The Gunsmith, v2.2

Echoing through the foggy foothills comes a series of blasts, accompanied by a medley of cries from outside the camp's timber walls. After the screams subside, another bang resounds and the gates creak open, revealing a bloodied dwarf, toting what looks like a handheld cannon.

A half-elf leans out of the clocktower window, peering through her scope into the streets below. The City Watch insignia stamped on the pedestrian's helm resolves itself in her magnifying lens as she releases a shot...

Both of these adventurers are gunsmiths, masters of a new and strange technology at the forefront of warfare. They are capable of controlling the wild and unpredictable forces of combustion to direct strikes of heretofore unknown precision and devastation.

They may be scholars and adventurers brought into a life of adventure by circumstance, to reclaim a lost secret, or rescue an endangered colleague. Or they could be just the opposite; opportunistic adventurers seeking to take advantage of developing technologies to aid in their pursuits.

Quick Wits, Quick Triggers

Most gunsmiths possess a sharp intelligence, as is typically necessary to invent or operate the firearm technologies that are still in their nascent stages. As a result, many are cautious, calculating tacticians. However, others find themselves invigorated with a gun in their hand and a shout on their lips: for these, the firearm awakens a carnal wrath.

Of course, anyone can pick up a gun and pull the trigger. It's not the mere possession of a firearm that defines a gunsmith, but what is done with it.

 

Weapons Personified

It doesn't take much experience with firearms to know that those who wield them wield an incredible power, and gunsmiths are more aware of this than anyone else. Some find pride in this responsibility, performing flourishes with their weapon and flaunting it in public. Others are more protective of their technology, keeping it hidden and away from the prying hands of those who would misuse it.

Some find gunsmiths' relationship to their weapons jarring; many care for their firearm as it was a favorite child, even going as far as giving it a name.

Creating a Gunsmith

As you create your gunsmith character, consider how they came across their firearm and the characteristics of the weapon. Was it a chance discovery after a long night in the workshop? An ancient magical artifact found deep in a dusty tomb, the secrets of its power lost to time? Was it simply a cannon wrenched off the side of a ship, now toted in your very hands? Does the weapon have a name? An imagined personality, perhaps?

Think about what pulled your character into the adventuring world. Were they performing a field test of their invention, only to be gripped by the awesome power it granted them? Did they steal a valuable heirloom firearm from their employers or compatriots, now on the run and aided by the contraband? Maybe they're just one of many soldiers at the garrison, but they spend your nights tricking out their standard firearm.

Quick Build

You can make a gunsmith quickly by following these suggestions. First, Intelligence or Dexterity should be your highest score, depending upon whether you want to be a careful tactician or if you'd rather shoot first and propose quandaries later. Whichever score you didn't pick should be your next-highest score. Second, choose the guild artisan background.

Class Features

....-.. As a gunsmith, you gain the following class features.

Hit Points

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• Hit Dice: 1d8 per gunsmith level
• Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
• Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per gunsmith level after 1st

Proficiencies

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• Armor: Light armor, Medium armor
• Weapons: Simple weapons
• Tools: Tinker's tools

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• Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence
• Skills: Choose two from Acrobatics, Athletics, Arcana, Deception, Intimidation, Investigation, Sleight of Hand, and Stealth

Equipment

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

• (a) scale mail or (b) leather armor
• Two simple weapons
• Tinker's tools
• (a) Dungeoneer's pack or (b) Explorer's pack

Firearm

Beginning when you take this class at first level, you have invented a volatile firearm at the forefront of weapons technology.

Firearm Dice. Your firearm is a one-handed ranged weapon that you are proficient with that has the loading and ammunition properties, and a range of 30/60. It has a pool of Firearm Dice, which increase in number as you gain levels in this class, as shown in the Gunsmith Features table. At first level, the pool contains 2 dice, which are d6s. Whenever you score a hit with your firearm, you roll all of the dice in the pool to calculate damage. Therefore, at first level, the base damage of your firearm is 2d6 piercing. The increase in damage dice represents both gradual modification and technique improvements.

Wear. If at any time one of the Firearm Dice you roll for damage results in a 1, the weapon has a slight misfire. It deals damage as normal, but the die that rolled a 1 is removed from the pool until you take a long rest, at which point you are assumed to use the downtime to fix up your firearm. You always have at least one die in your pool; at which point rolling a 1 has no effect. On a critical hit, you roll twice the number of dice in your pool, and rolling 1s does not result in any wear.

