Artificers
Masters of invention, artificers use ingenuity and magic to unlock extraordinary capabilities in objects. They see magic as a complex system waiting to be decoded and then harnessed in their spells and inventions.
Artificers are essentially wizards, but rather than using magic in the form of spells using a staff orwand, they combine magic with engineering to create fantastical inventions. Some writers have used the term “Magi-tech” to describe this.
However, artificer subclasses can wildy vary the ideas behind an artificer chracter!
Artificer Specialisms
Subclasses for Artificers are referred to as “Specialisms”, just like how engineers might. Let’s take a look!
Alchemist
An Alchemist is an expert at combining reagents to produce mystical effects. Alchemists use their creations to give life and to leech it away. Alchemy is the oldest of artificer traditions, and its versatility has long been valued during times of war and peace.
Think mixing potions for healing or making your allies faster or invisible!
Armorer
An artificer who specializes as an Armorer modifies armor to function almost like a second skin. The armor is enhanced to hone the artificer’s magic, unleash potent attacks, and generate a formidable defense. The artificer bonds with this armor, becoming one with it even as they experiment with it and refine its magical capabilities.
Think Iron man but if he lived lived in the industrial revolution!
Artillerist
An Artillerist specializes in using magic to hurl energy, projectiles, and explosions on a battlefield. This destructive power is valued by armies in the wars on many different worlds. And when war passes, some members of this specialization seek to build a more peaceful world by using their powers to fight the resurgence of strife. The world-hopping gnome artificer Vi has been especially vocal about making things right: “It’s about time we fixed things instead of blowing them all to hell.”
Artillerists make elditch (magical) cannons. These cannons can be like firearms, magical bazookas or walking tanks!
Battle Smith
Armies require protection, and someone has to put things back together if defenses fail. A combination of protector and medic, a Battle Smith is an expert at defending others and repairing both materiel and personnel. To aid in their work, Battle Smiths are accompanied by a steel defender, a protective companion of their own creation. Many soldiers tell stories of nearly dying before being saved by a Battle Smith and a steel defender.
Battle smiths main trait is that they have their “Steel Defender”, this can be anything from a robot soldier or something non-human, such as a guard dog or a little companion droid full of gadgets!