Lexy's Artificer v1.2

Spellcasting

Through your inherent knowledge of magic, you can craft items that allow you to create magical effects. The method that you will these effects to be depends entirely on your background and specializations, for example an alchemist may create the effect of the spell jump by using a concoction of liquid that creates a rubbery bouncy surface, whereas a Gunsmith may shoot a blast of energy under themselves, and an Enchanter may enchant their boots with a jump spell. This does not limit your abilities, only gives you a chance to describe your spells creatively.

For this reason, Artificers require their artisan tools as a spellcasting focus, and must be holding them as such, as this is the way they create magical effects. This doesn't mean you cast spells using the tools, rather you create or prepare a prototype item using the tools.

The spells Artificers have access to by default are primarily niche spells focused on support and utility, as Artificers make use of their Signature Contraptions for combat.

Magical Tinkering

From first level, you have the ability to create or enchant a small item with a single harmless sensory effect. These effects can allow the object to:

• produce light (10ft bright light, further 10ft dim light)
• play music (a simple melody)
• record and replay simple messages and sounds
  (6 seconds or less)
• display a simple image or sentence
  (25 words or less, or a simple picture/diagram)
• a constant harmless sensory effect
  (a faint smell or quiet sound, perceivable for up to 10 ft)

The method that these items are created or enchanted is up to the player and what artisans tools they use, for example you could create a small vial of mixed chemicals that emit a bright glow using alchemists supplies, or a mechanical bird that can sing melodies using tinker tools, or enchant a stone to record and replay a short message by focusing pure magic into it.

More effects may be allowed at the Dungeon Master's discretion, but as a general rule the effects should not be able to cause damage or create more items.

The chosen effect lasts indefinitely unless ended by the creator, by touching the item. You may only create one of these items per long rest, by spending an hour's time crafting using your artisans tools or spellcasting focus.

Field of Expertise

At 2nd level, you choose a field of expertise, each of which is detailed at the end of the class description. Your choice grants you features at 5th level, 10th level and 14th level.

Each field of expertise allows the creation of a "Signature Contraption", a creation that symbolizes your proficiency within your field. The signature contraption for your field will allow you to learn new recipes, schematics or suchlike using research points. The amount of research points you have is shown on the leveling table above, maxing out at 8 research points, and when you use a research point it is expended.

Effects from your Signature Contraption count as magical, and use your spell save DC for any saving throws.

Your signature contraption may scale with you as you level, or unlock a set upgrade at a certain level. You master the use of your signature contraption at 20th level, gaining a significant upgrade to it.

Tool Expertise

Starting at 3rd level, your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses your proficiency with a tool.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th, 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.

Enhanced Weapon

At 6th level, you may tinker with a single weapon you own to add enhancements that improve your effectiveness with it. After you finish a short or long rest, and have your artisan tools available, you finish tinkering with your weapon. From now on, when using this weapon, you may use your intelligence modifier in place of your strength or dexterity modifier for your attack and damage rolls. If this weapon is lost, broken, or replaced, the effect can be applied to another weapon for 20 gp over a long rest, if the previous item still exists, it loses its effect immediately when doing this.

Advanced Magical Tinkering

At 18th level, you learn how to store a spell in an object for repeated use. Whenever you finish a long rest, you can touch one simple or martial weapon or an item that you can use as a spellcasting focus and store a spell in it, choosing one 1st- or 2nd-level spell from the artificer spell list that requires 1 action to cast (you don’t need to have the spell prepared). With the object in hand, a creature can take an action to produce the spell’s effect from it, using your spellcasting ability modifier. The spell stays in the object until it has been used a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of twice) or until you use this feature again.

Field of Expertise - Alchemy

An Alchemist is a master of chemistry and transmutation, using their skills to craft concoctions and compounds that create special effects, be it a healing salve or a chemical explosion of fire.

Alchemist Spells

Alchemists can cast an additional set of spells on top of their Artificer spells. They can choose to prepare these spells as they would their base spells.

Spell List

Potion Master

Upon reaching 5th Level, your study of chemicals and compounds has gained you the ability to understand the formula for virtually any potion you have come across. For any potion you have drunk or studied, you gain the ability to craft it again for the cost of resources and some downtime. Crafting these potions requires the use of your alchemists supplies.

Transmutation Adept

Upon reaching level 10, you may choose one of the following abilities.

Stone of Transmutation You create a powerful artifact known as the stone of transmutation. Using it, you can temporarily alter the physical properties of one nonmagical object, changing it from one substance into another. You perform a special alchemical procedure on one object composed entirely of wood, stone (but not a gemstone), iron, copper, or silver, transforming it into a different one of those materials. For each 10 minutes you spend performing the procedure, you can transform up to 30 litres of material. After 1 hour, or until you lose your concentration (as if you were concentrating on a spell), the material reverts to its original substance. As well as this, the stone is able to create any spell components of negligible cost from air, dirt or other simple materials. Components that have a described cost of gold can however be transmuted given half the required gold.

