Artificer

Artificer

This is just a fun fan creation until the real thing comes out.

You can hit me with feedback or tell me how it plays at fantasybandcamp@gmail.com

Artificer

Level	Prof	Features	Cantrips Known	Spells Known	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th
1	2	Artificer Knowledge, Spellcasting	3	4	2
2	2	Infuse Equipment (d6)	3	5	3
3	2	Artificer Tradition, Craft Homunculus	3	6	4	2
4	2	Ability Score Improvement	4	7	4	3
5	3	Infuse Equipment (d8)	4	8	4	3	2
6	3	Artificer Tradition Feature	4	9	4	3	3
7	3	Ritual Master	4	10	4	3	3	1
8	3	Ability Score Improvement	4	11	4	3	3	2
9	4	Infuse Equipment (d10)	5	12	4	3	3	3	1
10	4	Spell Storing Item	5	13	4	3	3	3	2
11	4		5	14	4	3	3	3	2	1
12	4	Ability Score Improvement	5	15	4	3	3	3	2	1
13	5		5	16	4	3	3	3	2	1	1
14	5	Artificer Tradition Feature, Spell Storing Item	5	17	4	3	3	3	2	1	1
15	5	Infuse Equipment (d12)	5	18	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	1
16	5	Ability Score Improvement	5	19	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	1
17	6		5	20	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	1	1
18	6	Spell Storing Item	5	22	4	3	3	3	3	1	1	1	1
19	6	Ability Score Improvement	5	22	4	3	3	3	3	2	1	1	1
20	6	Perfect Infusion	5	22	4	3	3	3	3	2	2	1	1

A dwarf touches a shining ruby wand to his belt and whispers a few words; his muscles swell with strength. He smashes through a barred door to rescue the imprisoned heir of House Kundarak.

A human in a finely crafted breastplate slices through a giant worm with a longsword painted with arcane patterns and runes. Her allies’ weapons flash with the same aura having been empowered by her care.

A gnome touches her the cold iron skin of her hound to repair the chunks of metal torn off by a rampaging owlbear. She sprinkles dust over her hat and disappears from sight, waiting with infused crossbow bolts for the monster to wander down the hallway.

Artificer’s take their skill at magically modifying everyday items with them to the battlefield, the marketplace, and the dungeon as they seek new challenges, exotic materials, and fantastic wonders. In Eberron, they are known as artificers, but in other worlds they might be called arcanists, alchemists, or rune casters.

The Structure of Magic

In the world of Dungeons & Dragons, magic doesn’t only reside in humanoids, nature, and the gods, but also in objects. Magical wands, powerful scrolls, potent potions, and commanding staffs are the most common examples of magic wrapped up in otherwise mundane items.

The artificer sees this magic only as the most obvious form of their specialty. They study the crafting of everyday items as something magical, and infuse parts of themselves into those crafted objects to create magical objects. Where a wizard or cleric will cause an effect in the open, an artificer temporarily brings out an items capability. For an artificer a tunic is a suit of armor, a cloak is a sturdy shield, and gloves provide the strength of an ogre.

Artificers learn to recognize the patterns of magic in crafted goods and even raw materials, and to use their own magic to pull it out of them in fantastic ways. The greatest artificers are known to create magical items with amazing effects and to master various rituals. To an artificer there is no difference between the magic of a druid, wizard, cleric, or any other caster. They see magic as something purer than its petty divisions.

Experimentation and Understanding

A true artificer is as uncommon in the world as a true genius is in ours. In magically advanced lands there are those magewrights who have an understanding of magic rituals and can occasionally bring forth the magic of objects, but they are limited to their specialties. A true artificer masters all specialties and forms of artifice. An artificer is constantly inventing and questioning; his latest infusion or creation is not his best, there is always a grander discovery to be made.

Experimentation is key to the success of an artificer. Without their constant attempts to master the arcane secrets of the universe and discover the underpinnings of how magic works, an artificer would be nothing. To an artificer, even more than to the other arcane classes, magic is life. They understand that without magic there would be no existence. Most artificers dedicate their lives to understanding the way magic weaves itself into the universe.

Creating an Artificer

An artificer is a magical engineer. They are deeply interested in how magic works. What drives your artificer to study and experiment? Is it to better the world? For the sake of knowledge alone? Is it for financial gain, or is it to solve a specific problem, like stopping death, or making tools to help the disabled? Think about whether your artificer is more focused on magical trinkets, or instruments of war. Maybe they are most interested in ancient monoliths radiating mystical energies.

Quick Build

You can make an artificer quickly by following these suggestions. First, Intelligence should be your highest ability score, followed by Constitution or Dexterity. Second, choose the Guild Artisan background. Third, choose the makeshift wand, light, and, mending cantrips, along with the following 1st-level spells: detect magic, disguise self, repair damage, and shield of faith.

