TrapSmith .. Only fluff or combat useful?

[silverwolfer]

Is trapsmith useful as far as combat and sustained played, or is it one of those things that are only good for roleplay and fluff?

[jedipilot24]

Are we talking about the Trapsmith from Dungeonscape or the Combat Trapsmith from Complete Scoundrel? Their requirements and entry point are practically identical but they do slightly different things.

The former is pretty cool; it gives you Haste as a first level spell and Dimension Door as a second level spell (among others.). It also gives you some defensive traps and boosts your own ability to disarm traps.

The latter is more like the Diablo II Assassin, able to drop offensive traps right into combat.

Theoretically, one could even make a Trapmaster character--something like Factotum 5/Combat Trapsmith 5/Trapsmith 5

[Soranar]

Due to the spells a trapsmith stays relevant even when his traps stop being relevant. But the main problem of the class is that you need to be defending (or ambushing) your enemies to get the full benefit, which is not always easy.

Basically you always need to be able to scout ahead and prepare, for you a fight should start an hour before the first weapon is drawn.

With the feat obtain familiar (you have a spellcaster level so you qualify) you can gain a very decent scout if your party lacks one.

But the fact remains that you prepare all that fight while another class could just charge in with spells/weapons/whatever class ability they have and get the same result.

[Diovid]

Theoretically, one could even make a Trapmaster character--something like Factotum 5/Combat Trapsmith 5/Trapsmith 5
Or something like:

Earth Kobold (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/elementalRacialVariants.htm#earthKobolds) (updated (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060420a), of course) Rogue 3 / Kobold Paragon (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060127a) 2 / Trapsmith 5 / Combat Trapsmith 5 / Exemplar 1 / Marshal 1 / Kobold Paragon +0 or +1 / Exemplar +2 or +3 with the Rogue's Quick Fingers alternative class feature (Dungeonscape) and the 1st Kobold Rogue Substitution level (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20060106a&page=3).

Take the feat Extraordinary Trapsmith (Races of the Dragon) and possibly the feats Apprentice (Craftsman) (DMG II), Craft Expertise (Dragon Magazine #339) and Guerilla Trapsmith (Dragon Magazine #342).

[Axier]

Combat usefulness is limited in both of these classes, however, if you are fighting in a war campagin, or you are constantly outnumbered guerilla fighters, then setting up ambushes can be bread and butter.

I would find it pretty fun, but it definatley isn't for every RP group or game style.

Although, all this exemplar is making me feel like Traplomancy.

[Fouredged Sword]

Setting up the trapsmith traps takes only a matter of rounds. You really don't need that much time, and setting a trap with your sizing (to allow for easy transport) heavy crossbow for 8d6 damage at a +40-50 attack roll is hard to beat for an unlimited combat resource.

Yes, it takes some prep, but setting up a trapped room and drawing foes to you is a great tactic that, while not always possible, is not too uncommon. Especially because you have a tiny animal with high dex and wis and maxed ranks in hide/move silently/spot/listen to scout.

[Keltaris]

You might want to take a look at this (http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/29125157/Weekly_Optimization_Showcase:_Uncanny_Trapsmith?pg =1).