The Arcane Puppet Master

Showmen and assassins

Arcane Puppet Masters can come from many walks of life but tend to be one of two extremes. Some live to perform in the spotlight, having made and used puppets for theater throughout their lives. This type of puppeteer enjoys putting on a show, either for laughing crowds or for the hardened warriors that they fight beside.

The other extreme is one of secrecy and cunning. These puppeteers will use their magic constructs to do their dirty work while they themselves stay hidden and safe.

Arcane Constructs

Arcane puppets are made with great skill through trial and error. Some may be crafted by a great puppet master and later imbued with magic to be controlled by a puppeteer. Others are made through rituals and tedious work with the intent of being a magical tool. Whether made by the current puppeteer or otherwise acquired by the current user, all arcane puppeteers take great pride in their puppet's looks, abilities and construction.

Creating an Arcane Puppet Master

When creating an arcane puppet master, think about your character's background and drive for adventure. Does the character have a desire to be in the spotlight? Do they use their powers of manipulation to harm others and advance their own standing? Did you character learn from a master puppeteer, or receive a flash of inspiration to create their first puppet?

Hit Points

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

Proficiencies

• Armor: Light armor
• Weapons: Simple weapons, simple ranged weapons
• Tools: Smith's tools, Tinker's tools

• Saving Throws: Charisma, Dexterity
• Skills: Choose two from Arcana, Deception, Investigation, Perception, Performance, Sleight of Hand, Stealth

Equipment

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

• (a) a light crossbow and quiver of 20 bolts or (b) any two simple weapons.
• (a) leather armor
• (a) tinker's tools
• (a) a dungeoneer's pack or (b) an explorer's pack

Alternatively, you may start with 5d4 × 10 gp to buy your own equipment.

Multiclassing

Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing into the arcane puppet master class, you must meet these prerequisites: Charisma 13.

Strings

Some of your class features require you to use a set of strings – threads of magical force used for controlling your puppets. A set of strings comprises of five threads, attached from each of your fingers on one hand to the limbs and head of a target puppet. You must have an empty hand to use one set of strings: thus if you have two empty hands you can control two sets of strings. Strings are intangible and invisible and cannot be severed by creatures or by magical means within the Material Plane. Beings within the Ethereal Plane can see, manipulate, and sever these strings as if they were normal threads. Additionally, your strings do not work in an anti-magic field but you are able to manipulate your puppet if you are on the Ethereal plane and your puppet is in the material plane.

At 1st level the length of your strings is 60 feet. You lose control of the subject of the strings if you are separated from it by a distance longer than the length of the strings. It takes an action to attach your strings to your puppet. You can dismiss one or both sets of strings on your turn: this does not require an action. The strings also disappear if you fall unconscious.

Puppets

Starting at 1st level, you have learned to connect your magic strings to a puppet you have made for the first time. This puppet could look like a simple doll or a four legged animal or even an creepy abomination. Though obviously a puppet, there are no visible strings attached to your puppet but the puppet registers as Enchantment magic to those who can see magical auras. You control your puppet on your turn and different abilities will use actions, bonus actions or reactions and will be detailed in the ability. If more than one Puppet Master attempts to attach their strings to the same puppet they must make contested charisma checks and the winner will control the puppet.

The puppet has its own proficiency bonus which matches your own. It increases in level whenever you gain levels in this class, and gains a new hit die, just as you do. Your puppet may spend hit dice to heal during a short rest, however you must be present and able to make the repairs. Puppets are considered to have a CR equal to half the level of the Puppet Master that controls them, rounded down. Additionally, whenever you gain an ability score increase from this class, your puppet gains an ability score increase of its own, however it’s Intelligence and Charisma scores cannot be increased through this feature.

If the puppet is reduced to zero hitpoints or partially destroyed, it can be returned to working order over a short or long rest. This will restore the puppet to full health but you will be unable to roll hitdice for yourself while you work, though you do gain the other benefits of a short or long rest. If the puppet is completely destroyed it can be remade by purchasing 1000 gp worth of materials and recreated over the course of 3 days. Alternatively, you may create a new puppet for 1500 gp worth of materials and 7 days of work.