Class Features

As a artificer you gain the following class features.

Hit Points

Hit Dice: 1d8 per artificer level

Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier

Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8(or 5) + your Constitution modifier per artificer level after 1st

Proficiencies

Armor: Light armor

Weapons: All simple weapons

Tools: One of either alchemist’s supplies, calligrapher’s supplies, cobbler’s tools, glassblower’s tools, jeweler’s tools, leatherworker’s tools, mason’s tools, painter’s supplies, smith’s tools, tinker’s tools, weaver’s tools, or woodcarver’s tools.

Saving Throws: Intelligence, Constitution

Skills: Choose two from: Arcana, History, Investigation, Medicine, Nature, and Religion.

Equipment

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

(a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) any simple weapon

(a) a component pouch or (b) an arcane focus

(a) a scholar’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack

Leather armor, any simple weapon, and one set of artisan’s tools

Spellcasting

Artificers have a unique style of spellcasting. They imbue items and materials with infusions of their own magical energy in a very precise memorized pattern. They follow exact magical formulae and combine it with a bit of genius to make a mundane material temporarily magical.

Cantrips

At 1st level, you know two cantrips of you choice from the artificer spell list. You learn additional artificer cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the artificer table.

Spell Slots

The artificer table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these spells, you must expend a slot of the spell’s level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.

For example, if you cast the first level spell repair damage and have a 1st-level and a 2nd-level spell slot available, you can cast repair damage using either slot.

Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher

You know four 1st-level spells of your choice from the artificer spell list.

The Spells Known column of the artificer table shows when you learn more artificer spells of you choice. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots, as shown in the table. For instance, when you reach 3rd level in this class, you can learn one new spell of 1st or 2nd level.

Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the artificer spells you know and replace it with another spell from the artificer spell list, which also must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

Spellcasting Ability

Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your artificer spells. You use your Intelligence modifier whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Intelligence modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a artificer spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.

Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + you Intelligence modifier

Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier

Ritual Casting

You can cast any artificer spell you know as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag.

Spellcasting Focus

You can use an arcane focus or a set of artisan’s tools as a spellcasting focus for your artificer spells.

Artificer Knowledge

You are adept at improvising with tools to complete your task. You can use any set of tools or utensils and have them count as any other set of tools or utensils. You also gain half your proficiency bonus on any set of tools you are not already proficient in.

Artificers also have a deep understanding of items and the power that lies hidden within them. When you touch an object, you can focus as an action to discover if it is magical. In addition, you know the identify spell; it does not count against the number of spells you know, and it requires no components. It still requires the same amount of time to cast and will spend a spell slot if not cast as a ritual.

Finally, you have a natural knack for making magic items work. You ignore all class requirements on the use of magic items.

Infuse Equipment

You can imbue mundane objects with helpful magic. During a short rest you can infuse a number of allies’ gear, including your own, with magic by handling it. The characters gain an Infused Equipment die they can discharge by rolling it with any d20 roll and adding it it to their result. They can wait to roll it until after the d20 roll is revealed, but must decide before the DM says whether the roll succeeds or fails. Once the Infused Equipment die is rolled, it is lost. A creature can have only one Infused Equipment die at a time. If a creature doesn’t use the die by the next time it takes a short or long rest, it is lost.

Your Infused Equipment die changes when you reach certain levels in this class. The die becomes a d8 at 5th, a  d10 at 9th, and a d12 at 15th.

You can imbue a number of allies equal to your Intelligence modifier (a minimum of one). You regain expended uses when you finish a short or long rest.

Craft Homunculus

At 3rd level you learn the find familiar spell and can cast it as a ritual. The spell doesn’t count against your number of spell known.

When you cast the spell, you can choose one of the normal forms for your familiar or one of the following special forms: crafter homunculus, furtive filcher, expeditious messenger, or iron defender. The familiar you summon is always a construct instead of a celestial, beast, fey, or fiend.

Additionally when you take the attack action, you can forgo one of your own attacks to allow your familiar to make on attack of its own.

Artificer Tradition

At 3rd level you begin to follow a tradition of magical crafting that you emulate in your creations and infusions: Tinkerer or Battlesmith. Your choice grants you features at 3rd level, 6th level, and 14th level.

Ritual Master

At 7th level you develop a deeper understanding of magical patterns. Choose two 1st-level spells that have the ritual tag from any class’ spell list. You write these spells down in a book that becomes your Spellwright Book. The spells do not count against the number of spells you know. With your Spellwright Book in hand, you can cast the chosen spells as rituals. You can’t cast the spells except as rituals, unless you’ve learned them by some other means.

On your adventures, you can add other ritual spells to your Spellwright Book. When you find such a spell, you can add it to the book if the spell’s level is equal to or less than half your artificer level (rounded up) and if you can spare the time to transcribe the spell. For each level of the spell, the transcription process takes 2 hours and costs 50 gp for the rare inks needed to inscribe it.

