Races

This work introduces the following races:

• Artilects, a race of sentient machines, with an innate connection to technology.
• Gremlins, cousins of goblinoids with a mischievous streak a mile wide and a natural knack with machines.
• Mogri, an intensely curious people who often see technology as an extension of nature.

Artilect

Sometimes, in the pursuit of greater calculating prowess, an individual stumbles across the key to intelligence, and finds the means with which to imbue that trait into a creature not of flesh and blood, but of oil and steel. In other times, powerful organizations or short-sighted politicians seek ways to automate their defenses, giving a machine of war the tools it needs to sense its opponents, to hunt them, understand them -- and this can result in a machine suddenly becoming significantly more self-aware than its builders planned.

While they are rarely spiritual -- and there may be some question as to whether or not artilects have souls, though few of the mechanically-minded are in a hurry to figure out whether or not they do -- artilects often take well to meditation and other thought-calming exercises. While the process is somewhat different for their mechanical minds, artilects often find behaviors and habits that allow them to exert control over their minds -- rather than the other way around -- to be incredibly self-empowering.

Gremlin

A member of the goblinoid family, gremlins have an innate affinity for mischief and pranks. While they gather in much the same sort of settings as goblins, their closest relatives, gremlins have a strong preference for locations with a more technological bent -- abandoned mines are among their favorite, giving them ready access to both tools and raw materials.

While they can be cruel, gremlins have much less interest in malice towards other races. Instead, gremlins have an almost-innate fascination with technology, and prefer to tinker with -- and sometimes disassemble -- the constructions of other races.

Creating a Borg

There are three significant questions when it comes to creating a borg: what sort of person you were before you were turned into a borg, the nature of your prosthetics, and how you respond to your new nature. Taking up the mantle of being a borg implies that you have accepted -- at least on some level -- that your life has changed drastically, and take to the calling of technological improvement of your body.

You could approach these changes with optimism, believing that improving upon yourself is the essence of what it means to be a member of your race. Alternatively you could see it as a necessary evil, something done to keep you alive but that should be avoided at all costs for others. You might see yourself as a champion of technology, a symbol of what it progress is possible with advancements in science, or you could portray yourself as a warning, a dark vision of what is to come if the excesses of science aren't held in check.

Who you were before you became a borg can influence your outlook, as well: a street urchin saved by a kindly technologist might see it as a new lease on life, whereas a spoiled noble might think their life ruined by the need for such crutches as prosthetic limbs. The combination of your past life, outlook on technology, and what sort of modifications you have undergone combined can make for a powerful and interesting story.

Class Features

As a borg, you have the following class features.

Gadgets

You know four gadgets of your choice from the invention list. You learn additional gadgets of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Gadgets Known column of the Borg table.

Inventions Known

At 1st level, you know two inventions of your choice from the invention list, at prototype grade.

The Inventions Known column of the Borg table shows when you learn more inventions of your choice. When you gain a new invention known, you can either choose a new invention to learn at the prototype grade, or you can improve your understanding of a device you already know, increasing your knowledge of it by one grade, to the max grade indicated on the Borg table.

Building Inventions

You must build inventions before you can make use of them.

Building an invention, or upgrading an existing invention to a higher grade, requires 4 hours of work, tinker's tools, and access to your equipment.

You can carry a number of inventions at a time equal to double the number you can have readied, as part of your equipment, without needing to worry about encumbrance. Because inventions are physical objects, you only have access to your inventions if you have your equipment, and they can be damaged, stolen, or lost like any other object.

Readied Inventions

Readying a new list of inventions requires time spent oiling gears, checking cabling, and generally ensuring that the inventions you wish to use are in good working order.

Readying an invention requires one readied invention slot, regardless of the invention's grade.

You can ready a new list of inventions after a short rest.

Error Rate and Malfunctions

Technology can at times be fickle, and your inventions are no exception.

Any time you activate an invention, you must check for a malfunction. If the invention requires an attack roll, you use the natural value of the d20 you used for the attack roll; otherwise, you roll 1d20 when activating an invention. If the result is equal to or lower than the invention's error rate -- which is 4 for most inventions -- the invention gains the malfunctioning condition; otherwise, it works as intended.

You cannot activate an invention with the malfunctioning condition. You can keep an invention with the malfunctioning condition readied: this indicates that you are working the problem, and will be able to restore the invention to working order. If you choose to replace the malfunctioning invention with another after a short rest, that invention is destroyed, as you give up on restoring it.

You can remove the malfunctioning condition from inventions you have kept readied after you finish a long rest.

Gadgets do not have error rates and cannot malfunction in this manner. If a gadget gains the malfunctioned condition, you can remove that condition from it after a short or long rest.

Inventing Ability

Intelligence is your inventing ability for your inventions, reflecting that the study of science requires a keen mind and a level of curiosity. You use your Intelligence whenever an invention refers to your inventing ability. In addition, you use your Intelligence modifier when setting the saving throw DC for an invention you activate and when making an attack roll with one.

Cling to Life

At 1st level, the trauma of having almost died once makes you cling onto life that much stronger.

You gain advantage on death saving throws.

Fighting Spirit

Starting at 3rd level, your will to fight in the face of adversity makes you tougher than you seem.

Your hit point maximum increases by 2, and increases by another 1 each time you take a level in this class.

Won't Go Down

Once you reach 6th level, your determination to stay alive can thwart even supernatural attempts to bring you down.

You gain resistance to necrotic damage and advantage on saving throws against effects that would reduce your maximum hit points.

Durable

Starting at 13th level, you have learned how to ruggedize your artificial parts and mend your natural ones, allowing you to recover from your wounds faster.

When you roll a Hit Die to regain hit points, the minimum number of hit points you regain from the roll equals twice your Constitution modifier (minimum of 2).

Staying Alive

Beginning at 18th level, your will to live becomes almost insurmountable.

At the start of each of your turns, you regain hit points equal to 5 + your Constitution modifier if you have no more than half of your hit points left. You don't gain this benefit if you have 0 hit points.

Adrenaline Pumps

Small chemical synthesizers have been installed into some of your vital organs, which can be activated to secrete vast quantities of stimulants for short periods.

As a bonus action, you gain advantage on all Strength checks, and double your carrying capacity, for one minute.

You can use this ability a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum 1), and regain all expended uses when you finish a short or long rest.

Aerodynamic Fins

You have ray-like fins that you can extrude from your arms and legs, allowing you to slow your fall or glide in the air, and also improve your ability to swim.

When you fall and are not incapacitated, you can subtract up to 100 feet from the fall when calculating falling damage, and you can move up to 5 feet vertically for every 10 feet you fall.

You gain a swim speed equal to half your movement speed.

Auto-otolarynx

Your sense of smell has been vastly improved by the installation of small devices that secrete chemical compounds that react differently with various scents.

You gain advantage on Wisdom (Perception) and Wisdom (Survival) checks that rely on smell.

You suffer disadvantage on saving throws against effects that rely on smell, such as a ghoul's stench ability.

Barbed Skin

Your skin has been implanted with a series of metal barbs and hooks, slashing creatures that touch you.

At the start of your turn, you deal 1d10 nonmagical piercing damage to any creature grappling you or with which you are grappling.

You can activate or deactivate this augment as a reaction.

Integrated Invention

• Prerequisite: 3rd level

You have directly installed one of your inventions into your body, giving you greater control over its function, at the cost of natural ability.

When you select this augment, choose an invention you know, and reduce the number of inventions you can have readied by 1. You always have the selected invention readied, but it does not count against your total number of readied inventions and does not count as a readied invention for purpose of your other abilities, such as Interchangeable Parts.

When the selected invention malfunctions, as a bonus action you can spend a hit die to restore it to working order.

You can change the invention you have selected for this augment after you finish a long rest, so long as you had access to tinker's tools and your equipment during that rest.

You can select this augment multiple times.

Integrated Rockets

• Prerequisite: 9th level

A series of exhaust channels and an internal reservoir of fuel allow you to fly for short periods.

As a bonus action, you gain a fly speed equal to your movement speed for one minute.

For the duration, any creature that begins its turn within 5 feet of you must make a Dexterity saving throw against your invention save DC or take fire damage equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum 1 damage).

You cannot use this ability again until you finish a short or long rest.

Memory Core

• Prerequisite: Terminator, 11th level

A metal memory core has been installed into your brain, along with an intricate interface that allows it to communicate with your physiology on a subconscious level.

Choose one of your existing ideals or bonds, or select a new ideal or bond. If you select a new ideal or bond, you gain it while you have this augment.

While you have this augment, you are immune to compulsions that would force you to act against the selected ideal or bond, even if your actions are otherwise controlled or compelled.

In addition, you are immune to effects that would alter or remove the chosen ideal or bond, and you cannot remove it or act against it of your own volition.

Once you have this augment, you cannot voluntarily take any action that would remove it.

A creature with proficiency in Engineering can create a new memory core, specifying an ideal or bond as part of the creation process, which takes 8 hours. Your memory core can be replaced with another such memory core, provided you are unconscious and the creature replacing it has proficiency in Engineering, with 5 minutes of work.

Nanite Swarm

• Prerequisite: Vector

Your limbs and some of your internal cavities are filled with nanite hives, which you can energize to let loose a swarm of tiny flying machines.

As a bonus action, you can surround yourself with a swarm of small flying machines. The cloud extends 5 feet from you in every direction, but not through total cover. The swarm lasts until you are incapacitated or you dismiss it as a bonus action.

The swarm grants you advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) checks, but disadvantage on all other Charisma checks. Any creature that begins its turn in the cloud takes nonmagical slashing damage equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum 1).

At 5th level, this damage increases to double your Constitution modifier; at 11th, increases to triple your Constitution modifier; and at 17th, increases to four times your Constitution modifier.

Once you use this augment, you cannot use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Oxidifier Module

Your lungs have been outfitted with a whirring mechanical module that separates oxygen from water, allowing you to breathe some liquids.

You can breathe underwater.

Reactive Plating

• Prerequisite: Terminator, 7th level

Parts of your body have been covered in specially-treated plates that respond to various types of energy, granting you resistance to whatever you encounter.

When you take damage, you can use your reaction to gain resistance to that damage type until the end of your next turn. If this augment's effect is already active, you lose the original effect if you gain resistance to a new damage type.

On your turn, if this augment's effect is active, you can use your bonus action to extend this effect's duration until the end of your next turn.

Redundant Systems

• Prerequisite: Junker, 11th level

For each of the primary systems in your body, you have installed a backup, which can kick into action when your primaries fail -- or serve to reinforce your primary when it is in danger.

When you fail a death saving throw, as a reaction, you can instead succeed on the saving throw.

When you are subject to a critical hit, as a reaction, you can treat it as a normal hit instead.

Once you use this augment, you cannot use it again until after you finish a long rest.

You can select this augment multiple times.

Search Mode

• Prerequisites: Terminator, 3rd level

Your eyes have been augmented with a variety of lenses and connections to a differential data bank stored within your body. These eyes give you the ability to scan objects and creatures quickly and efficiently.