Repair. During a short rest, you can attempt to repair some of the weapon’s wear. To do so, you expend 5 gp worth of supplies and make an Intelligence check aided by your Tinker’s Tools. If you meet or exceed the repair DC as shown in the damage dice chart (which starts at 16 - see Innovations list), you return one of the dice back to your pool. The mending spell can return one die to a firearm pool when cast.

Ammunition. Each time you take a long rest, you can fashion 20 rounds of ammunition for your firearm.

Saving Throws. Some of your gunsmith abilities require your target to make a saving throw to resist the feature's effects. The DC for these saving throws is calculated as follows:

Gunplay save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier.

 

The Gunsmith

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Firearm Pool	Features
1st	+2	2	Firearm, Innovations
2nd	+2	3	Focus
3rd	+2	3	Gunplay Archetype
4th	+2	3	Ability Score Improvement
5th	+3	4	─
6th	+3	4	Archetype Feature
7th	+3	4	Sturdy Receiver
8th	+3	4	Ability Score Improvement
9th	+4	5	─
10th	+4	5	Archetype Feature
11th	+4	5	Quick Fix
12th	+4	5	Ability Score Improvement
13th	+5	6	─
14th	+5	6	Archetype Feature
15th	+5	6	Alert Focus
16th	+5	6	Ability Score Improvement
17th	+6	7	─
18th	+6	7	Immutable Focus
19th	+6	8	Ability Score Improvement
20th	+6	8	Killshot

Optional: Non-Gunsmiths

Creatures without any levels in the gunsmith class must make an Intelligence skill check when they attempt to use firearms. The result determines the outcome, as shown in this table:

Intelligence Check Result	Effect
1	The weapon explodes in their hands, dealing its damage to the user.
2-10	One die is removed from the weapon's pool and it automatically misses.
10-15	One die is removed from the weapon's pool.
16+	The attack is made as normal.

Innovations

The knowledge you possess of your weapon and its intricacies allows you to use it in ways others cannot, and devise special ideas called Innovations. Innovations may take the form of technological upgrades to the weapon or advances in training that allow you to use it more effectively. Others, namely those granted by the Tinker archetype, don't affect your firearm at all.

Beginning at 1st level, you know 2 Innovations from the list below, and gain additional Innovations as you level up. The number of Innovations you have is equal to the maximum number of dice in your Firearm Pool at any given level. Certain Innovations have prerequisites which must be met before taking that Innovation.

You may want to create an Innovation of your own; consult your DM with your idea and they might translate it into a balanced feature.

Focus

You are capable of meshing your experience of the battlefield with your calculating mind to analyze the battlefield and hone in on a single target.

Starting at 2nd level, you can use a bonus action to Focus on a creature you can see for up to 1 minute. While your Focus is active, you can add a bonus to any attack rolls you make against the target with your firearm. This bonus is equal to half your Intelligence modifier, rounded down. Focus ends early if your target dies, you are incapacitated, you target another creature, or you choose to end it as a bonus action. In addition, you must make a concentration check (as if concentrating on a spell) whenever you take damage. See the spellcasting section for more information on concentration checks.

You can use your Focus a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier. After a long rest, you regain all uses of your Focus.

Gunplay Archetype

At 3rd level, you choose one element of fighting with your firearm to develop further and focus your studies on. Choose from the Sharpshooter, a long-range combatant who specializes in dealing heavy single-target damage; the Gunslinger, an agile hotshot who makes several attacks; the Tinker, a utilitarian craftsman who uses their downtime to fabricate useful gadgets; or the Commander, a resilient leader who inspires their allies from the fray.

Sturdy Receiver

You’ve tuned your firearm to hold up more effectively after suffering wear. Beginning at 7th level, the minimum number of dice in your Firearm pool at any given time increases to 2.

Quick Fix

Starting at 11th level, you can attempt an impromptu repair of your firearm. As an action, make an Intelligence check using your Tinker's tools. The DC for this check is equal to the normal repair DC + 5. If you succeed the check, one die is returned to your firearm pool as normal. If you fail, your Tinker's tools may break or another die may be removed from your pool (DM's discretion).

Alert Focus

At 15th level, you've trained your reflexes to match your mind's focus in battle, allowing you to steel yourself against your enemies' strikes. You gain advantage on saving throws against effects caused by the target of your Focus, and you gain a +2 bonus to AC against their attacks.

