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Alternate Artificer Class v3.0.0
🕑 Added 2024-06-30 18:51:22 +0000 UTCHey all!
The Coastal Wizards may have forgotten about the Artificer with their fancy new rulebooks, but I haven’t! After over a year of feedback I’ve got a update for my take on the Alternate Artificer!
As always, let me know what you think of the update in the comments below!
Enjoy
~laserllama
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ALTERNATE ARTIFICER v3.0.0
This Alternate version of the class was always meant to help the mechanics of the class better match the fantasy of playing a master of arcane invention, and this update is no different - here are the broad strokes of the many changes:
Infusions:
Tweaked Replicate Magic Item so you can’t cheese it to replicate *Tomes of Clearthought or the spell tattoos from Tasha’s.
Magical Tinker:
New(ish) feature that gives you the ability to cast mending and ritual detect magic & Identify.
Tinker’s Insight:
Your supposed to be the master of magic items, and now you can use any magic item for any class/race/etc from 2nd level.
Arcane Recharge:
Refuel your limited spell slots (and eventually Item Charges).
Specializations:
Details on the individual Specializations are below, but I made a tough call to move the Artificer’s subclass choice back to 3rd level (from 1st level in the previous version). It was odd having so many subclasses features in a row (at 1st, 3rd, and 5th - literally every other level). I merged the 1st and 3rd level features, and some now appear as new Infusions!
Expert Tinker:
New(ish) feature that allows you to Infuse magic items.
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SPECIALIZATIONS
Alchemist:
Everyones favorite potion-maker is back with a face-lift! Sadly, their Homunculus got moved to being an Infusion, but their Elixirs now have much cleaner and clearer rules for their use!
Armorer:
Their Lightning Launcher is now an Infusion option, but the rest of everyone’s favorite 5e tank subclass has been improved and streamlined!
Battle Smith:
New and improved, the Battle Smith’s Steel Defender is much easier to customize and use in battle. New Upgrade options and the ability to infuse your Defender with multiple Infusions help improve this awesome subclass.
Enhanced:
Promoted from my “Alternate Artificer: Expanded” Compendium and completely reworked from the ground up, this is the subclass if you want to reinvent yourself (mechanically at least, can’t help your personality).
Forgewright:
Streamlined and improved. Magic weapon, magic SMITE!
Wandslinger:
This subclass is meant to replace the Artillerist, and in my opinion was a bit of a mess in the previous version. Hopefully the many changes make this arcane duelist easier to play and more fun then the awkward action economy of the official Artillerist.
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CHANGE LOG v2.0.0 -> v3.0.0
Base Class
Major Art and Formatting updates!
Starting Equipment // Added some more options here.
Infusions // Replicate Magic Item // Specified you can’t replicate consumables.
Magical Tinker // New (ish) feature. Moved mending/identify here and added the ability to cast detect magic as a ritual with your tinker’s tools. Also halves magic item crafting times if you use those rules in your game.
Tinker’s Insight // Renamed (Arcane Breakthrough) and moved up to 2nd level. Also added a nice QoL buff for magic item DC’s.
Arcane Recharge // NEW 3rd level feature to regain spell slots. Scales at 11th level to recharge Infusions and magic items.
Specializations // Moved BACK to 3rd level. 9th level features moved to 10th.
Adjustable Infusions // CUT.
Flash of Genius // Moved down to 6th level.
Expert Tinker // New (ish) feature. You can now infuse magic items!
Magic Item Master // Second (5th) attunement slot moved up to 13th level.
Masterwork Inventions // Renamed (Soul of Artifice).
Artificer Spell List // added link to the laserllama Spell Compendium.
Spells // Added Tempestuous Blade, cut detect magic (now in Magical Tinker).
Specializations
ALL // Moved Tools of the Trade & Specialization Spells to 3rd level. Merged 1st level features with 3rd level features. Some became Infusions.
ALL // Specialization Spells updated with LL Compendium.
Alchemist Specialization
Homunculus // Cut (See the Homunculus Servant Infusion).
Alchemical Elixirs // Reworded generally for clarity (better examples).
Alchemical Elixirs // Elixirs use the Use an Object action. Some Elixirs now ignore concentration, but only last for a maximum of 3 rounds. You can concentrate on Elixirs that you drink.
Restorative Reagents // Reworded to be more generous with temp HP.
Master Alchemist // Reworked! Cut condition/damage resistance and instead you can now ignore the effects of your Elixirs (fireball yourself for no damage!)
Armorer Specialization
Arcane Armor // Improved layout for clarity! Combined with Arcane Gauntlet.
Arcane Armor // CUT Lighting Launcher (See Lightning Cannon Infusion).
Extra Attack // NEW feature (which includes my version of War Magic).
Modular Armor // Moved up to 5th level (bonus Infusions remain at 10th).
Armorer Adept // Reworked (redundant with Expert Tinker).
Master Armorer // Streamlined with new Armorer features!
Battle Smith Specialization
Tools of the Trade // Added the “Deflect Attack” ability back here.
Battle Ready // CUT
Steel Defender // Reformatted ability for clarity. Can now bear one Infusion (Infusion Bearer moved here from 5th level).
Steel Defender Stat Block // AC increased by 1. Hit Dice moved into features. Rend now scales on the Steel Defender’s Strength and your PB.
Infusion Bearer // Now part of the 3rd level Steel Defender’s features.
Minor Upgrade // Minor Arcanum // Locked in to three uses.
Adjustable Upgrades // CUT (redundant since you can build a new Defender).
Modular Defender // NEW 10th level feature.
Greater Upgrade // Greater Arcanum // NEW option!
Greater Upgrade // Limited Sentience // Added some specific benefits!
Greater Upgrade // Modular Construction // CUT.
Greater Upgrade // Reinforced Plating // Now resists magical B/P/S.
Masterwork Upgrade // Major Arcanum // Locked in to three uses.
Masterwork Upgrade // Self-Destruct // Capped the damage at 10d8.
Enhanced Specialization
“Promoted” from the Alternate Artificer: Expanded and totally reworked!
Forgewright Specialization
Arcane Armament // Merged with “Forge of War” feature and rewritten for clarity. Can be used as a Spellcasting focus. Expanded Crit range is cut.
Arcane Jolt // Limited to once per turn but increased damage to d8’s.
Extra Attack // Reworked second clause with a bonus action attack.
Arcane Surge // Renamed (Improved Arcane Jolt). Increased damage to 1d8. Limited to once per turn, but you can forgo damage for advantage.
Master Forgewright // Increased damage to 1d8. Rewritten for clarity.
Wandslinger Specialization
Arcane Sidearm // Edited for clarity. Now a spellcasting focus (not a weapon).
Spell Slinger // Renamed (Arcane Duelist). Moved up to 3rd level and reworked. Cut Wandslinger’s Ward (See Gem of Warding Infusion).
Arcane Duelist // NEW 5th level feature that scales Spell Slinger.
Expert Duelist // CUT (not needed with new scaling).
Quickdraw // Moved back to 10th level - buffed!
Master Wandslinger // Streamlined.
Infusions
All Infusions // Any Infusion with Charges now standardized to INT mod.
All Arcane Items // Can now be infused in an Arcane Focus.
NEW Infusions // Lightning Cannon, Gem of Warding, Homunculus Servant
Arm Launcher // Buffed so it’s worth using (hopefully).
Featherweight Weapon // Added interactions with the two-handed property.
Goggles of Clearsight // Can be infused in a helm. Buffed to include light and heavy obscurement (including darkness).
Power Whip // Buffed, added a trip feature.
Mind Sharpener // Can now be infused into a helmet.
Armor of Strength // Renamed (Armor of Magical Strength)
Chameleon Armor // Added Disguise Self to the spells.
Elemental Armor // Renamed (Resistant Armor)
Elemental Ring // Rename (Ring of the Elements). Added a command word.
Elemental Weapon // Removed bonus action activation.
Voyager Boots // Renamed (Boots of the Winding Path). Scale at 17th level.
Guardian Gauntlets // Renamed (Gauntlets of the Guardian). Added Charges.
Mind Shield // Renamed (Helm of Mind Shielding)
Comments
laserllama
Yup! I think that's what I'm going to do moving forward.
Kelly Mitchell
Do you plan on switching more sub/classes with the Extra Attack “swap an attack with a Cantrip” feature with “if use action to cast a spell can attack with bonus action” instead?
laserllama
You're not the first to point this out - when I release the Alternate Artificer Expanded I plan to add an Unarmored AC to the Enhanced.
Daniel Johansson
One thing I wondered about when reading it was something regarding the enhanced sub-class. I love essentially everything here, I just saw this one thing that maybe could be buffed a bit. It's specifically about the part of the enhanced were you can put infusions on your own body, specifically the body (armor) part. Since your body doesn't give you any armor, and you need a suit of armor to increase AC, putting armor based infusions on your body becomes a bit useless, since you're probably wearing a suit of armor already, which then gets the infusion. Maybe I'm just missing something, but couldn't the sub-class be improved by giving it unarmored defense. An example could be (10 + Dex + Int), since the sub-class wants, and should be, dex focused. IMO it fits the sub-class thematically very well, and it helps armor infusions work and fit better with the sub-classes abilities to.
