The battle engineer focuses on enhancing his armament, mastering a mix of martial talent and arcane engineering to become truly deadly on the battlefield.
Combat Engineering Focus
At 1st level, you choose one focus for your combat: Crossbows, Tools, or Massive Blades.
Crossbows
Tinkering with the mechanics of crossbows has always appealed to you. You gain Rapid Reload as a bonus feat.
You gain conjure ammunition as a spell-like ability with a caster level equal to your class level. You can use it a number of times per day equal to your Intelligence bonus (minimum 1).
In addition, you may begin play with a masterwork light repeating crossbow, paying only 100 gp for the raw material cost to craft it yourself (instead of the 550 gp market price). You automatically succeed on any skill checks necessary to initially craft this weapon.
Tools
You believe wholeheartedly in the term “percussive maintenance” and focus on the tools of your trade more than on the end products. You gain Weapon Focus with the light hammer and warhammer as a bonus feat, even if you don’t meet the prerequisites.
You may begin play with a masterwork light hammer or warhammer, paying only 75 gp for the raw material to craft it yourself. You automatically succeed on any skill checks necessary to initially craft this weapon.
Massive Blades
Let’s face it, you became an artificer because wielding a massive flaming sword has always been your dream. What better way is there to obtain your perfect dream weapon than to lovingly craft it yourself? You gain Weapon Proficiency and Weapon Focus with the bastard sword and dwarven war axe as bonus feats, even if you don’t meet the prerequisites.
You may begin play with a masterwork bastard sword or dwarven war axe, paying only 85 gp for the raw material to craft it yourself. You automatically succeed on any skill checks necessary to initially craft this weapon.
Infused Weapons (Sp)
You gain magic weapon as a spell-like ability with a caster level equal to your class level. You can use a standard action to cast magic weapon by sacrificing an artificer spell slot of 1st-level or higher. You can cast this spell-like ability even if you don’t have access to your artificer spellbook.
When you cast magic weapon in this way, it becomes an infusion. This has no effect on magic weapon if learned and cast as a normal artificer spell.
Field Engineer (Ex)
Beginning at 4th level, you gain a benefit based on your Combat Engineering Focus.
Crossbows
Your constant tinkering has made your crossbows more efficient. You gain Rapid Shot as a bonus feat, even if you don’t meet the prerequisites.
You gain a +1 Arcane Bonus on all Engineering checks. This bonus increases by 1 for every 4 additional artificer levels you gain.
Tools
You learn to identify the weak points of items, allowing you to easily destroy them. You gain Improved Sunder as a bonus feat, even if you don’t meet the prerequisites.
You also gain a +1 Arcane Bonus to damage dealt to objects when using a light hammer or warhammer, including when making a sunder attempt. This bonus increases by 1 for every 4 additional artificer levels you gain.
Massive Blades
You gain Weapon Specialization with the bastard sword and dwarven war axe as bonus feats, even if you don’t meet the prerequisites.
Greater Infused Weapons (Sp)
At 6th level, you gain greater magic weapon as a spell-like ability with a caster level equal to your class level. You can use a standard action to cast greater magic weapon by sacrificing an artificer spell slot of 2nd-level or higher. You can cast this spell-like ability even if you don’t have access to your artificer spellbook.
When you cast greater magic weapon in this way, it becomes an infusion. This has no effect on greater magic weapon if learned and cast as a normal artificer spell.
Improved Field Engineer
Beginning at 10th level, you gain a benefit based on your Combat Engineering Focus.
Crossbows (Sp)
Your crossbows become quick and deadly accurate. You ignore the -2 penalty from using the Rapid Shot feat with a crossbow.
Tools
You learn to shatter the defenses of your enemies with a well placed thump. You gain Greater Sunder as a bonus feat, even if you don’t meet the prerequisites. In addition, when making a sunder attempt with a light hammer or warhammer, if you inflict the Broken condition on an item, the penalty from being broken is doubled.
Massive Blades (Sp)
When you cast magic weapon or greater magic weapon on your bastard sword or dwarven war axe, you gain additional benefits from the spell. Your weapon magically grows in size by two steps and becomes wreathed in energy, dealing an additional 1d6 acid, fire, cold, or electricity damage (chosen when you cast the spell).
These benefits only apply when you cast the spell and only on your own weapons, not if another character casts the spell on your weapon. The weapon does not become more difficult to wield as an oversized weapon normally would. This benefit stacks with enlarge person and other abilities that increase size.
Weapon Training (Ex)
At 12th level, you can add one-half your Intelligence bonus to attack and damage rolls made with the weapons related to your Combat Engineering Focus. This benefit stacks with Weapon Focus and other bonuses.
Reconstructed Armament (Ex)
At 16th level, the critical threat range of the weapons related to your Combat Engineering Focus is increased by 1. This stacks with the Improved Critical feat and Keen weapon enchantment, but this increase is only added after the threat range is doubled.
For example, a Keen Bastard Sword has a threat range of 17-20, which this increases to 16-20.
Perfected Armament (Ex)
Starting at 18th level, the critical multiplier of the weapons related to your Combat Engineering Focus is increased by 1. This stacks with other effects that increase the critical multiplier.
Engineering Mastery (Ex)
When you reach 20th level, the damage dealt by weapons related to your Combat Engineering Focus is increased by three steps, though the weapon doesn’t change size. In addition, you can add your full Intelligence bonus to your attack and damage rolls made with your chosen weapons instead of only half.