Immutable Focus

At 18th level, nothing can disturb your mind's solid grasp on your quarry. Your Focus can't be broken as a result of taking damage. In addition, whenever you reduce the target of your Focus to zero hit points, you can choose a new target as a free action, without expending another use of Focus. This continues the same use of Focus, so if one minute passes since it began, it ends.

Killshot

At 20th level, you’ve gathered enough lore about your adversaries that you know how to best target their vitals. Upon scoring a critical hit against the target of your Focus, you can force them to make a Constitution saving throw versus your Gunplay DC. On a success, they take normal damage. On a failed save, the creature dies if it has fewer than 100 hit points.

Once you use this ability, you must complete a long rest before using it again.

Gunplay Archetypes

Each gunsmith has their own personal style. Some prefer to stay out of the fray, making their moves from the back of the lines or away from the battlefield, where they can pick their targets with precision and execute them with peerless accuracy. Others lead from the front, making shots and taking shots, compensating for their exposed position with a more resilient physique and an encouraging battle shout. Another group will follow the risky path of a Gunslinger, making several attacks but leaving themselves open to others' strikes. A final archetype prefers to develop new technologies than improve their weapon technique: the Tinker.

Dual Devastation

The only thing worse than being shot is being shot twice. Starting at 10th level, any creature that you hit with a firearm attack more than once in one round has disadvantage on all attack rolls and ability checks until the end of its next turn.

Evasion

By 14th level, your experience in the thick of battle has brought you the ability to deftly dodge out of the way of certain harmful effects. Whenever you are subjected to a Dexterity saving throw to take half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if you fail.

Sharpshooter

While other gunsmiths may fascinate themselves with fighting in the midst of battle, Sharpshooters turn their focus elsewhere. They find themselves at home not on the front lines, but in siege towers and elevated hideouts, where they can pick off their targets one-by-one with lethal precision.

Eagle Eye

Your eyes are trained to a degree only experienced snipers can achieve. Beginning at 6th level, you can add twice your proficiency modifier to any Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Overwatch

Your unparalleled awareness of your surroundings allows you to react quickly to enemies entering your line of sight. Beginning at 10th level, you can use a bonus action on your turn to enter Overwatch until your next turn. While in Overwatch, you can use your reaction to make a firearm attack against an enemy within your weapon's range that enters your line of sight after being hidden from you.

 

Adrenaline

The thrill of bringing down your enemies provides you with a surge of mental clarity. Beginning at 14th level, whenever you reduce a creature to zero hit points, you regain one use of your Focus.

Tinker

Tinkers, more than any other gunsmiths, prioritize the value of invention and creativity. While a Sharpshooter aims to inflict damage with surgical precision, a Commander stands at the front lines taking heavy fire, and a Gunslinger runs into the fray to fire off a rapid salvo of bullets, the Tinker feels at home in a workshop among tools and inventions.

Innovator

Beginning when you choose this archetype at 3rd level, your mind has a greater capacity for invention. You have access to an expanded list of Innovations (see list below) and can choose one additional Innovation immediately. You gain additional Innovations again at 10th and 18th levels.

Eclectic

As a Tinker, you possess broad knowledge from all subjects. Beginning at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in two additional artisan's tools of your choice and learn one additional language.

Recyclist

At 6th level, each time you take a long rest, you can switch out one of your Innovations for another, losing all products of the previous Innovation.

If your new Innovation causes an effect or produces something during a long rest, you do not gain it until the next long rest. If you lose an Innovation that is a prerequisite to another, you lose that Innovation as well.

Superior Focus

By 10th level, your sharp wit and keen knowledge allows you to strike with unerring precision. The bonus to attack rolls granted by your Focus increases to become equal to your Intelligence modifier.

Reliable Repair

Beginning at 14th level, whenever you successfully repair your firearm during a short rest or through the use of your Quick Fix feature, you can return two dice, rather than one, to your pool.

Innovations

Though it composes a great portion of their prowess, a gunsmith is more than just their firearm. As a rule, they possess an unparalleled capacity for invention and creativity. These inventions are made manifest in Innovations, which represent technological creations as well as improvements in technique and skill. The Innovations available to you are listed here in alphabetical order, with the exception of closely related Innovations, which are placed adjacent to each other.

Bayonet

You affix a shortened melee weapon of your choice to the end of your firearm. With this bayonet, you can make a single Strength or Dexterity-based melee weapon attack as a bonus action. The bayonet, which you are proficient with, has a 5-foot reach and deals 1d6 bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage. This damage increases to 1d8 if your firearm has the two-handed property.

