I find it a bit odd that apparently an artificer can create a steel defender from virtually nothing, by a strict reading of the text:
At the end of a long rest, you can create a new steel defender if you have your smith’s tools with you. If you already have a steel defender from this feature, the first one immediately perishes.
This text seems to assume that the artificer is not repurposing parts from the previous steel defender....while also not mandating, even in general terms, that the artificer has to have raw materials beyond their tools.
Imagine an artificer, deep under Waterdeep, in the Dungeon of the Mad Mage, in the midst of Level 8, Slitherswamp...and they're able to make a steel defender from water and mud?
It seems like the artificer should have to have some kind of raw material or metal stock from which to make the defender.
The intent with a lot of these newer rules sets - and the artificer's critters served as a roadmap for many summon or companion-type things to come - is that the class should never be denied its core class features unless for some reason the DM or the adventure specifically call for it. The rules don't explicitly say you need materials, but the DM can say so if she likes. Or if she prefers, you can simply have your defender because your class assumes you will. Same with the CFV Beastmaster critters, and much of this is the same as things like the warlock's Book of Shadows or other class-granted object features. You never lose your stuff forever.
Unless you're a wizard. In which case that's the price you pay for being able to steal errybuddy else's stuff.
It's the same with the Artillerist, all they need is smith's tools or woodcarver's tools and they can create an eldritch cannon. There's no mention of any other materials needed. However it does specify that it needs to be on a horizontal surface within 5 feet.
Taking this overly literally I can imagine an Artillerist taking out a leveler and setting it down on the ground next to them looking at it and deciding, "Yes. This is a good spot." Then whittling a wooden turret out of the very air itself. All in the course of 6 seconds.
By contrast the Alchemist needs alchemist's supplies (on their person) and an empty flask in order to create an experimental elixir (although there's no mention of ingredients). And the UA Armorer requires smith's tools (in hand) and heavy armor that they are wearing.
But subclass abilities aren't the only instance of Artificers effectively creating something out of nothing. Right Tool for the Job lets an Artificer create any set of Artisan's tools over the course of an hour provided they already have Tinker's Tools in hand. No mention of any raw materials required.
Which just leaves it up to the DM to decide whether or not these things require materials and if those materials are available. And if they do whether or not the gathering of those materials happened "offscreen."
much of this is the same as things like the warlock's Book of Shadows or other class-granted object features.
I'd say the Book of Shadows is different because the text explicitly says the book is given directly by the warlock's patron (both first time and replacement). The warlock does a ceremony and the response from the patron is to give the book.
The steel defender, OTOH, is something that the artificer has to make themselves.
This is now precisely my problem. In the DotMM, my player has a steel defender and wanted to "kill" it by ripping out its heart and then replacing the heart to "make a new one" all in order to end the effect of a curse on the existing steel defender, but I'm not loving that strat. I'm thinking you'd need at least the raw material to make a new one. idk, it's hard for me to rule on this.
I think it's best to remember that these abilities are magical in nature, not technological. Think of it as if they're conjuring the Steel Defender, not manufacturing it. It's like their spell casting; they're still spells, even if you re-flavor them to have a pseudo-technological appearance.
I find it a bit odd that apparently an artificer can create a steel defender from virtually nothing, by a strict reading of the text:
This text seems to assume that the artificer is not repurposing parts from the previous steel defender....while also not mandating, even in general terms, that the artificer has to have raw materials beyond their tools.
Imagine an artificer, deep under Waterdeep, in the Dungeon of the Mad Mage, in the midst of Level 8, Slitherswamp...and they're able to make a steel defender from water and mud?
It seems like the artificer should have to have some kind of raw material or metal stock from which to make the defender.
The intent with a lot of these newer rules sets - and the artificer's critters served as a roadmap for many summon or companion-type things to come - is that the class should never be denied its core class features unless for some reason the DM or the adventure specifically call for it. The rules don't explicitly say you need materials, but the DM can say so if she likes. Or if she prefers, you can simply have your defender because your class assumes you will. Same with the CFV Beastmaster critters, and much of this is the same as things like the warlock's Book of Shadows or other class-granted object features. You never lose your stuff forever.
Unless you're a wizard. In which case that's the price you pay for being able to steal errybuddy else's stuff.
Please do not contact or message me.
It's the same with the Artillerist, all they need is smith's tools or woodcarver's tools and they can create an eldritch cannon. There's no mention of any other materials needed. However it does specify that it needs to be on a horizontal surface within 5 feet.
Taking this overly literally I can imagine an Artillerist taking out a leveler and setting it down on the ground next to them looking at it and deciding, "Yes. This is a good spot." Then whittling a wooden turret out of the very air itself. All in the course of 6 seconds.
By contrast the Alchemist needs alchemist's supplies (on their person) and an empty flask in order to create an experimental elixir (although there's no mention of ingredients). And the UA Armorer requires smith's tools (in hand) and heavy armor that they are wearing.
But subclass abilities aren't the only instance of Artificers effectively creating something out of nothing. Right Tool for the Job lets an Artificer create any set of Artisan's tools over the course of an hour provided they already have Tinker's Tools in hand. No mention of any raw materials required.
Which just leaves it up to the DM to decide whether or not these things require materials and if those materials are available. And if they do whether or not the gathering of those materials happened "offscreen."
I'd say the Book of Shadows is different because the text explicitly says the book is given directly by the warlock's patron (both first time and replacement). The warlock does a ceremony and the response from the patron is to give the book.
The steel defender, OTOH, is something that the artificer has to make themselves.
This is now precisely my problem. In the DotMM, my player has a steel defender and wanted to "kill" it by ripping out its heart and then replacing the heart to "make a new one" all in order to end the effect of a curse on the existing steel defender, but I'm not loving that strat. I'm thinking you'd need at least the raw material to make a new one. idk, it's hard for me to rule on this.
I think it's best to remember that these abilities are magical in nature, not technological. Think of it as if they're conjuring the Steel Defender, not manufacturing it. It's like their spell casting; they're still spells, even if you re-flavor them to have a pseudo-technological appearance.
Narrative over rules as written dude. Its not a video game.