Circuit Designer

     Some artificers have found that wire and electricity can create some amazingly powerful abilities.  You create a special staff wrapped in wire that not only becomes your spellcasting focus but becomes a tool to increase your spellcasting potential.  One supposed Circuit Designer is named Nikola Tesla, who created a staff that shot out electricity all on its own.  Rumor has it that he perished by his Capacitor Staff overcharging and exploding causing his death.

Capacitor Staff

At 3rd level you can stumbled across the benefits of capacitance.  You create a wrapped wire staff that acts as your spell focus.  The staff has the following properties:

• The staff cannot be used for melee attacks, but you can cause the staff to short circuit.  This is similar to casting the shocking grasp cantrip at will.
• The staff can hold a number of charges equal to 5 times your artificer level.  You always know how many charges are remaining in the staff.
• When casting a cantrip or spell that deals lightning damage, you can expend a charge and increase the Lightning damage by +1d6 per charge.  You can use as many charges as you want in one casting, but must designate how many charges are being used and this must be determined prior to rolling the damage.
• When you cast a spell or cantrip that deals lightning damage, you regain a number of charges equal to 1/4 the damage done (round down).  This is damage done after resistance and saving throw success.  If you damage multiple enemies each enemy hurt adds to the staff’s capacitor charges.

 

Bonus Spells

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

CIrcuit Designer Spells

ARTIFICER LEVEL	SPELL
3rd	chromatic orb, witch bolt
5th	dragon’s breath, heat metal
9th	lightning bolt, call lightning
13th	storm sphere, elemental bane
17th	destructive wave, conjure elemental

Increased Amperage

At 5th level when you deal lightning damage to an enemy, you can push the enemy up to 10’ directly away from you.

Grounding Rod

At 5th level, you learn how to ground electricity directed at you.  You have resistance to lightning damage.  In addition, the portion of lightning damage that was resisted is absorbed into the staff, recharging the staff with a number of charges equal to 1/2 the absorbed damage (1/4 the total damage before resistance is applied).

Parallel Circuit

At 9th level, you have learned how to split the voltage coming from your Capacitor Staff, creating you spell effect twice.   When you cast a spell at a single target and doesn’t have a range of self, you can target a second creature with the same spell.  See sorcerer’s Twinned Spell for more details.  You can use this ability a number of times per long rest equal to your intelligence modifier.  This also drains 1 charge from your staff.

 

Overload

At 15th level, you have learned how to intentionally cause you Capacitor Staff to overload dealing damage to your enemies around you.  As an action, cause a 30’ radius burst, lightning damage centered at your location.  The damage is equal to 1d6 times your artificer level.  This ability can be used once per long rest.  This drains charges equal to 3 per target hit.