The Trapper
S
he slips off her fur-lined leather mittens and deftly
slips the snare from the dead rabbit's neck. The
trapper breathes deeply and says a quiet word for
the animal. Then, she begins. Her hands fly over
the rabbit, led by the sharpened skinning knife
dancing under its delicate hide. She deftly guts
and butchers the creature, gently placing its hide
and meat components into her satchel. At a trapper’s hand,
life is taken but never wasted.
Trapper - A Hunter Conclave
The Trapper archetype paints the traditional Ranger in a new
light, combining their affinity to nature with a healthy dose of
mechanical aptitude. Reliance on gadgetry to make their
living has led Trappers to become deft tinkerers. Trappers
ability to combine different trap elements has allowed them
to move beyond the trapline and onto the battlefield.
Archetype Features
Below are the features gained from the Trapper archetype.
Features are gained at the 3rd, 7th, 11th, and 15th levels.
Mechanical Aptitude
When you gain 3rd level, you gain mastery of your toolbox.
Gain a set of Tinker’s tools and are proficient with them. You
also gain access to the Mending cantrip, which is now
considered a Ranger spell for you. Finally, you gain the ability
to detect traps much more effectively. Gain advantage on any
perception check made to detect a trap or trap trigger.
Fast Traps
After gaining the trapper archetype at level 3, setting traps
becomes a major class feature. You carry around enough
supplies to set a number of traps equal to your proficiency
bonus each day (TWO when you gain this feature).
Setting a trap can be done in or out of combat- but you
gain advantage on any Stealth checks made to conceal
your trap.
All of your traps have two components- a trigger
and an effect. As you gain additional experience
as a ranger, you can attempt to research additional
trigger and effect mechanisms. When you place a trap,
choose a trigger and an effect for your trap. Then, make a
Stealth check to attempt to conceal the trap and/or your
actions in setting it up. Enemies that have a passive
perception higher than your Stealth check become aware of
your trap when they get close enough to it (with 25ft or so).
Your trap remains for the combat encounter and may be set
up by any character that activates the trigger.
Trap Research
When you take a long rest after a day when you completed at
least one encounter, roll a Sleight of Hand check (DC - 13). On
every third success, you can either research a new trap
mechanism (trigger or effect) or increase the effect level of an
existing trap.
Starting Trap Triggers
Spring Loaded (Trigger) - This trigger mechanism is
placed on a particular square. The moment that square is
occupied, the trap goes off. This trap interrupts movement
and the trap effect occurs before enemies can use the rest
of their actions. If detected by an intelligent creature, this
trap can be disabled with a simple attack (DC - 10).
Tripwire (Trigger): This trigger mechanism is anchored
between two locations 5ft - 15ft apart, both of which you
must move past during your setup action. The moment a
creature passes through a square occupied by the tripwire
(ie. moves past it), the trap goes off. This trap interrupts
movement and the trap effect occurs before enemies can
use the rest of their actions. If detected, this trap can be
avoided with a successful acrobatics check (DC - 13).
Starting Trap Effects
Bear Trap (Effect) - Any creature that triggers this trap
has its movement ended and cannot make any moves for
the remainder of this turn. The enemy takes 1d12
bludgeoning damage and is Restrained. A creature can
escape this trap with a DC 15 Strength check or by
dealing 10 damage to it (Slashing/Piercing resistant,
Effect level 2 and 3 - add 1d12 damage each).
Incendiary Trap (Effect) - When this trap is triggered, a
chemical concoction explodes in a 3m x 3m grid
surrounding the trigger point. All characters in the radius
take 3d6 fire damage (1/2 on a successful DC 13
Dexterity save). (Effect level 2 and 3 - add 2d6 fire damage
each).
Note - As with forced movement that pushes a creature off
the edge of a cliff, forced movement into a trap trigger also
affords that creature an Acrobatics save to avoid the trap, so
long as they are aware of the trap.
While The Iron's Hot
At 7th level, you gain proficiency with your largest spanner
wrench and may use it as if it were a Greatclub- only for you it
is a one handed weapon and uses Dexterity or Strength for
its associated attack and damage rolls.
