Mechanical Menace

Pilot without his trusty machine nearby truly is an uncommon sight and for many good reasons. Trained form ground up to work in tandem with their suit of armour and well versed in both arcana and science they use their knowledge to harness its full potential. Most suits come stocked with heavy weaponry and tailor made equipment to handle any situation. Combining this powerful armament and their experience there is really no challenge those daredevils would not overcome.

Explorers with a Purpose

Most pilots when not actively serving the military forces of their nation become sent as and expedition forces, to scout for new lands and bring reports from around the realm. Thanks to their second skin of brass, they take up and fulfill gravely dangerous missions in places where no one would succeed at, a lifestyle such similar to that of an adventurer. Of course some pilots may be independent, self learned geniuses whose suit of armour was jury rigged and made all by themselves, although this takes place much less often.

Creating a Pilot

As you build you Pilot, think about the event which turned her on this life path. Living as a pilot is a dangerous vocation and you should always keep that in mind. Was she fascinated about the great, shiny Colossus's plates of the local military and decided to join in? Trained her whole life to be where she stands now? Maybe she is a self learned tinkerer, who crafted her first experimental armour in the basement, in secrecy.

Are you tasked with a special mission to be turned over to your supervisor or just a vagabond, an exiled scientist in a tin can, exploring riches of the world? Whatever you choose, remember that pilots are not just warriors. You are a highly skilled technical specialist, who is not afraid to push the boundaries of our knowledge.

Let your character think about Colossus as a person, her best friend. Did she came across it by accident, scavenging forgotten ruins? Someone of importance might gave it to her as a parting gift perhaps?

Quick Build

You can make a pilot by following these suggestions. First make Intelligence your highest score, followed by Dexterity or Wisdom. Second, choose the Soldier or Guild Artisan background.

Art Credit:
Blizzard Entertainment

Hit Points

Hit Dice: 1d6 per pilot level
Hit Points at 1st level: 6 + your Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d6 (or 4) + your Constitution modifier per pilot level after 1st.

Proficiencies

Armor: Light and Medium
Weapon: Simple weapons, shortswords, hand crossbows
Tools: Tinker's Tools, one other type of artisan tools
Vehicles: Land vehicles

Saving Throws: Intelligence and Wisdom
Skills: Choose two from: Acrobatics, Athletics, History, Perception, Persuasion and Sleight of Hand

Equipment

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

• a leather armour
• (a) a shortsword or (b) a crossbow and 20 bolts
• a dagger and a hand crossbow
• a case with 20 bolts
• an explorer's pack
• a set of Tinker's tools
• a Metal Plating for your Colossus

Colossus

Starting at 1st level you acquire a basic, steam powered, mechanical land vehicle know as Colossus. You are treated as being proficient in this vehicle. Colossus is a medium sized, humanoid shaped construction of brass, pipes and engines. It is fit for one pilot of size medium or smaller.
Its statistics are as follows:

Hit Points at 1st level: 20 + your Intelligence modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 7 + your Intelligence modifier per pilot level beyond the 1st
Speed 30 feet (walking)
Base Armour Class: 13
Strength: 21(+5)
Dexterity: 10(+0)
Constitution: 25(+7)

Protective polish

You always work extra to keep your machine in top notch condition. Once per long rest you can spend half an hour of work to clean and conserve a Colossus to grant it temporary hit points equal to twice your pilot level.

Cutting edge

You focus entirely on maintaining peak performance of your weaponry. You gain a Performance Die: a d6. Once per long rest you can spend half an hour of work honing and sharpening a weapon or ammunition. When it was treated this way, a Performance Die can be added to weapon's damage on one successful attack. Your Performance Die increases to d8 at 6th level, to d10 at 14th level.

Overclocking

Full speed is all you ever need. Once per long rest you can spend half an hour of work to overclock the movement systems in your Colossus. You can then push your machine to a higher gear during one of your turns and add 5 feet to its speed. This bonus ends at the beginning of your next turn. Speed bonus increases to 10 feet at 10th level.

Roleplaying your license

Your license might not only be a gateway to new subclass. A set of documents signed by local authorities could be granted to your character, in recognition of her skills. Perhaps after completing an examination of her competence as an engineer and mechanized combatant. Ask your Dungeon Master if any faction within the game world could provide you and respect such license. This could present an opportunity to gain new allies. Or more foes. Being a rightful owner of a mechanized "fantasy tank" could even grant some mechanical boons like advantages on skill checks when dealing with similar machinery. Your character studied to drive a Colossus for their lifetime, just like a wizard studies to become a master of magic. Make this a pillar of your character development.

Rattler

Rattler is a popular model amongst novice pilots, thanks to its straightforward and balanced features. Often shunned for its scrappy appearance. This model is especially loved by goblin tinkerers, which spent a collective lifetime in modernizing this machine in their own, mostly dangerous, ways.

Heavy Ordnance: Monkey Grip

At 3rd level your Colossus gains a wrist mounted grappling gun. Monkey Grip can target a creature or object within 30 feet and force them to make a Dexterity saving throw versus your Heavy Ordnance DC or become gripped. Gripped creatures are also grappled unless their size is greater than large. Creatures can repeat this saving throw to escape your grip during their respective turns. A successful grip allows you to do one of the following as the part of the same action:
Reel: Move grappled opponent up to 10 feet in your direction.
Dash: Move yourself up to 10 feet towards gripped target.
Gripping with Monkey Grip does not make you lose a piece of heavy munitions unless you choose to Reel or Dash.

