A Roguish Archetype, The Gadgetmaster
A
Gnome awaits in the shadows, biding his time
while two confused guards approach a
mysterious device tapping just a few feet away
from the gnome. As they finally find the device,
they are momentarily confused but not before
the tapping completely stops and a blinding
flash of light erupts from the device as it
detonates. The gnome awaiting this moment, jumps from the
shadows, firing a crossbow bolt at one of the guards, and
with his other hand, spreading out a set of caltrops that begin
to jump and jitter across the floor. The guards, blinded,
tripping, and confused, stumble over each other, not even
knowing what hit them, as the Gadget Master gnome grins,
already out of sight, and out of trouble. This is an example of
the Gadgetmaster Rouge, one who combines their love of
tinkering and roguish training to become a deadly force in
combat, always hindering and outsmarting their foes.
Wondermaker
Upon choosing this archetype at 3rd level, you become
proficient in Tinkers Tools if you are not already and you
become proficient in all Gadgets or objects that can be
thrown, set, or utilized in a similar manner. In addition to
this, when using an object or Gadget, you may use a bonus
action as opposed to an action to use them.
Gadgetmaking
Beginning at 3rd level, with a short amount of time and a lot
of ingenuity, you can make specialty gadgets to help you in
combat. During a short rest or at the end of a long rest, if you
have a set of Tinker’s tools, you can attempt to make a
number of gadgets equal to your Intelligence modifier
(minimum 1). Doing so requires a Tinker's Tools ability
check, with the DC being equal to 10 + the number of gadgets
you are making. If you fail the check, you only make half of
the gadgets intended (minimum 1). You can make any
combination of the following Gadgets; Electric Dart, Flash
Net, Intense Flash Powder, Loud Ringer, Silent Ringer,
Shivering Caltrops, Shroud Powder, or Superior Ball
Bearings. Details regarding these gadgets are located at the
end of this document.
When a creature is forced to make a saving throw due to
one of your Gadgets, the saving throw DC is equal to 8 + your
Proficiency bonus + Your Intelligence modifier (Minimum 1).
If a Gadget requires an attack roll, you may add your
Dexterity modifier + your Proficiency bonus to the attack roll.
Due to the experimental and unstable nature of the
gadgets, they require no gold to make, only tinker's tools,
scrap metal, and ingenuity. However, they break down and
cease to function if they have not been used in 8 hours.
Gadget Types
Although the Gadgets you utilize have specific
designs, that can all be changed based on your
character. Perhaps you are playing a Gadgetmaster
who was once a Toymaker, and all of their Gadgets
appear to be some kind of volatile toy. Or maybe
you are an Alchemist who found ways to quickly
mechanize chemical formulas to make little
gadgets. Speak to your DM on how you want to
flavor your Gadgets to give your character a little
more personality if the designs don't fit with your
character.
Improved Gadgets
Beginning at 9th level, you've worked with your gadgets so
much that you've managed to improve their design and make
them even more superior. The range of your gadgets is now
doubled. Additionally, whenever you make an attack roll with
a Gadget, you add an additional +1 to the attack roll, and if a
gadget requires a creature to make a saving throw, the DC
increases by 1.
Mechanical Reflexes
Beginning at 13th level, you’ve spent so much time with
Gadgets and machinery that you've picked up their robotic
speed. In combat, whenever you take a bonus action, you gain
an additional bonus action. The additional bonus action you
obtain can not be used to attack or cast a Spell.
True Gadgetmaster
Beginning at 17th level, you’ve now mastered the equipment
of your own making, and can use them with ease and
expertise. You now automatically succeed any saving throws
you are required to make from one of your gadgets, and you
can choose creatures equal to your Intelligence modifier
(minimum 1) to automatically succeed any saving throw as a
result from one of your gadgets to suffer no ill effects. In
addition, your gadgets have become even more potent and
you gain a bonus to attack rolls made with Gadgets, and the
DC a creature has to make to resist your Gadgets increases.
This bonus and increase are both equal to your Proficiency
bonus halved (round down).
1
 Gadgets
Intense Flash Powder
Intense Flash Powder typically is made in a small round
container that has a mixture of finely ground dark grey
and white minerals. If the container impacts a surface
with enough force, the powder ignites through a chemical
reaction and emits a blinding flash of light.
As an action, this powder can be thrown up to 20ft away,
where it will ignite in a 10ft cube. All creatures caught in
the area must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or
become blinded until the start of their next turn.
Shroud Powder
Shroud powder typically is made in a small round
container with a very delicate shell that contains thicker
grains of a ground, jet black mineral. If these minerals
impact a surface with enough force, they will react and
create a thick, rapidly spreading plume of black smog.
As an action, this powder can be thrown up to 20ft away,
where it will then release a thick 5ft radius sphere of
smog that heavily obscures the area. This smog will
persist for 1 minute before it disperses, or until a powerful
enough force of wind disperses it, like Gust of Wind.
Loud Ringer
A loud ringer is a small, mechanical bell that contains a
little package of black powder, with a mechanism that
rings the bell. This device creates a loud, repetitive ringing
that can last up to 5 minutes before detonating with a loud
bang.
