This is an Artificer specialty I've homebrewed (originally posted in this thread) based on the concept of computer programming. I'll be using it in an actual campaign as soon as we level up one more time, with plans to publish it after we see how it works in practice.
Any feedback is appreciated.
Algorithmist
One of the newest and oddest of artificer specialists, the Algorithmist eschews hard, battle-ready metals and firepower for softer materials and channeling a sort of magic through the careful use of written words, symbols, sigils, and patterns. While these products may seem of middling use and benefit, they give the Algorithmist an extra level of magical flexibility that complements the wonders they produce through tools and infusions.
Many artificer gnomes within the Valley of Sand who specialize in Algorithmy have taken to calling themselves "hackers", even if they prefer not to use slashing weapons in combat.
You always have certain spells prepared after you reach particular levels in this class, as shown in the Algorithmist Spells table. These spells count as artificer spells for you, but they don’t count against the number of artificer spells you prepare.
You have learned how to create Apps: flimsy, two-dimensional magical objects that imbue a sort of "soft" infusion when applied to a non-magical object, a non-magical surface, or an item bearing one of your infusions. Whenever you finish a long rest, you can create a number of Apps up to your proficiency bonus. Creating an App requires you to have calligrapher’s supplies, leatherworker’s tools, painter’s supplies, or weaver’s tools on your person.
A creature bearing an item with one of your Apps benefits from its effect. A creature can only benefit once from the same type of App (no effect stacking.) You can use your action to apply or remove an App. An item can have only 1 App applied to it at a time, and all Apps fade or deactivate at the end of your next long rest. You can also use an action to deactivate one of your existing Apps immediately.
Each App can produce one of the following effects, determined at the time of creation:
Sneaky. The bearer gains a bonus to Dexterity (Stealth) checks equal to your INT modifier (minimum +1).
Agile. The bearer gains a bonus to Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks equal to your INT modifier (minimum +1).
Buff. The bearer gains a bonus to Strength (Athletics) checks equal to your INT modifier (minimum +1).
Warded. The bearer reduces the damage taken from magical attacks or effects by an amount equal to your INT modifier (minimum +1).
Swift. The bearer's speed increases by 5 feet.
Root Cantrip
3rd-level Algorithmist feature
Choose one cantrip from the Artificer spell list that has a range of Touch. This cantrip doesn't count against your number of Artificer cantrips known, and can be changed out for another Artificer cantrip with a range of Touch after a long rest.
Feature Creep
5th-level Algorithmist feature
You can use your bonus action to activate, inactivate, or replace a Magical Tinkering property on an object or surface that has one of your Apps applied, originating from the App. A static visual effect property cannot exceed 5 feet in diameter even when on a surface larger than that.
These do not count against the maximum number of Magical Tinkering properties you can have active at once, though each App can only provide one property at a time.
Remote Access
5th-level Algorithmist feature
You can cast a spell with a range of Touch if the spell target is either a creature bearing one of your Apps or an object or surface with one of your Apps applied, and the App is within 120 feet of you. All other requirements of the spell still apply (e.g. components, your ability to see the target.)
Expert App Development
9th-level Algorithmist feature
You are now able to create an additional App by using an action and expending a spell slot. Accordingly, you can now have a number of Apps equal to your proficiency bonus plus your INT modifier (minimum of proficiency bonus) existing at any one time. If you have the maximum number of Apps, no additional Apps can be created until one is deactivated.
Also, your research allows you to create the following new types of Apps:
Alert. The bearer gains a bonus to Initiative equal to your INT modifier (minimum +1).
Evasive. The bearer gains +2 to Dexterity saving throws.
Stolid. The bearer gains +2 to Strength saving throws.
Robust. The bearer gains +2 to Constitution saving throws.
Shrewd. The bearer gains +2 to Wisdom saving throws.
App Portability
9th-level Algorithmist feature
A creature benefiting from one of your infusions, or the infusion itself if animate, can use their action to apply or remove one of your Apps.
Extended Remote Access
15th-level Algorithmist feature
You can cast a spell with a range other than Self if the spell target is within range of any of your applied Apps within 120 feet of you, with the spell effectively originating from the App. All other requirements of the spell still apply (e.g. components, your ability to see the target.)
It’s strange, interesting, and not obviously OP. The ability to cast touch spells through an app is pretty great for Cure Wounds, but not so much better than the homonculus that it’s game breaking.
Maybe some offensive debuffs as apps at level 9? Ransomware that acts like Feeblemind until a long rest, Hacking that works like Detect Thoughts, or maybe Keylogger that does Clairvoyance on the target, all with INT saving throws?
I envisioned the Algorithmist as being very much a support role, inspired by the Techie character in heist films and such.
Maybe Mind Spike would be a good spell for their spell list at 5th-level? I was kinda intentionally leaving out damage spells from their list, but something like that could be good.
Come to think of it, a 9th-level feature for being able to see & hear via an App would make a lot of sense. 5th-level has Feature Creep for a sort of 1-way messaging via Magical Tinkerings, and this would make it capable of working as a "wire". But I'm trying not to entirely replicate something like the spell Rary's Telepathic Bond.
The Apps don't work so well for doing debuffs, but maybe I'll have it where (after 9th level) if you deactivate an App as an action, you can choose to have it "burst", causing... 3d8? force damage to the bearer and object it's applied to (Dexterity save for half damage.) Edit: and/or do something like Shocking Grasp without self-destructing. It would need to be a non-attack roll effect for that I think.
Your range of access to your Apps increases to 300 ft; this applies to both the Remote Access and Feature Creep features. In addition, you learn when an object bearing one of your apps, or a creature benefiting from it, takes damage.
You can also use your Action to see and hear through one of your Apps. During this time, you are blind and deaf to your own surroundings.
And for App-based attacking, I'm thinking at 9th level, you can use an action to cause 1d6 lightning damage (CON save for no damage) to an object and/or creature bearing one of your Apps. Then at 15th level, allow deactivating an App by making it explode for 3d8 force damage (DEX save for half damage) to objects & creatures within 5 feet of the App.
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One thing I could use feedback on is, how much is too much? If you look at the existing Artificer specialties, they don't get very many features. Granted, I like splitting mine into more separate features so I can use more tech-based feature names, but still.
As 9th level attacks, I think these are too low. They’ll rarely get used in comparison to other actions.
What if your Algorithmist can trigger Shocking Grasp as a reaction for any person or object an App is on, with no damage to whatever the App is on? For your party members, it would be like adding Shocking Grasp as a smite for melee or touch spells. For objects, it could be a mild trap that affects whomever is touching the object. Either way, the App should probably get consumed.
The damage would scale and the App destruction avoids you being able to spam it every round.
Also, I like Mind Spike as an addition to the spell list. Consider Intellect Fortress too? Maybe you could give/require Mind Sliver and Shocking Grasp as cantrips for the subclass? Maybe you get both at 3rd level, but only get to choose one more cantrip of your choice until you get a third Artificer cantrip?
The Apps are more for providing buffs, not dealing damage. I was mainly thinking about adding a shock attack as a way to make a creature drop the object holding the App. Or maybe for pranking.
Intellect Fortress does sound like a good buff spell. An always-known Mind Sliver would be a decent addition to the Root Cantrip(s).
I guess I could do something where I cast a Touch spell via an App, and the one bearing the App can use their reaction to deliver the spell to a different target? Much like with a familiar or homunculus.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)
...Oh. One problem is that I'd like to publish this subclass after some playtesting, but I wouldn't be able to publish if it has licensed spells attached to it. So Mind Spike, Mind Sliver, etc. are a problem.
Edit: But it looks like I can add an Additional Spell List with the "Mind" spells to the Algorithmist Spells feature, and that way they are available to prepare from Manage Spells, while allowing the subclass to be published!
If I add an additional Root Cantrip choice that doesn't require Touch, unfortunately it doesn't have Mind Sliver in the list (since it's not on the general Artificer spell list), but that way I can shift one of my regular Artificer cantrips to Root Cantrips so it's available to pick Mind Sliver.
I'm also adding Tasha's Hideous Laughter to the list. (It'd probably work by blasting memes at the target.)
Hi fellow Artificers!
This is an Artificer specialty I've homebrewed (originally posted in this thread) based on the concept of computer programming. I'll be using it in an actual campaign as soon as we level up one more time, with plans to publish it after we see how it works in practice.
Any feedback is appreciated.
Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)
It’s strange, interesting, and not obviously OP. The ability to cast touch spells through an app is pretty great for Cure Wounds, but not so much better than the homonculus that it’s game breaking.
Maybe some offensive debuffs as apps at level 9? Ransomware that acts like Feeblemind until a long rest, Hacking that works like Detect Thoughts, or maybe Keylogger that does Clairvoyance on the target, all with INT saving throws?
I envisioned the Algorithmist as being very much a support role, inspired by the Techie character in heist films and such.
Maybe Mind Spike would be a good spell for their spell list at 5th-level? I was kinda intentionally leaving out damage spells from their list, but something like that could be good.
Come to think of it, a 9th-level feature for being able to see & hear via an App would make a lot of sense. 5th-level has Feature Creep for a sort of 1-way messaging via Magical Tinkerings, and this would make it capable of working as a "wire". But I'm trying not to entirely replicate something like the spell Rary's Telepathic Bond.
The Apps don't work so well for doing debuffs, but maybe I'll have it where (after 9th level) if you deactivate an App as an action, you can choose to have it "burst", causing... 3d8? force damage to the bearer and object it's applied to (Dexterity save for half damage.) Edit: and/or do something like Shocking Grasp without self-destructing. It would need to be a non-attack roll effect for that I think.
Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)
This is one feature I'm thinking of adding:
And for App-based attacking, I'm thinking at 9th level, you can use an action to cause 1d6 lightning damage (CON save for no damage) to an object and/or creature bearing one of your Apps. Then at 15th level, allow deactivating an App by making it explode for 3d8 force damage (DEX save for half damage) to objects & creatures within 5 feet of the App.
---
One thing I could use feedback on is, how much is too much? If you look at the existing Artificer specialties, they don't get very many features. Granted, I like splitting mine into more separate features so I can use more tech-based feature names, but still.
Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)
As 9th level attacks, I think these are too low. They’ll rarely get used in comparison to other actions.
What if your Algorithmist can trigger Shocking Grasp as a reaction for any person or object an App is on, with no damage to whatever the App is on? For your party members, it would be like adding Shocking Grasp as a smite for melee or touch spells. For objects, it could be a mild trap that affects whomever is touching the object. Either way, the App should probably get consumed.
The damage would scale and the App destruction avoids you being able to spam it every round.
Also, I like Mind Spike as an addition to the spell list. Consider Intellect Fortress too? Maybe you could give/require Mind Sliver and Shocking Grasp as cantrips for the subclass? Maybe you get both at 3rd level, but only get to choose one more cantrip of your choice until you get a third Artificer cantrip?
The Apps are more for providing buffs, not dealing damage. I was mainly thinking about adding a shock attack as a way to make a creature drop the object holding the App. Or maybe for pranking.
Intellect Fortress does sound like a good buff spell. An always-known Mind Sliver would be a decent addition to the Root Cantrip(s).
I guess I could do something where I cast a Touch spell via an App, and the one bearing the App can use their reaction to deliver the spell to a different target? Much like with a familiar or homunculus.
Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)
...Oh. One problem is that I'd like to publish this subclass after some playtesting, but I wouldn't be able to publish if it has licensed spells attached to it. So Mind Spike, Mind Sliver, etc. are a problem.
Edit: But it looks like I can add an Additional Spell List with the "Mind" spells to the Algorithmist Spells feature, and that way they are available to prepare from Manage Spells, while allowing the subclass to be published!
If I add an additional Root Cantrip choice that doesn't require Touch, unfortunately it doesn't have Mind Sliver in the list (since it's not on the general Artificer spell list), but that way I can shift one of my regular Artificer cantrips to Root Cantrips so it's available to pick Mind Sliver.
I'm also adding Tasha's Hideous Laughter to the list. (It'd probably work by blasting memes at the target.)
Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)