This may have already been covered but I have not been able to find it. I cant see it stipulated in the rules for Artificer Battlesmith or Steel Defender. Can the Defender relay what it sees on a perception check to the artificer? eg passive perception, if it detects something does it react or notify the artificer? can it be used as a scout similar to a familiar?
With in INT of 4, I would suspect that the most it could do would be simple "Alerts." Counting would definitely be out the window.. I gather it would be able to follow commands like: "If there are figures ahead, bark." But it wouldn't be able to tell the difference between enemies and friends, unless it has seen the friend before.
Now, as a watch dog while the party rests, it would make a huge racket if the party were set upon by an ambush in the middle of the night. That's just a part of the SD's Vigilant feature, plus the Alarm spell if you're a clever Artificer. You basically have the perfect guard dog and watch system to allow your party a safe night's rest every time you camp.
As for it being able to alert and notify, depending on how you "train" it, then you could definitely have it give a signal of some sort if it spots something that no one else sees. My Growley has the mentality of a dog, so it tends to point or whine subtly.
The Steel Defender understands all languages you know and you can issue commands to it, but RAW you have no telepathic link to it and it cannot speak any language.
Edit: Nevertheless, it can probably still relay simple ideas to the artificer in other ways, e.g. turning its ears and head towards the source of a noise or barking loudly at strangers, just like a real dog / animal companion might.
As a DM I'd take suggestions and queue's from my Artificer player with how they'd like to see the personality of the Steel Defender. If the player wants to have a more interesting or personal connection to this creature they've created I'd absolutely run with it! Adding that level of interaction might give your player and the Steel Defender some extra little advantages to communication that you won't see in RAW, but it'll inspire some fun role playing and should up the stakes a bit more if the creature ends up in danger in a battle!
My Artificer's Steel Defender is configured in a crude humanoid form, as much like a Warforged as a halfling is a gnome.
He can't speak, but he can click, whistle, snap his fingers and tap to get someone's attention. He can use his fingers to point to give directions and convey numbers up to six (anything more and he just click like a card in a bicycle wheel to convey "many").
Our group's Warlock tried to make conversation with my steel defender while the rest of the party and I were asleep. My Steel Defender nodded along and gave thumbs up or down when appropriate, but the Warlock ended up getting frustrated when he realized he wasn't going to get any real answers.
This may have already been covered but I have not been able to find it. I cant see it stipulated in the rules for Artificer Battlesmith or Steel Defender. Can the Defender relay what it sees on a perception check to the artificer? eg passive perception, if it detects something does it react or notify the artificer? can it be used as a scout similar to a familiar?
Looking forward to any replys!
Thanks
Abon,
With in INT of 4, I would suspect that the most it could do would be simple "Alerts." Counting would definitely be out the window.. I gather it would be able to follow commands like: "If there are figures ahead, bark." But it wouldn't be able to tell the difference between enemies and friends, unless it has seen the friend before.
Now, as a watch dog while the party rests, it would make a huge racket if the party were set upon by an ambush in the middle of the night. That's just a part of the SD's Vigilant feature, plus the Alarm spell if you're a clever Artificer. You basically have the perfect guard dog and watch system to allow your party a safe night's rest every time you camp.
As for it being able to alert and notify, depending on how you "train" it, then you could definitely have it give a signal of some sort if it spots something that no one else sees. My Growley has the mentality of a dog, so it tends to point or whine subtly.
The Steel Defender understands all languages you know and you can issue commands to it, but RAW you have no telepathic link to it and it cannot speak any language.
Edit: Nevertheless, it can probably still relay simple ideas to the artificer in other ways, e.g. turning its ears and head towards the source of a noise or barking loudly at strangers, just like a real dog / animal companion might.
Awesome cheers guys!
Ghostwise halfing Battle Smith artificer? :)
Watch your back, conserve your ammo,
and NEVER cut a deal with a dragon!
As a DM I'd take suggestions and queue's from my Artificer player with how they'd like to see the personality of the Steel Defender. If the player wants to have a more interesting or personal connection to this creature they've created I'd absolutely run with it! Adding that level of interaction might give your player and the Steel Defender some extra little advantages to communication that you won't see in RAW, but it'll inspire some fun role playing and should up the stakes a bit more if the creature ends up in danger in a battle!
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My Artificer's Steel Defender is configured in a crude humanoid form, as much like a Warforged as a halfling is a gnome.
He can't speak, but he can click, whistle, snap his fingers and tap to get someone's attention. He can use his fingers to point to give directions and convey numbers up to six (anything more and he just click like a card in a bicycle wheel to convey "many").
Our group's Warlock tried to make conversation with my steel defender while the rest of the party and I were asleep. My Steel Defender nodded along and gave thumbs up or down when appropriate, but the Warlock ended up getting frustrated when he realized he wasn't going to get any real answers.
Awesome cheers, I'll work something out with our DM