Homebrew Clockwork Man Species Details

"The clockwork men, have, naturally, inspired debate across many fields of study. Intelligence, animation, even free will have been applied to non-organic mediums, such as wood or stone. But the idea of giving life in such a way that it cannot be retracted through the ordinary magical means - namely, creating a self-serving machine - can be truly terrifying. Many engineers of such constructs have provided limitations to their creations, such as removing water deterrents or exposing vital mechanical parts. One scholar even suggested that the golems only function for a period of time after the winding of a key, like those found in many (non-animated) clocks, and the idea has spread to many such inventors. Rather ironically, such attempts to limit clockwork men result in a determination and freedom usually only found in living creatures; many find that an attempt to enslave their creations while keeping their intelligence result in uprising and revolt. But there are other designers who give free will to their clockwork men for the sake of their clockwork men, teaching them, helping them, so that one day they may be regarded as companions with the living. "

—Professor B. Lairic, Playing God: A History of Golems, Animates, and Other Artificial Life

 

Clockwork men were created hundreds of years ago by a long forgotten engineer with a vision to create an autonomous assistant to aid in research and daily chores, though it was able to walk, talk and follow commands the lack of personality kept them from adapting to more advanced problems so after many revisions,completely autonomous life began for his creations, given tasks and orders to aid the creator in life. shortly thereafter discovered by the creators government his helpful creations were twisted into machines of war.

Living Steel 

Clockwork are formed from a blend of metals and gears. Some Clockwork share a common facial design mainly ones made in batches, with a static facial shape in an either masculine or formless resemblance. Beyond these common elements of clockwork design, the precise materials and build of a clockwork vary based on the purpose for which it was designed. A tank warrior is a massive brute with a heavy steel frame, while a strider can be crafted from lightweight metals to grant it quick and elegant movement.

While they’re formed from various metals, clockworks are living humanoids. Resting, healing magic, and the Medicine skill all provide the same benefits to clockworks that they do to other humanoids. A clockwork can repair its metal plating and tweak pieces and parts in place of deactivating or can go into sentry to appear offline and keep auditory watch.

Clockwork Personality

The clockwork were built for various purposes at the start as a companion to aid in daily life, shortly thereafter re-purposed as a replacement for humanoid soldiers, as the need for them grew they were given free will and open freedom, many struggled with finding purpose and place outside of combat and war.

The typical clockwork shows little emotion. Many embrace a concrete directive , protecting allies, completing a contract, or other personal pursuits. However, there are clockworks who delight in exploring their feelings and their freedom. Most have no interest in religion, but some embrace faith and mysticism, seeking higher purpose and deeper meaning in their newfound freedom. 

The typical clockwork has a sexless body shape. While others adopt a gender identity in emulation of creatures around them.

Quirks

Whether due to some flaw in their creation or simple ignorance of how other creatures operate, clockwork often acquire an odd personality trait or two. A clockwork player can choose to roll or select a trait from the Quirks table.

1d10	Quirk
1	You analyze (out loud) the potential threat posed by most creatures you meet.
2	You don’t understand emotions and often misread emotional cues.
3	You are fiercely protective of anyone you consider a companion.
4	You often say the things you are thinking aloud without realizing it.
5	You try to apply wartime tactics and discipline to every situation.
6	You are unable to properly control your emotions and are prone to dramatic emotional outbursts.
7	You don’t understand clothing beyond its utility and assume that what a creature wears fits their stature and purpose.
8	You are obsessed with your appearance, and constantly polish/buff/decorate your plating/simple clothes.
9	You are deeply concerned with the well being of your comrades.
10	War is the only thing that makes sense to you, and you’re always looking for a fight.

Clockwork Names

Clockwork were assigned numerical designations for use in military service. Many of them adopted nicknames given to them by their comrades. As free creatures released from servitude, some have chosen new names as a way to express their path in life.

Clockwork Man Traits

Your clockwork character has the following traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score increases by 2 and your Strength score increases by 1

Age

A typical clockwork is between two and thirty years old. The maximum lifespan of the clockwork remains a mystery; so far, clockwork have shown no signs of deterioration due to age.

Alignment

Most clockwork take comfort in order and discipline, tending toward law and neutrality. But some have absorbed the morality, or lack thereof whoever they served under.

Size

Clockwork vary extremely widely in height, build, and form, with heights ranging from less than 4 feet to well over 7 feet tall. Your size is Medium

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Mechanical Resilience

You were created to have remarkable fortitude, represented by the following benefits.

• You have advantage on saving throws against being poisoned, and you have resistance to poison damage.
• You are immune to disease.
• You don’t need to eat, drink, or breathe.
• You don’t need to sleep and don’t suffer the effects of exhaustion due to lack of rest, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Sentry's Rest

When you take a long rest, you must spend at least four hours in an inactive, motionless state, rather than sleeping. In this state, you appear inert, but it doesn’t render you unconscious, and you can see and hear as normal.

Steel Skin

Your body has built-in defensive layers, which determine your armor class. You gain no benefit from wearing armor, but if you are using a shield, you apply its bonus as normal.

You can alter your body to enter different defensive modes; each time you finish a long rest, choose one mode to adopt from the Integrated Protection table, provided you meet the mode’s prerequisite.

Mode	Prerequisite	Effect
Metal Skin (unarmored)	None	11 + your Dexterity modifier (add proficiency bonus if proficient with light armor)
Composite Plating (armor)	Medium armor proficiency	13 + your Dexterity modifier (maximum of 2) + your proficiency bonus.
Heavy Plating (armor)	Heavy armor proficiency	16 + your proficiency bonus; disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common. Every milestone (determined by DM) or 7 levels for a max of 2 additional languages, learn a language of choice you dont yet know.