The Expert

Puzzle Solvers

One thing that often annoys many D&D parties and DMs are puzzles, mostly because of the player's inability to solve them. But experts rid campaigns of this pickle, for any of them can decipher a puzzle written in an ancient long-lost language and solve it, even if it is the most complex puzzle ever seen, in a few minutes.

Experts are also famed on their ability to solve the puzzles of mental instability, for any expert can fortify their mind from spell effects and the insults or words of other talkative people. For this quality experts are also valued as soldiers, not just for their ability to learn convoluted things quickly, but also their power to prevent the mind tricks of spellcasters they are fighting, thwarting them in their plans.

Know-it-Alls

Some experts are considered know-it-alls for their precise ability to quote literature perfectly, solve puzzles quickly, and just literally know everything in a specific field of study. Often times many experts will be caught explaining unwanted tidbits of information and rambling on about the invention of the word "the".

Though while some experts are resented for this talent, others are prized for this uncanny remembering, and are usually offered jobs as professors or academics, for academia is where the experts truly lie, in the haven of learning and knowledge, and many desire to teach at the University of Strixhaven, for it is the best academic college the multiverse has to offer.

Creating an Expert

When creating an expert character, there are a few things to consider while doing so. First of all, contemplate your characters field of expertise, is it martial, or charismatic, or do they specialize in casting spells or tanking damage. The precise details of an expert are an important part of the class, and it is vital to have a path of study on which to go down, and one of which your character especially enjoys. The subclasses for the expert explain six basic fields of knowledge to study for your expert character if you have trouble choosing one.

It is also important to decide the details of your teachers and mentors. Did you have good teachers that inspired you to become an expert, or did you have teachers that made you want to enlist in the military instead of focusing on academics, and you found your love for academia later in life. It is a big part of the expert to have multiple teachers that affected your views on learning and academics. Also, figure out when, how, and why you went into adventuring instead of staying in the safe urban areas away from monsters and villains and liches. What sparked the curiosity inside you to explore the world and solve its many infinite puzzles? Was it perhaps one of your mentors or some other anomaly.

Hit Points

• Hit Dice: 1d8p per expert level
• Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
• Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 4) + your Constitution modifier for every expert level after 1st.

Proficiencies

• Armor: Light Armor, Shields
• Weapons: Simple Weapons

• Tools: All tools

• Saving Throws: Intelligence and Wisdom
• Skills: Choose two from Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Arcana, Athletics, Deception, History, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Performance, Persuasion, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Survival

Equipment

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

• Either (a) a dagger and a shield, or (b) a sling
• Either (a) two light hammers, or (b) a shortbow
• Either (a) a scholar's pack, or (b) an explorer's pack
• Any two sets of tools of your choice
• Leather armor and a spear

Expertise

At 1st level, choose two of your skill proficiencies, or one of your tool proficiencies. Your Proficiency Bonus is doubled for any check you make using this proficiency.

You can choose another skill or tool proficiency to gain this benefit again at 6th level, 12th level, and 18th level.

Expert Knowledge

Beginning at 1st level, you can enhance your knowledge slightly by increasing an ability score or learning a new language or how to use a new weapon. During a long rest, you may gain one of the following benefits permanently. You only gain one of these benefits when it says you gain this feature on the class table.

• You can increase one of your Ability Scores by 1, to a maximum of 20.
• You learn one new language of your choice.
• You gain one new skill proficiency of your choice.
• You gain one new weapon or armor proficiency of your choice.
• You can increase your hit point maximum by 2.

You also gain this feature at 4th level, 8th level, 12th level, 16th level, and 20th level.

Beginning at 16th level, you can add the following benefits

to the list of things you can learn with this feature:

• You gain one expertise of your choice.
• You gain one damage resistance of your choice.
• You can increase your speed by 5 feet.
• You gain one feat of your choice.
• (If you are a spellcaster) Learn one new spell of 3rd level or lower.

Puzzle Solver

At 1st level, you have become a puzzle-solving novice. You have advantage on ability checks you make to solve puzzles or decipher any runes or unknown languages. This applies to anything your DM classifies as a puzzle or decipherable.

Martial

Some experts decide to add the unpredictable mass of combat to increase their roster. Like battle masters, they learn to analyze the battlefield and their opponents. Martial experts are well-rounded and usually make other people jealous, especially fighters, due to their innate ability to do almost everything.

Spellcasting

When you reach 3rd level, you have learned the ability to cast spells and use magic to enhance your circle of knowledge. She chapter 10 of the Player's Handbook for the details on spellcasting, and chapter 11 for the list of spells.

Cantrips. You learn two cantrips of your choice from the wizard spell list. You learn an additional cantrip of your choice at 10th level.

Spell Slots. The Spellcaster Spellcasting table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your wizard spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these spells, you must expend a slot of the spell's level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest. For example, if you know the spell shield and have 1st and 2nd level spell slot available, you can cast the spell using either slot.

Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher. You know three 1st level wizard spells of your choice. The spells known column of the Spellcaster spellcasting table shows when you gain more wizard spells of first level or higher. For instance, when you reach 7th level in this class, you can learn one spell of 1st or 2nd level.

Spellcasting Ability. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your wizard spells, since you learn your magic through study and memorization. You can use your Intelligence modifier when a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you can use your Intelligence modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a wizard spell you cast and when making an attack roll for one.

Tutor

At 3rd level you have learned to teach a multitude of people at the same time. You can now use your guide feature one two targets at once. All other aspects of the feature remain unchanged.

When you reach 15th level, you can use your guide feature on up to 4 targets at once.

Advice

When you reach 3rd level, you gain the ability to give people uncanny advice during combat. During combat, you can use your action to share with the one member of the party one of the following aspects about your opponent.

• The enemy's Armor Class.
• The enemy's Hit Point Maximum.
• The enemy's current amount of hit points.
• One of the enemy's damage resistances.
• One of the enemy's damage vulnerabilities.
• One of the enemy's ability scores.
• The enemy's proficiency bonus.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier and regain all expended uses after you finish a long rest.

Telepathic Instruction

Beginning at 7th level, you have learned to instruct people about things even without speaking. It seems you have knowledge of a little magic yourself. You can use your action to telepathically speak to two creatures of your choice, using your advice feature on them. You can do this even if the targets of the feature are deaf or you are incapable of speaking at the moment.

Inspiring Speech

At 10th level, you've learned the capability to give an inspiring speech to your companions to help them during combat. If you give a motivational speech with a minimum length of ten minutes to your companions, they each gain three uses of your current expert die to use during combat. Once the combat is finished or the uses have been expended, they cannot gain your expert die through this benefit until you finish a long rest.

Juggernaut

Beginning at 3rd level, you have learned to toughen and harden yourself up. Your hit die increases to a d10, and your Armor Class increases by 2. You also gain advantage on saving throws to resist being frightened.

When you reach 10th level, your hit point maximum increases by 10, and your Armor Class increases by 2.

Tank Damage

At 3rd level, you have become a master of resilience. You gain immunity to flinching. You also learn to tank damage. You can reduce any damage you take by 1d12, but you can only use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier, and you regain all expended uses of this feature at the end of a long rest.

Resist Damage

When you reach 7th level, you have gained the ability to resist certain specific damage types. You obtain resistance to two damage types of your choice permanently. These damage types must either be bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing.

Bonus Proficiencies

When you reach 3rd level, you have learned to become pretty nifty, quick, and stealthy with things. Your speed increases by 5 feet, and you gain proficiency in either the Stealth of Sleight of Hand skill. If you already have proficiency in the skill you choose, you gain expertise in it instead.

Cunning Action

At 3rd level, you have learned to take a cunning action during combat. You can take a bonus action on each of your turns in combat, though it can only be used to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.

Uncanny Dodge

Beginning at 7th level, when an attacker that you can see hits you with an attack, you can use your reaction to halve the attack's damage against you.

Supreme Sneak

Starting at 10th level, you have advantage on a Dexterity (Stealth) check if you move no more than half your speed on the same turn.

Reliable Talent

when you reach 15th level. you have refined your chosen skills to approach thieving perfection. Whenever you make a Dexterity check with a skill you are proficient or have expertise in, you can choose to count a roll of a 9 or lower as a 10.

Bonus Proficiencies

When you reach 3rd level, you have become a novice in the arts of charismatic orating. You gain proficiency in one of the following skills: Deception, Intimidation, Performance, or Persuasion. If you already have proficiency in the skill you choose, you gain expertise in it.

Inspiring

At 3rd level, you have learned to be an inspiring figure to people in their times of need. As an action, you can grant one person you can see and hear advantage on all rolls for 1 whole minute. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and regain all expended uses at the end of a long rest.

Improved Linguistics

Beginning at 7th level, you have learned many more languages to spread your charismatic influence. You learn three new languages of your choice. Furthermore, you have advantage on Charisma checks that you make with languages you learn from this feature.

Charismatic Character

At 10th level, you have become almost a master of the charismatic arts. As a result, you gain proficiency in Charisma saving throws.

Linguistics Master

When you reach 15th level, you have become the literal master of linguistics. You learn to speak three more languages of your choice. Furthermore, you have advantage on Charisma checks that you make with languages you learn from this feature.

Semi-Expert

Perquisite: Not an Expert