Spell Storing Item

At 10th level, once a day you can create a handheld magic item that duplicates a spell of your choice from any class. The spell you choose must be of a level you can cast of 5th level or lower or a cantrip. The spell can only be used once, unless it is a cantrip which can be used at will. At the end of the day, the magical energy dissipates and the item loses the spell stored into it. The chosen spell counts as an artificer spell for you but doesn’t count against the number of artificer spells you know. The spell is cast as the highest spell level you can cast, up to 5th level. You can create a different spell storing item everyday after a long rest, but can only have one spell storing item active at a time. You can pass the item off to someone else to use, if you instruct them on it’s use first.

You can have an additional active spell storing item at 14th level and another at 18th level.

Perfect Infusion

At 20th level, your Infused Equipment die add a bonus of 20 when used.

Artificer Traditions

Tradition of the Tinkerer

Bonus Proficiencies

When you take up the tinkerer tradition at level 3, you gain proficiency with Intelligence (Arcana) and tinker’s tools. You double your proficiency bonus with these when you use either to make an ability check. If you already proficiency with these, choose another skill and another set of artisan’s tools with which to gain proficiency.

Infuse Spellcasting

Also at 3rd level, you can infuse the implements of spellcasters with your Infused Equipment feature to allow them to roll the Infused Equipment die when casting a spell. If they do so, either the target of a spell gains disadvantage on their saving throw, or you can add the result on the die to the damage from the spell.

Additional Spell Storing Item

At 6th level, once a day you can create a handheld magic item that duplicates a spell of your choice from any class. The spell you choose must be of a level you can cast of 5th level or lower, or a cantrip. The spell can only be used once, unless it is a cantrip which can be used at will. At the end of the day, the magical energy dissipates and the item loses the spell stored into it. The chosen spell counts as an artificer spell for you but doesn’t count against the number of artificer spells you know. You can create a different spell storing item everyday after a long rest, but can only have one spell storing item active at a time. You can pass the item off to someone else to use, if you instruct them on it’s use first.

Tinkerer’s Prowess

Starting at 14th level, whenever you use a magic item that has charges and could be destroyed when you use the last charge, the item is not destroyed. Also, you can use magic items regardless of required race or level.

Tradition of the Battlesmith

Bonus Proficiencies

When you take up the tradition of the battlesmith at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with medium armor, shields, and martial weapons.

Combat Infusions

Also at 3rd level you gain further variety in the combat applications of your Infused Equipment feature. Characters with your Infused Equipment die can add the bonus from the roll to their weapon damage when they hit with an attack. Alternatively, they can roll the die to add a bonus to their AC when they are targeted by an attack.

Extra Attack

Starting at 6th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Battle Magic

At 14th level, you have mastered the art of weaving spellcasting and weapon use into a single harmonious act. When you use your action to cast an artificer spell or use a magic item, you can make one weapon attack as a bonus action.

Multiclass

Artificer Requires: Intelligence 13

Proficiencies Gained: Light armor, simple weapons, and one set of artisan’s tools from the class’ list

Artificer Spells

0- guidance, infuse weapon, light, makeshift wand, mending, prestidigitation, resistance

1- comprehend languages, detect magic, detect poison and disease, disguise self, expeditious retreat, false life, feather fall, heroism, illusory script, inflict damage, jump, longstrider, mage armor, repair damage, sanctuary, shield of faith, speak with animals

2- alter self, arcane lock, barkskin, blur, continual flame, darkness, darkvision, detect thoughts, enhance ability, find traps, heat metal, invisibility, knock, magic mouth, magic weapon, mirror image, nystul’s magic aura, protection from poison, see invisibility, spider climb

3- bestow curse, blink, dispel magic, elemental weapon, feign death, fly, gaseous form, glyph of warding, haste, magic circle, nondetection, protection from energy, remove curse, slow, speak with dead, speak with plants, tongues, water breathing, water walk

4- control water, death ward, fabricate, fire shield, freedom of movement, greater invisibility, otiluke’s resilient sphere, stone skin

5- animate objects, awaken, creation, geas, mislead, planar binding, rary’s telepathic bond, swift quiver, teleportation circle, tree stride, wall of force, wall of stone

6- blade barrier, contingency, globe of invulnerability, guards and wards, magic jar, move earth, true seeing, wind walk

7- etherealness, force cage, sequester, simulacrum, symbol

8- antipathy/sympathy, clone, glibness, mind blank, telepathy

9- foresight, imprisonment, prismatic wall, shapechange

Inflict Damage

1st-level transmutation

Casting Time: 1 action

Range: Touch

Components: V, S

Duration: Instantaneous

Your magic rips an object apart. Make a melee spell attack against a creature you can reach. On a hit, the target takes 2d10 damage, or twice as much if it is an object or construct.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d10 for each slot above 1st level.