As an action, you instantly become aware of the exact location of all creatures within 30 feet of you. A creature can hide from this effect if it makes a Dexterity saving throw against your invention save DC.

Quick Build

You can make a detective quickly by following these suggestions. First, Intelligence should be your highest ability score, followed by either Wisdom or Charisma. Then choose the noble background.

Hit Points

• Hit Dice: 1d8 per detective level
• Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
• Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per detective level after 1st

Proficiencies

• Armor: Light armor
• Weapons: Simple weapons, hand crossbows, shortswords
• Tools: Disguise kit, thieves' tools

• Saving Throws: Intelligence, Wisdom
• Skills: Choose three from Athletics, Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Persuasion, Sleight of Hand, and Stealth

Equipment

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

• (a) a hand crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) a shortsword
• (a) a burglar's pack, (b) an explorer's pack or (c) a sage's pack
• (a) a disguise kit or (b) thieves' tools
• Leather armor

Inquisitive Senses

You have developed a knack for picking out things that seem out of place.

Whenever you make a Wisdom (Insight) check to sense if a creature is lying, or a Wisdom (Perception) check to notice a hidden creature or object, you use the total of your check or 8 + your Wisdom modifier, whichever is higher. If you are proficient in Insight or Perception, you add your proficiency bonus to the fixed result for the relevant ability check.

Passive Detection

You have honed your senses and deductive ability to the point where you no longer need to actively look for discrepancies or clues in your environment, as your mind naturally gravitates towards items of interest.

You gain proficiency in the Investigation and Perception skills.

In addition, you have a Passive Investigation score, much like you have a Passive Perception. This is calculated as 10 + your Intelligence modifier + your proficiency bonus. Whenever the GM asks for an Intelligence (Investigation) check with a DC less than or equal to your Passive Investigation score, you automatically pass the check.

Danger Sense

Beginning at 2nd level, you gain an uncanny sense of when things nearby aren't as they should be, giving you an edge

Theory of Mind

At 18th level, your understanding of how other people think has advanced to the point where you can literally read their thoughts on their faces.

As an action, you can focus on a creature, attempting to glean its mind through analysis of everything you know about it. The target of this ability makes a Wisdom saving throw, with the DC being equal to your Passive Investigation score. If the target fails, you gain insight into its reasoning (if any), its emotional state, and something that looms large in its mind (such as something it worries over, loves, or hates).

If a creature succeeds its saving throw against this ability, you cannot use it again on that creature until you have finished a long rest.

Elementary Deduction

At 20th level, you can make leaps of logic so profound, deductive reasoning so conclusive, perceptive abilities so acute, that it is impossible to debate your arguments.

When you fail an Intelligence (Investigation) or Wisdom (Perception) check, you can choose to instead treat the result of the die as a natural 20.

You can use this ability up to three times before you finish a long rest.

Detective Inclinations

Detectives have a tendency to be a somewhat eclectic sort, and many take up interesting hobbies or activities that challenge their skills, allowing them to keep their intellects honed even when there is no case to solve or riddle to be sorted out.

Relic Identification

At 14th level, you have read much of ancient rites and lost relics, allowing you to readily identify the functions of unusual items, given some time to study them.

You can spend 1 hour studying an item. If it is a magic or technological item, or some other magic-imbued object, you learn its properties and how to use them, whether it requires attunement to use, and how many charges it has, if any. You learn whether any spells are affecting the item and what they are. If the item was created by a spell, you learn which spell created it.

Bloodhound

For some detectives, it isn't enough to solve the question of "who:" they want to see perpetrators brought to justice for their crimes. Some even feel that the law is too slow, or too lax, and see fit to mete out punishment themselves -- perhaps even engaging in a bit of vigilantism on the side.

Gumshoe

You take the clue-gathering aspect of your chosen profession seriously, and maybe have a knack for more clandestine actions. You've learned the best way to gather information is often to shadow people you think might know something -- barring that, the criminal type seems to have a penchant for leaving their doors unlocked.

Rationalist

The rationalist prides herself on her ability to reason, above all else, and rationality is rooted in an empirically-determined, logically-consistent world. Some worlds, however, seem to not be interested in cooperating, and instead allow for ridiculous things like magic to happen.

For the rationalist, magic is absurdity. It has no place in the natural order, and everything they have gleaned about the world implies that it should not be possible. Your hobby is learning what you can about magic, with your goal perhaps being to find a way to stop the madness, or to determine if it really is part of how reality works.

Self-Determination

At 6th level, you have developed a very strong sense of self, and believe strongly in your own self-determination.

You have advantage on saving throws to avoid becoming charmed.

You gain proficiency with Charisma saving throws.

Litany of Tarski

At 10th level, your rationalist beliefs regarding the world help you see it as it truly is.

You have advantage on saving throws and ability checks to detect, and resist the effects of, illusions.

Rejection of the Absurd

At 14th level, your lack of belief in magic becomes so strong, that magic has significantly reduced effects against you.

You have advantage on saving throws against spells.

In addition, you gain resistance against the damage of spells.

Equipment

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

• (a) an explorer's pack, (b) a dungeoneer's pack, or (c) a sage's pack
• A light crossbow and 20 bolts
• Leather armor
• Tinker's tools

Inventions

As a student of the sciences, your understanding of mathematics, logic, and the physical world have given you the knowledge and insight necessary to device schematics that you can use to build inventions, expressions of technological power that have many useful functions.

See the Technology section later in this work for more information on how inventions work.

Eureka

Starting at 11th level, you sometimes have sudden flashes of insight, allowing you to greatly expand on the function of a given invention.

When you activate an invention you know at the improved grade, you can activate it at the augmented grade instead. If you do, the invention automatically malfunctions after its duration ends.

You can use this ability once before finishing a long rest; twice, at 13th level; three times, at 15th level; and four times, at 17th level.

Wunderwaffe

At 20th level, what you have managed with only occasional flashes has become true understanding.

Choose one invention you know. You now know that invention at the augmented grade.

Scientific Methods

While some may claim that the fundamental approach to science is universal, there are many ways to walk that path, and many ways in which an individual can put their scientific knowledge to use.

Inventor

You take delight in the simple things: wires clipped to proper length, a well-aligned gear assembly, the smell of iron and oil. You take a no-frills approach to your designs and have a down-to-earth understanding of the sciences, and consider yourself more craftsman than scientist.

Flash of Insight

By 14th level, you sometimes have sudden inspiration for new ideas, and can rapidly prototype something out of what you have at hand -- though such inventions have a tendency to not survive past their first use.

As an action, you can destroy one of your readied devices. If you do, as a bonus action, you can construct a new invention that you do not know, at prototype grade, of the same technology field as the destroyed invention, and immediately ready it.

Using this ability counts as a use of your Eureka feature.

Inventions you construct with this ability cannot benefit from your Eureka feature, and are destroyed once their duration ends.

Creating a Gunslinger

How and why did you first pick up a gun? The story of how you came into firearms and began intensely studying how to use them effectively is arguably the most important part of playing a gunslinger, as it informs quite a bit about your character's view on guns, the world, and his goals. Were you a common man, who sees guns as a way to level the playing field? Are you a knight-errant in a new age, adventuring much as your sword-bearing cousins, looking for chances to prove your worth? Or perhaps you fell on hard times, turning to banditry or thuggery as a way of staying alive -- and guns certainly seemed like a way to make that path significantly easier.

Perhaps equally important is to discuss with your GM the nature of firearms in your game. For some, guns might be part and parcel of their setting; for others, you could be from a distant land, unfamiliar with local customs and wielding foreign weapons; or, you could be a trailblazer of a sort, a new sort of fighter in an old world that hasn't yet moved on.

Class Features

As a gunslinger, you have the following class features.

Gunna

Part of the training in gunslinging is making minute adjustments to your chosen weapons, so that they perfectly match your hands, grip, and height.

So long as you have gunsmith's tools, you can spend 1 hour modifying a firearm. If you do, that weapon is uniquely suited to you, and other creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls with it. However, due to the irreversible modifications, the weapon's value is only 10% of its original value.

If you take this class as your starting class, this feature applies to firearms in your starting equipment.

Pull Leather

In gunslinging, the fate of a combatant often isn't decided by the size of the weapon or the strength of the one using it, but instead only by reflexes. He who shoots first, wins.

You can make opportunity attacks while wielding a firearm.

Additionally, you can draw a firearm as part of making an initiative check.

Stoicism

At 2nd level, masking your intentions has become second nature, as you avoid telegraphing your movements and plans.

You have advantage on ability checks and saving throws made to prevent others from sensing your motives, perceiving your emotions, or reading your thoughts.

Way of the Gun

Beginning at 2nd level, your honed situational awareness allows you to use guns even in tight quarters.

Being within 5 feet of a hostile creature doesn't impose disadvantage on attack rolls you make with firearms.

Gunslinger Trail

At 3rd level, you have chosen a particular way of living and fighting, known as your trail. You can select a gunslinger trail from the following list: Gunsai, Machinist, Musketeer, Regulator, and Riskbreaker.

Your choice grants you features at 3rd level and again at 7th, 10th, and 15th level.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

Extra Attack

Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Rapid Reload

Starting at 5th level, you ignore the loading quality of firearms with which you are proficient.

Disabling Shot

At 6th level, you can shoot not just for effect, but to also disable your target in some fashion.

As a bonus action, you can add an additional effect to the next firearm attack you make on the same turn. If your next firearm attack hits, your target must make a Dexterity saving throw against DC 8 + your Dexterity modifier + your proficiency bonus, or else suffer one of the following effects of your choice:

• stunned, until the end of its next turn
• frightened, until the end of its next turn
• prone

Evasion

At 7th level, your honed reflexes let you dodge out of the way of certain area effects, such as a black dragon’s acid breath or a fireball spell.

When you are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if you fail.

Tumble

Starting at 9th level, your extraordinary reflexes allow you to rapidly tumble out of the way of danger.

When a creature that you can see hits you with an attack, you can use your reaction to move up to half your movement speed; if you move at least 5 feet, you halve the attack's damage against you. While moving in this fashion, creatures have disadvantage on opportunity attacks against you.

Seamless Barrage

Beginning at 11th level, you know -- the moment you pull the trigger -- if a shot will be fatal, allowing you to rapidly choose a new target.

When you take the Attack action and attack with a firearm, and deal enough damage to drop a creature to 0 hit points, you can make another attack with that weapon at another creature within 10 feet of the original target.

Return Fire

At 13th level, you can turn your enemy's misfortune into an advantage.

As a reaction, whenever a creature you can see misses you with a ranged, spell, or device attack, you can make an attack against that creature with a firearm you are wielding.

Cheat Death

Starting at 14th level, you have a knack for narrowly escaping death.

When you would be reduced to 0 hit points, you can use your reaction to avoid being incapacitated, and instead be reduced to 1 hit point.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

Clean Shot

Starting at 17th level, you are able to shoot a creature in such a way as to set it up for an even more destating followup.

When you take the Attack action to make an attack with a firearm, if you hit a creature, the next attack you make against that same creature deals double damage on a hit.

Matchless Awareness

Beginning at 18th level, you do not aim with your eye, you aim with your mind.