Create Homunculus You learn to transmute basic materials into a living creature, with which you share a telepathic bond. You may create a homunculus as described in the 'Create Homunculus', spell without having to expend any resources, monetary or otherwise. You are assumed to use whatever loose materials you have to hand to cast this spell, be it dirt, clay, rocks, flesh, or even a clockwork or mechanical trinket, that you then breath life into.

Elixir of Youth You discover the secret to long life, whether by analyzing a sample from the legendary Spring of Youth, recovering a rare herb you have searched for your whole life, or some other method. The magic of this elixir causes your body to age by only 1 year for every 10 that pass.

Chemical Resistance

By 14th level, you have been exposed to so many chemicals and unlocked their secrets that they pose little risk to you, and you can use them to quickly end certain ailments. You gain resistance to acid damage and poison damage, and you are now immune to the poisoned condition. In addition, you can cast greater restoration once without expending a spell slot and without providing the material component, provided you use alchemist’s supplies as the spellcasting focus. You regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest.

Alchemy Mastery

At 20th level, your mastery of the science of Alchemy and the magic imbued in your Alchemist's Satchel allows you to pull out as many formulas as you need.

There is no longer a restriction on how many formulae you can produce from the satchel per long rest, but the rules for any relevant cooldowns or restrictive effects such as vanishing after a period of time still apply.

Field of Expertise - Gunsmithing

This is my gun. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

A Gunsmith has a symbiotic relationship with weaponry. Weapons created by a gunsmith are a fusion of intricate mechanisms and arcane power.

The specifics of your weapons functions depend on your choices and setting, in a setting without traditional firearms and gunpowder, you may opt for your firearm to be more on the magical spectrum, using magic to fire bolts of force. Conversely, in a setting in which magic is rare or outlawed, your firearm could be vastly more mechanical, relying on gunpowder, gasoline, dry ice and such like to achieve the desired effects.

Demolitions Expert

At 5th Level, your knowledge of weaponry and ammunition allows you to craft dynamite. Using 10 gp worth of gunpowder and resources, you can craft a stick of dynamite. When lit and thrown as an action, it will explode at the end of your turn. Any creature caught in the 5 foot explosion radius must make a dexterity saving throw or take 3d6 bludgeoning damage, or half that on a successful save.

Fortifications

Starting at 10th level, you unlock the ability to create a fortification. Learning a fortification requires that you expend a research point. A fortification can be used once per long rest. If you do not know it already, you learn the mending cantrip.

Your fortification has an AC of 18 and a number of hit points equal to five times your artificer level. It is immune to poison damage, psychic damage, and all conditions. If it is forced to make an ability check or a saving throw, treat all its ability scores as 10 (+0). If the mending spell is cast on it, it regains 2d6 hit points. It disappears if it is reduced to 0 hit points or after 10 minutes. You can dismiss it early as an action.

You may only deploy a fortification once per long rest, choosing one of the fortifications you have researched, during which it is assumed that you repair or rebuild it, there are no costs associated with this.

Arcane Turret As an action, you can deploy a magically controlled turret. You command this turret as a bonus action, and it takes its turn directly after yours in initiative. It will keep following this command until either it or the enemy is killed. The turret is a magical object that occupies its space and that has crablike legs.

As an action, it can make a ranged attack up to 120ft using your proficiency bonus to hit, and dealing 2d8 force damage on a hit.

Force Bubble As an action, you place a projector that creates a 10ft radius transparent bubble of force that only allies can enter. You decide the creatures that can enter upon placing the projector, but you may add or remove creatures as an action, provided you are next to the projector. Objects and Magical effects can still pass through the bubble. A creature that is removed from this list is pushed outside of the bubble at the nearest free spot at the start of their next turn.

Mechanical Jukebox As an action, you place a machine that plays music heard in a 30ft radius. This music inspires up to 5 creatures, giving them temporary hit points equal to half your artificer level, rounded down. This song lasts for 3 minutes, and if a creature benefiting from the temporary hit points leaves the radius or the song ends, the temporary hit points are expended.

Dual Wielder

At 14th Level, you have mastered the use of your weapons. Either through crafting another weapon (without expending any gold) or altering your existing one, you gain the ability to attack using them twice in one round. This effectively grants you an extra attack.

You have also become efficient at reloading your weapon, allowing you to reload both shots using only one bonus action.

Munitions Mastery

By 20th level, you have become adept with the use of your firearms. You have created an enchantment that will allow the weapons to fire basic rounds regardless of ammunition.

As well as this, the fortifications you create have become better at protecting your allies, You and your allies are considered to have half cover while within 10 feet of your fortification.

