I recently got caught up in a strange thought as I tried to go to bed. It was the though of a character that could meld constructs to their body, almost like a 'mech' of some kind. In this strange half-asleep world I thought: Wouldn't it be interesting for it to be a Druid? It goes against what most Druids stand for, but... I just couldn't resist. So here it is, a very first, very unpolished draft of my sleepless thinking.
I'd love some thoughts on this for balancing. One of my DMs is interested in possibly using it in his world, in which the plane of Mechanus plays a useful role. So please, lend me your constructive thoughts, I'm all ears!
NEW VERSION IN THE COMMENTS.
Circle of the Axiom v.0.1
Axiomatic Shape
At 2nd level you receive your first taste of Primus' gifts. Whenever you use your Wild Shape feature you may turn into a construct-type creature instead of a beast. When you wild shape in this way you do not completely change your form, instead your equipment reshapes and melds to your body in strange ways reminiscent of the chosen monster. You follow the normal rules for wild shaping except:
If the creature is of a smaller size than you, your size does not change.
Any objects you are currently holding remain held and you cannot drop or be disarmed of them. All other equipment melds into your form.
You may wild shape into a construct with a flying speed, as long as it also has a walking speed. You cannot use the flying speed of a construct until you reach level 8 in this class.
Bond of Mechanus
Also at 2nd level your ties to Primus and his plane of drones supersedes your aversion to metal. You are able to wear and use metal armor, shields and weapons.
Axiomatic Body
At 6th level your connection to Mechanus begins to corrupt and change your natural form. Choose one of the following mechanizations.
Automatic Stride. Your leg shifts to a light metal starting from the bone, moving to muscle, then the skin. Your speed increases by 5 feet. This bonus increases to 10 feet at 10th level, and 15 feet at 14th level. In addition, while you are wild shaped into a construct-type creature you ignore the effects of difficult terrain.
Caged Chest. Your chest and torso hardens and thickens into a sturdy metal. Your AC is increased by 1. While you are wild shaped into a construct-type creature you gain a bonus to your AC equal to 1/2 your Wisdom modifier rounded up.
Clockwork Heart. A ticking can be heard from inside your chest, as your heart is slowly replaced by a clockwork mechanism. You have advantage on death saving throws. While you are wild shaped into a construct-type creature you may use your reaction to gain advantage on a Constitution saving throw when you can see the source of the effect.
Eye of the Machine. One of your eyes is slowly taken over by a strange and gelatinous metal. You gain proficiency in the Investigation skill if you did not already have it. Whenever you make an ability check with this skill you may add twice your proficiency bonus to the check. In addition, while you are wild shaped into a construct-type creature you are able to see mechanical creations such as traps and construct type creatures as if they had a tinted aura around them to a distance of 30 feet. This vision can penetrate most barriers, but it is blocked by 5 feet of stone, wood or dirt, or a thin sheet of lead. The distance of this vision increases to 45 feet at 10th level, and 60 feet at 14th level.
Enhanced Wild Shape
At 10th level you have enhanced your connection to the axiom. You may expend 2 uses of your wild shape in order to turn into a construct-type creature of CR 5 or lower.
Axiomatic Soul
When you reach 14th level you have become more machine than mortal. You no longer need to eat or drink, and the amount of time you must spend resting is reduced by 1/2. For the purposes of scrying spells you are considered a Construct. In addition, you gain the wild shape benefits of Axiomatic Body in all forms, including when you are not wild shaped at all.
You want to keep your language consistent, clear, and concise.
In axiomatic shape you say "construct type creature", you can just say "construct", the same goes "chosen monster".
Make it clear axiomatic body is only active when using axiomatic shape.
Enhanced wildshape should be renamed enhanced axiomatic shape.
In axiomatic soul, are long rests shortened?
I don't see this making a lot of sense with the rest of the class, they're still casting nature spells and turning into beasts. As Primus is gifting you power, warlock may be a better class for this.
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
Noted on the language shifts. I will definitely go through and adjust the language in the next version to be more consistent.
To answer your question, yes it would shorten a long rest in the same way an elf 'trance' shortens the long rest. So a standard creature would have a trance-length LR, and an elf/fey would go down to 2 at level 14.