Blunderbuss

Incompatible with Rifle.

Your firearm becomes two-handed, its range changes to a 15-foot cone, and its firing mode changes: Rather than you making an attack roll, all creatures in the firing cone must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw versus your Gunplay DC or take the damage of your dice pool. On a successful save, creatures take no damage. Creatures targeted by your Focus have disadvantage on this saving throw.

Improved Blunderbuss

Prerequisite: Blunderbuss.

Creatures who succeed their saving throws against your blunderbuss take half damage, and any creature that rolls a natural 1 on their saving throw takes double damage.

Narrowed Blunderbuss

Prerequisite: Blunderbuss.

The firing mode of your blunderbuss changes to a 30-foot line.

Concussive Chamber

Incompatible with Suppressor

Whenever you fire your weapon, all creatures within 20 feet must succeed a Constitution saving throw or take 1d6 thunder damage and become deafened for one minute. When you take this Innovation, you can create three sets of ear protection. Creatures who wear the protection automatically succeed their saving throws against this effect.

The damage dealt by this Innovation increases along with the increase granted by the Improved Receiver Innovation, so the damage die is always the same as your firearm’s.

Favored Target

Choose one creature type (such as ooze, construct, or plant) or two types of humanoids (such as dwarves and orcs, or gnolls and half-elves). While one such creature is the target of your Focus, you can add your Intelligence modifier to damage rolls on that target.

Featherboots

Prerequisite: Tinker archetype

Your normal speed increases by 5, and you fall half as fast, becoming immune to falling damage.

Flamecaster

Prerequisite: 9th level

You attach a compact flamethrower to the barrel of your firearm. With it, you can use a bonus action on your turn to let out a puff of flame, forcing all creatures in a 10-foot line to succeed a Dexterity saving throw or take 1d8 fire damage, taking half as much damage on a success. Alternatively, you can use your action to hold a sustained burst of fire, engulfing a 15-foot cone in flame until your next turn. All creatures who enter the area must make a Dexterity saving throw or take 2d8 fire damage, taking half damage on a success.

Flaregun

Prerequisite: Tinker archetype

You create a flaregun, a ranged weapon with the Loading and Ammunition properties and a range of 30/60. On a hit, the weapon deals 1d6 fire damage and burns brightly, granting advantage on attack rolls against the target for 1 minute. The flare is intended to be launched into the sky, where it is bright enough to signal allies within 15 miles during the daytime, or 25 miles during the night. You can create 1 flare each long rest.

Flashbomb

You have two flashbombs which you can recreate during a long rest. The bombs have a range of 30 feet. When they are thrown as an action, all creatures within 40 feet who can see the bomb must either use their reaction to shield their eyes or make a Constitution saving throw versus your Gunplay DC (the thrower of the bomb averts their eyes as part of the action). On a failed save, they take 1d4 radiant damage and are blinded for one round. On a successful saving throw, creatures are unaffected.

Powderbomb

You have two powderbombs which you can recreate during a long rest. The bombs have a range of 30 feet. When they are thrown as an action, all creatures within a 10 foot radius of the bomb must make a Dexterity saving throw versus your Gunplay DC or take 3d6 fire damage, taking half as much on a successful save.

Smokebomb

You have two smokebombs which you can recreate during a long rest. The bombs have a range of 20 feet. When they are thrown as an action, a cloud of smoke billows out of them in a 10-foot radius. The smoke blocks visibility, and any creatures within the smoke are heavily obscured from those outside of it. The smoke is dispelled after 1 minute or by a strong wind.

Thunderbomb

You have two thunderbombs which you can recreate during a long rest. The bombs have a range of 30 feet. When they are thrown as an action, all creatures within 30 feet who can hear the bomb must either use their reaction to cover their ears a Constitution saving throw versus your Gunplay DC. On a failed saving throw, they take 1d8 thunder damage and are deafened for one minute. On a success, creatures are unaffected.

Grenadier

Prerequisite: Powderbomb, Flashbomb, Thunderbomb, or Smokebomb

You specialize in the production of handheld bombs, improving their designs and your technique for throwing them. All Innovations listed in the Prerequisites above gain the following features:

• Throwing range is increased to 60 feet.
• All bombs can be thrown as a bonus action.
• You can craft a number of each bomb equal to your Intelligence modifier when you take a long rest.

Firearm Master

Prerequisite: 5th level

Whenever you hit with your firearm, you can choose to reroll the damage roll once, and you must use the new result.

Grapplegun

Prerequisite: Tinker archetype

You fashion a grapplegun, a ranged weapon with the Loading property and a range of 30/60. On a hit, the weapon deals 1d6 piercing damage and the hook is lodged in your target. If your target is a creature, you can then make opposing Strength (Athletics) checks with your target. If you succeed, the target is pulled 10 feet closer towards you, and if the target succeeds, the hook is removed.

If your target is an object less than 20 pounds not being worn or carried, you can pull it 20 feet closer to you. If your target is an anchored object or surface, such as a wall, you can make a DC 15 Athletics check to pull yourself 20 feet closer to it.

Mechanical Armor

Prerequisite: Tinker archetype; proficiency in Smith's Tools

You smith a set of mechanically-enhanced armor. This armor, which you are proficient in, is equivalent to a set of plate armor without the Strength requirement. While you wear it, your Strength score increases by 2.

Melee Training

You gain proficiency with martial weapons. In addition, you can add your Focus bonus to any melee attack rolls you make against the target of your Focus.

Piercing Rounds

Your firearm bypasses resistance to its damage type, and immunity to its damage type is treated as resistance. If you take this Innovation a second time, immunity is

Point Blank

You have advantage on firearm attacks versus targets within 5 feet of you. If you're using the Blunderbuss Innovation, targets within 5 feet have disadvantage on their saving throw.

Repulsive Shots

Any creature you hit with your firearm attack is pushed 10 feet in a straight line away from you, being stopped if they encounter a solid object or other creature. In addition, if you score a critical hit on a creature, you can cause them to fall prone.

Shielded Barrel

Prerequisite: Blunderbuss or Rifle.

You gain a +2 bonus to AC while wielding your firearm.

Stopping Power

Any creature you hit with a firearm attack has their speed halved until the end of their next turn. In addition, if you score a critical hit on a creature, you can cause them to fall prone.

Suppressor

Your firearm is quieted to the point that only those within 10 feet of you can hear your shots, and creatures hit by your attacks no longer automatically discover you. Instead, you can make a Dexterity (Stealth) check contested by their Wisdom (Perception) check. If you succeed, you remain hidden.

Telescopic Sight

You can use a bonus action on your turn to look through a a magnifying sight, canceling out any single instance of disadvantage on an attack roll with your firearm. In addition, you can make out small details from a distance while looking through the sight, and have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight while you do so.

Tiny Servant

Prerequisite: Tinker archetype, proficiency with Smith's Tools

You engineer a tiny construct that takes any shape you wish, and has the statistics of the construct created by the Tiny Servant spell. As a bonus action, you can command the construct to perform a general or specific action if it is within 120 feet of you. This construct can be repaired to its full hit points during a long rest. If it is destroyed, you must expend 30 gold worth of metal and tiny gears to recreate it.

Mechanical Beast

Prerequisites: Tinker; Tiny Servant; 5th level

You improve the design of your mechanical ally. This construct takes the place of the prerequisite Tiny servant and has the statistics of any beast with a CR of 1/4 of or lower, with the following changes:

• It is a construct.
• Its size is Small.
• It inherits the Armor Class, Damage Immunities, Condition Immunities, and Senses from the Tiny Servant.
• If it has a Multiattack feature, it loses it.

Clockwork Companion

Prerequisites: Tinker; Tiny Servant; Mechanical Beast; 9th level

You perfect the design of your mechanical ally. This construct takes the place of the prerequisite Mechanical Beast and has the statistics of any humanoid with a CR of 2 or lower, with the following changes:

• It is a construct.
• Its size is Medium.
• It inherits the Armor Class, Damage Immunities, Condition Immunities, and Senses from the Tiny Servant.
• It can speak Common and one additional language of your choice.
• If it has the Multiattack or Spellcasting features, it loses them.
• It has a personality you choose.
• It has an ability score array of 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 5. These scores can be assigned as you choose.
• It is proficient in two skills of your choice, using your proficiency modifier.
• You or the DM can choose to roleplay the construct.

Created by

• Thompson "Ynders" Moser

Art Credit

• Alkenstar Arms Dealer - Akeiron
• Flintlock design 3 - Pengzhen Zhang
• Fantasy Shot-Gunner - John Tedrick
• Rail Gun - DeVmarine
• Gnome Tinkerer - Windmaker
• Automaton - George Vostrikov