Base Class: Artificer
3rd Level: Tool Proficiency
You gain proficiency with vehicles (land). If the campaign uses a dedicated vehicle or mech proficiency, you gain that instead.
You also gain proficiency with one of the following:
- Smith's tools
- Tinker's tools
- Mechanic's tools, if used in the setting
If you already have the selected proficiency, choose another artisan's tool.
3rd Level: Personal Frame
You construct a Personal Frame, a customizable piloted construct.
Choose its appearance. It could resemble a humanoid combat suit, four-legged walker, alien exoskeleton, industrial loader, insectoid machine, or virtually anything else appropriate to the setting.
Your frame is a Medium Construct and is designed around your body.
Personal Frame
Armor Class: 13 + your Intelligence modifier
Hit Points: 5 + five times your artificer level
Speed: 30 ft.
STR 16
DEX 10
CON 16
INT —
WIS —
CHA —
Saving Throws: Uses your Intelligence modifier for Strength and Constitution saving throws.
Damage Immunities: poison
Condition Immunities: charmed, exhaustion, frightened, poisoned
The frame cannot act independently.
It is a vehicle, not a companion.
Piloting the Frame
You enter or exit your frame as an action.
While piloting it:
- You occupy its space.
- You use its AC instead of yours.
- You use its Strength instead of yours if higher.
- You use its walking speed.
- You retain your own Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma.
- You retain your skills, saving throws, class features, spellcasting, feats, and proficiencies.
- You can wield weapons normally.
- The frame counts as armor for features requiring you to wear armor.
- You cannot wear another suit of armor while piloting it.
Taking Damage
When an attack hits you while piloting the frame, the frame takes the damage.
If the frame is reduced to 0 hit points, excess damage carries over to you and the frame becomes Disabled.
A Disabled frame provides no AC, movement, hardpoint, or other benefits until repaired.
This is intentionally different from temporary hit points: the frame is an actual physical machine that can be damaged.
Repairing the Frame
You can cast mending on your frame, causing it to regain 2d6 hit points. A frame can benefit from this use of mending a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining all uses after a long rest.
During a short rest, you can spend your Hit Dice to repair the frame instead of healing yourself. Roll the dice normally, adding your Intelligence modifier to each die spent.
After a long rest, the frame returns to maximum hit points provided you have access to your tools.
If the frame is destroyed beyond reasonable repair, you can construct a replacement during a long rest using your Mechwright tools and available technological components.
3rd Level: Frame Hardpoints
The reason to play a Mechwright is customization.
Your Personal Frame possesses two Hardpoint Slots.
Whenever you finish a long rest with your tools and frame available, you can change any installed hardpoints.
Unless otherwise stated, a hardpoint can only be installed once.
Jump Jets
Your jump distance is tripled.
Additionally, when you fall, you can use your reaction to reduce the effective fall distance by five times your artificer level.
Reinforced Plating
Your frame gains +1 AC.
Servo Musculature
Your frame's Strength becomes 18.
You also count as one size larger when determining carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
Targeting Suite
You can use your Intelligence modifier instead of Dexterity for attack and damage rolls made with ranged weapons while piloting your frame.
This includes setting-appropriate ballistic and energy weapons.
Manipulator Array
The frame possesses additional mechanical limbs.
You can interact with two objects when you would normally interact with one.
These limbs can hold objects, reload weapons, operate controls, or perform tool checks, but cannot make additional attacks or wield shields.
Environmental Seal
Your frame carries an independent environmental system.
While piloting it, you can breathe normally in an atmosphere that would otherwise be unbreathable, and you have advantage on saving throws against harmful gases and airborne toxins.
The frame contains 1 hour of breathable atmosphere and replenishes itself during a long rest in a breathable environment.
This is deliberately useful from level 3 because I expect planets with hostile atmospheres to actually matter in this campaign.
Stabilization Legs
You have advantage on checks and saving throws made to resist being:
- knocked prone
- shoved
- moved against your will
You also ignore nonmagical difficult terrain caused by unstable ground, rubble, mud, sand, snow, or similar surfaces.
5th Level: Extra Attack
You can attack twice, rather than once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
5th Level: Integrated Armaments
Your frame gains one Weapon Hardpoint in addition to its normal Hardpoint Slots.
A Weapon Hardpoint allows you to integrate one weapon with which you are proficient into the frame.
The weapon could be mounted on the:
shoulder, forearm, wrist, chest, back, or another appropriate location.
An integrated weapon cannot be disarmed without removing or damaging the frame.
You can draw or stow an integrated weapon without using an object interaction.
Additionally, the frame can automatically handle ammunition feeds and power connections. You ignore the Loading property of integrated weapons.
This does not remove Reload unless a later piece of equipment specifically says so.
That distinction will matter once we build the firearm system.
9th Level: Heavy Frame
Your machine has stopped being powered armor.
It is now a mech.
Whenever you complete a long rest, you may configure your Personal Frame as either Medium or Large.
While Large:
- Your reach increases by 5 feet.
- Your frame's Strength becomes 20.
- Your carrying capacity is doubled again.
- You have advantage on Strength checks against creatures smaller than the frame.
- Your frame's maximum hit points increase by your artificer level.
- Your frame cannot fit normally through spaces designed for Medium creatures.
You can still choose the Medium configuration when exploring cramped ships, stations, ruins, etc.
That choice should actually matter.
9th Level: Advanced Hardpoints
Your frame gains a third Hardpoint Slot, and the following options become available.
Thruster Array
You gain a flying speed equal to your walking speed.
You can remain airborne for a total number of rounds equal to twice your proficiency bonus.
These rounds need not be consecutive.
All expended flight time returns after a short or long rest.
In zero gravity, this restriction doesn't apply.
Shield Generator
As a bonus action, activate a defensive energy barrier.
You gain temporary hit points equal to:
your artificer level + your Intelligence modifier.
You can activate the shield a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.
Heavy Weapon Mount
Your frame can integrate weapons with the Heavy property without suffering penalties caused by the weapon's size or weight.
If our eventual equipment rules include weapons specifically requiring stabilization or mounting, this hardpoint satisfies that requirement.
Ablative Armor
When your frame takes damage, you can use your reaction to reduce that damage by:
1d10 + your Intelligence modifier.
You can do so a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.
Sensor Package
Your frame gains:
Darkvision: 120 ft.
Tremorsense: 10 ft.
You also have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks relying on the frame's sensors.
Invisible creatures don't gain advantage on attacks against you merely from being invisible, provided they are within 30 feet of you.
Drone Bay
You can deploy a Tiny maintenance drone.
Mechanically, you can cast find familiar as a ritual without material components, but the familiar is always a Construct.
It can resemble virtually any small drone.
15th Level: Titan Configuration
Your Personal Frame has become a genuine war machine.
When you enter your frame, you can activate Titan Configuration as a bonus action.
For 1 minute:
- If the frame is Medium, it becomes Large.
- If already Large, it becomes Huge if sufficient space exists.
- Your reach increases by 5 feet.
- Your frame gains 30 temporary hit points.
- Your frame's Strength becomes 24.
- You cannot be knocked prone or moved against your will by creatures smaller than your frame.
- Your integrated weapons deal +1d8 damage once per turn.
- Your movement does not provoke opportunity attacks from creatures at least two sizes smaller than your frame.
Once you use Titan Configuration, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest unless you expend a 4th-level or higher spell slot to reactivate it.
15th Level: Master Hardpoints
Your frame gains a fourth Hardpoint Slot.
You also unlock Master Hardpoints.
Siege Cannon
You install a devastating integrated weapon.
As an action, choose a point within 120 feet. Creatures within 10 feet of that point make a Dexterity saving throw against your artificer spell save DC.
They take 6d10 force damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one.
Objects, structures and vehicles take double damage.
Once fired, the Siege Cannon cannot fire again until you finish a short or long rest.
Phase Shield
When you take damage, you can use your reaction to gain resistance to that instance of damage.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier per long rest.
Warp Thrusters
Requires Thruster Array.
Your flying speed increases by 20 feet.
Additionally, as a bonus action, you can teleport up to 30 feet to a space you can see.
You can do so a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.
Emergency Ejection System
If your frame would be reduced to 0 hit points, you can use your reaction to eject.
You move up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see without provoking opportunity attacks.
The frame is Disabled, but excess damage does not carry over to you.
Once activated, the ejection system cannot be used again until repaired during a long rest.
AI Copilot
You install a limited artificial intelligence into the frame.
You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice. If already proficient, you instead gain expertise.
Additionally, once per round, the AI can perform one of the following without requiring your action:
Scan: Make a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Assist: Give you advantage on your next Intelligence check involving technology.
Track: Designate a creature the frame can perceive; that creature cannot benefit from being hidden from you until the beginning of your next turn.
The AI is intelligent enough to have a personality, which I think should absolutely be encouraged.
Tool Proficiency
You gain proficiency with vehicles (land). If the campaign uses a dedicated vehicle or mech proficiency, you gain that instead.
You also gain proficiency with one of the following:
- Smith's tools
- Tinker's tools
Smithy
Gain Proficiency in smith's tools
Tinkerer
Gain Proficiency in Tinker's Tools
Personal Frame
You construct a Personal Frame, a customizable piloted construct.
Choose its appearance. It could resemble a humanoid combat suit, four-legged walker, alien exoskeleton, industrial loader, insectoid machine, or virtually anything else appropriate to the setting.
Your frame is a Medium Construct and is designed around your body.
Personal Frame
Armor Class: 13 + your Intelligence modifier
Hit Points: 5 + five times your artificer level
Speed: 30 ft.
STR 16
DEX 10
CON 16
INT —
WIS —
CHA —
Saving Throws: Uses your Intelligence modifier for Strength and Constitution saving throws.
Damage Immunities: poison
Condition Immunities: charmed, exhaustion, frightened, poisoned
The frame cannot act independently.
It is a vehicle, not a companion.
Piloting the Frame
You enter or exit your frame as an action.
While piloting it:
- You occupy its space.
- You use its AC instead of yours.
- You use its Strength instead of yours if higher.
- You use its walking speed.
- You retain your own Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma.
- You retain your skills, saving throws, class features, spellcasting, feats, and proficiencies.
- You can wield weapons normally.
- The frame counts as armor for features requiring you to wear armor.
- You cannot wear another suit of armor while piloting it.
Taking Damage
When an attack hits you while piloting the frame, the frame takes the damage.
If the frame is reduced to 0 hit points, excess damage carries over to you and the frame becomes Disabled.
A Disabled frame provides no AC, movement, hardpoint, or other benefits until repaired.
This is intentionally different from temporary hit points: the frame is an actual physical machine that can be damaged.
Repairing the Frame
You can cast mending on your frame, causing it to regain 2d6 hit points. A frame can benefit from this use of mending a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining all uses after a long rest.
During a short rest, you can spend your Hit Dice to repair the frame instead of healing yourself. Roll the dice normally, adding your Intelligence modifier to each die spent.
After a long rest, the frame returns to maximum hit points provided you have access to your tools.
If the frame is destroyed beyond reasonable repair, you can construct a replacement during a long rest using your Mechwright tools and available technological components.
Frame Hardpoints
Whenever you finish a long rest with your tools and frame available, you can change any installed hardpoints.
Unless otherwise stated, a hardpoint can only be installed once.
Jump Jets
Your jump distance is tripled.
Additionally, when you fall, you can use your reaction to reduce the effective fall distance by five times your artificer level.
Reinforced Plating
Your frame gains +1 AC.
Servo Musculature
Your frame's Strength becomes 18.
You also count as one size larger when determining carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
Targeting Suite
You can use your Intelligence modifier instead of Dexterity for attack and damage rolls made with ranged weapons while piloting your frame.
This includes setting-appropriate ballistic and energy weapons.
Manipulator Array
The frame possesses additional mechanical limbs.
You can interact with two objects when you would normally interact with one.
These limbs can hold objects, reload weapons, operate controls, or perform tool checks, but cannot make additional attacks or wield shields.
Environmental Seal
Your frame carries an independent environmental system.
While piloting it, you can breathe normally in an atmosphere that would otherwise be unbreathable, and you have advantage on saving throws against harmful gases and airborne toxins.
The frame contains 1 hour of breathable atmosphere and replenishes itself during a long rest in a breathable environment.
This is deliberately useful from level 3 because I expect planets with hostile atmospheres to actually matter in this campaign.
Stabilization Legs
You have advantage on checks and saving throws made to resist being:
- knocked prone
- shoved
- moved against your will
You also ignore nonmagical difficult terrain caused by unstable ground, rubble, mud, sand, snow, or similar surfaces.
Extra Attack
You can attack twice, rather than once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
Integrated Armaments
A Weapon Hardpoint allows you to integrate one weapon with which you are proficient into the frame.
The weapon could be mounted on the:
shoulder, forearm, wrist, chest, back, or another appropriate location.
An integrated weapon cannot be disarmed without removing or damaging the frame.
You can draw or stow an integrated weapon without using an object interaction.
Additionally, the frame can automatically handle ammunition feeds and power connections. You ignore the Loading property of integrated weapons.
This does not remove Reload unless a later piece of equipment specifically says so.
Heavy Frame
Your machine has stopped being powered armor.
It is now a mech.
Whenever you complete a long rest, you may configure your Personal Frame as either Medium or Large.
While Large:
- Your reach increases by 5 feet.
- Your frame's Strength becomes 20.
- Your speed(s) is reduced by 10.
- Your carrying capacity is doubled again.
- You have advantage on Strength checks against creatures smaller than the frame.
- Your frame's maximum hit points increase by your artificer level.
- Your frame cannot fit normally through spaces designed for Medium creatures.
You can still choose the Medium configuration when exploring cramped ships, stations, ruins, etc.
Advanced Hardpoints
Your frame gains a third Hardpoint Slot, and the following options become available.
Thruster Array
You gain a flying speed equal to your walking speed.
You can remain airborne for a total number of rounds equal to twice your proficiency bonus.
These rounds need not be consecutive.
All expended flight time returns after a short or long rest.
In zero gravity, this restriction doesn't apply.
Shield Generator
As a bonus action, activate a defensive energy barrier.
You gain temporary hit points equal to:
your artificer level + your Intelligence modifier.
You can activate the shield a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.
Heavy Weapon Mount
Your frame can integrate weapons with the Heavy property without suffering penalties caused by the weapon's size or weight.
If our eventual equipment rules include weapons specifically requiring stabilization or mounting, this hardpoint satisfies that requirement.
Ablative Armor
When your frame takes damage, you can use your reaction to reduce that damage by:
1d10 + your Intelligence modifier.
You can do so a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.
Sensor Package
Your frame gains:
Darkvision: 120 ft.
Tremorsense: 10 ft.
You also have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks relying on the frame's sensors.
Invisible creatures don't gain advantage on attacks against you merely from being invisible, provided they are within 30 feet of you.
Drone Bay
You can deploy a Tiny maintenance drone.
Mechanically, you can cast find familiar as a ritual without material components, but the familiar is always a Construct.
It can resemble virtually any small drone.
Titan Configuration
When you enter your frame, you can activate Titan Configuration as a bonus action.
For 1 minute:
- If the frame is Medium, it becomes Large.
- If already Large, it becomes Huge if sufficient space exists.
- Your reach increases by 5 feet.
- Your frame gains 30 temporary hit points.
- Your frame's Strength becomes 24.
- You cannot be knocked prone or moved against your will by creatures smaller than your frame.
- Your integrated weapons deal +1d8 damage once per turn.
- Your movement does not provoke opportunity attacks from creatures at least two sizes smaller than your frame.
Once you use Titan Configuration, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest unless you expend a 4th-level or higher spell slot to reactivate it.
Master Hardpoints
Your frame gains a fourth Hardpoint Slot.
You also unlock Master Hardpoints.
Siege Cannon
You install a devastating integrated weapon.
As an action, choose a point within 120 feet. Creatures within 10 feet of that point make a Dexterity saving throw against your artificer spell save DC.
They take 6d10 force damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one.
Objects, structures and vehicles take double damage.
Once fired, the Siege Cannon cannot fire again until you finish a short or long rest.
Phase Shield
When you take damage, you can use your reaction to gain resistance to that instance of damage.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier per long rest.
Warp Thrusters
Requires Thruster Array.
Your flying speed increases by 20 feet.
Additionally, as a bonus action, you can teleport up to 30 feet to a space you can see.
You can do so a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.
Emergency Ejection System
If your frame would be reduced to 0 hit points, you can use your reaction to eject.
You move up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see without provoking opportunity attacks.
The frame is Disabled, but excess damage does not carry over to you.
Once activated, the ejection system cannot be used again until repaired during a long rest.
AI Copilot
You install a limited artificial intelligence into the frame.
You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice. If already proficient, you instead gain expertise.
Additionally, once per round, the AI can perform one of the following without requiring your action:
Scan: Make a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Assist: Give you advantage on your next Intelligence check involving technology.
Track: Designate a creature the frame can perceive; that creature cannot benefit from being hidden from you until the beginning of your next turn.
The AI is intelligent enough to have a personality
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