The concept is that it's a merger of nature and construct, which is why at 14th level you gain the axiomatic benefits in your beast wild shapes as well, so your mouse shape will have the same metallic eye or whatever it is you chose, or you turn into a deer and have your metallic leg. That's why the wild shape in general doesn't actually change your shape, but instead adds onto your body, merging the Druid with the Construct. I went with Druid specifically for the 'clash' and the joint effect that it gives you-- in the unfinished flavour text to precede the subclass the description is going to tie to druids trying to regain control over the world as it shifts towards mortal order and machines, and enjoining the plane of mechanus with their territory in order to wrest that control from modern societies -- essentially, beating them at their own game. It'll be more clear once I've completed that flavour text. :)
Mechanical transformation just seems to incongruous for a druid. I like the dichotomy of the natural and the artificial. I just feel like it needs a little something to tie it up cleanly. It may be a purely thematic element to do the trick. I'm not sure. Don't get me wrong. It's interesting and I like the tie-in with the Modrons.
You took on a tough challenge with this one. I'm curious to see how it develops.
Thanks! I'm working on r/unearthedarcana on some changes right now, based on some mechanical comments. I think I'll be using Axiomatic Body as more of a through-line since it defines the subclass identity, so I'm reshaping around that. I'll have v0.2 tomorrow probably. :)
I'm ambivalent about this. I feel like golem transformation would be more druid-themed, but mechanical transformation fits your Mechanus/Primus backstory and it's a damn good backstory.
New version! Lots of changes based on commentary I received on UnearthedArcana, and then trying to better enforce a throughline.
Axiomatic Body now becomes the defining feature, with a new name. Some of the wild shape boons have been changed. The heart now helps to boost the low HP most construct forms have, the leg now gives you a bonus action to help improve combat mobility, the eye now has a more long-term use than before.
Wild shape has been adjusted to better balance with the options available for constructs.
Wild shape improvements become the 6th level feature (based on the Moon feature, but solely for construct forms) so there's a brand new 10th level feature which should give the druid a bit more use in combat.
You get an additional mechanization at level 14 in addition to the mostly flavourful other benefits.
There are different benefits granted at level 14 for your mechanizations, as some of the new features wouldn't translate well to other forms.
Flavour text has been added.
Circle of the Axiom V0.2
As the world moves swiftly forward towards civilization and construction, nature loses its grasp on the world, and falls victim to the machinations of man. The Druids of the Axiom are the fearless spirits who have taken it upon themselves to protect against these threats. These druids recognize that nature never survives unless it adapts, and so have explored the powers of the plane of Mechanus in order to grasp tools to fight back.
Druids of the Axiom attempt to connect into the inherent nature and order of machines. In their dabbling with these unknown arts the druids find their very bodies and souls becoming reformed by the very power they aim to wield. This grants them the power to ward off civilization with the very constructs used against them, making them fierce and strange protectors of their untainted homes.
Axiomatic Shape
At 2nd level your interference and experimentation with machines has granted you new powers. Whenever you use your Wild Shape feature you may turn into a construct instead of a beast. When you wild shape in this way you do not completely change your form, instead your equipment reshapes and melds to your body in strange ways reminiscent of the chosen creature. You follow the normal rules for wild shaping except:
If the creature is of a smaller size than you, your size does not change.
Any objects you are currently holding remain held and you cannot drop or be disarmed of them. All other equipment melds into your form.
You may wild shape into a construct with a CR as high as 1/2. This increases to a CR of 1 at 4th level.
Mechanized Body
Also at 2nd level the power of Mechanus begins to corrupt and change your natural form. Choose one of the following mechanizations.
Automatic Stride. The bones in your leg reshape to a complex metallic contraption before your skin sloughs off to reveal the new construction. Your speed increases by 5 feet. This bonus increases to 10 feet at 6th level, 15 feet at 10th level, and 20 feet at 14th level. In addition, while you are wild shaped into a construct you may use a bonus action to take the Disengage action.
Caged Chest. Your chest and torso hardens and thickens into a sturdy metal. Your AC is increased by 1. In addition, while you are wild shaped into a construct you gain a bonus to your AC equal to 1/2 your Wisdom modifier rounded up.
Clockwork Heart. A ticking can be heard from inside your chest as your heart is slowly replaced by a clockwork mechanism. You have advantage on death saving throws. In addition, while you are wild shaped into a construct you receive a bonus to your wild shape's hit points equal to three times your Druid level.