You also are able to adapt by acquiring more additional Auxiliaries than other models. Each time a class features gives you an access to two new Auxiliaries, you can choose three instead. You can also select an additional Auxiliary the moment you acquire this pilot license.

Quick Reel

At level 6th you upgrade your Lifter's line system. Reel and Dash actions are increased to 15 feet in length and maximum range within which you can use Monkey Grip doubles.

Heavy Ordnance: Charged Shield

At 3rd level your Colossus gains a collapsible shield on its arm, which can store up a devastating charge. Charged Shield can be activated as an action to grant your Colossus +2 AC for one minute. During this time, when it is hit with a melee attack, you can retaliate as a reaction, damaging the attacker for 1d4 thunder damage. This damage increases to 2d4 at level 9th, 3d4 at level 14th and to 4d4 at level 20th
Added bulk of this ordnance requires you to downgrade your weapon appendages to two light models.
Additionally, your towering shield grants half cover to any creature standing up to 5 feet behind you when its active.

Stalwart

Starting at level 6th retaliating with Charged Shield does not use a reaction. You can still only retaliate once per attacker, per turn.

Power Slam

At level 9th you can punish unaware foes with surprising discharge from your Charged Shield. When an attack misses you, you can use your reaction to force attacker to make a Strength saving throw versus your Heavy Ordnance DC or take 2d4 thunder damage plus your retaliation damage. Creature takes half the damage on a successful save. Your shield deactivates after this action.

Guard Up

At level 11th if your Colossus's Charged Shield is up, it gains resistance to nonmagical bludgeoning, slashing and piercing damage.

Stunning Power

At 14th level when a creature fails Strength saving throw for your Power Slam feature it is additionally stunned until the end of his next turn.

Vigorous Charge

At 17th level any time your Colossus deals thunder damage to a creature with a weapon or it's class feature, you can choose to make it regain hit points equal to damage dealt. Once you use this feature you need to finish a long rest to be able to use it again.

Thunder Dome

At 20th level you can discharge a cage of thunder to trap your foes. By spending 3 pieces of Heavy Munitions and selecting a point within 15 feet around your Colossus's, you can project an impassable obstacle as an action. A 30 feet radius sphere around chosen point becomes impassable terrain. Creatures of your choice that start their turns within 5 feet of its edges take 1d6 thunder damage. While within this sphere you gain advantage an all attack rolls. Creatures inside the dome cannot be damaged from any source outside it. You can allow any number of creatures of your choice to leave or enter the dome anytime. Once you use this feature you need to finish a long rest before using it again.

Heavy Ordnance: Railway Rifle

At 3rd level your Colossus gains a shoulder mounted cannon, able to shoot a massive metal spike over large distance. With railway rifle you can, as an action, make a single ranged attack at 100/150 feet that deals 2d8 piercing damage. This damage increases to 3d8 at level 9th, 4d8 at level 14th and to 5d8 at level 20th. Railway Rifle is a complex contraption and can only fire once per combat round.
Additionally, you can upgrade one of your appendages to versatile.

Field Analyzer

At level 6th your modernized cockpit allows to have a greater overlook on the surroundings. While inside your Colossus you can always make an Investigation (Intelligence) or Perception (Wisdom) check as a bonus action on your turn.

Respond with Fire

At level 9th as a bonus action you can designate one creature that you can see to be covered by your Colossus for one minute. During this time when an attack is declared targeting this creature can try to snipe the attacker with your Heavy Ordnance. Make an attack against it with Railway Rifle as a reaction. If you hit, the attack it makes is made with disadvantage.

Artillery Shells

At 11th level you produce special ammo for your Heavy Ordnance feature, each time you use it during your own turn, you can choose one of the following options:

• Cluster Bomb - on hit deal 1d8 bludgeoning damage in a 10 feet sphere around the target.
  
• Piercing Shot - on hit deal 1d8 piercing damage in a 30 feet straight line behind the target.
  
• Burrowing Shot - on hit deal 1d8 slashing damage to the target.

Once you use one type of shell it becomes unavailable until you finish a long rest. At level 17th damage of your Artillery Shells increases to 2d8 each.

Steady Shot

At level 14th you can enter an entrenched position with your Colossus to ready up a powerful shot. As a bonus action during your own turn set your Colossus's speed to 0 and gain a cumulative +2 bonus to Railway Rifle's damage and +50/50 to its range. The maximum number of consecutive turns in which you can take this bonus action equals to your Wisdom modifier and you lose all bonus damage and range after the first attack you make with Heavy Ordnance feature.

Spotter

At 17th level target of your Respond with Fire feature becomes your spotter. When you make an attack using your Heavy Ordnance you can attack the target that has a total concealment to you if your spotter can see it. You still must be physically able to connect this shot. You need to be within 60 feet of your spotter to be able to use this feature.

Critical Weakness

At 20th level you can spot weak points in even toughest of armours. When you make a ranged attack with your Heavy Ordnance feature you can treat the base AC of your target as 6. Once you use this feature you have to finish a long rest until you can use it again.

Cargo Mule

Your Colossus counts as one size lager for purpose of calculating it's carrying capacity.

Explosive Canister

Your Colossus can, as an action scatter small explosive devices around itself. Any creature in a 5 feet radius sphere which is centered in a point within 30 feet of your Colossus needs to make a DC15 Dexterity saving throw or take 1d6 force damage per 2 Pilot levels you have. Once you use this system you need to finish a long rest before you can use it again.