Field of Expertise - Engineering

Engineers are the tinkers of huge machinery. Whether it's clockwork, robotics, or magically powered hunks of scrap (maybe even somewhere in between), you can maintain and create machines on a much larger scale than any normal tinker.

Mechanical Armor

At 10th level, your experimental armor is starting to show some results. As such, you are now proficient with heavy armor, and can begin applying upgrades to your new mechanical armor. Each upgrade requires one research point, and must be fitted over a short or long rest.

If the armor is lost or destroyed, it can be rebuilt at the cost of 200 gp. Only one set of the armor may exist at a time as it is a prototype that you are still testing.

Electrifying Gauntlet You can now perform the Shocking Grasp cantrip while wearing the armor.

Night Vision Goggles You now have basic darkvision, as described by the Darkvision spell. This effect is ongoing and permanent while wearing the armor.

Spiked Knuckles Your unarmed attack now deals 2d6 damage while wearing the armor.

Camouflage Paint You no longer have disadvantage on stealth checks while wearing the armor.

Simple Flight Your armor allows you to use the Fly spell once per long rest.

Hydraulic Exosuit Your armor gives you some extra strength. From now on your strength gets a 2 point (+1) boost.

Flame Retardant Your armor now gives you resistance to fire damage.

Expeditious Rebuild

By level 14, you have become so adept at rebuilding your companion, that you can now complete the repair in half the time, and complete a total rebuild using half the components. Along the way you have also learned to build upgrades directly into the companion, meaning no additional time is required for installing upgrades. From now on, the component cost for rebuilds and upgrades is now half.

Engineering Mastery

By 20th level, the enchantment powering your Mechanical Companion has advanced enough to allow the construct some semblance of intelligence. Your Mechanical Companion now has the ability to act without instruction in a situation where you may be incapacitated or absent. You may still decide its actions, but a given command is no longer required.

Mount

medium construct, unaligned

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• Armor Class 16
• Hit Points equal to your intelligence modifier plus five times your artificer level
• Speed 40ft

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
14 (+2)	14 (+2)	10 (+0)	10 (+0)	10 (+0)	10 (+0)

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• Damage Immunities poison, psychic
• Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, petrified, poisoned
• Senses Blindsight 60ft (blind beyond this radius), Passive perception 6
• Languages Understands the languages of its creator but cannot speak.

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Antimagic Suceptibility. The construct is incapacitated while in the area of an antimagic field. If targeted by dispel magic, the construct must succeed on a Constitution saving throw against the caster's spell save DC or fall unconscious for 1 minute.

Charge. If the mount moved at least 20 ft. straight toward a target and then hits it with a slam attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 3(1d6) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC15 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Actions

Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit: 3(1d6) bludgeoning damage.

Scout

small construct, unaligned

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• Armor Class 14
• Hit Points equal to your intelligence modifier plus three times your artificer level
• Speed 40ft

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (+0)	16 (+3)	10 (+0)	10 (+0)	12 (+1)	10 (+0)

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• Damage Immunities poison, psychic
• Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, petrified, poisoned
• Senses Blindsight 60ft (blind beyond this radius), Passive perception 6
• Languages Understands the languages of its creator but cannot speak.

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Antimagic Suceptibility. The construct is incapacitated while in the area of an antimagic field. If targeted by dispel magic, the construct must succeed on a Constitution saving throw against the caster's spell save DC or fall unconscious for 1 minute.

Keen Sensors. The scout has advantage on wisdom (Perception) checks.

Actions

Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit: 2(1d4) bludgeoning damage.

Field of Expertise - Enchantment

Unlike most artificers who channel magic through the contraptions and concoctions they create, Enchanters choose to channel raw magical energy into items, especially wands, scrolls and artifacts.

The kind of artisan tools you use to cast the magic help determine your methods, woodcarver's tools may allow you to create staves or wands, while calligraphers supplies may be used for drawing runes onto scrolls.

Footnote

This homebrew class was created using various features from the 2017 Artificer class and the 2019 Artificer class from Unearthed Arcana by wizards of the coast, along with various features from my imagination and inspiration from Matt Mercer's gunslinger subclass. As such, it is not perfectly balanced, nor is it extensively play tested.

This is the first homebrew content I have created, and my intent was to strike a balance between the interesting unique class that was the first UA artificer class, and the vastly more balanced but slightly lacking version released February 2019. I decided to create this to detail my opinions on how the class should play, and while it might not be as finely balanced as other classes, I believe it truly represents the wide array of subjects the artificer may be expected to cover. That being said, it was created with subclasses in mind, the base class only performing base artificer roles, and subclasses being able to give specific skills.

Any feedback is appreciated, and please let me know if you plan to use this class or create a subclass for it.

Artificer Expansions