Eberron: Wandslinger Options
Martial Archetype: Arcane Dragoon
By the end of the Last War, it became common to see mundane infantry and cavalry supported by a new class of soldiers wielding wands and staves. Colloquially referred to as "wandslingers" (although they are not necessarily limited to wands), arcane dragoons do not carry the breadth and depth of knowledge typical of academic wizards. Instead, they tend to pick up only a handful of spells, largely cantrips, specifically for the purpose of warfare, and only with the aid of an arcane focus. Looked down on by true mages as amateurs and dabblers, years of conflict have led to wandslinging developing into a martial art in its own right, and a great wizard might be surprised to find that the veteran wandslinger makes up for lost versatility with power and accuracy.
Spellcasting
When you reach 3rd level, you gain limited spellcasting ability while wielding an arcane focus, such as a wand, rod or staff.
Cantrips
You learn two cantrips of your choice from the wizard spell list. You learn an additional wizard cantrip of your choice at 7th and 15th level. Each time you learn a new cantrip, you can also replace one spell you know with a different one.
In addition, you learn one 1st-level spell from the wizard spell list. At 10th level, you can learn an additional 1st- or 2nd-level wizard spell. You can cast each of these spells once, and you must finish a long rest before you can cast it in this way again.
Spellcasting Ability
Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your wizard spells, since you learn your spells through dedicated study and memorization. You use your Intelligence whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Intelligence modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a wizard spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.
Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier
Spellcasting Focus
You can use an arcane focus as a spellcasting focus for your wizard spells, and you must be wielding one in order to cast spells learned from this Spellcasting feature.
Spell Warfare
Eschewing the complexities of wizardry, your magical training is focused in an entirely martial direction. Starting at 3rd level you can add your Intelligence modifier (minimum of +1) to one damage roll when you cast a wizard spell using an arcane focus. This bonus increases to twice your Intelligence modifier at 5th level, three times your Intelligence modifier at
11th level, and four times your Intelligence modifier at 20th level.
In addition, when an effect from a wand, rod or staff you're using would cause a creature to make a saving throw, you can choose to substitute your spell save DC for the DC of that saving throw.
Wandslinger’s Quickdraw
Starting at 7th level, you gain a bonus to your initiative equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of +1), and can stow a wand and draw another wand as a single object interaction on your turn.
Arcane Riflery
Starting at 7th level, when you wield a rod or staff with two hands, wizard spells that require a ranged spell attack roll gain a long range of four times the spell’s normal range. As with a weapon, attacking at your spell’s long range imposes disadvantage on the spell attack roll. Using a two-handed arcane focus meets the somatic requirements of a spell.
Cantrip Crackshot
Starting at 10th level, your aim with a fire bolt or ray of frost rivals that of an expert archer with a bow. You gain a +2 bonus to ranged spell attack rolls when casting a wizard spell using an arcane focus.
Arcane Indomitability
Starting at 15th level, when you use your Indomitable feature to reroll a saving throw, you can add a bonus to the new roll equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of +1).
Arcane Sharpshooter
Starting at 18th level, when you cast a wizard spell that requires a spell attack roll using an arcane focus, you can choose to take a -5 penalty to the attack roll. If the spell attack hits, you add +10 to one damage roll. In addition, attacking at long range no longer imposes disadvantage on spell attack rolls made with a two-handed arcane focus.
Intended for compatibility with WotC's Eberron: Rising from the Last War and Keith Baker's Exploring Eberron available on DTRPG! Check out both books for more thematic spell and item options as well as relevant lore.
Fighting Style Options
1st-level fighter feature
When you choose a fighting style, the following style is added to your list of options.
Wandslinger
You learn two cantrips from the wizard spell list, but you can only cast them while wielding an arcane focus, such as a wand, rod or staff. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells, which count as wizard spells for you. Whenever you gain a level in this class, you can replace one of these cantrips with another cantrip from the wizard spell list.
Magic Items
Greater Imbued Wood Focus, +1, +2, +3
Wondrous item, uncommon (+1), rare (+2), very rare (+3) (requires attunement by a spellcaster)
A rod, staff or wand cut from a tree infused with extraplanar energy. When you cast a spell using this item as your spellcasting focus, you gain a bonus to spell attack rolls and spell DCs determined by the item’s rarity. In addition, if the spell is a damage-dealing spell, you also gain the same bonus to one damage roll of the spell, provided the damage is of the type associated with the item’s wood. The types of wood and their associated damage types are listed in the Imbued Wood Focus table.
Imbued Wood Focus
| Wood | Damage Type |
|---|---|
| Fernian Ash | Fire |
| Irian Rosewood | Radiant |
| Kythrian Nanchineel | Acid or poison |
| Lamannian Oak | Lightning or thunder |
| Mabaran Ebony | Necrotic |
| Risian Pine | Cold |
| Shavarran Birch | Force |
| Xorian Wenge | Psychic |
Arcane Dragoon Builds
Wandslinger
Fighting Style: Wandslinger, Defense
Spells: acid splash, fire bolt, true strike, ray of frost, burning hands, mage armor
Feats: Elemental Adept, Magic Initiate, Metamagic Adept, Mobile, Spell Sniper
The classic wand duelist or skirmisher, you favor a light, mobile style, attacking quickly at range and staying just out of enemies’ reach.
Staff Striker
Fighting Style: Wandslinger, Defense, Great Weapon Fighting
Spells: booming blade, green-flame blade, shocking grasp, lightning lure, earth tremor, thunderwave
Feats: Crusher, Heavy Armor Master, Magic Initiate, Polearm Master, War Caster
You understand that a staff of magic is a wonder of arcane artifice, but it’s also a big stick to hit things with. Wading directly into melee, you don heavy armor and rely on close-range spells to dominate the battlefield.
Artist: Julio Azevedo