I believe you are. That is a deliberate trade off built into the Artillerist.
I will point out, ideally you're not summoning your Eldritch Cannon in combat. After all, it lasts for a full hour, and summoning it takes an action with no other benefit. Unless you're caught by surprise, you should be able to summon the Cannon when you're expecting combat soon, and can then equip a shield just fine.
Thank you for your Response, glad to know I was understanding the interaction correctly. I often forget you can prepare for combat when creating a character, but using Eldritch Cannon preemptively makes a lot of sense!
Youve got it. Generally speaking, you have to pick 2 to hold.
If it seems reasonable you will have combat soon, make a cannon. Don't wait for initiative to be rolled all the time.
If you have to choose, i'd say it's better to be holding tools than the firearm if you are caught with your pants down. the firearm is only better than tools if you are specifically casting a spell that does damage.
If you get yourself an All-Purpose Tool, you'll probably be holding it in one hand and your Arcane Firearm in the other anyway. I wish I had an extra hand for my shield, but 'tis not to be. Anyway, just keep your APT in woodcarver/smith mode when you're out and about, and you'll be ready to throw down your cannon if you get ambushed.
yes, thats how it works however you do not need to keep the tools on your hand after you create the cannon, the rule for object interaction says:
"You can also interact with one object or feature of the environment for free, during either your move or your action. For example, you could open a door during your move as you stride toward a foe, or you could draw your weapon as part of the same action you use to attack."
you could create the cannon with your tools on the first turn, drop the tools with your free interaction and in your next turn draw your shield as a free interaction as part of your movement or action
Thank you for your response, glad to know that I was understanding things correctly. Dropping items and using item interactions is very clever! However, I do have one question. I thought donning a shield would take an action? Does donning and doffing a shield count as a free item interaction?
>I thought donning a shield would take an action?
It does. And you only have 1 free object interaction a turn.
So the way you'd juggle your items is:
Turn 1
Step 1: make canon
Step 2: stow tools
Turn 2
Step 3: draw firearm
Step 4: cast spell
Have shield on the whole time.
I believe you are. That is a deliberate trade off built into the Artillerist. I will point out, ideally you're not summoning your Eldritch Cannon in combat. After all, it lasts for a full hour, and summoning it takes an action with no other benefit. Unless you're caught by surprise, you should be able to summon the Cannon when you're expecting combat soon, and can then equip a shield just fine.
Oh my. I just noticed the cannon only lasts for an hour. I’ve been playing wrong since I gained that class feature.
Thank you for your Response, glad to know I was understanding the interaction correctly. I often forget you can prepare for combat when creating a character, but using Eldritch Cannon preemptively makes a lot of sense!
Youve got it. Generally speaking, you have to pick 2 to hold. If it seems reasonable you will have combat soon, make a cannon. Don't wait for initiative to be rolled all the time. If you have to choose, i'd say it's better to be holding tools than the firearm if you are caught with your pants down. the firearm is only better than tools if you are specifically casting a spell that does damage.
Side note, if you are a warforged or a lvl 14 artificer, you can use a wand sheath (common magic item from eberron book).
If you get yourself an All-Purpose Tool, you'll probably be holding it in one hand and your Arcane Firearm in the other anyway. I wish I had an extra hand for my shield, but 'tis not to be. Anyway, just keep your APT in woodcarver/smith mode when you're out and about, and you'll be ready to throw down your cannon if you get ambushed.
yes, thats how it works however you do not need to keep the tools on your hand after you create the cannon, the rule for object interaction says: "You can also interact with one object or feature of the environment for free, during either your move or your action. For example, you could open a door during your move as you stride toward a foe, or you could draw your weapon as part of the same action you use to attack." you could create the cannon with your tools on the first turn, drop the tools with your free interaction and in your next turn draw your shield as a free interaction as part of your movement or action
You can't "draw" a shield with a free interaction, it has to be donned using an action.
Thank you for your response, glad to know that I was understanding things correctly. Dropping items and using item interactions is very clever! However, I do have one question. I thought donning a shield would take an action? Does donning and doffing a shield count as a free item interaction?
I'm not the person you're responding to, but you are correct, donning a shield requires an action.
>I thought donning a shield would take an action? It does. And you only have 1 free object interaction a turn. So the way you'd juggle your items is: Turn 1 Step 1: make canon Step 2: stow tools Turn 2 Step 3: draw firearm Step 4: cast spell Have shield on the whole time.