Impact Calibration
At 11th level, your familiarity with machines hits new levels.
You can attempt to use Mending in combat on any machine,
construct, or metal device or object. Instead of spending 1
minute casting the cantrip, you may instead attempt an attack
with your spanner wrench. On a hit, you repair the object in
question. If you would like this object to regain hit points, the
HP gained is equal to the damage you would deal with your
wrench.
Perimeter Defense
When you reach 15th level, you gain the ability to set up a
perimeter tripwire. This wire is up to 100 yards long and is
imbued with the first level spell Alarm. Setup takes roughly 1
hour to complete. You have advantage for the Stealth check
made to conceal this feature.
If tripped, you are woken and know roughly where the
tripwire was triggered. Unless the attacker succeeds on a
perception check, they are oblivious to the notion that they
tripped over something man-made. This feature is regained
after a successful long rest.
Trap Discoveries
As additional trap research is carried out, the Trapper will
eventually gain access to new trap components. It is up to
DM discretion exactly how this works. Below are a number of
proposed possibilities for trap options. A DM may decide that
the Trapper can role play what exactly they are researching
or may decide for the player which upgrade they receive.
Player suggestions for trap mechanisms may also be taken
into consideration, so they as they are adequately balanced
with other game mechanics.
Trap Triggers (Researchable)
Timed Release (Trigger) - When this trap is placed, the
player chooses a trigger round 1 - 5 rounds after the
current one. The trap effect goes off immediately at the
beginning of the round they have designated (but before
any characters have acted). If detected by an intelligent
creature, this trap can be disabled with a Sleight of Hand
(DC - 13).
Proximity Detonation (Trigger) - When a trap is placed,
the Trapper imbues the device with an arcane energy and
designates a 15ft by 15ft zone where this trap is active.
The marksman then has until the end of their turn to leave
the trap’s proximity radius. As soon as they do, the trap is
considered active. The first creature to enter the zone
triggers this trap. The effects of the trap are centered on
the triggering enemy. If detected by an intelligent creature,
this trap can be intentionally set off by throwing a hefty
item into the trap zone.
Remote Detonation (Trigger, Minor Action) - When this
trap is placed, is it automatically linked to the Trapper. A
Trapper may spend a minor action to trigger this trap on
their turn. Alternatively, the Trapper can use their action to
ready trap detonation at any time before their next turn as
an interrupt. If detected by an intelligent creature, this
trap can be detonated by targeting it and overloading it
with arcane energy (dealing at least 10 magical damage of
any type).
Credit: The Homebrewery for the excellent design template
Trelling Games
Trap Effects (Researchable)
Crippling Poison Dart (Effect) - When this trap is
triggered, roll a ranged attack roll with advantage against
the triggering enemies AC. If your attack roll hits, the
enemy takes 1d10 poison damage and gains the
Poisoned condition (Constitution DC 13 Save Ends).
(Effect level 2 and 3 - add 1d10 poison damage and
increase save DC by 2)
Flak Trap (Effect) - When this trap is triggered, it fires
scrap metal into the air in every direction in a 5m x 5m
grid surrounding itself. All characters in the radius take
3d8 piercing damage (half damage on a successful
Dexterity saving throw). (Effect level 2 and 3 - add 1d6
ongoing bleed damage, Constitution 13 save ends)
Tracking Dart (Effect) - When this trap is triggered, roll
ranged weapon attack with advantage against the
triggering creatures AC. If your attack roll hits, the enemy
takes 1d12 + Dexterity modifier damage and an arcane
positioning dart is left in its body. Even if the dart is
removed, you are aware of your enemies location for the
next 1d6 days.
Pop-up Crossbow Turret (Effect) - When this trap is
triggered, a repeating hand crossbow pops up in a
predetermined location up to 5 squares from its trigger. It
fires two crossbow bolts immediately at the triggering
creature using your ranged weapon attack statistics. If
multiple characters are in range, it will randomly choose a
target for each shot. This turret shoots another bolt at the
beginning of each round until it is destroyed or until 8
bolts have been fired. The turret has 15 HP and an AC of
12.