When you attack a creature you can't see, your inability to see it doesn't impose disadvantage on your attack rolls with firearms against it.

You are also aware of the location of any invisible creature within 30 feet of you, provided that the creature isn't hidden from you, and you aren't blinded or deafened.

Perfect Shot

At 20th level, your speed and reflexes have become the stuff of legend: no one can outshoot you, and with a single pull of the trigger, you can end a conflict.

When you make an initiative check, you can draw a firearm and make a single attack with it. If you hit, if the target has less than 100 hit points, it dies. Otherwise, your attack deals 10d10 additional damage. Elementals, oozes, and creatures which lack nervous systems or vital organs take no additional damage from this ability.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

Gunslinger Trails

The art of gunfighting is one that can be appreciated by people with many differing styles and different purposes in life. The combination of way of fighting and intent is known among gunslingers as a trail.

Moxie

By 10th level, you are unflappable.

You gain proficiency in Constitution saving throws.

Swift Vengeance

At 15th level, shooting you is much like shooting a bear -- it only makes you angry.

When you take damage from a creature within 15 feet of you, you can use your reaction to make a firearm attack against that creature.

Riskbreaker

Some men live on the edge of a knife, seeking out danger for their own inscrutable purposes. Wandering from place to place, these "riskbreakers" -- called as such for their willingness to risk everything, and yet seemingly always beating the odds -- do what few others will do, be it for coin, the thrill, or some other reason.

Creating an Ironman

The first question you need to ask is how you came into your armor. Was it provided for you as part of your training in a military unit? Or perhaps it's something you've put together yourself. Maybe you came across it in the wilderness, its previous owner gone -- and you took it upon yourself to learn how to put it to use. The story of your armor is also the story of you, and it's important to have an idea of its history as well as your own.

However, while the armor is important, it is nothing but so much scrap if not for the man inside. Who were you before you put the armor on? Were you a criminal, life in a downward spiral, until your armor -- the idea for it, the gift of it, or happening across it -- snapped you out of it? Perhaps you led a more noble and dignified life high above the rabble, until one day you saw their plight and decided to put your wealth to good use, building a suit of armor unparalleled in history, so that you might fight for justice among them.

Class Features

As an ironman, you have the following class features.

Equipment

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

• (a) a maul or (b) a battleaxe and a war pick
• (a) a glaive or (b) a halberd
• (a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) five handaxes
• Militia power armor
• Tinker's tools

Armiger

You can construct and wear a suit of powered armor: it might be powered by clockwork, steam, or even an atomical core of some kind, but the precise source of the suit's power doesn't change the power it gives you.

If your armor is destroyed or lost, you can build a new suit of armor with 8 hours worth of work, your tinker's tools, and access to your equipment. Due to how closely calibrated the armor is to your body and measurements, power armor you produce in this fashion is worth 10% of its normal value.

More information on power armor can be found in the "Power Armor" section, found later in this work.

Assault

At 6th level, you have accustomed yourself to the weapons platforms of your armor, and can bring all of its lethal armaments to bear.

When you take the Attack action on your turn to use a weapon slotted into power armor you are wearing, you can make an additional attack with a different weapon slotted into your power armor.

Immovable

Starting at 6th level, the combination of your strength, determination, and sheer weight makes you almost impossible to move against your will.

You have advantage on ability checks and saving throws against effects that would cause you to move against your will.

When an ability or effect used against you has varying effects based upon your size, you are treated as one size larger.

Inexhaustible

At 9th level, you have deep reserves of strength you can call upon to keep going when the going gets tough.

You have advantage on saving throws against exhaustion.

Implacable

Beginning at 10th level, your self confidence and conviction in your own strength lends you courage.

You cannot be frightened.

Invincible

Once you reach 13th level, you can shrug off harm that would kill lesser beings.

When you take hit point damage, you can use your reaction to reduce that damage to 0.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Indomitable

Starting at 14th level, you are unshakable in your control over yourself and your mind.

You gain advantage on saving throws against effects that would sense your emotions, read your thoughts, and the charmed condition.

Impervious

At 17th level, you laugh in the face of death.

You have advantage on Constitution saving throws and resistance to necrotic damage.

Indestructible

At 20th level, you have realized the pinnacle of physical might.

Whenever you would drop to 0 hit points, you can make a Constitution saving throw against DC 15. If you succeed, you instead drop to 1 hit point.

If you use this feature again before you finish a long rest, the DC increases by 2 for each time you have used it before you finish a long rest.

In addition, you have advantage on death saving throws.

Ironman Chassis

The modifications you make to the power armor you wear -- regardless of the type of power armor -- reflects what you value, as an ironman: unlike most other professions, what you wear is absolutely indicative of who you are and what you are capable of. Be it a front-line soldier unafraid of danger, the hulk who can protect allies or smash his enemies, or a seemingly-paradoxical mix of size and stealth, you and your power armor work in tandem to achieve your goals.

Angel's Protection

At 18th level, your situational awareness ensures that no one will harm those under your wing.

Attacks made against allies adjacent to you have disadvantage.

Brawler

There is delicious irony to be had in being a warrior who uses his fists in a world where guns and magic exist, and you revel in that irony. The strength and power lent by your armor enables you to strike with the force of a thousand hammers, and none can escape the vice-like grip of your hydraulic-assisted limbs. You revel in the glory of personal combat, and in your armor, you are a force to be reckoned with.

Infiltrator

People are constantly surprised by your ability to sneak up on them, despite your size, weight, and the fact that you're usually wearing several hundred pounds worth of armor. The ability to stealthily infiltrate a location, combined with the armaments platform that power armor can be, is not to be underestimated: being the total package of subtlety and extreme violence puts you into a very particular niche.

Subtlety

Starting at 15th level, you have learned how to blend into shadows and conceal your trail.

You can use the Hide action as a bonus action on your turn. Also, you can’t be tracked by nonmagical means, unless you choose to leave a trail.

Hunt the Hunter

At 18th level, your knowledge of stealth and hiding allows you to notice when others are attempting to escape your notice.

When you attack a creature you can't see, your inability to see it doesn't impose disadvantage on your attack rolls against it.

You are also aware of the location of any invisible creature within 30 feet of you, provided that the creature isn't hidden from you and you aren't blinded or deafened.

Solo

You are an elite soldier, trained not only in the way of power armor but also in the study of combat and tactics. Thanks to your power armor, you are worth your weight in common swordsmen -- possibly quite literally. Where you go, the death of your enemies will follow.

Titan

The pursuit of physical perfection is your goal, and you train and condition yourself so that you can become the absolute best you can be. Thanks to your constant training, you have vigor and vitality of which lesser beings can only dream.

member of their cadre in person, though this always has the chance of backfiring if a mortal enemy should triangulate the source of the signal.

Creating a Rigger

Riggers can go down a variety of different paths and come into their own in many different ways, and so it is worthwhile to ask yourself what your character is most interested in. Is she an adrenaline junkie, looking to fill her need for thrills by piloting vehicles in high-speed pursuits? Is her curiosity piqued by the possible applications of technology -- not enough to study the hard sciences at work, but enough to look into automatons and how they might serve people? Perhaps she has a history of being a loner, and learned how to build these new machines as a way to augment her own skills, making her own team when she was unable to find fellows willing to join her on her adventures.

It is important to keep in mind that riggers play an unusual role in an adventuring group, able to both provide significant amount of support by way of drones, and improve the party's mobility in relatively mundane ways. It can be helpful to think about why your character is working with your fellow

adventurers, in terms of what she brings to the table, to help you bring out the different feel of the rigger class.

Class Features

As a rigger, you have the following class features.

Controlling Drones

Activating a drone requires an hour of work, as you configure both it and your calculator to accurately communicate via radio and electrical waves. Once completed, you have complete control over the drone, and can access its sensors through your controller.

Maintaining control of a drone requires you to invest bandwidth into it equal to its level.

You can only spend up to your rigger level in bandwidth on a single drone, and you may only have a number of controlled drones equal to your proficiency bonus.

Once you have activated a drone and the necessary invested bandwidth into it, the drone obeys your commands as best it can. It rolls for initiative like any other creature, but you determine its actions, decisions, attitudes, and so on. If you are incapacitated or otherwise unable to access your calculator, your drones take no actions.

While you control a drone, you can spend an action on your turn to gain basic information about its surroundings, out to 60 feet around the drone. Through the drone's sensors, you cannot discern color, only shades of gray, and sounds are tinny and distant. You take disadvantage on any Wisdom (Perception) checks made through a drone's sensors.

Executing Scripts

You can invest bandwidth on executing scripts; see the Calculator feature, below.

Piloting Vehicles

You can spend bandwidth on piloting and controlling vehicles. While you can use your calculator and scripts to perform more complex maneuvers, there are some basic maneuvers that all riggers are familiar with.

To use any of the following abilities, you must be piloting a vehicle. You recover any bandwidth expended on these abilities at the start of your next turn after using them.

Juke. As a reaction to your vehicle taking damage, you can spend one bandwidth to reduce the damage taken by 1d10 + your Dexterity modifier.

Lose Tail. You can spend one bandwidth to gain advantage on a check made to lose a pursuer.

Overdrive. As an action, you can spend one bandwidth to double a vehicle's speed until your next turn.

Sideswipe. As part of an attack action, you can spend one bandwidth to gain advantage on an attack made with your vehicle.

Calculator

You can design and build a calculator, a complex piece of differential technology that can accept punch cards to execute algorithms, uses a set of metal alloy wheels as memory storage, and may have several small peripherals which allow you to give commands and inspect the machine's data banks.

You can build a calculator with 8 hours worth of work, tinker's tools, and access to your equipment. Calculators you build in this fashion are are incredibly idiosyncratic to your own technical style and approach to technology, and as such any calculators you produce in this fashion are worth 10% of

their normal value.

More information on calculators can be found in the "Luminet" section, found later in this work.

Scripts

Your knowledge of the language of machines, and your understanding of the fundamentals of how they work, allows you to write and execute scripts, which are complex algorithms that force the calculator to execute a certain behavior in a scripted fashion.

You begin knowing two scripts of your choice. Your script options are detailed at the end of the class description (but note that some reference other technologies, which may require you to reference the appropriate section later in this work). When you gain certain rigger levels, you gain additional scripts of your choice, as shown in the Scripts Known column of the Rigger table.

In order to execute a script, you must have a calculator.

Some scripts cost bandwidth to use. A script's description will indicate how much bandwidth you must invest in the script in order to use it. If you choose to reallocate the bandwidth invested into a script, its effect immediately ends.

Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the scripts you know and replace it with another script that you could learn at that level.

Drones

At 1st level, you have the knowledge of how to build drones, a specific type of automaton, that you can control and send out into the world to do as you command.

You start with two level 1 drones. Building a new drone from scratch requires 8 hours of work per drone level, or 4 hours for a level 0 drone; upgrading an existing drone's level requires 4 hours of work per level added to the drone. You can build drones and upgrade existing drones to a level up to your rigger level.

You can find more information on drones in the "Drones" section of this work.

Cunning Action

Starting at 2nd level, your quick thinking and agility help you to move and act faster. You can take a bonus action on each of

Rigger Hat

When you reach 3rd level, you have truly come into your own as a rigger, and choose a specialization, known amongst your peers as your "hat." You can select a rigger hat from the following list: Automind, Clacker, Greasemonkey, Operator, and Tinker.

Your choice grants you features at 3rd level, and again at 6th, 10th, and 14th level.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

Innocent Facade

Beginning at 9th level, you have mastered the art of deception and fast-talking to get your way out of trouble.

You gain proficiency in Deception.

Sensor Ghost

At 13th level, your understanding of how machines perceive their environment allows you to mask your presence, and the presence of your drones, from their sight.

As a bonus action, you and all of your drones become invisible to constructs. A construct can make an Intelligence saving throw against DC 8 + your Intelligence modifier + your proficiency bonus to perceive you or one of your drones.

Tool Mastery

At 18th level, your mastery of your tools and your control of vehicles has become almost supernatural.

Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses any of your tool proficiencies.

Automatic Mastermind

At 20th level, you have gained complete mastery of your attention and almost perfect fine motor control. Combined, these allow you to command any number of drones, and manipulate vehicles consistently and without error.

You have an unlimited amount of bandwidth.

Rigger Hats

While riggers as a whole generally focus on the applications of radio communications, this is a fairly broad area of expertise, and specialization is typical among riggers. With a wide variety of possible uses, riggers run the gamut, with some focusing on learning more advanced algorithms for their calculators; others, focus on building more and more ambitious drones; while still others may focus on vehicles or other aspects of technology.

Your choice of hat can reflect on your personality in many different ways, and can change how you interact with the

world. Some rigger hats are much more able and willing to get their hands dirty, while others have a significantly more hands-off approach.

Multitasking

At 10th level, you have gained the uncanny ability to divide your attention equally between multiple drones at the same time.

You continually perceive all of your active drones' surroundings, without having to spend an action to do so. You retain this ability even while you are immersed in a drone.

You lose the benefits of this ability if any of the following apply: you are both blind and deaf; you are unconscious; you have lost the ability to understand Assembly; or you lose access to your drone controller.

Differential Mind

Beginning at 14th level, you have begun to think on a level more akin to your machines, making your thoughts alien and impenetrable to others.

You gain proficiency in Wisdom saving throws.

In addition, regardless of your original native language, you now think in Assembly, and at speeds closer to machines than people. Creatures who attempt to detect your thoughts or read your mind must be able to speak Assembly, or else be unable to understand your thoughts.

Clacker

For you, calculators represent something new and wondrous: a machine that responds perfectly logically, that does everything you tell it to do, and nothing more. What may have started as a thrill out of getting the machine to simply print out a few numbers has turned into a fascination, and you study the machine and all of its aspects with abandon -- a skill set that you can use to your advantage: as this technology spreads, it becomes rapidly apparent that not everyone understands calculators as you do.

Greasemonkey

Vehicle spec!

Operator

General spec!

Tinker

Tinkers are more interested in the technical side of what they do, studying the theory behind their machines and gaining improved insights into the nature of science. Becoming a tinker allows you to field technological inventions as a complement to your other skills, and eventually you can add inventions to your drones, giving them unparalleled versatility.

Added Functionality

Starting at 6th level, you have learned how to build your devices in such a way that they take up significantly less room, allowing you to incorporate them into your drones.

When you construct a drone, you can build a single device you know into it. As a bonus action, you can instruct a drone to activate one of its devices on its next turn, using your device attack and device save DC, if relevant. The drone must still spend the appropriate action to activate the device.

Devices installed into drones increase their base error rate by 2.

Hardened Controller

At 10th level, your knowledge of technology and the underlying principles of how you communicate with your drones allows you to further secure your drone controller from interference.

Other creatures cannot use your drone controller to control your drones.

Device Specialization

At 15th level, your understanding of one particular piece of technology surpasses all but the brightest of minds.

Choose one device you know at the improved grade. You gain knowledge of its augmented grade. Knowing this device does not improve your device error rates; your error rate with this device at the augmented grade is 6.

Hivemind

Other Options

This section details new feats that can give other characters something of a more technological flair.

Technology

This section details the various new forms of technology presented in this work. As technology is a rather broad category, the level of technology presented here is roughly "steampunk" in feel: while there is much here that would be out of place in the historical Victorian period, the overall aesthetic of anachronistic technologies has been adapted to fit more into that mold. Later in this work, on the GM's side of things, different possible takes on technology are presented, along with explanations of how that may impact the aesthetics.

This section covers the following technologies:

• Drones. The drones in this work are not tiny, microscopic machines, but instead more akin to cats or dogs, and can be remotely controlled via radio or be calculated to take certain actions.
• Equipment. This section details a small collection of equipment and items that might be found in a more technologically advanced society.
• Firearms. The firearm rules here expand upon those presented in the core rules, offering a greater selection and more balanced take so that firearms do not dominate the game.
• Inventions. This section contains the engineer inventions, as well as their descriptions.
• Luminet. This section covers the "luminet," short for "luminiferous network," which is intended to be analogous to the modern-day internet, albeit more primitive. This section also covers calculators, the machines that constitute the luminet, and their uses.
• Power Armor. Much as with the firearm rules, the power armor presented here builds upon the framework of the existing armor rules and presents these as additional options that are intended to add more options without being overpowered compared to typical armor.
• Prosthetics. From simple peg legs to fully-articulated metal hands, this section details technological replacements for lost limbs. While technological in nature, these rules could be adapted for handling magical prostheses, as well.
• Vehicles. The vehicles presented in this section are specifically those more advanced than those presented in the core rules, though the general vehicle rules here can be used in conjunction with what has come before.

While many of these items should be considered scientific items -- the technological analogue to magic items -- in this case it is pertinent that these items be discussed in the player section, as they have additional rules relevant to players that will be necessary for play.

Throughout these sections will be notes and addendums detailing some of the author's thoughts on these topics, how they are used in the author's games, and how you might adapt them to your table. These additional notes are opinion and not intended to be taken as hard and fast rules, but they may prove helpful in determining how you want to approach a particular technology.

Overview

Inventions behave generally similar to spells, and follow much of the same rules. The differences will be called out here. In general, it is safe to assume that -- for most game mechanics -- effects that interact with spells also interact with inventions in a similar fashion, unless otherwise indicated in this section. For instance, a monster with an ability that disrupts concentration on spells will also disrupt concentration on inventions.

Likewise, activating inventions follows many of the same conventions as casting a spell: inventions have activation times in place of casting times, but otherwise behaves as casting times. Ranges, durations, targeting, and areas of effect also work similarly, as do saving throws and attack rolls.

What Is An Invention?

An invention is a constructed device capable of producing one -- or potentially more -- discrete technological effects. When constructing a device, a character specifically builds upon known physical principles of the world, taking advantage of properties of natural materials or laws of physics. Once constructed, a device is often equipped with a trigger or other sort of mechanism that allows its natural functions to occur.

The limits of inventions are the limits of physics: an invention can conceivably do anything that is physically possible, and in the context of a fantasy setting, it may even be possible for technology to bend -- or even break -- those rules. The inventions presented here are intended to be a reasonable cross-section of what can be accomplished.

The Fields of Technology

Technology is broadly grouped into five categories, called the fields of technology. Due to the unified nature of technology, it is generally recognized that all inventions and scientific items, regardless of source, fall into one of these five groups.

The fields of technology help describe inventions; they have no rules of their own, though some rules may refer to fields.

Atomical inventions involve the application of atomical energy or other bizarre forms of radiation or energy. Often poorly-understood and touted as capable of many things, atomical science is capable of generating effects that other fields struggle with, and can interact with the world in bizarre and unexpected ways.

Chemical inventions focus on matter, and the interactions of it on various levels. Often delving into the biological, chemical inventions can alter a creature or object, or use seemingly mundane materials to produce amazing effects. Manipulation of the physical world is chemical science's primary use.

Differential inventions utilize information and the manipulation thereof. Specifically, this allows differential inventions to produce incredibly complicated effects, using algorithms and heuristics to produce intricate illusions or draw profound conclusions from mere scraps of data.

Electrical inventions manipulate the use of electricity to achieve their ends. While lightning is typically understood as a destructive force, when harnessed it can be used for all sorts of interesting effects, including communication or even manipulating the weather.

Mechanical inventions are the inventions of using force and energy to produce work. The most physical of the technological fields, mechanical inventions often make use of potential and stored energy in the form of flywheels, hydraulics, and springs, unleashing their power in single tumultuous moments for drastic effect.

Functions

Inventions can have multiple modes of operation, known as functions. If a given invention uses functions, it is called out as such in its description; otherwise, the entire invention's description is effectively describing a single function.

If an invention has multiple functions, you must choose which function you are using when you activate the invention. In addition, it is important to note that some functions can alter some of the parameters of how an invention is activated, such as its activation time, range, or duration. The characteristics described within the function description always supercede those indicated by the base invention.

Malfunctions

Technology is not always reliable, and this is reflected by an invention's malfunction rate. Unless otherwise modified, an invention has a malfunction rate of 4; some effects or class features can alter this rate, but it is always a minimum of 1.

Antipathic Deharmonizer

• Differential invention

• Activation Time: 1 action
• Range: 60 feet
• Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

In addition to the standard gears and iron cores that comprise an analytical engine, this invention also contains the apparatus necessary to produce music, both audible and on subharmonic frequencies. As your understanding of this invention's principles improve, you can produce more and more dissonant music, causing a variety of deleterious mental effects in specific creatures.

Improved

This invention gains the following functions.

Silence. You can cause the invention to detect incoming harmonics and produce disharmonics on the same frequency, perfectly canceling out the original signal; the duration of this effect is "Duration: 10 minutes."

For the duration, no sound can be created within or pass through a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on the invention. Any creature or object entirely inside the sphere is immune to thunder damage, and creatures are deafened while entirely inside it. Casting a spell that includes a verbal component is impossible within the affected area.

Confusion. The invention produces a confusing and cacophonous medley of harmonics and disharmonics, which you can cause to happen at a distance by manipulating the acoustical properties of the invention. This effect's range is "Range: 90 feet," and its duration is "Duration: 1 minute."

Each creature in a 10-foot-radius sphere centered on a point you choose within range must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw when you activate this invention or be affected by it.

An affected target can't take reactions and must roll a d10 at the start of each of its turns to determine its behavior for that turn.

d10	Behavior
1	The creature uses all its movement to move in a random direction. To determine the direction, roll a d8 and assign a direction to each die face. The creature doesn't take an action this turn.
2-6	The creature doesn't move or take actions this turn.
7-8	The creature uses its action to make a melee attack against a randomly determined creature within its reach. If there is no creature within its reach, the creature does nothing this turn.
9-10	The creature can act and move normally.

At the end of each of its turns, an affected target can make a Wisdom saving throw. If it succeeds, this effect ends for that target.

Prototype

You can maintain up to two portals.

Improved

You can maintain up to three portals, and this invention's duration becomes "Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes."

Refined

This invention functions as though it were improved, but you

can also choose to activate it as a reaction to falling, and you can open a new portal with this invention as a bonus action.

In addition, its range becomes "Range: 120 feet," and when you activate it, you can open two portals within range, rather than one.

Augmented

This invention functions as though it were refined, but you can maintain up to four portals, and when you activate the invention, you can open any number of portals, up to the maximum number you can maintain.

Prototype

This invention deals 1d6+4 force damage.

Creatures you reduce to 0 hit points with this invention must make a Constitution saving throw with advantage against your invention save DC, or be disintegrated.

Objects you reduce to 0 hit points are only disintegrated if they are Tiny or smaller. This invention can disintegrate up to a 1 inch cube of a larger object with a single activation.

Prototype

When you activate this invention, you can make a invention attack against up to three creatures within range; you cannot choose the same target more than once. If you hit, you deal 1d8 piercing damage. Damage dealt with this invention is nonmagical in nature.

Improved

This invention functions as though it were a prototype, but deals 2d8 damage.

In addition, you can choose one:

• You can activate this invention as a bonus action; or,
• This invention's range becomes "Range: Self (60-foot cone)," and affects all creatures within the cone. If you choose this option, you do not make a invention attack with this invention, but instead all creatures in the area must make a Dexterity saving throw against your invention save DC, taking only half damage on a successful save.

Refined

This invention functions as though it were improved, but its range becomes 90 feet, and its damage becomes 3d8.

You can choose to change its range to "Range: Self (90-foot line)." If you do, you do not make a invention attack with this invention, but instead all creatures in the area must make a Dexterity saving throw against your invention save DC, taking half damage on a successful save.

Augmented

This invention functions as though it were refined, but also ignores a creature's piercing resistance, and its damage becomes 6d8.

Prototype

This invention has the following functions.

Analyze. You choose one object that you must handle throughout the activation of the invention. If it is a magic item or some other magic-imbued object, or a technological item or some other technologically-made object, you learn its properties and how to use them, whether it requires attunement to use, and how many charges it has, if any. You learn whether any spells or devices are affecting the item and what they are. If the item was created by a spell or invention, you learn which spell or invention created it.

If you instead touch a creature throughout the activation, you learn what spells and devices, if any, are currently affecting it.

The activation time of this invention's function is "Activation Time: 1 minute," its range is "Range: Touch," and its duration is "Duration: Instantaneous."

Detect Magic. For the duration, you sense the presence of magic within 30 feet of you. If you sense magic in this way, you can use your action to see a faint aura around any visible creature or object in the area that bears magic, and you learn its school of magic, if any.

Detect Technology. For the duration, you sense the presence of technology within 30 feet of you. If you sense technology in this way, you can use your action to see a faint aura around any visible creature or object in the area that bears technology, and you learn its field of technology, if any.

Improved

This invention gains the following functions. In addition, its duration becomes "Duration: Concentration, up to 4 hours."

Etheric Detection. For the duration, you see invisible creatures and objects as if they were visible, and you can see into the Ethereal Plane. Ethereal creatures and objects appear ghostly and translucent.

Nightvision. For the duration, you gain darkvision out to a range of 60 feet.

Trap Detection. For the duration, you sense the presence of any trap within range that is within line of sight. A trap, for the purpose of this invention, includes anything that would inflict a sudden or unexpected effect you consider harmful or undesirable, which was specifically intended as such by its creator. Thus, the invention would sense an area affected by the alarm spell, a glyph of warding, or a mechanical pit trap, but it would not reveal a natural weakness in the floor, an unstable ceiling, or a hidden sinkhole.

Once you have detected the presence of a trap, you can spend an action on your turn to find the location of the trap.

Refined

This invention gains the following function.

Thought Detection. For the duration, you can read the thoughts of certain creatures by analyzing the energy produced by their brains. When you activate the invention, and as your action on each turn until the invention ends, you can focus your mind on any one creature that you can see within 30 feet of you. If the creature you choose has an Intelligence of 3 or lower or doesn't speak any language, the creature is unaffected.

Prototype

This invention deals 2d8 aetheric damage.

Improved

This invention deals 4d8 aetheric damage.

In addition, if you hit a creature, the target's speed is halved, it takes a -2 penalty to AC and Dexterity saving throws, and it can't use reactions. On its turn, it can use either an action or a bonus action, not both. Regardless of the creature's abilities or magic items, it can't make more than one melee or ranged attack during its turn.

If the creature attempts to cast a spell or activate a invention with a casting or activation time of 1 action, roll a d20. On an 11 or higher the spell or invention doesn't take effect until the creature's next turn, and the creature must use its action on that turn to complete the action. If it can't, the action is wasted.

This additional effect lasts until the end of the creature's next turn.

Refined

This invention deals 6d8 aetheric damage.

Augmented

This invention deals 8d8 aetheric damage.

Prototype

You become invisible for the duration. Anything you are wearing or carrying is invisible as long as it remains on your person. The effect ends if you attack, cast a spell, or activate a invention.

Prototype

When you activate this invention, make a ranged invention attack against a creature or object within 30 feet. If you hit, you deal 1d12 acid damage.

Improved

This invention functions as though it were a prototype, but deals 2d12 acid damage. If you hit a creature, on its next turn it must make a Constitution saving throw against your invention save DC, or suffer another 1d12 acid damage; an object takes this damage automatically.

Refined

This invention functions as though it were a prototype, but deals 3d12 acid damage.

When you hit a creature, that creature must make a Constitution saving throw against your invention save DC, taking 1d12 acid damage on a failure. The creature must continue to make this saving throw until it succeeds.

An object you hit with this invention continues to take 1d12 acid damage at the start of your turn until it is destroyed.

Augmented

This invention functions as though it were refined, but deals 5d12 acid damage, and creatures and objects take 2d12 acid damage each round instead.

Prototype

This invention can only translate languages commonly spoken or written: the GM can determine if a given language is common or not, for purposes of this invention.

For the duration, you can spend an action to interact with the invention to understand the literal meaning of any spoken language you hear.

You can also spend an action to understand any written language that you see, but the surface on which the words are written must be accessible with the invention. It takes roughly 1 minute for the invention to translate one page of text.

Improved

This invention functions as though it were a prototype, but you can also use it to translate coded language, such as thieves' cant, or secret languages, such as Druidic.

You can also use this invention to break codes. You gain advantage on any Intelligence check made to decipher a code while using this invention in this fashion.

You can also use this invention to generate a cipher. The Intelligence DC to break your cipher is equal to your invention save DC, and because your code was generated by a machine, creatures take disadvantage on Intelligence checks to attempt to break the cipher without using magic or technology.

Refined

This invention functions as though it were improved, but you can use it to understand any spoken or written language, regardless of rarity.

Ciphers you generate with this invention cannot be broken without the aid of magic or technology, and all Intelligence checks made to break your ciphers made with this invention

Prototype

While you are wearing this invention, your base AC becomes 12 + your Dexterity modifier (max 2).

Improved

While you are wearing this invention, your base AC becomes 14 + your Dexterity modifier (max 2).

In addition, when you activate the invention, you can choose one of the following effects. Whoever wears the invention enjoys the selected benefit.

• The wearer has advantage on Strength checks, and his or her carrying capacity doubles.
• The wearer has advantage on Dexterity checks. It also doesn't take damage from falling 20 feet or less if it isn't incapacitated.
• The wearer has advantage on Constitution checks. It also gains 2d6 temporary hit points, which are lost when the invention's effect ends or when a new creature dons the invention, at which point the remaining temporary hit points are transferred to the new wearer.

Refined

This invention functions as though it were improved, but your base AC becomes 16.

In addition, when you activate the invention, you can choose two of the following effects. Whoever wears the invention enjoys the selected benefits.

• The wearer has advantage on Strength checks, his or her carrying capacity doubles, and it gains advantage on melee attack rolls.
• The wearer has advantage on Dexterity checks. It also doesn't take damage from falling 60 feet or less if it isn't incapacitated.
• The wearer has advantage on Constitution checks. It also gains 4d6 temporary hit points, which are lost when the invention's effect ends or when a new creature dons the invention, at which point the remaining temporary hit points are transferred to the new wearer.

Augmented

This invention functions as though it were improved, but your base AC becomes 18.

In addition, when you activate the invention, you can choose two of the following effects. Whoever wears the invention enjoys the selected benefits.

• The wearer has advantage on Strength checks, his or her carrying capacity triples, it gains advantage on melee attack rolls, and deals double damage with melee attacks.
• The wearer has advantage on Dexterity checks. It also doesn't take falling damage if it isn't incapacitated.
• The wearer has advantage on Constitution checks. It also gains 8d6 temporary hit points, which are lost when the invention's effect ends or when a new creature dons the invention, at which point the remaining temporary hit points are transferred to the new wearer.

Prototype

The invention has the following function.

Time Hop. You can use this invention to hurl a creature or object forward in time.

The duration of this use of this invention is "Duration: 1d4 rounds."

The target is thrown forward in time for the duration. In effect, the subject seems to disappear in a shimmer of silver energy, then reappears after the indicated number of rounds. From the subject's point of view, no time has passed at all.

In each round of the invention's duration, on what would have been the subject’s turn, it can attempt a Wisdom saving throw against your invention save DC. Success allows the subject to return. The subject can act normally on its next turn after this invention ends.

If the space from which the subject departed is occupied upon his return to the time stream, he appears in the closest unoccupied space, still in his original orientation. Determine the closest space randomly if necessary.

Improved

This invention's Time Hop function's duration becomes "Duration: 10 minutes." During the invention's duration, you can spend an action to interact with this invention to end its duration.

In addition, the invention gains the following function.

Haste. You can use this invention to slow down you or another creature's perception of time, allowing them to act faster.

The duration of this use of this invention is "Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute."

Until the invention ends, the target's speed is doubled, it gains a +2 bonus to AC, it has advantage on Dexterity saving throws, and it gains an additional action on each of its turns. That action can be used only to take the Attack (one weapon attack only), Dash, Disengage, Hide, or Use an Object action.

When the invention ends, the target can't move or take actions until after its next turn, as a wave of lethargy sweeps over it.

Refined

This invention's Time Hop function functions as though it were improved, but you can also choose one: its duration becomes "Duration: 8 hours;" or, you can target up to five creatures. If you choose to target multiple creatures, all of them disappear for the same duration.

When you use this invention's ''Haste'' function, you can target up to five creatures.

This invention also gains the following function.

Time Stop. When you activate this invention, you briefly stop time for the target, giving the target 1 turn during which no time passes for other creatures, while the target can use actions and move as normal.

This additional effect ends if one of the actions used during this period, or any effects created during this period, affects a creature other than the target or an object being worn or carried by someone other than the target.

The duration of this use of this invention is "Duration: Instantaneous."

Augmented

This invention gains the following functions.

Teleport. You can use this invention to instantly transport you and up to eight other willing creatures of your choice that you can see within range, or a single object you can see within range, to a destination you select. If you target an object, it must be able to fit entirely inside a lO-foot cube, and it can't be held or carried by an unwilling creature.

The duration of this use of this invention is "Duration: Instantaneous."

The destination you choose must be known to you, and it must be on the same plane of existence as you. Your

Focalized Magnet

• Electrical gadget

• Activation Time: 1 action
• Range: 30 feet
• Duration: 1 minute

A powerful magnet housed in an electrically-charged and shaped shell, allowing you to direct its power and control specific objects at range.

You can use the magnetic force generated by this invention to manipulate objects within range. While it works better on metal objects, this invention also works on non-metal objects, manipulating minute traces of metal within them. You can use it to open an unlocked door or container, stow or retrieve an item from an open container, or pour the contents out of a vial. You can move a manipulated object up to 30 feet with a given action.

This invention can't attack, activate magic or scientific items, or lift more than 10 pounds.

Gravitic Inverter

• Atomical invention

• Activation Time: 1 action
• Range: Self
• Duration: Varies (see text)

A complex array of magnets and electromagnetics arranged in a confusing orrery, this device gives you the power to manipulate gravity, able to both weaken it and strength it. As your understanding of gravity improves, you can manipulate it in even stranger ways, like reversing it, or using this invention as a focal point of a gravitic field all of its own.

Prototype

The invention has the following function.

Infuse Light. You can direct the light stored in this invention, causing it to envelope creatures and objects in a soft light, which they gradually diffuse over time, though you can maintain the effect with constant tinkering with this invention. The duration of this function is "Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute."

Each object in a 2O-foot cube within range is outlined in soft white light. Any creature in the area when the invention is activated is also outlined in light if it fails a Dexterity saving throw. For the duration, objects and affected creatures shed dim light in a 10-foot radius.

Any attack roll against an affected creature or object has advantage if the attacker can see it, and the affected creature or object can't benefit from being invisible.

Light Refraction. You can adjust the invention so that it constantly generates light, reflecting it internally and strengthening it via prisms, mirrors, and electrically-charged filaments. The range of this function is "Range: Touch," and its duration is "Duration: Until cancelled."

The invention generates light equivalent in brightness to that of a torch, but doesn't consume oxygen and doesn't generate heat. The invention can be covered while it generates this light, but it can't be smothered or quenched.

Improved

The invention gains the following function.

Blinding Beam. The range of this function is "Range: 30 feet," and its duration is "Duration: 1 minute."

You can focus the light stored in this invention in a singular, coherent beam, which you can use to blind a creature. Choose one creature you can see within range to make a Constitution saving throw. If it fails, the target is blinded for the duration. At the end of each of its turns, the target can make a Constitution saving throw. On a success, the effect ends.

Daylight. The range of this function is "Range: Self," and its duration is "Duration: 1 hour."

The invention emits a 60-foot-radius sphere of bright light, and sheds dim light for an additional 60 feet. Completely covering the invention while it is emitting this light with an

Prototype

This invention has the following two functions.

Disguise. You make yourself -- including your clothing, armor, weapons, and other belongings on your person -- look different until the invention ends or until you use your action to dismiss it. You can seem 1 foot shorter or taller and can appear thin, fat, or in between. You can't change your body type, so you must adopt a form that has the same basic arrangement of limbs. Otherwise, the extent of the illusion is up to you.

The range of this usage is "Range: Self," and its duration is "Duration: 1 hour."

The changes wrought by this invention fail to hold up to physical inspection. For example, if you use this invention to add a hat to your outfit, objects pass through the hat, and anyone who touches it would feel nothing or would feel your head and hair. If you use this invention to appear thinner than you are, the hand of someone who reaches out to touch you would bump into you while it was seemingly still in midair.

To discern that you are disguised, a creature can use its action to inspect your appearance and must succeed on an Intelligence (Investigation) check against your invention save DC.

Image. You create the image of an object, a creature, or some other visible phenomenon that is no larger than a 15-foot cube, with a range of "Range: 60 feet." The image appears at a spot within range and lasts for the duration, which for this usage is "Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes." The image is purely visual; it isn't accompanied by sound, smell, or other sensory effects.

You can use your action to cause the image to move to any spot within range. As the image changes location, you can alter its appearance so that its movements appear natural for the image. For example, if you create an image of a creature and move it, you can alter the image so that it appears to be walking.

Physical interaction with the image reveals it to be an illusion, because things can pass through it. A creature that uses its action to examine the image can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your invention save DC. If a creature discerns the illusion for what it is, the creature can see through the image.

Improved

The invention gains the following function.

Improved Image. You create the image of an object, a creature, or some other visible phenomenon that is no larger than a 20-foot cube. The image appears at a spot that you can see within range and lasts for the duration. It seems completely real, including sounds, smells, and temperature appropriate to the thing depicted. You can't create sufficient heat or cold to cause damage, a sound loud enough to deal thunder damage or deafen a creature, or a smell that might sicken a creature (like a troglodyte's stench). This usage of this invention has a range of "Range: 120 feet," and a duration of "Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes."

As long as you are within range of the illusion, you can use your action to cause the image to move to any other spot within range. As the image changes location, you can alter its appearance so that its movements appear natural for the image. For example, if you create an image of a creature and move it, you can alter the image so that it appears to be walking. Similarly, you can cause the illusion to make different sounds at different times, even making it carry on a conversation, for example.

Physical interaction with the image reveals it to be an illusion, because things can pass through it. A creature that uses its action to examine the image can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your invention save DC. If a creature discerns the illusion for what it is, the creature can see through the image, and its other sensory qualities become faint to the creature.

Refined

The invention gains the following function.

Terrain. You make natural terrain in a 150-foot cube in range look, sound, and smell like some other sort of natural terrain. Thus, open fields or a road can be made to resemble

Prototype

For the duration, you and creatures within 30 feet of you cannot use abilities that allow them to teleport. A creature can attempt to use an ability that allows them to teleport, which fails unless they make a Charisma saving throw against your invention save DC.

Creatures from outside this area can teleport into it, but are subject to the invention's effect once within its range.

Improved

This invention functions as though it were a prototype, and creatures within the area cannot enter the Ethereal Plane, nor can they take advantage of incorporeal movement. Creatures on the Ethereal Plane within the area affected by this invention must make a Charisma saving throw against your invention save DC, or be shunted onto the Material Plane.

A creature can attempt to use an ability that allows them to enter the Ethereal Plane, which fails unless they make a Charisma saving throw against your invention save DC.

Refined

This invention functions as though it were improved, and creatures attempting to teleport into the affected area must make a Charisma saving throw against your invention save DC, or the ability fails.

The range of this effect increases to 60 feet.

Augmented

This invention functions as though it were refined, and creatures cannot use abilities that allow them to travel to

Prototype

The drone constructed by this invention is a level 0 drone of a role of your choice, selected when you activate it.

Improved

The drone constructed by this invention is a level 2 drone of a role of your choice, selected when you activate it.

Refined

The drone constructed by this invention is a level 4 drone of a role of your choice, selected when you activate it.

Augmented

The drone constructed by this invention is a level 6 drone of a role of your choice, selected when you activate it.

Prototype

This invention gains the following function.

Protection from Metaphysics. You gain protection against celestials, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead.

The protection grants several benefits. Creatures of those types have disadvantage on attack rolls against you. You also can't be charmed, frightened, or possessed by them. If you are already charmed, frightened, or possessed by such a creature, you have advantage or any new saving throw against the relevant effect.

Improved

This invention gains the following functions.

Arcane Disruption. The range of this invention becomes "Range: 120 feet," and its duration becomes "Duration: Instantaneous." Choose one creature, object, or magical effect within range. Any spell of 3rd level or lower on the target ends. For each spell of 4th level or higher on the target, make an ability check using your activation ability. The DC equals 10 + the spell's level. On a successful check, the spell ends.

Protection from Magic. You gain advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Refined

This invention gains the following function.

Dampening Field. An immobile, faintly shimmering barrier springs into existence in a 10-foot radius around the invention and remains for the duration.

Any spell of 5th level or lower cast from outside the barrier can't affect creatures or objects within it, even if the spell is cast using a higher level spell slot. Such a spell can target creatures and objects within the barrier, but the spell has no effect on them. Similarly, the area within the barrier is excluded from the areas affected by such spells.

Augmented

This invention gains the following function.

Reflective Oscillation. Whenever any spell of 7th level or lower targets you, or you are in the area affected by such a spell, the caster must make a Charisma saving throw against your invention save DC. If the caster fails, the spell is reflected back at the caster: if the spell targets individual creatures, it targets the caster; if the spell targets an area, the spell's area is now centered on the caster.

Each time this invention successfully reflects a spell, make a malfunction check for this invention. If it fails, the invention's effect ends, and it malfunctions. If it succeeds, increase its error rate by 1, until after you complete a long rest.

Prototype

This invention has the following function.

Incapacitate. You can target a single creature within range. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw; on a failed save, the target is incapacitated until the end of its next turn.

Improved

When you use this invention's Incapacitate function, the target also takes 2d8 psychic damage, halved on a successful save.

This invention also gains the following function.

Confusion. The invention produces a confusing and cacophonous medley of flashing lights that induce bizarre behavior. This effect's duration is "Duration: 1 minute."

Each creature in a 10-foot-radius sphere centered on a point you choose within range must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw when you activate this invention or be affected by it.

d10	Behavior
1	The creature uses all its movement to move in a random direction. To determine the direction, roll a d8 and assign a direction to each die face. The creature doesn't take an action this turn.
2-6	The creature doesn't move or take actions this turn.
7-8	The creature uses its action to make a melee attack against a randomly determined creature within its reach. If there is no creature within its reach, the creature does nothing this turn.
9-10	The creature can act and move normally.

Prototype

When you activate the invention, you can choose one of the following effects. Whoever drinks the resulting brew enjoys the selected benefit.

• The drinker has advantage on Intelligence checks.
• The drinker has advantage on Wisdom checks.
• The drinker has advantage on Charisma checks.

Improved

This invention functions as though it were a prototype, but the drinker also gains proficiency with saving throws of the same ability. A creature who already has proficiency with that saving throw gains no additional benefit.

Refined

When you activate the invention, you can choose up to two of the following effects. Whoever drinks the resulting brew enjoys the selected benefits.

• The drinker has advantage on Intelligence checks and proficiency with Intelligence saving throws. In addition, the drinker chooses one skill, tool, or language; for the duration of the effect, the drinker gains proficiency with the selected skill, tool, or language.
• The drinker has advantage on Wisdom checks and proficiency with Wisdom saving throws. During this invention's duration, the drinker cannot be surprised, and acts in surprise rounds normally.
• The drinker has advantage on Charisma checks and proficiency with Charisma saving throws. The drinker can automatically determine when a creature lies to her.

Augmented

This invention functions as though it were refined, but its duration becomes "Duration: Concentration, up to 8 hours."

Prototype

When you activate this invention, you can target a single creature within range, and make a ranged invention attack against the target. If you hit, you deal 1d10 radiation damage. If the damage dealt by this invention reduces a creature to fewer than half of its maximum hit points, if the creature is native to a different plane of existence than the one you're on, that creature must also make a Charisma saving throw or disappear, returning to its home plane.

Improved

This invention functions as though it were a prototype, but deals 2d10 radiation damage.

A creature banished by this invention is prevented from returning to the plane it was banished from for 1 minute.

Refined

This invention functions as though it were improved, but deals 4d10 radiation damage, and you can target up to three creatures when you activate it.

Augmented

This invention functions as though it were refined, but deals 6d10 radiation damage.

Prototype

You gain a flying speed of 10 feet for the duration.

Improved

This invention functions as though it were a prototype, but its duration becomes "Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes."

You gain a flying speed of 30 feet for the duration.

Refined

This invention functions as though it were improved, but its duration becomes "Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour."

You gain a flying speed of 60 feet for the duration.

Augmented

This invention functions as though it were refined, but grants a flying speed of 120 feet for the duration.

Prototype

This invention has the following function.

Air Purifier. The duration of this invention is "Duration: 1 minute."

You use this invention to purify the air around you, nullifying toxic gases and clouds. Creatures in a 10-foot radius area around a point in range you choose gain advantage on saving throws against effects caused by clouds, fogs, gasses, and similar phenomena.

Improved

This invention gains the following function.

Lung Oxidification. The duration of this invention is "Duration: 10 minutes."

You can use this invention on up to four creatures, who breathe in the powder. A creature affected by this invention can breathe water as though it were air for the duration.

Refined

This invention gains the following function.

Rust Grenade. The duration of this invention is "Duration: Instantaneous."

Prototype

Creatures who set off the trap take 2d6 nonmagical slashing damage. A creature can make a Dexterity saving throw against this effect, and takes half damage on a successful save.

Improved

Creatures who set off the trap take 4d6 nonmagical slashing damage. A creature can make a Dexterity saving throw against this effect, and takes half damage on a successful save.

In addition, a creature that takes damage from this invention is also restrained. At the start of each of its turns it can make a Strength saving throw against this invention to remove the restrained condition.

Refined

This invention functions as though it were improved, but deals 8d6 nonmagical slashing damage, and it can be set up

to cover up to four contiguous 5-foot squares.

Augmented

This invention functions as though it were refined, but also deals 4d6 poison damage to creatures who fail the Dexterity saving throw, and creatures who take poison damage from this invention are also poisoned.

Prototype

For the duration, the target can choose one of the following effects. As a bonus action, the target can change which effect they have. The effect lasts until this invention's duration ends, the target changes which effect they have, or the target dies.

Amphibious. You gain gills, and can breathe air and water.

Climbing. You grow tiny hooked claws that give you gain a climbing speed equal to your walking speed.

Keen Senses. Your eyes and ears become more sensitive. You gain advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks.

Swimming. You gain fins and webbing between your fingers and toes; you gain a swimming speed equal to your walking speed.

Tough Hide. Your skin becomes as tough as leather, giving you a baseline of protection. If you are wearing light or no armor, you gain a +2 bonus to AC; if you are wearing medium armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC. You gain no benefit from

Prototype

This invention can produce one item that fits inside a 1-foot cube, with a maximum value of 10 gp.

Improved

This invention can produce one item that fits inside a 3-foot cube, or three contiguous 1-foot cubes, with a maximum value of 100 gp.

Refined

This invention can produce one item that fits inside a 5-foot cube, or five contiguous 1-foot cubes, with a maximum value of 500 gp.

Augmented

This invention can produce one item that fits inside a 10-foot cube, or eight contiguous 5-foot cubes, with a maximum value of 5000 gp.

Prototype

This invention has the following functions.

Fog Cloud. This function has an activation time of "Activation Time: 1 action," and a duration of "Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour."

You create a 20-foot-radius sphere of fog centered on the invention. The sphere spreads around corners, and its area is heavily obscured. It lasts for the duration or until a wind of moderate or greater speed (at least 10 miles per hour) disperses it.

Predict Weather. This function has an activation time of "Activation Time: 1 action," and a duration of "Duration: Instantaneous."

You predict what the weather will be at your location for the next 24 hours.

Improved

This invention gains the following function.

Control Weather. This function has an activation time of "Activation Time: 10 minutes," and a duration of "Duration: Concentration, up to 8 hours."

You take control of the weather within 5 miles of the invention for the duration. You must be outdoors to activate this function. Moving to a place where you don’t have a clear path to the sky ends the effect early.

When you activate this invention, you change the current weather conditions, which are determined by the GM based

Precipitation

Temperature

Wind

Refined

This invention gains the following functions.

Call Lightning. This function has an activation time of "Activation Time: 1 action," a range of "Range: 120 feet," and a duration of "Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes."

A storm cloud appears in the shape of a cylinder that is 10 feet tall with a 60-foot radius, centered on a point you can see within range directly above you. This invention fails if you can't see a point in the air where the storm cloud could appear (for example, if you are in a room that can't accommodate the cloud).

When you activate this invention, choose a point you can see under the cloud. A bolt of lightning flashes down from the cloud to that point. Each creature within 5 feet of that point must make a Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 5d10 lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. On each of your turns until the effect ends, you can use your action to call down lightning in this way again, targeting the same point or a different one.

If you are outdoors in stormy conditions when you activate this invention, it gives you control over the existing storm instead of creating a new one. Under such conditions, this invention's damage increases by 1d10.

Hailstorm. This function has an activation time of "Activation Time: 1 action," a range of "Range: 120 feet," and a duration of "Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute."

A hail of rock-hard ice pounds to the ground in a 20-foot-radius, 40-foot-high cylinder centered on a point within range. Each creature in the cylinder must make a Dexterity saving throw at the start of its turn. A creature takes 2d6 bludgeoning damage and 2d8 cold damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Hailstones turn the storm's area of effect into difficult terrain until the end of the effect's duration.

Augmented

This invention gains the following function.

Tornado. This function has an activation time of "Activation Time: 1 action," a range of "Range: 120 feet," and a duration of "Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute."

You create a spiraling cylinder of wind in range, which has a 20 foot radius and 40 foot height. This cylinder becomes difficult terrain for the duration, even for flying creatures. Unattended objects in this cylinder that are Large or smaller are pulled towards the center. A creature that starts its turn in the cylinder must succeed on a Strength save or be pulled to the center of the cylinder, and be restrained while it remains in the center.

All creatures inside the cylinder take 12d6 bludgeoning damage when this invention is activated, and again at the start of each of your turns.

A creature within the tornado can attempt to escape the center of the cylinder and thus remove its restrained condition, by making a Strength saving throw, with a successful saving throw allowing the creature to move up to its speed away from the cylinder. A creature with abilities that transport it instantly, such as the misty step spell or other forms of teleportation, can also be used to escape.

Protonic Accelerator

• Atomical invention

• Activation Time: 1 action
• Range: 60 feet
• Duration: Instantaneous

A backpack-sized assembly attached by a cable to a long metal rod, this device is designed to generate an exotic form of energy that can cross planar boundaries and harm ethereal creatures. As your understanding of protonic science improves, you can shunt etheric creatures back onto the prime, ensnaring them and destabilizing them further.

You can target creatures on the Border Ethereal with this invention, and they are affected by it even if they have abilities that would otherwise prevent them from being affected by effects from the material plane.

Prototype

The cloud generated by this invention is a 5-foot radius sphere.

Creatures who fail the saving throw against this invention take 1d8 poison damage and 1d4 psychic damage, or half as much on a successful save.

In addition, failing the saving throw halves the creature's speed, it takes a -2 penalty to AC and Dexterity saving throws, and it can't use reactions. On its turn, it can use either an action or a bonus action, not both. Regardless of the creature's abilities or magic items, it can't make more than one melee or ranged attack during its turn.

If the creature attempts to cast a spell with a casting time of 1 action, roll a d20. On an 11 or higher the spell doesn't take effect until the creature's next turn, and the creature must use its action on that turn to complete the spell. If it can't, the spell is wasted.

A creature affected by this invention can make a Constitution saving throw at the start of each of its turns, with the effect ending on a successful save. A creature no longer in the cloud created by this invention makes this saving throw with advantage.

Improved

This invention functions as though it were a prototype, but the cloud generated is a 10-foot radius sphere, and the cloud deals 2d8 poison damage and 1d8 psychic damage.

In addition, a creature who fails the saving throw against this invention becomes restrained.

Refined

This invention functions as though it were improved, but the cloud generated is a 20-foot radius sphere, and the cloud deals 3d8 poison damage and 2d8 psychic damage.

In addition, a creature who fails the saving throw against this invention becomes unconscious.

Augmented

This invention functions as though it were improved, but the cloud generated is a 40-foot radius sphere, and the cloud deals 5d8 poison damage and 4d8 psychic damage.

In addition, creatures who fail the saving throw against this invention and have 100 or fewer hit points are reduced to 0 hit points.

Prototype

This invention produces two handheld radio devices, which can communicate with each other to a maximum of 1 mile apart.

Prototype

Attacks made against creatures within the cloud that would deal damage of the selected damage type are made with disadvantage. Creatures within the cloud gain advantage on saving throws against effects that deal damage of the selected type.

Improved

This invention functions as though it were a prototype, but creatures within the cloud also gain resistance to the selected damage type.

Refined

Creatures within the cloud gain immunity to the selected damage type.

Augmented

Whenever a spell or effect that would deal damage of the selected energy type targets a creature within the cloud, or an area completely or partially covered by the cloud, that effect is reflected back at its origin: if the effect targets a single creature, it targets the caster; if the effect targets an area, its area is now centered on the caster.

Each time this invention successfully reflects an effect, make a malfunction check for this invention. If it fails, the invention's effect ends, and it malfunctions. If it succeeds, increase its error rate by 1, until after you complete a long rest.

Prototype

The targeted object or construct regains a number of hit points equal to 2d8 + your invention ability modifier.

Improved

The targeted object or construct regains a number of hit points equal to 4d8 + your invention ability modifier.

Refined

The targeted object or construct regains a number of hit points equal to 6d8 + your invention ability modifier.

Augmented

The targeted object or construct regains a number of hit points equal to 8d8 + your invention ability modifier.

Prototype

When you activate this invention, make an invention attack against a creature or object within range. If you hit, this invention deals 1d8 thunder damage, and if the target was a creature, the target must make a Constitution saving throw against your invention save DC or suffer one level of exhaustion.

This invention cannot cause a creature to exceed one level of exhaustion.

Prototype

You gain 8 temporary hit points. So long as you have at least 1 temporary hit point granted by this invention remaining, you gain 1 temporary hit point every minute, to a maximum of the amount initially granted.

Improved

This invention functions as though it were a prototype, but grants 16 temporary hit points.

In addition, when you activate this invention, you can reduce the temporary hit points it grants by 5 points. If you do, choose a damage type. You gain resistance to that damage type so long as you have temporary hit points granted by this invention remaining.

Refined

This invention functions as though it were improved, but grants 24 temporary hit points.

In addition, when you activate this invention, you can reduce the temporary hit points it grants by any amount, in increments of 5. If you do, choose a damage type for every 5 temporary hit points so reduced. You gain resistance to those damage types so long as you have temporary hit points granted by this invention remaining.

Augmented

This invention functions as though it were refined, but grants 48 temporary hit points.

