The fluff behind an Artificer's infusions

[RealMarkP]

I've always wondered, what is it about an infusion that allows it to create the magical effect?

I understand the whole concept of magic, where by you're using cues to manipulate the 'weave', or some magical force that is neither seen nor felt. I equate it to magnetism in the real world. We can do stuff with it, but it can neither be seen nor felt.

But, as far as an artificer goes, I'm having a hard time suspending my disbelief at his power. Where does his power lie? How does it summon magical effects without magic? What sorts of ideas can you guys come up with to fill this void of continuity?

[Prime32]

Who said infusions weren't magic? :smallconfused: He's just more specialised than a wizard.

[Galvin]

With my understanding, Infusions ARE magic.

[alchmst1259]

I'm pretty certain infusions are magic. I feel like they're mostly just representative of either the classic wand-required magic, or things that were "prepared" ahead of time. I feel like the fluff part of Artificer is that it's really made to be adaptable imagery-wise.

I had an artificer who would carry around "grenades" of various varieties, and pretty much used his infusions through them. A lot of his scrolls took this form as well, and he used them for almost anything with a radius. Likewise, being a Warforged who would improve himself, he would use Iron-Man style arm-cannons for anything that fired a ray, cone, projectile, etc.


Edit, from the ECS: "An artificer is not a spellcaster, but he does have the ability to imbue items with magical infusions... can be dispelled, it will not function in an antimagic area..."

[Aquillion]

Yeah. My feeling is that Artificers are meant to fluff them however they please -- it's a way to fill in the gaps on the "creates tools for personal use" things, since the game can't really let you create magic items constantly and certainly can't let you make them in the space of a single action.

Fluffing your infusions as things you quickly whip up on the spot gets around this. ("No, I don't have a wand for this, but if I sprinkle this dust here, quickly tinker with a few things and scrape the right symbols in the dirt, I can rig up a Wall of Force that should last a little while...")

[fishyfishyfishy]

I suggest you read the section labeled Infusions on page 31 of the ECS. Infusions are clearly magical in nature. That and they can create magical items. Everything about them screams "MAGIC". It's just a different kind of magic than traditional spellcasters.

[Psyren]

1) Infusions are indeed magic.
2) The Weave is a Faerun concept. Artificers are from Eberron.

[Telonius]

This (http://flakypastry.runningwithpencils.com/comic.php?strip_id=467) might help.

[Alienist]

Had a hilarious 'icky' moment when an artificer started rubbing his infusion all over a half-elven npc diplomat.

[drack]

Infusions are magic, not spells. They work on the same premise as crafting magic items, but more on the terms of the quick "patch" or "fix" type jerryrigging that you see in sci-fi scenarios where they get it working for a little while only for it to break shortly afterwards. :smallbiggrin:

[Psyren]

Infusions are magic, not spells. They work on the same premise as crafting magic items, but more on the terms of the quick "patch" or "fix" type jerryrigging that you see in sci-fi scenarios where they get it working for a little while only for it to break shortly afterwards. :smallbiggrin:

However, they "work exactly like spells and follow all the rules for spells." So the difference could likely starve a dormouse.

[drack]

Correct, though the difference becomes quite distinct when you consider that they can't be affected by things that affect "spells". :smallwink:

[Psyren]

Correct, though the difference becomes quite distinct when you consider that they can't be affected by things that affect "spells". :smallwink:

This is arguable and likely depends on the effect in question.

[Arcanist]

This (http://flakypastry.runningwithpencils.com/comic.php?strip_id=467) might help.

Significantly advanced science and all that jazz :smalltongue:

[drack]

This is arguable and likely depends on the effect in question.

True enough. :smallbiggrin: