Hey guys! As the title says, Im trying to work our the best way to create an artificer that rides their cannon as a mount and uses it as their main weapon. My initial concept is a small warforged swarmkeeper/atillerist that integrates with the cannon, but im trying to work out details and stay within the RAW as I can. Is there a reasonable way to increase the size of the cannon to a medium construct without over-doing the stats?
I know that battle smith is an option but I like the flavor and mechanics of the cannon more and it works better qith the character I have in mind. Any suggestions for other options are still welcome though!
The cannon isn't a creature, it's an object. Thus, its mechanics are pretty different from the Steel Defender.
It only has 15' of movement
It cannot do anything at all without a bonus action command, even the same thing as last turn
It has no reaction, and it cannot dodge, disengage, or dash
It does not provoke opportunity attacks, nor can it take them.
If you are incapacitated and cannot provide a bonus action, it does nothing (SD and Homunculus can both act if you're down.)
Changing the size mechanically, I wouldn't care about if I were your DM, but I honestly think it's pretty terrible as a mount.
The Steel Defender counts as a creature - it is pretty cool and making it cannon shaped would I think be more satisfying for you. If you want the flamethrower effect, you can probably give it potions it can dispense.
Oh, and the other problem to consider with it as a mount is that the Cannon only exists an hour at a time, and to remake it in the same day costs a spell slot. The Steel Defender exists until it is killed or you remake it. Within a combat, that's not a problem, but it might be annoying thematically.
In truth, the way that the cannon interacts with the Artillerist, it's more like the Cannon rides the Artillerist than the other way around. Maybe that works better for your concept, that the cannon is for example on your hat or on your chest, it its tiny form.
In truth, the way that the cannon interacts with the Artillerist, it's more like the Cannon rides the Artillerist than the other way around. Maybe that works better for your concept, that the cannon is for example on your hat or on your chest, it its tiny form.
I've often pictured it like the little shoulder-mounted energy blaster used by the title character in the movie "Predator".
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Hey guys! As the title says, Im trying to work our the best way to create an artificer that rides their cannon as a mount and uses it as their main weapon. My initial concept is a small warforged swarmkeeper/atillerist that integrates with the cannon, but im trying to work out details and stay within the RAW as I can. Is there a reasonable way to increase the size of the cannon to a medium construct without over-doing the stats?
I know that battle smith is an option but I like the flavor and mechanics of the cannon more and it works better qith the character I have in mind. Any suggestions for other options are still welcome though!
The cannon isn't a creature, it's an object. Thus, its mechanics are pretty different from the Steel Defender.
Changing the size mechanically, I wouldn't care about if I were your DM, but I honestly think it's pretty terrible as a mount.
The Steel Defender counts as a creature - it is pretty cool and making it cannon shaped would I think be more satisfying for you. If you want the flamethrower effect, you can probably give it potions it can dispense.
Oh, and the other problem to consider with it as a mount is that the Cannon only exists an hour at a time, and to remake it in the same day costs a spell slot. The Steel Defender exists until it is killed or you remake it. Within a combat, that's not a problem, but it might be annoying thematically.
In truth, the way that the cannon interacts with the Artillerist, it's more like the Cannon rides the Artillerist than the other way around. Maybe that works better for your concept, that the cannon is for example on your hat or on your chest, it its tiny form.
I've often pictured it like the little shoulder-mounted energy blaster used by the title character in the movie "Predator".
pronouns: he/she/they