If a puppet is traded to another Puppet Master or a Puppet Master finds a puppet, they can use that puppet normally as if it was their own puppet. If that puppet has any features or upgrades to it that are a higher level than what the current user has access to then those features and upgrades are locked until the user reaches the appropriate level.

Puppet Manipulation

You control a Puppet using a set of strings. While you are controlling a Puppet, you can sense what it senses and it share any special sights that you have.

If you are in control of a puppet, you can use your action to have the puppet take an Attack action or Disengage action on your turn, or your reaction to have the puppet take a reaction, such as an attack of opportunity for the puppet. You can use your bonus action to allow the puppet to move on your turn.

Additionally, when you Cast a Spell with a range of touch, your puppet can deliver the spell as if it had cast the spell. Your puppet must be within range of your strings, and it must use its Reaction to deliver the spell when you cast it.

Strong Build

• The puppet gains a Strength score of 16.
• The puppet gains either a Wisdom, Dexterity, or Constitution score of 13.
• Some Construct features require the target to make a saving throw to resist. The construct’s saving throw DC is calculated as follows: Puppet save DC = 8 + Puppet's proficiency bonus + Puppet's Strength modifier

Compact Build

• The puppet gains a Dexterity score of 16.
• The puppet's size is small
• The puppet gains either a Wisdom, Strength, or Constitution score of 13.
• Some puppet features require the target to make a saving throw to resist. The Puppet’s saving throw DC is calculated as follows: Puppet save DC = 8 + Puppet's proficiency bonus + Puppet's Dexterity modifier

Intricate Build

• The puppet gains a Wisdom score of 16.
• The puppet gains either a Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution score of 13.
• Some puppet features require the target to make a saving throw to resist. The puppet’s saving throw DC is calculated as follows: Puppet save DC = 10 + puppet's proficiency bonus + puppet's Wisdom modifier

Sturdy Build

• The puppet gains a Constitution score of 16.
• The puppet gains either a Strength, Dexterity, or Wisdom score of 13.
• The puppets natural armor is increased by 2.
• Some puppet features require the target to make a saving throw to resist. The puppet’s saving throw DC is calculated as follows: Puppet's save DC = 8 + puppet's proficiency bonus + puppet's Constitution modifier

Cantrips

You know two cantrips of your choice from the arcane puppeteer spell list. The Cantrips Known column of the Arcane Puppeteer table shows when you learn more Arcane puppeteer cantrips of your choice. Cantrips do not require spell slots to cast.

Spell Slots

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

Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher

You know two 1st-level spells of your choice from the arcane puppeteer spell list. The Spells Known column of the Arcane Puppeteer table shows when you learn more arcane puppeteer spells of your choice. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spells slots.

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

Spellcasting Ability

Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your Arcane Puppet Master spells. Your power comes from both training and study, but there's no substitute for the innate skill and passion that a puppet master possesses. You use your Charisma whenever a spell refers to your Spellcasting Ability. In addition, you use your Charisma modifier when setting the saving throw DC for an Arcane Puppet Master spell you cast and when Making an Attack roll with one.

Ritual Casting

You can cast an Arcane Puppet Master spell as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag and you have the spell learned.

Puppet Magic

If you are in control of a puppet you can use that hand to perform the somantic component of a spell. Thus you do not need an empty hand to cast such a spell, so long as you are using a set of strings to control a puppet.

Your puppet is your arcane focus and as long as you touch it or have a string attached to one of your puppets you are able to cast spells as if you were holding your arcane focus.

The Production of Performance

String Augmentation

Over the course of your have spent significant time studying the human body and its anatomy. You are proficient in the Medicine skill and add double your proficiency bonus (instead of your normal proficiency bonus) to these skill checks.

