just BS my way through with homebrew), but the trapfinding aspect is also pretty key given my current group... the elf doesn't actually have any scout levels yet, so we have no trapmonkey.

I'll take a look at the handbook. I've already snooped around quite a bit. I've seen mixed reactions to warforged body feats and general feat selections. I'm leaning towards no body feat since the ASF would hit with scrolls and the like.

One question: if I take the level 5 sub level, how would that work with the Item Familiar feat from UA? In particular, I'd be taking it for the extra 10% XP for crafting items, but I'm not sure how the sub level ability and the feat interact? Would I even need to take it? Again, all new to me, so I want to ask people with experience.

[Chronos]

Originally, I had the idea of a Focused Transmuter / Master Specialist character that focuses on time magic (he's clockwork, aspiring to be a Quarut).OK, that is just plain awesomesauce, so unless you have something similarly cool in mind for the artificer, I'd recommend Transmuter just on that basis.

[Rapidghoul]

OK, that is just plain awesomesauce, so unless you have something similarly cool in mind for the artificer, I'd recommend Transmuter just on that basis.

Glad you like it :smallbiggrin: The idea was actually that a number of Inevitable bodies fell through to the material plane, leaving possibilities for story development and other warforged characters. The Quarut was simply the best fitting one for a time mage. I'll definitely end up playing out the Quarut Aspirant sometime.
If I go artificer (which I'm pretty certain I will), he'd probably be an unfinished Kolyarut instead of Quarut. Kolyaruts wield weaponry unlike Quaruts, meaning that taking the Weapon Familiar ACF would be very fitting. They're also more social and about keeping contracts than keeping order of time and space, which would help with having a paladin in the party.
Since the character would be able to upgrade himself and his weapon, I'd be gradually upgrading it to be as close to a Kolyrut as possible. The weapon would eventually be Axiomatic and Vampiric, he'd craft a staff that has discern lies, disguise self, and the rest of the SLAs Kolyruts have, etc. Eventually, through lots of crafting, he'd be a living construct version of a Kolyrut.

I'm still unclear about how the Weapon Familiar ACF would play out if I take the Item Familiar feat, but I'm pretty sure I want to do so just because of all the xp costs the class has going for it (and the awesomeness of the rest of it).