Infuse Weapon

Transmutation cantrip

Casting Time: 1 bonus action

Range: Touch

Components: V, S, M (steel wool and a weapon)

Duration: 1 minute

The weapon you are holding is infused with your power and it becomes natural to wield. For the duration, you can use your spellcasting ability instead of Strength or Dexterity for the attack and damage rolls of attacks using that weapon. The spell ends if you cast it again or if you let go of the weapon.

Makeshift Wand (from Keith Baker’s Hacking the Artificer)

Evocation cantrip

Casting Time: 1 Action

Range: 60 feet

Components: S, M (a handheld object you have spent an action scribing runes on)

Duration: Instantaneous

You employ any small object as a temporary wand, channelling a blast of energy. The target must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take 1d8 damage. The spell can inflict acid, fire, cold, lightning or thunder damage; choose two damage types when you learn this spell, and you can choose which one to use when you cast the spell. The spell’s damage increases by 1d8 when you reach 5th level (2d8), 11th level (3d8), and 17th level (4d8). At each of these levels, you may also select an additional damage type to add to your repertoire. You can prepare any handheld object to serve as a channel for this spell; this requires one action (inscribing a few runes on it) at some previous point, not including the action used to cast the cantrip.

Repair Damage

1st-level transmutation

Casting Time: 1 action

Range: Touch

Components: V, S

Duration: Instantaneous

Your magic melds an object together and repairs damage. A construct or object you touch regains a number of hit points equal to 1d8 + your spellcasting ability modifier. This spell has no effect on living creatures or undead.

At higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the healing increases by 1d8 for each slot above 1st. 

Artificer Homunculi

Crafter Homunculus

Tiny construct, lawful neutral

Armor Class 11

Hit Points 8

Speed 30 ft.

Str 6 (-2) Dex 13 (+1) Con 17 (+3)

Int 10 (+0) Wis 10 (+0) Cha 10 (+0)

Skills Perception +2, Investigation +2, Stealth +3

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive perception 12

Languages All languages known by its creator

Challenge 1/4

Crafter

A crafter homunculus uses its masters proficiencies with artisans tools to craft. The crafter homunculus can be instructed to craft for it’s master. If the homunculus is left alone without instruction it will craft random objects obsessively using whatever materials it can find. It can also assist its master on the crafting of an item, increasing the items quality as well as helping to complete the item faster.

Clay Body

A crafter homunculus will revert to a useless lump of clay when it would be reduced to 0 hit points, and will revert to its normal form 1 hour after it was destroyed. If it is not completely destroyed into dust, the largest piece will reform into the main form.

Hammer

Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 bludgeoning damage.

Expeditious Messenger

Tiny construct, lawful neutral

Armor Class 14

Hit Points 2

Speed 40 ft., fly 60 ft.

Str 3 (-4) Dex 18 (+4) Con 10 (+0)

Int 14 (+0) Wis 13 (+1) Cha 11 (+0)

Skills Perception +3, Stealth +5

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive perception 13

Languages All languages known by its creator

Challenge 1/4

Message

An expeditious messenger’s master can converse with a creature up to 1 mile away through the homunculus. It can carry out a continuous conversation.

Sting

Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 1d4+4 piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or become poisoned for 1 hour. If its saving throw result is 6 or lower, the target falls unconscious for the same duration, or until it takes damage or another creature uses an action to wake it.  

Furtive Filcher

Tiny construct, lawful neutral

Armor Class 11

Hit Points 6

Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.

Str 5 (-3) Dex 17 (+3) Con 10 (+0)

Int 10 (+0) Wis 10 (+0) Cha 10 (+0)

Skills Perception +3, Stealth +7, Sleight of Hand +7

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive perception 13

Languages All languages known by its creator

Challenge 1/4

Invisibility

The furtive filcher turns invisible until it attacks or until its concentration ends. Anything the invisible furtive filcher is carrying or wearing is invisible as long as it remains in contact with the furtive filcher.

Bite

Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 1d4+2 piercing damage.

Iron Defender

Small construct, lawful neutral

Armor Class 13

Hit Points 11

Speed 40 ft.

Str 12 (+1) Dex 15 (+2) Con 12 (+1)

Int 6 (-2) Wis 12 (+1) Cha 6 (-2)

Skills Perception +3, Stealth +4, Intimidation +2

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive perception 13

Languages -

Challenge 1/4

Keen Hearing and Smell

The iron defender has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.

Pack Tactics

The iron defender has advantage on attack rolls against a creature if at least one of the iron defender’s allies is within 5 ft. of the creature and isn’t incapacitated.

Bite

Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 2d4+2 piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 11 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.