This one's my favourite! I played one once and had the Eldritch canon on my shoulder like a predator! This update to let the cannons use any version each round is amazing!

The "I cast gun!" subclass.

In my theater of the mind, the Artillerist's mobile cannon is more or less a ranged version of the Battle Smith's Steel Guardian. I imagine it as a bipedal robot carrying a gun.

My one singular complaint about Artillerist is that they don't also get the lightning bolt spell. I want to make a laser gun. And casting lightning bolt out of the arcane fire arm to replicate the gun from Tengoku Daimakyou sounds so cool. But alas, Fireball is still a very nice pick up.

It's a good thing they give you a second cannon at the same time as the half cover feature, because it directly conflicts with with the ability to detonate your cannon.  😅💥

I asked my DM what would happen if someone was crafting while under the affect of a Haste spell via Prolonged Circle Casting for the entire crafting duration. He ruled that it would halve the crafting time! Not a RAW function, but depending on the context it makes sense. Probably worth asking your DM about, if you're trying to reduce crafting time (and that sort of circle casting is allowed in your campaign).

The Eldritch Cannon is an object so it is immune to a lot of AOE effects and spells or attacks that target creatures. Especially if it's being worn or carried.

It also is immune to opportunity attacks, RAW.

And! You can use the Catapult spell on it. And when it takes damage from you throwing it, you can use a reaction to make it blow up. It's a funny but viable last resort option if you're surrounded and the cannon is already damaged.

With true strike now being on the artificer spell list, the 5th level Arcane Firearm feature can deal comparable damage to the Battle Smith's extra attack, since your single true strike musket shot can be 1d12 + 1d6 + 1d8 + INT damage. That's 18.5 damage on your action if you hit, compared to the battle smith's 21 damage, spread over two attacks. Plus both have summons that deal comparable damage on bonus actions. Even though the artillerist lags behind a little, the cannon's immunity to several effects might be worth it

The thing about Shimmering Field Projection is that you get it at the same time that you get a 2nd cannon, so it's actually not that hard to get the cover to most of the party if you place the two cannons strategically and have one closer to accompanying the frontline while the other is closer to the backline.

Wand of magic missile, an amazing item for everyone in the party. You ever gunned down a dragon?

It seems like Tools of the Trade should have included wands, rods, and staves under Wand Crafting. They both require the same tool proficiency and serve the same purpose of letting you use them as a focus and cast spells through them.

As a DM I created an enemy npc that was an artillerist, he was in a small town feeding chickens, when the battle started one of his chickens was the gun.

Btw, your content is great I'm sure you'll reach your sub goal!

I was never that interested in the artillerist in 2014 but with the changes with this book, I would love to play one

My Pet Peeve with the Artillerist is their subclass feature lasts an hour (Other Subclasses have their feature last a very long time).  You need to know you will be going into combat and have the opportunity to use a MAGIC action to summon it (with proper tools) before initiative is rolled.  If you Miss-Time the combat or it is destroyed you have to use an action ad one of your limited spell slots (and tools) to recreate it.

plopping the cannon on the shoulder of your frontline martial while you stay in back is my favorite play.

Re: 3:37, you can swap out one Replicate Magic Item known plan with a new one any time you level up! Once you're able to craft the wand just replace the plan with something more useful; it doesn't even have to be of the same value, it can be any plan.

On the note of wands; using an infusion slot for wands hurts a alot. So crafting them once you're level 3 is still really nice as you can swap them out for other things. You only have so many infusions.

One of my favorites! This is so fun to play and now with having all 3 options active all the time it's probably even funner

I think I'm sold on playing this subclass if/when I get a chance to be a player in a game going to tier 2/3.

This is my favorite artificer. I am playing the 2014 version now at level 15 and she is so good. I dislike guns so her cannons are flavored as wood carved angels that can heal or harm, and her wand and other gear are inscribed with celestial prayers. I love the mechanics and found it easy enough to flavor to my liking.