Additionally, you are able to attach your strings to a willing creature. As an action you attach your strings to one willing creature that is within the range of your strings and that you can see. Creatures that are attached to your strings count as 'puppets' for your class features. You may use this feature a number of times equal to your charisma modifier per long rest.

While your strings are attached to a creature you may do the following:

• As an action, your target gains an extra action. That action can be used only to take the Attack (one Attack only), Dash, Disengage, or Use an Object action.
• As an action, your target gains advantage on dexterity saves until the start of your next turn.
• As a an action, you grant your target a +2 to their AC until the start of your next turn.

Parasitic String

At 7th level, your skill with your strings has grown and you are able to hinder opponents movements. As an action, you attempt to attach your strings to one unwlling creature within your strings range that you can see. The target must make a constitution save againts your Spell DC. On a success nothing happens. On a failure, your strings latch onto the target. The target can make a new save at the end of each of their turns, on a success they are no longer controlled. You cannot have a String Augmentation target and a Parasitic String target active at the same time. This feature shares the uses of your String Augmentation feature.

While your strings are attached to an unwilling creature, the following applies:

• The target's movement speed becomes zero, if they were flying they will descend 30 feet a turn to the ground, unless you move them. As a bonus action, you can move the target up to their movement speed. You cannot move them outside of the range of your strings.
• You may use a bonus action to make the creature drop whatever they are holding.
• As an action, the target falls prone.
• As an action, you make the target attack one creature in its range. The target makes only one attack.

String Assistance

At 11th level, your control continues to grow and you can augment your allies with ease. You are now able to attached your strings to two allies that are within the range of your strings. When you use an action to augment your allies, both gain the your chosen benefit from your String Augmentation ability. Additionally, when you cast a spell with a range of touch, one of the allies attached to your strings can spend their reaction to deliver the spell, using your spell attack or DC as appropriate.

Additionally, you gain two more charges for your String Augmentation and Parasitic String features.

Masterful Control

At 18th level, you have mastered the ability to control your living puppets. You are now able to attach strings to a number of targets equal to your Charisma modifier. You can now target both enemies and allies at the same time, and while controlling allies, your String Augmentation abilities can now be used as bonus actions. When using a String Augmentation or a Parasitic String ability, the ability still only affects allies or enemies as previously described in those abilities.

Puppeteer's Concentration

At 1st level, you learn a ritual that creates a magical bond between yourself and a puppet. You perform the ritual over the course of 1 hour, which can be done during a short rest. The puppet must be within your reach throughout the ritual, at the conclusion of which you touch the puppet and forge the bond. If it is on the same plane of existence as you, you can summon that puppet as a bonus action on your turn, causing it to teleport instantly to an unoccupied space within 5 feet of you. You can have only one bonded puppet. If you attempt to bond with a second puppet, you must break the bond with the first one.

Bonded Strike

At 7th level, you learn how to make your puppet's weapon strikes undercut a creature’s resistance to your spells. Once per turn, when your puppet hits a creature with an attack, that creature has disadvantage on the next saving throw it makes against a spell you cast before the end of your next turn.

You may use this ability three times per long rest.

Arcane Charge

At 11th level, you gain the ability to teleport your puppet. As a bonus action you can do one of the following:

• You can magically switch places with one of your controlled puppets
• You can teleport within 5 feet of one of your puppets.
• You target one willing creature within 60 feet of you, that creature swaps positions with one of your puppets.
• You teleport one of your puppets within 10 feet of an ally within the range of your strings.

You may use this ability a number of times equal to your charisma modifier per long rest.

Puppet Magic Assist

Starting at 18th level, when you control at least one puppet and cast a spell of 5th level or lower you can have the spell be cast from both you and one of your puppets. The puppet uses your spellcasting stats for this spell but is unable to maintain concentration on any spells.

You may use this feature twice before needing a long rest.

Acid Vials

You've realized that when your enemies wield armor and weapons your odds of a survival tend to drop. So you decided to put corrosive acids in your puppet's arsenal. As an action your puppet attempts to douse an opponent in acid, melting their gear and flesh all at once. Your puppet makes a ranged weapon attack, on a hit the target takes 2d6 acid damage and their AC is reduced by 1 for one minute. You can reduce a target's AC this way up to four times. If a target's armor is reduced four times this way then the armor is permanently damaged and will need to be repaired. Magical armor and adamantine armor are immune to having their AC reduced this way.

Arcane connection

The material you've built your puppet with has begun to absorb some of your magic through your threads. You can make any spell you cast that targets only you target both your puppet and yourself.

Arcane Heart

You install a magical box or gear into your puppet. Your puppet gains 2 charges. As an action, it can spend 1 charge to cast any first level spell you know. It uses your stats for spell attacks. These charges are restored at the end of a long rest.

Bounce Back

You increase the resilience and stability of your puppet. It gains proficiency in Constitution Saving Throws and has advantage against saving throws to be knocked prone or knocked back.

Folding Puppet

Your puppet is able to fold in on itself and shift to one size category smaller than its natural size. It takes one minute for your puppet to make this shift.

Improve Constitution

You reinforce the construction of your puppet's limbs and body. Your Arcane Puppet's Constitution score increases by 2. You may apply this upgrade multiple times. An Arcane Puppet's maximum Constitution score is 20.

Improve Dexterity

The limbs and joints are so finely crafted that your puppet's Dexterity score increases by 2. You may apply this upgrade multiple times. A Arcane Puppet's maximum Dexterity score is 20.

Improve Strength

You reinforce the construction of your puppet's limbs and body. Your Arcane Puppet's Strength score increases by 2. You may apply this upgrade multiple times. An Arcane Puppet's maximum Strength score is 20.

Improve Wisdom

You learn to implement arcane and mechanical contraptions into your puppet. Your Arcane Puppet's Wisdom score increases by 2. You may apply this upgrade multiple times. An Arcane Puppet's maximum Wisdom score is 20.

Lock Pick

You gain proficiency in thieves tools can use your proficiency bonus when attempting to use thieves tools with your puppet. Additionally, your puppet has a built-in set of thieves tools that are always available for use.

Magical Essence

You transfer some of your own magical power into your puppet, allowing it to attune to one magical item. This counts towards the total number of items you can be attuned to.

Motion Capture Device

Prerequisite: Improv Puppet

You've further learned how to increase your puppet's ability to record it's environment. Your puppet now has a video recording device built into it's body. When you use your Improv Puppet feature, the puppet also records everything that it can see within 60 feet. You are able to project the recording from the puppet's eyes as well as remove and replace the recording device the same way you would replace the sound recording device.

Poisoned Bomb

You outfit your puppet with a gas can, or something similar. This gives your puppet a short range, area attack. As an action, each creature in a 20 foot cone must make a Constitution saving throw. A creature takes 2d12 poison damage on a failed save, and is poisoned, or half as much damage on a successful save and is not poisoned. The target can make a Constitution save at the end of each of their turns to end the poison. Once the target passes the save they are immune to the poison condition from this attack for 1 hour.

You may use this ability three times per long rest.

Ranged Weapon

You outfit your puppet with a ranged weapon that is part of its construction. This weapon can be a crossbow arm, a bullet fired from the puppet's mouth, or a spinning blade that the puppet throws, or something similar of your choice. This weapon deals 1d8 damage, range of 80/320ft and the damage type can be bludgeoning, piercing or slashing as appropriate to the weapon created.

Sentry Bot

You enchant or otherwise install a security system into your puppet. By spending one minute to prepare your puppet you can set it into a sentry bot mode, which acts as if you cast the Alarm spell.

Sturdy Materials

You have reinforced the materials your puppet is constructed of, giving it more protection. It gains additional hitpoints equal to twice your Arcane Puppet Master level. Additionally, it gains 1 AC.