Eye of the Machine. One of your eyes is slowly taken over by a strange and gelatinous metal. You gain proficiency in the Investigation skill if you did not already have it. Whenever you make an ability check with this skill you may add twice your proficiency bonus to the check. In addition, while you are wild shaped into a construct you may use your bonus action to choose one creature you can see and make an Investigation check against a DC equal to 8 + the creature's CR. On a successful check you learn one of the following pieces of information of your choice: If it has more or less current hit points than you; one immunity, resistance or vulnerability that it has; or you choose one ability to learn if the target's saving throw bonus for that ability is better or worse than your's.
Additionally your new body helps to override your superstitious aversion to metal. You are able to wear and use metal armor, shields and weapons.
Enhanced Axiomatic Shape
At 6th level you have unlocked the mechanisms of more advanced construction. You may use your wild shape to turn into a construct with a CR equal to or less than your Druid level divided by 3.
Thrall of the Animus
At 10th level you have begun to understand the inherent nature that exists within all mechanisms. Once per short rest you may cast the spell Animate Objects. You are able to cast this spell even while you are wild shaped as a construct.
Axiomatic Soul
When you reach 14th level you have become a perfect blending of machine and mortal. You may select one additional option from the Mechanized Body list. You no longer need to eat or drink, and the amount of time you must spend resting is reduced by 1/2. For the purposes of scrying spells you are considered a construct.
In addition, you gain two features from this list based on the options chosen from the Mechanized Body list. You benefit from these features in any form capable of utilizing them.
Automatic Stride.You ignore difficult terrain.
Caged Chest.You have resistance to Bludgeoning, Piercing and Slashing damage.
Clockwork Heart.You have advantage on Constitution saving throws when you can see the source of the effect.
I really like this new version! I'm still not sold on the concept but Thrall of the Animus gives the subclass some of that artificial spellcasting it was missing. I notice that most official material uses fractions for CR and "half" when dividing.
I have no idea why the phrase "the amount of time you must spend resting is reduced by 1/2" upsets me. This implies that both long and short rests are halved. Elves and Warforged already have shortened rests that in character have a specific flavor, one that doesn't meld well with the Axiomatic Soul "powering down". If I was writing the feature I would say "the amount of time you must sleep is reduced by half."
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
Thank you! Sorry it took me so long to reply! I work in hospitality, so November to December was too busy for writing content. :)
Good note on the phrasing for the 1/3. I'll be adjusting the wording to:
You may use your wild shape to turn into a construct with a CR equal to or less than one third your Druid level.
For the Axomatic Soul: The reason I went with 'resting' instead of sleep is due to edge cases like elves, who don't 'sleep'. I'm trying to ensure it's included. The resting is less about powering down in this flavour, and more about your body not being fully organic, thus not needing 'rest'. So elves are included in that, where their trance time would also be reduced at 14th level, same as a human going from 8 to 4 hours.
However, I don't want to include short rests, so I'll have to ponder how to nail that phrasing down. I might just be more firmly mechanical. Does this sound better to you? "The amount of time you require to complete a long rest is reduced by half."
Pretty neat! The swapping out of body parts, connection to Mechanus, etc., reads more Warlock than Druid to me, but it would be hard to get the "mechanical shapes" thing with a Warlock (though the mechanized body parts would work well as invocations).
However, I don't want to include short rests, so I'll have to ponder how to nail that phrasing down. I might just be more firmly mechanical. Does this sound better to you? "The amount of time you require to complete a long rest is reduced by half."
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
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I recently got caught up in a strange thought as I tried to go to bed. It was the though of a character that could meld constructs to their body, almost like a 'mech' of some kind. In this strange half-asleep world I thought: Wouldn't it be interesting for it to be a Druid? It goes against what most Druids stand for, but... I just couldn't resist. So here it is, a very first, very unpolished draft of my sleepless thinking.
I'd love some thoughts on this for balancing. One of my DMs is interested in possibly using it in his world, in which the plane of Mechanus plays a useful role. So please, lend me your constructive thoughts, I'm all ears!
NEW VERSION IN THE COMMENTS.