In addition, when you activate this invention, you can reduce the temporary hit points it grants by 20. If you do, choose a damage type. You gain immunity to that damage type so long as you have temporary hit points granted by this invention remaining.

Prototype

This invention has the following function.

Rage. The target becomes filled with a mindless rage. While so affected, the target gains advantage on Strength ability checks, and his melee attacks deal an additional 1d4 damage.

However, the affected creature cannot use any spells, abilities that require concentration, or ranged weapons while under the effects of this invention.

Improved

This invention gains the following function.

Prototype

This invention has the following functions.

Playback. As part of activating this invention, you can load a previously-recorded jonnesphere into the invention. This invention then recreates the sounds and images recorded on the jonnesphere loaded into it, and replays so long as you concentrate on the invention, up to the duration of the recording.

The images produced by this function are hard to distinguish from the real thing. Actual objects and sounds inside the 20-foot radius of the playback are drowned out by the replaying unless a real sound is very loud or a real object is very large or very bright.

Record. When you activate this invention, it records all of the sounds and visual stimuli within 20 feet. It can record up to this invention's duration worth of information on a single jonnesphere.

Refined

This invention's Playback and Record functions have a duration of "Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes."

Improved

This invention gains the following function.

Map. With additional tuning prongs and crystal matrices attuned to very specific frequencies, you can adjust this invention to allow you to produce larger maps of your surroundings, albeit at lower resolution than its normal recording functionality. This function's activation time is "Activation Time: 10 minutes," and its duration is "Duration: Instantaneous."

Rather than record its local surroundings, the invention records lower-resolution data about the area around you, out to 1 mile in relatively closed terrain (cities, dungeons, underground), or 100 feet outdoors, where the frequencies dissipate more rapidly.

When you use this invention's Playback function, you can play back information recorded with this function. If you do, you can spend the duration studying the information to glean one of the following:

• The general layout of the terrain.
• The rough number of corporeal creatures in the area (to the nearest multiple of 5).
• The presence and location of nontechnological constructs, elementals, outsiders, or undead.
• The presence and general location of the 5 closest secret doors.
• The presence and general location of the 5 closest nonmagical traps or hazards.

Augmented

This invention's Map function instead affects an area out to 10 miles in relatively closed terrain, or 1 mile outdoors.

Prototype

As an action, the wearer can designate a single creature within 30 feet.

On his next turn, the wearer gains advantage on his first attack roll against the target, provided this invention's duration has not ended.

Refined

This invention functions as though it were a prototype, but the wearer can target a creature within 60 feet.

In addition, when the wearer designates a creature with this invention, the target's attacks gain disadvantage against the wearer until the end of the target's next turn.

Improved

This invention functions as though it were refined, but the wearer can target a creature within 90 feet.

In addition, when the wearer designates a creature with this invention, the wearer's next attack against the target deals an additional 2d8 damage, of the same damage type as the attack dealt.

Augmented

This invention functions as though it were improved, but the wearer can target a creature within 120 feet.

In addition, if the wearer cannot see the target, his inability to see it doesn't impose disadvantage on his attack rolls against it, as long as he isn't blinded.

He is also aware of the location of the target even if the target is invisible, provided that the creature isn't hidden from him and he isn't blinded.

Prototype

Make a ranged invention attack against a creature within range. If you hit, the target is restrained for this invention's duration.

At the end of each of its turns, the target can make a Strength saving throw against this invention, with a successful save ending the restrained condition.

Refined

This invention functions as though it were a prototype, but instead of choosing a single creature in range, you target a point within range, and all creatures within 10 feet of that point must make a Dexterity saving throw or be restrained.

Improved

This invention functions as though it were refined, but creatures must make two Strength saving throws to end the restrained condition.

Augmented

This invention functions as though it were improved, but creatures who fail the saving throw three times are petrified until the effect is removed. If the creature is physically broken while petrified, it suffers from similar deformities if it reverts to its original state.

Prototype

Make a ranged invention attack against a target within range. If you hit, the target takes 1d8 lightning damage, and must make a Constitution saving throw against your invention save DC. If the target fails the saving throw, it is restrained until the start of your next turn.

Improved

This invention functions as though it were a prototype, but deals 2d8 lightning damage, and you can target up to three creatures in range, each of which must be within 15 feet of at least one other target.

Prototype

This invention has the following function.

Charm. You can use this invention to charm a construct you can see within range. It must make a Wisdom saving throw, and does so with advantage if you or your companions are fighting it. If it fails the saving throw, it is charmed by you until the invention ends or until you or your companions do anything harmful to it. The charmed creature regards you as a friendly acquaintance. When the invention ends, the creature knows it was charmed by you.

Improved

This invention gains the following function.

Command. You can use this invention to issue a simple command to a construct you can see within range. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or follow the command on its next turn. The invention has no effect if the target is not a construct or if your command is directly harmful to it. The duration of this function is "Duration: 1 round."

Some typical commands and their effects follow. You might issue a command other than one described here. If you do so, the GM determines how the target behaves. If the target can't follow your command, the invention ends.

Approach. The target moves toward you by the shortest and most direct route, ending its turn if it moves within 5 feet of you.

Drop. The target drops whatever it is holding and then ends its turn.

Fall. The target falls prone and then ends its turn.

Flee. The target spends its turn moving away from you by the fastest available means.

Halt. The target doesn't move and takes no actions. A flying creature stays aloft, provided that it is able to do so. If it must move to stay aloft, it flies the minimum distance needed to remain in the air.

Refined

This invention gains the following function.

Control. You attempt to commandeer a construct that you can see within range. It must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by you for the duration. If you or creatures that are friendly to you are fighting it, it has advantage on the saving throw. The duration of this function is "Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute."

While the target is charmed, you can use this invention to issue commands to the creature while you are conscious (no action required), which it does its best to obey. You can specify a simple and general course of action, such as "Attack that creature," "Run over there," or "Fetch that object." If the creature completes the order and doesn't receive further direction from you, it defends and preserves itself to the best of its ability.

You can use your action to take total and precise control of the target, Until the end of your next turn, the creature takes only the actions you choose, and doesn't do anything that you don't allow it to do. During this time you can also cause the creature to use a reaction, but this requires you to use your own reaction as well.

Each time the target takes damage, it makes a new Wisdom saving throw against the invention. If the saving throw succeeds, the invention ends.

Augmented

The Control function of this invention has its duration increased to "Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour."

Scope and Access

Though many cities across the world that have embraced technology have a luminet, the luminet is not a worldwide phenomenon: due to the nature of radio, each individual city or larger settlements have their own luminets, separate and distinct from one another. While it is probable that there is some tinker somewhere working on solving the problem and developing an antennae large enough to allow for city-to-city communication, it is possible that such will never be developed.

Once radio communications are demonstrated as being possible, this sort of technology rapidly explodes in society, becoming used for all sorts of things. Entertainers may use it to put on dramas; city watches might use it to better coordinate and share information across the city; monarchs and other leaders could use it to communicate in a seemingly more personal manner with their subjects. Essentially this means that, once a luminet exists, there will be a significant amount of traffic on it only a short period after its implementation.

Overview

In a world with firearms, magic, and perhaps even airships and tanks, the nature of combat becomes less reliant upon the warrior's physical attributes, and more about the tools he brings to bear. For those interested in heavy protection, this comes in the form of power armor.

Power armor is an additional category of armor, and has different rules regarding how it functions.

Armor Proficiency. Unlike other armors, due to the tight fitting of power armor and the more complicated aspects of its use, only those proficient with power armor can wear it. Power armor proficiency is not included with an "all armor" armor proficiency.

Militia Power Armor. Characters without power armor proficiency can wear militia power armor, as it is often looser and has fewer components that require an exacting fit. If you wear militia power armor without power armor proficiency, you have disadvantage on any ability check, saving throw, or attack roll that involves Strength or Dexterity, and you can't cast spells or activate devices.

Paling. One of the signature differences between normal armor and power armor is that, thanks to their internal power supply, power armor can generate a paling, a shield of energy that protects the wearer from harm. A suit of power armor grants you temporary hit points based upon what kind of power armor it is, and your total character level, and after a short rest the paling is restored to full strength.

Strength. Like heavy armor, power armor typically interferes with the wearer's ability to move stealthily, quickly, and freely. If a power armor lists a Strength score, the armor

reduces your movement speed by 20 feet unless the wearer has a Strength score equal to or higher than the listed score.

Module Slots. Power armor is significantly more modular than other armor types, and different types of power armor have varying internal architectures and sizes that allow for different types of modules to be installed. If you have power armor proficiency, you can change out a power armor's modules with a short rest.

Shields. Due to the nature of the armor's paling effect, individuals wearing power armor cannot also benefit from shields. You can wield a shield while wearing power armor, but it does not increase your AC while you have temporary hit points remaining from your paling.

Attunement. Power armor other than militia power armor is considered a scientific item, on par with magical items, and you must be attuned to it before you can gain its benefits.

Power Armor

Power armor offers unparalleled protection, at the cost of incredibly specialized training and knowledge in its use, as well as requiring minute adjustments that help fit it perfectly to the wearer.

Power armor doesn't let you add your Dexterity modifier to your Armor Class, but it also doesn't penalize you if your Dexterity modifier is negative. In addition, you cannot benefit from using shields while wearing power armor.

Assault. Assault power armor balances speed, power, and utility, with a steel basic frame that fits snugly against the body onto which are bolted form-fitting steel-plated armor pieces that completely envelope the wearer, including a full-visor helm that locks snugly into place.

Commando. Designed for blitz-style attacks and full-frontal assaults, commando power armor trades out the utility functionality of the assault design in favor of heavier gauntlets and power conduits, and hydraulic assists in the arms and torso, allowing the user to carry more weaponry -- and thus be able to answer a wider variety of threats.

Juggernaut. Every vital area of this armor is protected by ceramic shells and rolled steel plates, giving it a level of unparalleled protection -- at the cost of being obscenely heavy. The design sacrifices utility functionality for greater defenses, reducing the room needed for sensitive equipment and allowing more armor to take its place.

Power Armor Modules

If a power armor module has prerequisites, you must meet them in order to build and use it.

If you are proficient with power armor and tinker's tools, you can construct a power armor module whose prerequisites you meet. Doing so requires 1 hour of work, if you have access to tinker's tools and your equipment.

A module must be slotted into a specific type of slot -- low, mid, or high -- in a suit of power armor. In addition, some modules can only be slotted into specific types of power armor.

The benefits of a power armor module can only be gained while wearing the armor the module is slotted into. Modules provide no benefit on their own outside of power armor.

Sensor Bafflers

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• Prerequisite: 5th level, profile dampener slotted
• Low Slot (Scout)

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You gain advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks.

Overview

The vehicles presented here follow the same general layout as the vehicles presented in Unearthed Arcana: Of Ships and the Sea, and as such the general rules for vehicles will not be covered here.

Vehicles can be purchased, though are often prohibitively expensive. Individuals with proficiency in a particular type of vehicle can usually also construct vehicles of that type, which may reduce costs but also can take a significant amount of time and may also require unusual materials.