Runecrafter

Runecrafter 

Runecrafter artificers enhance their spellcasting through the ancient power of runes. Though the tradition originated with the giant rune casters of old, runecraft magic has expanded to encompass countless languages and practitioners across different worlds.

For many runecrafters, the runes they wield are as every bit unique and personal as themselves. Some strive to honor the practice’s origins among the giants, engraving their runes on decorative stones that adorn their inventions, while others messily scribble their runes on scraps of paper.

Originally from the 2022 “Giant Options” Unearthed Arcana, the Runecrafter always seemed to me like a subclass that should be in the Artificer instead of the Wizard. So here it is, with some minor tweaks.

Tool Proficiency

When you adopt this specialization at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with Mason's Tools. If you already have this proficiency, you gain proficiency with one other type of artisan's tools of your choice.

Runecrafter Spells

Starting at 3rd level, you always have certain spells prepared after you reach particular levels in this class, as shown in the Runecrafter Spells table. These spells count as artificer spells for you, but they don’t count against the number of artificer spells you prepare. 

ARTIFICER LEVEL	SPELL
3rd	Shield, Identify
5th	Warding Bond, Silence
9th	Dispel Magic, Glyph of Warding
13th	Fabricate, Death Ward
17th	Animate Objects, Legend Lore

 

Runes of Understanding

3rd-Level Runecrafter Feature

Your study of runecraft has unlocked the ability to decode runes and languages, regardless of their origin; you can cast Comprehend Languages without expending a spell slot, without preparing the spell, and without providing the material component, provided you use Mason's Tools as the spellcasting focus.

Runic Empowerment

3rd-Level Runecrafter Feature

When you choose this subclass, you learn how to amplify your magic through the application of various runes. Through the knowledge of these runes you can store them on any object you are carrying, and you determine the runes’ cosmetic appearance. For example, your runes could be engraved into a weapon, a suit of armor, a shield, a piece of jewelry, something else you can wear or hold in a hand, or you could work the shape and meaning of the runes directly into a spell’s somatic and verbal components.

When you cast a spell using a spell slot, you can invoke one of the following runes:

•  Life Rune. When you invoke this rune, choose one creature you can see within 30 feet of you (you can choose yourself). The chosen creature gains temporary hit points equal to 5 times the level of the spell slot expended.
• War Rune. When you invoke this rune, choose one creature you can see within 30 feet of you. Until the end of your next turn, attack rolls that target the chosen creature gain a bonus equal to half the level of the spell slot expended (rounded up, minimum of +1).
• Wind Rune. When you invoke this rune, your speed increases by a number of feet equal to 5 times the level of the spell slot expended, and your movement doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks. These benefits last until the start of your next turn.

You can invoke no more than one rune per spell. You can use this feature a number of times equal to twice your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Sigils of Warding

5th-Level Runecrafter Feature

You can call on a rune of protection to guard yourself against threats. When you fail a Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution saving throw, you can use your reaction to expend one use of your Runic Empowerment and succeed on the saving throw instead.

Rune Maven

9th-Level Runecrafter Feature

Your understanding of runecraft has grown immensely. Whenever you finish a short rest, you regain a number of your expended uses of Runic Empowerment. The number of uses you regain can be no more than half your Intelligence modifier, rounded up (minimum of 1).

Engraved Emnity

15th-Level Runecrafter Feature

You have mastered the art of wielding your runes directly against your foes. As a bonus action, you can target one creature you can see within 60 feet of yourself. The creature must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or be magically marked by an enmity rune.

The enmity rune appears as a faintly glowing mote of energy that hovers over the marked creature, which suffers the following effects:

• Runecraft’s Bane. The creature has disadvantage on saving throws made against spells you cast.
• Unveiled Enemy. The radiance of the glowing rune makes the creature visible if it’s invisible, and the creature can’t become invisible while the rune persists.
• Woeful Curse. When you mark the creature, and as a bonus action on subsequent turns for the duration, you can invoke the enmity rune to curse the creature until the start of your next turn. The next time one of your allies hits the cursed creature with an attack roll, the target also takes 1d8 force damage.

The enmity rune lasts for 1 minute. Once you have marked a creature in this way, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest, unless you expend a spell slot of 2nd level or higher to use this feature again.