Circle of the Axiom v.0.1Axiomatic ShapeAt 2nd level you receive your first taste of Primus' gifts. Whenever you use your Wild Shape feature you may turn into a construct-type creature instead of a beast. When you wild shape in this way you do not completely change your form, instead your equipment reshapes and melds to your body in strange ways reminiscent of the chosen monster. You follow the normal rules for wild shaping except:If the creature is of a smaller size than you, your size does not change.Any objects you are currently holding remain held and you cannot drop or be disarmed of them. All other equipment melds into your form.You may wild shape into a construct with a flying speed, as long as it also has a walking speed. You cannot use the flying speed of a construct until you reach level 8 in this class.Bond of MechanusAlso at 2nd level your ties to Primus and his plane of drones supersedes your aversion to metal. You are able to wear and use metal armor, shields and weapons.Axiomatic BodyAt 6th level your connection to Mechanus begins to corrupt and change your natural form. Choose one of the following mechanizations.Automatic Stride. Your leg shifts to a light metal starting from the bone, moving to muscle, then the skin. Your speed increases by 5 feet. This bonus increases to 10 feet at 10th level, and 15 feet at 14th level. In addition, while you are wild shaped into a construct-type creature you ignore the effects of difficult terrain.Caged Chest. Your chest and torso hardens and thickens into a sturdy metal. Your AC is increased by 1. While you are wild shaped into a construct-type creature you gain a bonus to your AC equal to 1/2 your Wisdom modifier rounded up.Clockwork Heart. A ticking can be heard from inside your chest, as your heart is slowly replaced by a clockwork mechanism. You have advantage on death saving throws. While you are wild shaped into a construct-type creature you may use your reaction to gain advantage on a Constitution saving throw when you can see the source of the effect.Eye of the Machine. One of your eyes is slowly taken over by a strange and gelatinous metal. You gain proficiency in the Investigation skill if you did not already have it. Whenever you make an ability check with this skill you may add twice your proficiency bonus to the check. In addition, while you are wild shaped into a construct-type creature you are able to see mechanical creations such as traps and construct type creatures as if they had a tinted aura around them to a distance of 30 feet. This vision can penetrate most barriers, but it is blocked by 5 feet of stone, wood or dirt, or a thin sheet of lead. The distance of this vision increases to 45 feet at 10th level, and 60 feet at 14th level.Enhanced Wild ShapeAt 10th level you have enhanced your connection to the axiom. You may expend 2 uses of your wild shape in order to turn into a construct-type creature of CR 5 or lower.Axiomatic SoulWhen you reach 14th level you have become more machine than mortal. You no longer need to eat or drink, and the amount of time you must spend resting is reduced by 1/2. For the purposes of scrying spells you are considered a Construct. In addition, you gain the wild shape benefits of Axiomatic Body in all forms, including when you are not wild shaped at all.You want to keep your language consistent, clear, and concise.
In axiomatic shape you say "construct type creature", you can just say "construct", the same goes "chosen monster".
Make it clear axiomatic body is only active when using axiomatic shape.
Enhanced wildshape should be renamed enhanced axiomatic shape.
In axiomatic soul, are long rests shortened?
I don't see this making a lot of sense with the rest of the class, they're still casting nature spells and turning into beasts. As Primus is gifting you power, warlock may be a better class for this.
Tooltips | Snippet Code | How to Homebrew on D&D Beyond | Subclass Guide | Feature Roadmap
Astromancer's Homebrew Assembly
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
Thanks for the comments!
Noted on the language shifts. I will definitely go through and adjust the language in the next version to be more consistent.
To answer your question, yes it would shorten a long rest in the same way an elf 'trance' shortens the long rest. So a standard creature would have a trance-length LR, and an elf/fey would go down to 2 at level 14.
The concept is that it's a merger of nature and construct, which is why at 14th level you gain the axiomatic benefits in your beast wild shapes as well, so your mouse shape will have the same metallic eye or whatever it is you chose, or you turn into a deer and have your metallic leg. That's why the wild shape in general doesn't actually change your shape, but instead adds onto your body, merging the Druid with the Construct. I went with Druid specifically for the 'clash' and the joint effect that it gives you-- in the unfinished flavour text to precede the subclass the description is going to tie to druids trying to regain control over the world as it shifts towards mortal order and machines, and enjoining the plane of mechanus with their territory in order to wrest that control from modern societies -- essentially, beating them at their own game. It'll be more clear once I've completed that flavour text. :)
Mechanical transformation just seems to incongruous for a druid. I like the dichotomy of the natural and the artificial. I just feel like it needs a little something to tie it up cleanly. It may be a purely thematic element to do the trick. I'm not sure. Don't get me wrong. It's interesting and I like the tie-in with the Modrons.
