Artificer Specialist: The Roboteer

## Artificer Specialist: the roboteer

The craft of an artificer is delicate and complex, often requiring the coordination of more hands than an average humanoid may possess. Since finding an assistant with a mind sharp enough to understand an artificer's ideas and docile enough to follow their instructions is a very difficult endeavor, some artificers have opted to manufacture their own personal helpers. Roboteers have mastered a way of simulating (or perhaps imbuing) life through constructed automatons, built in a myriad of ways that allow them to give crucial aid inside and outside of their master's workshop.

#### Tool Proficiency
*3rd level Roboteer feature*

You gain proficiency with woodcarver’s tools or mason's tools. If you already have this proficiency, you gain proficiency with one other type of artisan’s tools of your choice.

#### Roboteer Spells
*3rd level Roboteer feature*

You always have certain spells prepared after you reach particular levels in this class, as shown in the Roboteer Spells table. These spells count as artificer spells for you, but they don’t count against the number of artificer spells you prepare.

##### Roboteer Spells
| Artificer Level | Spell |
|:---:|:-----------:|
| 3rd | Alarm, Unseen Servant |
| 5th | Enhance Ability, Find Steed |
| 9th | Conjure Barrage, Tiny Servant |
| 13th | Secret Chest, Summon Construct |
| 17th | Animate Object, Scrying |

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#### Automatonic Assistants
*3rd level Roboteer feature*

You design and create automatonic beings to assist in your projects and adventures. You have the Find Familiar spell prepared. It counts as an artificer spell for you, and it doesn't count against the number of spells you have prepared. As an action, you can use a set of artisan's tools to cast the Find Familiar spell without spending a spell slot or needing to provide material components. Once you cast Find Familiar in this way, you can’t cast it in this way again until you finish a long rest or you spend a spell slot to do so.

Whenever you cast the Find Familiar spell using a set of artisan's tools as a spellcasting focus you summon two creatures instead of the usual one. The amount of familiars you summon changes as you gain levels in this class. Starting at 9th level you can summon three familiars, and starting at 15th level you can summon four familiars.

Any familiar you summon with this feature has their hit point maximum increase by a number equal to your your Intelligence modifier + your artificer level.

In combat, every familiar you summon shares your initiative count, but they take their turns immediately before or after yours (your choice).

A familiar summoned in this way is a construct instead of a beast, and their appearance changes to reflect this nature. An automatonic assistant may appear as a clockwork recreation of an animal, a clay figure carved with arcane runes or a wooden puppet animated by magical strings.

> #### Unorthodox Familiars
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> When it comes to an Automatonic Assistant, not all have to adhere to the look or shape of an animal. If your DM allows it, you can customize your familiar's appearance as much as you like, so long as you adhere to the abilities presented in their statblock. For example, your Automatonic Assistant might look like a miniature helicopter with metal claws, but use the stats of a bat.

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#### Custom Models
*3rd level Roboteer feature*

You know exactly which tools your creations need to assist you. Whenever you summon a familiar with your Automatonic Assistants feature, you can give it one of the following models: feisty, protective, sturdy, swift or volatile. You can change the familiar's model whenever you finish a short or long rest, provided you have some type of artisan's tools in hand.

**Feisty.**
The familiar can use its action to make an attack from its statblock using your spell attack modifier for the attack roll and dealing extra damage equal to your Intelligence modifier. The familiar's attacks count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.

**Protective.**
Whenever a creature starts it's turn in the same space as the familiar, they gain a number of temporary hit points equal to your Intelligence modifier.

**Sturdy.**
If damage reduces the familiar to 0 hit points, you must make an Intelligence saving throw with a DC of 5 + the damage taken. On a success, it drops to 1 hit point instead.

**Swift.**
The familiar gains walking, flying and swimming speeds of 40 feet and their movement doesn't provoke opportunity attacks. If a familiar already has a speed higher than 40 it can use that speed instead.

**Volatile.**
Whenever the familiar is reduced to 0 hit points it creates a small explosion, forcing each creature within 5 feet of it to make a Dexterity saving throw against your spell save DC, taking force damage equal to twice the familiar's hit point maximum on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. You can also use a reaction to deliberately activate this explosion.

#### Magical Conduits
*5th level Roboteer feature*

Your magical tinkering fills your automatonic assistants, allowing them to channel your power and protecting them from harm. You can cast spells as though you were in one of your familiars' space, but you must use your own senses. You can do so a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Additionally, every familiar summoned using your Automatonic Assistants feature gains a bonus to their AC and Saving Throws equal to your Intelligence modifier.

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#### Astute Helpers
*9th level Roboteer feature*

Your brilliance shines throught the accomplishments of your automatons. When you summon a creature with your Automatonic Assistants feature, you can give it proficiency in any one skill or tool of your choice. Whenever the creature makes an ability check with this proficiency, it gains a bonus to their roll equal to your Intelligence modifier. You can change the proficiency given to any number of your automatonic assistants whenever you finish a short or long rest, provided you have some type of artisan's tools in hand.

Additionally, whenever you make an ability check, you get a bonus to the roll equal to the number of familiars you've summoned that are within 5 feet of you.

#### Brilliantly Designed

*15th level Roboteer feature*

The models of your automatons can adapt to any situation. Whenever you summon a familiar with your Automatonic Assistants feature, you can give it one additional model from the options presented in your Custom Models feature.

Additionally, every familiar you summon with your Automatonic Assistants feature can take the help or dodge action as a bonus action on their turn.

> #### Art Credits
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> "[Thopter Engineer](https://www.instagram.com/thesteveprescott/?hl=en)" by Steve Prescott
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> "[Mechanical Familiars](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Po6331)" by Xabi Gazte
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> "[Mechanical Octopus](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Po6331)" by Xabi Gazte