As an action, the louder ringer can be thrown up to 10ft
away without risk of it breaking upon impact. The ringer
can be modified on the same action as it is being thrown
to determine how long it will ring before detonating (upon
impact, 12 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, or 5 minutes).
If the device does not detonate on impact, it will produce a
repetitive ringing noise that can be heard up to 120ft
away.
Upon detonation, each creature within 10ft of the Loud
Ringer must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or be
deafened for 1 minute. While a creature is deafened in
this way, they may remake the saving throw at the end of
each of their turns, ending the effect upon a success. The
detonation of the loud ringer is especially loud and can be
heard from up to 500ft away.
2
Silent Ringer
The silent ringer is a small mechanical device that mimics
a metronome, accompanied with a small charge of flash
powder. This device creates a subtle clicking noise that
can last up to 5 minutes before the device detonates in a
blinding flash of light.
As an action, the silent ringer can be thrown up to 10ft
away without risk of it breaking upon impact. The ringer
can be modified on the same action as it is being thrown
to determine how long it will click before detonating (upon
impact, 12 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, or 5 minutes).
If the device does not detonate on impact, it will produce a
repetitive clicking noise that can be heard up to 30ft away.
Upon detonation, each creature within 10ft of the Silent
Ringer must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or suffer
disadvantage on all Perception checks that rely on sight
for 1 minute as the silent ringer detonates in a blinding
flash of light.
Superior Ball Bearings
Superior Ball Bearings are very lightweight and tiny
metallic spheres greased, polished, and infused with a
substance to make them especially slippery even in
terrains where ball bearings are not normally effective
(like mud or sand). Even carefully moving through a
sprinkling of these ball bearings may cause a creature to
slip.
As an action, you can spread a single set of superior ball
bearings to cover a 5-foot radius. Any creature that enters
the area for the first time on a turn, or moves within the
area, must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or be
knocked prone. A creature moving at half speed has
advantage on their saving throw.
Shivering Caltrops
Shivering caltrops are sharp, three pronged steel spikes
that have small mechanical systems at their joints causing
them to jump and "shiver" upon being activated, hindering
the movement of all of those who may be sorry enough to
be underneath them.
As an action, you can spread a single set of Shivering
caltrops to cover a 10-foot cube. Any creature that enters
the area, or moves inside of the area, must succeed on a
Dexterity saving throw or take 1 piercing damage. Until
the creature regains at least 1 hit point, its walking speed
is reduced by 10 feet. Due to the caltrop's mechanical
nature of constantly jumping and "shivering," any creature
who ends their turn on the Shivering Caltrops must make
a Dexterity saving throw or take 1 piercing damage and
have their walking speed reduced by an additional 10 feet.
Flashnet
The Flashnet is a mechanism that has a full sized net
stored neatly within a 1 inch diameter sphere. Upon being
thrown, the mechanism will activate and it will release the
metal wiring that transforms into a net mid-flight. The net
itself has a small mechanical device that causes the metal
wiring to constrict once thrown. If the Flashnet misses its
target or is thrown on the ground, it will continue to
constrict until it is a tangle of metal wiring, and can not be
used again.
As an action, you can make a ranged attack with the
Flashnet against a creature up to 15ft away. The creature
must be of a medium size or smaller. Upon hit, the
creature is restrained, and due to the flashnet's
constricting nature, the creature has disadvantage on
ability checks made to break or escape the net. The
restrained creature can use their action to attempt to
escape the Flashnet by making a Strength Check against
your Gadget save DC. Upon success, the creature is freed
and the flashnet is destroyed. Dealing 8 Slashing damage
to the Flashnet (11 AC) also destroys the Flashnet and
frees the restrained creature.
Lightning Dart
The lightning dart is a 4 inch long mechanical dart
charged with lightning through especially conductive
metals. Upon impact, the dart will release a significant
shock through the target's body, strong enough to
completely hinder movement. Due to its minute size and
reliance on forcibly constricting muscles, this does not
work against large or hardy creatures, nor creatures
without a corporeal form.
As action, you can make a ranged attack roll with the
Lightning Dart against a target within 30ft of you. Upon
hit, the creature will have lightning course through their
body, causing their speed to be reduced to 0 until the end
of their next turn. This has no effect on creatures who are
of the size category Huge or larger, creatures who have a
Constitution score of 20 or higher, creatures who have
resistance to lightning damage, or creatures who do not
have a corporeal form.
But wait, there's more!
The Gadgets displayed here were designed to not
be too powerful, but to add a utility and area
control that other Roguish Archetypes didn't have
the ability to do. With that being said, if you or your
character have ideas for types of Gadgets that you
could use, speak with your DM about potientially
having more Gadgets at your fingertips!
More!
This homebrew was made by Koa Johnson, and the art was
made by Nami Helgason, and you can find more homebrew
content on dmsguild under Koa Johnson. I also have an
Instagram and Reddit account where I post and tease other
homebrew content, by the name of KoatheDM. This
document was made through Homebrewery.
By Koa Johnson 3