You took on a tough challenge with this one. I'm curious to see how it develops.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Thanks! I'm working on r/unearthedarcana on some changes right now, based on some mechanical comments. I think I'll be using Axiomatic Body as more of a through-line since it defines the subclass identity, so I'm reshaping around that. I'll have v0.2 tomorrow probably. :)
This would be interesting thematically with a warforged, but they would gain less from the class than other races
I'm ambivalent about this. I feel like golem transformation would be more druid-themed, but mechanical transformation fits your Mechanus/Primus backstory and it's a damn good backstory.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
New version! Lots of changes based on commentary I received on UnearthedArcana, and then trying to better enforce a throughline.
Circle of the Axiom V0.2
As the world moves swiftly forward towards civilization and construction, nature loses its grasp on the world, and falls victim to the machinations of man. The Druids of the Axiom are the fearless spirits who have taken it upon themselves to protect against these threats. These druids recognize that nature never survives unless it adapts, and so have explored the powers of the plane of Mechanus in order to grasp tools to fight back.
Druids of the Axiom attempt to connect into the inherent nature and order of machines. In their dabbling with these unknown arts the druids find their very bodies and souls becoming reformed by the very power they aim to wield. This grants them the power to ward off civilization with the very constructs used against them, making them fierce and strange protectors of their untainted homes.
Axiomatic Shape
At 2nd level your interference and experimentation with machines has granted you new powers. Whenever you use your Wild Shape feature you may turn into a construct instead of a beast. When you wild shape in this way you do not completely change your form, instead your equipment reshapes and melds to your body in strange ways reminiscent of the chosen creature. You follow the normal rules for wild shaping except:
Mechanized Body
Also at 2nd level the power of Mechanus begins to corrupt and change your natural form. Choose one of the following mechanizations.
Additionally your new body helps to override your superstitious aversion to metal. You are able to wear and use metal armor, shields and weapons.
Enhanced Axiomatic Shape
At 6th level you have unlocked the mechanisms of more advanced construction. You may use your wild shape to turn into a construct with a CR equal to or less than your Druid level divided by 3.
Thrall of the Animus
At 10th level you have begun to understand the inherent nature that exists within all mechanisms. Once per short rest you may cast the spell Animate Objects. You are able to cast this spell even while you are wild shaped as a construct.
Axiomatic Soul
When you reach 14th level you have become a perfect blending of machine and mortal. You may select one additional option from the Mechanized Body list. You no longer need to eat or drink, and the amount of time you must spend resting is reduced by 1/2. For the purposes of scrying spells you are considered a construct.
In addition, you gain two features from this list based on the options chosen from the Mechanized Body list. You benefit from these features in any form capable of utilizing them.
I really like this new version! I'm still not sold on the concept but Thrall of the Animus gives the subclass some of that artificial spellcasting it was missing. I notice that most official material uses fractions for CR and "half" when dividing.
I have no idea why the phrase "the amount of time you must spend resting is reduced by 1/2" upsets me. This implies that both long and short rests are halved. Elves and Warforged already have shortened rests that in character have a specific flavor, one that doesn't meld well with the Axiomatic Soul "powering down". If I was writing the feature I would say "the amount of time you must sleep is reduced by half."
Tooltips | Snippet Code | How to Homebrew on D&D Beyond | Subclass Guide | Feature Roadmap
Astromancer's Homebrew Assembly
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
Thank you! Sorry it took me so long to reply! I work in hospitality, so November to December was too busy for writing content. :)
Good note on the phrasing for the 1/3. I'll be adjusting the wording to:
For the Axomatic Soul: The reason I went with 'resting' instead of sleep is due to edge cases like elves, who don't 'sleep'. I'm trying to ensure it's included. The resting is less about powering down in this flavour, and more about your body not being fully organic, thus not needing 'rest'. So elves are included in that, where their trance time would also be reduced at 14th level, same as a human going from 8 to 4 hours.
However, I don't want to include short rests, so I'll have to ponder how to nail that phrasing down. I might just be more firmly mechanical. Does this sound better to you? "The amount of time you require to complete a long rest is reduced by half."
Wow, this subclass has come a long way. Well done.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Thank you, TexasDevin!
Pretty neat! The swapping out of body parts, connection to Mechanus, etc., reads more Warlock than Druid to me, but it would be hard to get the "mechanical shapes" thing with a Warlock (though the mechanized body parts would work well as invocations).
This is the phrasing I would go with.
Tooltips | Snippet Code | How to Homebrew on D&D Beyond | Subclass Guide | Feature Roadmap
Astromancer's Homebrew Assembly
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett