Sammuthegreat
2015-08-11, 10:14 AM
Hello there!
I'm brand spanking new in every sense of the word - this is my very first post on this site, I'm fairly new to D&D having only starting playing with the 5th Edition, and this is my first attempt at a homebrew class. With that in mind, ensuring the class is balanced is my priority, and I've not had any experience of playing at high levels, so I'm hoping you fine people can help me out and tell me if any of this is horribly broken!
Anyway, without further ado... Introducing the Saboteur.
The Saboteur is largely inspired by the Combat Engineers/Sappers from Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Anyone who's read those books will know (A) how awesome the books are, and (B) how awesome the sappers themselves are, so hopefully I've managed to channel some of the Erikson magic into this homebrew.
The Saboteur's hook is that he's an explosives expert, using alchemical grenades or "charges" to deal damage. Obviously this homebrew therefore relies heavily on mechanics such as splash damage, object and structure damage, and the potential for projectiles to miss their target and explode elsewhere. Possibly not the most sensible class to choose for my first homebrew effort, but having done plenty of research and head-scratching with my gaming group, I think I've come up with a class that strikes the right balance of awesomeness, flavour and accessibility, while most importantly keeping intra- and extra-universe logic intact.
The three subclasses are the Sapper (slightly tankier, slightly suicidal, close-range damage and mobility); the Trapper (high mobility and elusive, tactical, uses the environment to his advantage); and the Thunderclapper (slow-moving but high ranged damage from a "charge launcher"). Hopefully the design and theme of each subclass, and the overall class, translates well into my draft.
I'm looking for any hints and ideas I can get, so please do feel free to comment!
Thanks in advance for your help.
A dwarf in a smoke-blackened chain shirt keeps his head low as he hustles around the side of an enemy encampment. Keeping his head down, he awaits the signal from his squad leader. When the whistle sounds, he leaps from cover, lighting the taper on his explosive charge, a ball of tightly packed and volatile combustibles. Heedless of flying arrows, he charges at the nearest orc, depositing the charge at the creature's feet before sprinting in the opposite direction, cackling with glee.
A wood elf wriggles backwards into the forest, tying off the last of a series of traps and hazards set up across this choke point. She finds the end of the long fuse leading down from the clifftop where she carefully planted her explosives, and lights it. She knows the charges were placed just right to send the cliffs crashing down into the hobgoblin troop below, and the only way out is straight through her field of snares. Closing her eyes in grim satisfaction, she awaits the blast.
A gnome sweats as he lugs a heavy contraption of iron and lead over his shoulder, picking a perfect vantage point in view of the ongoing battle. He thumps his load down on the floor and selects one of an array of balls from his pouch. Carefully slipping the heavy sphere into the barrel, he trips the fuse and claps his hands to his ears; as the shell is launched skyward he watches its trajectory. It arcs overhead and bursts in midair, showering the enemy forces with liquid fire. He nods in satisfaction; perfectly judged. Hefting the cannon once again, he waddles off to a new vantage point.
Whether they do their fighting at the van or in the rearguard, it is generally agreed that a saboteur must possess a delicate balance of intellect and insanity. Few know the intricate art of mixing chemical ingredients to create tools of war; fewer have the guts or the blind luck to use them in live combat; fewer still take satisfaction in the devastation they can wreak. It's said that war is madness; saboteurs have turned that madness into an art.
GENIUS OR LUNATIC?
Scholars and mages across the multiverse have long studied the effects of combining all kinds of chemicals, both mundane and virulent; the study of mixing these chemicals is both difficult and extremely dangerous. So, packing these unstable concoctions into balls of lead - called charges - and throwing, or even firing them at creatures, could be seen as tantamount to suicide; it is precisely this borderline between genius and insanity that the saboteur thrives on treading.
At the more prosaic end of the spectrum, some see the battlefield like a game of chess; a complicated matrix of strategy and pinch points - and nothing disrupts a game of chess like a well-placed explosion. Some like to stay back and bombard enemies with charges from afar, creating ballistae to launch them great distances using their knack for complex algorithms to accurately judge distances and trajectories; they like to think that the larger the target, the bigger the bang and the larger the crater. And barrelling headfirst through the line into outright madness, some prefer to ensure their charges hit home by hand-delivering them to the enemy's feet.
BETTER OFF AWAY FROM BUILDINGS
The saboteur is a natural adventurer. Their innate love of risk and excitement, coupled with the high incidence of blowing up their workshops, means that a saboteur is better off roaming free instead of endangering others in a town or city. However, many militias across Faerun recognise the value of a saboteur's charges, which can easily rout a group of well-placed enemies with a surprise attack, control a battlefield by funnelling or disabling enemies, or bring down walls from safe distances. It is therefore not uncommon to find many military platoons with at least one saboteur among their ranks, though they tend to suit marine squadrons better due to their highly specialised, guerrilla style of attack.
Some saboteurs see adventuring as a means to test out their latest inventions, some see it as a fine way to enjoy the camaraderie and competition of their peers. What is common to all saboteurs, however, is the desire to make things go boom.
As you make your saboteur, think about what might drive a person to focus their life on a practice that is as likely to end in an early (and messy) death before even finishing a single successful experiment. Were you born into a trade but bored of simply mixing herbs into potions and decided to see what would happen if you altered the mix slightly? Were you a keen but directionless intellect in your youth who was inspired by a display of pyrotechnics by a hedge wizard but, lacking any magical ability of your own, you decided to find another way?
Whatever your past, the common themes running through the psyches of saboteurs across the multiverse are an unhinged lack of regard for their own safety, and a deep obsession with explosions. This interest can be academic or bloodthirsty, but dealing with dangerous substances and eardrum-rupturing detonations every day will leave even the most level-headed saboteur a little crazed before long, if they weren't already. It is this touch of madness that leads saboteurs to be of a chaotic alignment more often than not.
QUICK BUILD
You can make a saboteur quickly by following these suggestions. First, Dexterity should be your highest ability score, followed by Intelligence or Constitution. Second, choose the sage or soldier background.
CLASS FEATURES
As a saboteur, you gain the following class features.
HIT POINTS
Hit Dice: 1d10 per saboteur level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution modifier per saboteur level after 1st
PROFICIENCIES
Armour: Light armour
Weapons: Simple weapons, hand crossbows, pikes, shortswords, explosive charges
Tools: Saboteur's supplies, one type of gaming set
Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence
Skills: Choose three from Acrobatics, Athletics, Deception, Investigation, Medicine, Perception, Performance, Sleight of Hand, Stealth
EQUIPMENT
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
• (a) a shortsword or (b) a pike
• (a) a hand crossbow and 20 bolts, or (b) a shortsword
• (a) a burglar's pack, (b) a dungeoneer's pack, or (c) an explorer's pack
• Studded leather armour, two daggers, and saboteur's supplies
THE SABOTEUR
Level
Proficiency
Bonus Features
Charges
1st
+2
Expertise, Explosive Charges (d8/d4)
3
2nd
+2
Volatile Mix
3
3rd
+2
Sabotage Style
4
4th
+2
Ability Score Improvement
5
5th
+3
Element of Surprise, Chemical Distillation
5
6th
+3
Expertise, Blind Luck
6
7th
+3
Sabotage Style Feature, Volatile Mix
7
8th
+3
Ability Score Improvement
7
9th
+4
Second Chance
8
10th
+4
Explosive Charges (d10/d6)
9
11th
+4
Sabotage Style Feature
9
12th
+4
Ability Score Improvement
10
13th
+5
Volatile Mix
11
14th
+5
Evasion
11
15th
+5
Sabotage Style Feature
12
16th
+5
Ability Score Improvement
13
17th
+6
Volatile Mix
13
18th
+6
Explosive Charges (d12/d8)
14
19th
+6
Ability Score Improvement
15
20th
+6
Ambidextrous
15
EXPERTISE
At 1st level, choose two of your skill proficiencies. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses either of the chosen proficiencies.
At 6th level, you can choose two more of your proficiencies to gain this benefit.
EXPLOSIVE CHARGES
Beginning at 1st level, you are able to mix chemicals and herbs from your saboteur's supplies to create volatile explosives, which you pack into lead balls called charges. Charges detonate on impact. You may use the number of charges shown for your saboteur level in the Charges column of the Saboteur table.
Charges are ranged weapons with the Thrown property (saboteurs are proficient in using charges), with a range of 40/80ft. They deal 1d8 force damage on a direct hit and 1d4 splash force damage to any creature within 5ft of the impact point.
At 10th level, your damage dice when using charges becomes 1d10 for a direct hit and 1d6 for splash damage. At 18th level, your damage dice when using charges becomes 1d12 for a direct hit and 1d8 for splash damage.
The damage charges deal is dependent on the potency of the mixture in each charge, which is learned through trial and error as well as natural intellect. You add your Intelligence modifier to damage rolls when using charges, instead of your Dexterity modifier.
If you miss when using a charge, then you must roll a d8 to determine where the charge explodes, using 1 as "north" and then assigning each value of the d8 to a compass point (2 is north-east, 3 is east and so on). The charge will miss by 5ft for every point difference between your target's AC and your dice roll, to a maximum of 30ft. So, for example, if the target has an AC of 15 and you roll a 13 (inclusive of modifiers), the charge will miss by 2x5ft = 10ft, in the direction determined by the d8 direction roll.
If your target's size is Huge or above, your charges will automatically hit. The target must perform a Constitution saving throw against your charge save DC. If they succeed on the throw, they take half damage using the direct hit damage die. If they fail, they take full damage. The enemy does not take any splash damage.
Charge save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier
If your charge detonates on contact with an object, use the rules governing object damage beginning at page 246 of the Dungeon Master's Guide. A single charge detonation will not normally be sufficient to knock a hole through a wall or bring down a cliff overhead, although the sound and any dislodged material may work as a distraction; flying chips of wood or stone could even cause damage to nearby enemies, at the DM's discretion.
You can replenish all used charges from your saboteur's supplies during a short or long rest. Refilling your charges requires at least one hour's work.
VOLATILE MIX
Starting at 2nd level, you have learned how to mix unique and exotic ingredients into your charges, which bestow your charges with additional effects. Your charges gain one volatile mix of your choice, which you can choose to activate before using each charge. Your volatile mix options are detailed at the end of the class description.
You gain additional volatile mixes again when you reach 7th, 13th and 17th levels. When you know more than one volatile mix, you can use all known mixes at once or in any combination.
SABOTAGE STYLE
At 3rd level, you choose a preferred style of making things go boom that you employ in the exercise of your saboteur abilities: Sapper, Trapper or Thunderclapper, all detailed at the end of the class description. Your choice of sabotage style grants you features at 3rd level and then again at 7th, 11th and 15th level.
ABILITY SCORE IMPROVEMENT
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
ELEMENT OF SURPRISE
An experienced saboteur knows the value of acting fast and staying one step ahead. When you reach 5th level, you gain +3 to initiative rolls, in addition to your Dexterity modifier.
CHEMICAL DISTILLATION
Beginning at 5th level, you can use your saboteur's supplies to purify water, rendering it drinkable if a little bland in taste.
BLIND LUCK
Regardless of their skill level, saboteurs tend not to survive for long without a healthy measure of luck on their side. Beginning at 6th level, if you are caught in the blast from one of your own charges, you may use this feature to take no damage from the charge. This can be used to avoid damage from either a direct hit or splash damage. You must then finish a short or long rest to use your Blind Luck again.
SECOND CHANCE
Saboteurs have to be clever with their fingers to build their charges; this skill transfers over to other areas of adventuring life too. Beginning at 9th level, you have advantage on ability checks relating to disarming non-magical traps.
EVASION
Beginning at 14th level, you have seen enough explosions that you can tell when one is coming. You can nimbly dodge out of the way of certain area effects, such as a red dragon's fiery breath or an ice storm spell. When you are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if you fail.
AMBIDEXTROUS
At level 20, when you use a charge on your Attack action, you can choose to use two charges instead. This feature stacks with any other feature that affects the number of attacks and/or charges you use.
SABOTAGE STYLES
While all saboteurs enjoy creating large explosions, each saboteur likes to do it in a different way. These different styles of destruction are embodied by the sabotage styles.
SAPPER
The Sapper style involves throwing caution to the wind and hand-delivering high explosives to the feet of your enemies. As you learn the arts of the Sapper, you learn specialised techniques allowing you to move quickly across the battlefield and maximise the damage of your charges, with an increasingly flagrant disregard for your own safety.
BONUS PROFICIENCIES
At 3rd level, you gain proficiency with medium armour.
IN AND OUT
Beginning at 3rd level, you can guarantee a direct hit when you use a charge - when you use the charge within 10ft of an enemy, no attack roll is required and your charge is considered a direct hit. If you do so, you may also use the Dash action as a bonus action.
TINNITUS
Beginning at 7th level, you have been too close to so many charge detonations that you're desensitised to the sound. Either that or your ear drums have popped. Whatever the reason, you gain resistance to thunder damage, and you have advantage on saving throws against sound-based effects, for example a harpy's luring song.
SPECIAL DELIVERY
Sappers embrace their recklessness to use their charges to maximum effect. Beginning at 11th level, When you use your In and Out feature, you can ensure that your charge deals the maximum damage available on your direct hit damage die. You must roll for splash damage as normal. You may use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier.
RIDE THE WAVE
The ultimate Sapper doesn't only risk his own neck, but he does it in style. Beginning at 15th level, when you use your In and Out feature, you may choose to remain within the blast radius. If you do so, roll a Dexterity check (DC 15). On a pass, you may use your reaction to use another charge, and you are pushed 20ft directly away from your target and cannot move any further. On a fail, the effects are the same, but you must take the maximum splash damage from your first charge. You must then finish a short or long rest to use your Ride the Wave again.
TRAPPER
The Trapper style involves caution, camouflage and surprise attacks. As you learn the arts of the Trapper, you learn specialised techniques that allow you to control the flow and direction of battle, using your environment to your advantage and remaining hidden while you trap enemies in place, leaving them unguarded and vulnerable.
EXTRA MOVEMENT
Beginning at 3rd level, your base movement speed increases by 10ft.
BONUS PROFICIENCIES
At 3rd level, you gain proficiency in the use of the Trapper's tools. These comprise of the following:
Resins. You have a large supply of highly adhesive resins, which can be used as glue to affix charges (or other items) to the environment as an action. No attack roll is necessary when sticking a charge to a surface, although some surfaces are too slippery. A Trapper may only stick charges to surfaces within 5ft of them; throwing a charge will cause it to detonate as usual.
Fuses. You have 500ft of quick-burn fuses. Fuses can be trailed from the affixed charge and cut to length, before being ignited using matches. The fuses are thin strings of highly flammable metal, so they burn very quickly - a placed charge can be detonated as a bonus action. Alternatively, if any creature should come into contact with a placed charge, the charge will detonate. The Wisdom (Perception) required to spot a placed charge is equal to the Trapper's charge save DC.
Matches. These can be struck as a bonus action to light the fuse leading to a placed charge.
Camouflage. You can cover yourself in mud and dirt to give yourself advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks. Using this feature in-combat uses up your Action.
You may spend an hour during a short or long rest to replenish your Trapper's tools using materials you have gathered on your travels.
TRAPS
At 3rd level, you gain the ability to use traps and snares to disable your enemies. You may pick two of the following trap options to learn. Traps can be laid as an action anywhere within 5ft of you as long as the terrain allows for it. All traps have an AC of 5 and 3HP unless otherwise stated, and avoiding or defusing them requires a Dexterity save against your charge save DC.
Tripwire. This trap uses a thin wire of up to 30ft strung between two sturdy positions to trip enemies to the floor. If an enemy walks over the tripwire and fails on the Dexterity save, they will fall prone. On a successful save, their movement speed is reduced to 0 until they succeed on a Strength or Dexterity save (charge save DC) at the beginning of their turn to extricate themselves. A creature of Large or Huge size cannot fall prone to a tripwire. Tripwires have no effect on creatures of Colossal size or swimming creatures; flying or climbing creatures are only affected if the tripwire is perfectly placed.
Spike trap. This trap involves a line of up to 20ft of sharp spikes, usually covered over with leaves or some other camouflage. A creature who walks into a spike trap and fails the Dexterity save takes 1d6 plus your Intelligence modifier piercing damage and can only use half its movement speed on its next turn.
Poison pins. This trap involves a modified charge stuffed with poisoned pins and rusty nails. It is set off on contact, exploding in a 10ft radius sphere and dealing 1d4 plus your Intelligence modifier piercing damage and 1d4 poison damage, or half on a successful Dexterity save (as usual, the check is against your charge save DC).
Bear trap. This trap is a touch-sensitive pair of metal jaws that covers one 5ft square, and snaps closed around whatever is unfortunate enough to tread in it. A creature that steps on the trap takes 1d10 plus your Intelligence modifier piercing damage (or, if the target is armoured, bludgeoning damage) and is restrained until they pass a Strength check to break the trap open, or damage the trap sufficiently to break it.
Net snare. This trap involves a net spread flat across the ground in a 10ft square, which is triggered when a creature steps in it. The creature that triggers the trap is enveloped in the net and suspended above the ground, and is restrained until they succeed on a Strength check or until they deal sufficient damage to the net to destroy it. When a creature frees themselves from the net, they must succeed on a further Dexterity check or take 1d4 fall damage. This trap does not work on creatures of Huge size or above, and it can only be set up where there is something overhead from which the net can be suspended.
SIXTH SENSE
The best Trappers rig battlefields to their advantage before the enemy even knows they were there. Beginning at 7th level, you may use this feature once per long rest to move yourself to the top of the initiative order. Furthermore you are able to spot non-magical traps when walking at normal pace as if you were proceeding carefully.
FLASHBANG
Beginning at 11th level, when an enemy makes a melee weapon attack against you, you can use your reaction to toss a small firecracker to distract your attacker, who must make a Wisdom (Perception) check against your charge save DC.
If your attacker succeeds on its check, it is partially distracted and has disadvantage on any attack rolls made on its turn. However if your attacker fails the check, it is wholly distracted by the flash and bang, and you immediately enter stealth, you may choose to lay a placed charge at your location, and you can immediately move up to your full movement speed as a free action. You may use this feature once between short rests.
RAZE
Beginning at 11th level, you are adept at spotting structural weaknesses and placing your charges to exploit them. Your placed charges are now capable of felling small trees or breaking large chunks of rock free from walls or structures. Any creature in the area beneath any falling debris must succeed on a DC15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 22 (4d10) bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one. Once the debris has fallen, the floor of the area is filled with rubble and becomes difficult terrain. If destroying a section of the environment releases another hazard, for example a cascade of water or a flow of molten rock, then further damage may be added depending on the weight and severity of the hazard.
IMPROVED TRAPS
Beginning at 15th level, you are a master trapmaker. You may choose to learn two other traps from the list above, and each trap has the following additional effects:
Your Tripwire trap now knocks enemies prone on a failed save and restrains them on a successful save, and works against creatures of Huge size and below. Furthermore, when the tripwire snaps, it lashes round the creature's legs or body, dealing 1d8 plus your Intelligence modifier slashing damage.
Your Spike trap now has a maximum length of 30ft, and on a failed save, deals 1d12 plus your Intelligence modifier piercing damage. Affected enemies can only use half their movement speed on their next turn.
Your Poison pin trap now deals 1d8 plus your Intelligence modifier piercing damage and 1d8 poison damage in a 15ft sphere, and any creatures that take damage are poisoned.
Your Bear trap now deals 1d12 plus your Intelligence modifier piercing damage and 1d12 plus your Intelligence modifier bludgeoning damage, regardless of whether or not the enemy is armoured; if the affected body part of the target is not armoured and the creature affected is Large or smaller, the body part is severed according to the rules on page 272 of the Dungeon Master's Guide.
Your Net snare trap now works on creatures of Huge size or smaller, and can be set up to trap creatures at ground level. If an enemy frees themselves from a net at ground level, no further Dexterity check is required as no fall damage will be taken.
THUNDERCLAPPER
The Thunderclapper style is for adventurers who enjoy maximising the explosions they cause... but watching them from a safe distance. As you learn the arts of the Thunderclapper, you craft your own custom charge launcher which allows you to fire your charges great distances, blanketing wide areas with explosives and dealing high damage to large targets, all the while safely tucked in the rearguard.
CHARGE LAUNCHER
At 3rd level, the Thunderclapper designs their very own charge launcher, and becomes proficient in its use. It is up to you how you wish for your launcher to appear, so long as your DM agrees that it fits in-universe.
All charge launchers are intricate contraptions of metal pipework with thick barrels that thrust charges great distances in a soaring arc; using a launcher requires mathematical and algorithmic calculations to judge the trajectory, and therefore attack rolls when firing a charge from your launcher use your Intelligence modifier (if you throw charges as normal, they still retain the Thrown property).
Charge launchers can fire charges much further than a person can throw them; as such, your range when using your charge launcher is 150/600ft. Your charges also explode more fiercely when fired from your launcher due to the extra impact. The blast radius of your charges is increased by 5ft when you fire them from your launcher.
However, a charge launcher is heavy and requires a few seconds to put it down and aim it before firing; therefore your movement speed is reduced by 10ft as long as you are carrying your launcher.
SQUARE PEGS, ROUND HOLE
From 7th level, you are able to tweak your launcher's firing mechanism so that it can launch objects other than your charges. You can use your action to fire any object or creature up to a weight of 50lbs using your launcher, making an attack roll as normal (including the additional d8 direction roll on a miss).
The range of the projectile is 50ft for a 50lb weight, increasing by 1ft for every 1lb decrease in weight. If you are firing something breakable or alive, you must ensure that there is a soft or safe landing or the object or creature will take 4d10 bludgeoning damage on impact.
The projectile will deal direct-hit damage according to its hardness and weight. A soft projectile will deal 1d6 damage per 10lbs weight on impact. A hard projectile will deal 1d10 damage per 10lbs on impact.
Firing projectiles other than the charges for which the launcher was designed can cause damage to the barrels. As such, you may only use this feature a number of times between rests equal to your Intelligence modifier.
SCORCHED EARTH
Beginning at 11th level, you have developed a high degree of efficacy in your launcher. Whenever any target is hit by the splash damage from a charge fired using your launcher, you can use the direct-hit damage die instead. Additionally, targets of Huge size or larger take both direct hit and splash damage when hit by a charge fired from your launcher.
DOUBLE-BARRELLED
Beginning at 15th level, you add a second barrel to your charge launcher. When you use your action to Attack, you may fire two chargers from your launcher at once. This feature stacks with the Saboteur 20th level Ambidextrous feature.
VOLATILE MIX
Each saboteur uses a different mix of chemicals and herbs when putting together their charges, and there are many secret ingredients that can add unique effects to charge detonations. You cannot choose the same mix more than once. As the volatile ingredient must be added to the charge mix at the last moment, you can decide which mix of the ingredients you have learned to use when you are making your Attack roll. Any additional damage applies to both direct hit and splash damage rolls.
1. Berserk mix
You add a pinch of a rare herb that causes the victim to become enraged. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 psychic damage and must perform a Wisdom saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they go berserk and must use their next action to attack the creature nearest them.
2. Boom mix
You add a dab of a rare liquid that magnifies sound. Your charge detonations ring out with a loud boom that is audible within 300ft of you. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 thunder damage and must perform a Constitution saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they become deafened until the end of your next turn.
3. Burn mix
You add a tuft of a fire giant's eyebrow. Your charges explode in a shower of liquid flame, dealing 1d6 fire damage to all targets within the blast radius and igniting flammable objects inside the radius that are not being worn or carried. The blast momentarily sheds bright light in a 10ft radius and dim light for an additional 10ft. If an enemy is within the radius of the oil spread by a slick mix charge when the burn mix charge is used, they take an extra 1d4 damage and the oil is burned away.
4. Charm mix
You add a drop of Rakshasa essence. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 psychic damage and must perform a Wisdom saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they are charmed until the end of your next turn.
5. Cloud mix
You add a touch of efreeti soot. The blast radius of your charge undergoes the effects of a Fog Cloud spell (ignoring the spell's radius of effect).
6. Corrosive mix
You add a swab of gray ooze extract. Your charges explode in a spray of corrosive acid, dealing 1d6 acid damage to all targets within the blast radius. If any creature hit by the charge is wearing non-magical metal armour, the next weapon attack against them has advantage.
7. Fear mix
You add a pinch of mummy bonemeal. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 psychic damage and must perform a Wisdom saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they become frightened until the end of your next turn.
8. Flash mix
You add a drop of holy water. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 radiant damage and must perform a Constitution saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they are blinded until the end of your next turn. The blast momentarily sheds bright light in a 30ft radius and dim light for an additional 30ft.
9. Frag mix
You carefully split the casing of your charge. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 piercing damage and must perform a Constitution saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they take a further 1d4 damage as they pull the shrapnel out.
10. Freeze mix
You add a tuft of frost giant hair. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 cold damage and must perform a Dexterity saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they fall prone. If an enemy is within the radius of the oil spread by a slick mix charge when the freeze mix charge is used, automatically fail the Dexterity saving throw.
11. Mental mix
You add a drop of beholder blood. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 psychic damage and must perform a Wisdom saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, roll a d100. The creature affected falls under the relevant effect from the "Short-term Madness" table on p.259 of the Dungeon Master's Guide until the end of your next turn.
12. Push mix
You add an amplifying reagent. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 force damage and must perform a Dexterity saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they are pushed 10ft away from the epicentre of the charge detonation and fall prone.
13. Quiet mix
You add a mysterious magical essence. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 necrotic damage and must perform a Constitution saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they are silenced until the end of your next turn.
14. Shock mix
You add a tuft from a storm giant's beard. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 lightning damage and must perform a Dexterity saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they are paralyzed until the end of the current turn. If the creature hit is wearing metal armour, they automatically fail the saving throw.
15. Sicken mix
You add a vial of gorgon breath. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 poison damage and must perform a Constitution saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they are poisoned until the end of your next turn.
16. Slick mix
You add a drop of slaad grease. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 bludgeoning damage and must perform a Dexterity saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they fall prone. This mix creates a slick of oil on the floor in the charge's blast radius that can be ignited by a burn mix or can amplify the slipperiness of the ice left behind by a freeze mix.
17. Snare mix
You add a cutting from a vine blight. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 slashing damage and must perform a Dexterity saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they are restrained until the end of your next turn.
18. Spread mix
You add a wisp from an air elemental. The blast radius of your charges is extended by 5 feet. This effect stacks with the Thunderclapper's Charge Launcher feature.
19. Weak mix
You add a numbing anaesthetic. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 necrotic damage and must perform a Constitution saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they have advantage on attack and damage rolls until the end of your next turn.
20. Lucky dip mix
You add a fistful of whatever comes to hand first. Roll two d20s. Your charge takes the effects of the corresponding mixes according to the two numbers rolled. If either die roll results in a 20, the charge is a dud and deals no damage, additional or base.
MULTICLASSING
Prerequisites: DEX 13 and INT 13
Proficiencies Gained: Light armour, simple weapons, saboteur's supplies
I'm brand spanking new in every sense of the word - this is my very first post on this site, I'm fairly new to D&D having only starting playing with the 5th Edition, and this is my first attempt at a homebrew class. With that in mind, ensuring the class is balanced is my priority, and I've not had any experience of playing at high levels, so I'm hoping you fine people can help me out and tell me if any of this is horribly broken!
Anyway, without further ado... Introducing the Saboteur.
The Saboteur is largely inspired by the Combat Engineers/Sappers from Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Anyone who's read those books will know (A) how awesome the books are, and (B) how awesome the sappers themselves are, so hopefully I've managed to channel some of the Erikson magic into this homebrew.
The Saboteur's hook is that he's an explosives expert, using alchemical grenades or "charges" to deal damage. Obviously this homebrew therefore relies heavily on mechanics such as splash damage, object and structure damage, and the potential for projectiles to miss their target and explode elsewhere. Possibly not the most sensible class to choose for my first homebrew effort, but having done plenty of research and head-scratching with my gaming group, I think I've come up with a class that strikes the right balance of awesomeness, flavour and accessibility, while most importantly keeping intra- and extra-universe logic intact.
The three subclasses are the Sapper (slightly tankier, slightly suicidal, close-range damage and mobility); the Trapper (high mobility and elusive, tactical, uses the environment to his advantage); and the Thunderclapper (slow-moving but high ranged damage from a "charge launcher"). Hopefully the design and theme of each subclass, and the overall class, translates well into my draft.
I'm looking for any hints and ideas I can get, so please do feel free to comment!
Thanks in advance for your help.
A dwarf in a smoke-blackened chain shirt keeps his head low as he hustles around the side of an enemy encampment. Keeping his head down, he awaits the signal from his squad leader. When the whistle sounds, he leaps from cover, lighting the taper on his explosive charge, a ball of tightly packed and volatile combustibles. Heedless of flying arrows, he charges at the nearest orc, depositing the charge at the creature's feet before sprinting in the opposite direction, cackling with glee.
A wood elf wriggles backwards into the forest, tying off the last of a series of traps and hazards set up across this choke point. She finds the end of the long fuse leading down from the clifftop where she carefully planted her explosives, and lights it. She knows the charges were placed just right to send the cliffs crashing down into the hobgoblin troop below, and the only way out is straight through her field of snares. Closing her eyes in grim satisfaction, she awaits the blast.
A gnome sweats as he lugs a heavy contraption of iron and lead over his shoulder, picking a perfect vantage point in view of the ongoing battle. He thumps his load down on the floor and selects one of an array of balls from his pouch. Carefully slipping the heavy sphere into the barrel, he trips the fuse and claps his hands to his ears; as the shell is launched skyward he watches its trajectory. It arcs overhead and bursts in midair, showering the enemy forces with liquid fire. He nods in satisfaction; perfectly judged. Hefting the cannon once again, he waddles off to a new vantage point.
Whether they do their fighting at the van or in the rearguard, it is generally agreed that a saboteur must possess a delicate balance of intellect and insanity. Few know the intricate art of mixing chemical ingredients to create tools of war; fewer have the guts or the blind luck to use them in live combat; fewer still take satisfaction in the devastation they can wreak. It's said that war is madness; saboteurs have turned that madness into an art.
GENIUS OR LUNATIC?
Scholars and mages across the multiverse have long studied the effects of combining all kinds of chemicals, both mundane and virulent; the study of mixing these chemicals is both difficult and extremely dangerous. So, packing these unstable concoctions into balls of lead - called charges - and throwing, or even firing them at creatures, could be seen as tantamount to suicide; it is precisely this borderline between genius and insanity that the saboteur thrives on treading.
At the more prosaic end of the spectrum, some see the battlefield like a game of chess; a complicated matrix of strategy and pinch points - and nothing disrupts a game of chess like a well-placed explosion. Some like to stay back and bombard enemies with charges from afar, creating ballistae to launch them great distances using their knack for complex algorithms to accurately judge distances and trajectories; they like to think that the larger the target, the bigger the bang and the larger the crater. And barrelling headfirst through the line into outright madness, some prefer to ensure their charges hit home by hand-delivering them to the enemy's feet.
BETTER OFF AWAY FROM BUILDINGS
The saboteur is a natural adventurer. Their innate love of risk and excitement, coupled with the high incidence of blowing up their workshops, means that a saboteur is better off roaming free instead of endangering others in a town or city. However, many militias across Faerun recognise the value of a saboteur's charges, which can easily rout a group of well-placed enemies with a surprise attack, control a battlefield by funnelling or disabling enemies, or bring down walls from safe distances. It is therefore not uncommon to find many military platoons with at least one saboteur among their ranks, though they tend to suit marine squadrons better due to their highly specialised, guerrilla style of attack.
Some saboteurs see adventuring as a means to test out their latest inventions, some see it as a fine way to enjoy the camaraderie and competition of their peers. What is common to all saboteurs, however, is the desire to make things go boom.
As you make your saboteur, think about what might drive a person to focus their life on a practice that is as likely to end in an early (and messy) death before even finishing a single successful experiment. Were you born into a trade but bored of simply mixing herbs into potions and decided to see what would happen if you altered the mix slightly? Were you a keen but directionless intellect in your youth who was inspired by a display of pyrotechnics by a hedge wizard but, lacking any magical ability of your own, you decided to find another way?
Whatever your past, the common themes running through the psyches of saboteurs across the multiverse are an unhinged lack of regard for their own safety, and a deep obsession with explosions. This interest can be academic or bloodthirsty, but dealing with dangerous substances and eardrum-rupturing detonations every day will leave even the most level-headed saboteur a little crazed before long, if they weren't already. It is this touch of madness that leads saboteurs to be of a chaotic alignment more often than not.
QUICK BUILD
You can make a saboteur quickly by following these suggestions. First, Dexterity should be your highest ability score, followed by Intelligence or Constitution. Second, choose the sage or soldier background.
CLASS FEATURES
As a saboteur, you gain the following class features.
HIT POINTS
Hit Dice: 1d10 per saboteur level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution modifier per saboteur level after 1st
PROFICIENCIES
Armour: Light armour
Weapons: Simple weapons, hand crossbows, pikes, shortswords, explosive charges
Tools: Saboteur's supplies, one type of gaming set
Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence
Skills: Choose three from Acrobatics, Athletics, Deception, Investigation, Medicine, Perception, Performance, Sleight of Hand, Stealth
EQUIPMENT
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
• (a) a shortsword or (b) a pike
• (a) a hand crossbow and 20 bolts, or (b) a shortsword
• (a) a burglar's pack, (b) a dungeoneer's pack, or (c) an explorer's pack
• Studded leather armour, two daggers, and saboteur's supplies
THE SABOTEUR
Level
Proficiency
Bonus Features
Charges
1st
+2
Expertise, Explosive Charges (d8/d4)
3
2nd
+2
Volatile Mix
3
3rd
+2
Sabotage Style
4
4th
+2
Ability Score Improvement
5
5th
+3
Element of Surprise, Chemical Distillation
5
6th
+3
Expertise, Blind Luck
6
7th
+3
Sabotage Style Feature, Volatile Mix
7
8th
+3
Ability Score Improvement
7
9th
+4
Second Chance
8
10th
+4
Explosive Charges (d10/d6)
9
11th
+4
Sabotage Style Feature
9
12th
+4
Ability Score Improvement
10
13th
+5
Volatile Mix
11
14th
+5
Evasion
11
15th
+5
Sabotage Style Feature
12
16th
+5
Ability Score Improvement
13
17th
+6
Volatile Mix
13
18th
+6
Explosive Charges (d12/d8)
14
19th
+6
Ability Score Improvement
15
20th
+6
Ambidextrous
15
EXPERTISE
At 1st level, choose two of your skill proficiencies. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses either of the chosen proficiencies.
At 6th level, you can choose two more of your proficiencies to gain this benefit.
EXPLOSIVE CHARGES
Beginning at 1st level, you are able to mix chemicals and herbs from your saboteur's supplies to create volatile explosives, which you pack into lead balls called charges. Charges detonate on impact. You may use the number of charges shown for your saboteur level in the Charges column of the Saboteur table.
Charges are ranged weapons with the Thrown property (saboteurs are proficient in using charges), with a range of 40/80ft. They deal 1d8 force damage on a direct hit and 1d4 splash force damage to any creature within 5ft of the impact point.
At 10th level, your damage dice when using charges becomes 1d10 for a direct hit and 1d6 for splash damage. At 18th level, your damage dice when using charges becomes 1d12 for a direct hit and 1d8 for splash damage.
The damage charges deal is dependent on the potency of the mixture in each charge, which is learned through trial and error as well as natural intellect. You add your Intelligence modifier to damage rolls when using charges, instead of your Dexterity modifier.
If you miss when using a charge, then you must roll a d8 to determine where the charge explodes, using 1 as "north" and then assigning each value of the d8 to a compass point (2 is north-east, 3 is east and so on). The charge will miss by 5ft for every point difference between your target's AC and your dice roll, to a maximum of 30ft. So, for example, if the target has an AC of 15 and you roll a 13 (inclusive of modifiers), the charge will miss by 2x5ft = 10ft, in the direction determined by the d8 direction roll.
If your target's size is Huge or above, your charges will automatically hit. The target must perform a Constitution saving throw against your charge save DC. If they succeed on the throw, they take half damage using the direct hit damage die. If they fail, they take full damage. The enemy does not take any splash damage.
Charge save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier
If your charge detonates on contact with an object, use the rules governing object damage beginning at page 246 of the Dungeon Master's Guide. A single charge detonation will not normally be sufficient to knock a hole through a wall or bring down a cliff overhead, although the sound and any dislodged material may work as a distraction; flying chips of wood or stone could even cause damage to nearby enemies, at the DM's discretion.
You can replenish all used charges from your saboteur's supplies during a short or long rest. Refilling your charges requires at least one hour's work.
VOLATILE MIX
Starting at 2nd level, you have learned how to mix unique and exotic ingredients into your charges, which bestow your charges with additional effects. Your charges gain one volatile mix of your choice, which you can choose to activate before using each charge. Your volatile mix options are detailed at the end of the class description.
You gain additional volatile mixes again when you reach 7th, 13th and 17th levels. When you know more than one volatile mix, you can use all known mixes at once or in any combination.
SABOTAGE STYLE
At 3rd level, you choose a preferred style of making things go boom that you employ in the exercise of your saboteur abilities: Sapper, Trapper or Thunderclapper, all detailed at the end of the class description. Your choice of sabotage style grants you features at 3rd level and then again at 7th, 11th and 15th level.
ABILITY SCORE IMPROVEMENT
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
ELEMENT OF SURPRISE
An experienced saboteur knows the value of acting fast and staying one step ahead. When you reach 5th level, you gain +3 to initiative rolls, in addition to your Dexterity modifier.
CHEMICAL DISTILLATION
Beginning at 5th level, you can use your saboteur's supplies to purify water, rendering it drinkable if a little bland in taste.
BLIND LUCK
Regardless of their skill level, saboteurs tend not to survive for long without a healthy measure of luck on their side. Beginning at 6th level, if you are caught in the blast from one of your own charges, you may use this feature to take no damage from the charge. This can be used to avoid damage from either a direct hit or splash damage. You must then finish a short or long rest to use your Blind Luck again.
SECOND CHANCE
Saboteurs have to be clever with their fingers to build their charges; this skill transfers over to other areas of adventuring life too. Beginning at 9th level, you have advantage on ability checks relating to disarming non-magical traps.
EVASION
Beginning at 14th level, you have seen enough explosions that you can tell when one is coming. You can nimbly dodge out of the way of certain area effects, such as a red dragon's fiery breath or an ice storm spell. When you are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if you fail.
AMBIDEXTROUS
At level 20, when you use a charge on your Attack action, you can choose to use two charges instead. This feature stacks with any other feature that affects the number of attacks and/or charges you use.
SABOTAGE STYLES
While all saboteurs enjoy creating large explosions, each saboteur likes to do it in a different way. These different styles of destruction are embodied by the sabotage styles.
SAPPER
The Sapper style involves throwing caution to the wind and hand-delivering high explosives to the feet of your enemies. As you learn the arts of the Sapper, you learn specialised techniques allowing you to move quickly across the battlefield and maximise the damage of your charges, with an increasingly flagrant disregard for your own safety.
BONUS PROFICIENCIES
At 3rd level, you gain proficiency with medium armour.
IN AND OUT
Beginning at 3rd level, you can guarantee a direct hit when you use a charge - when you use the charge within 10ft of an enemy, no attack roll is required and your charge is considered a direct hit. If you do so, you may also use the Dash action as a bonus action.
TINNITUS
Beginning at 7th level, you have been too close to so many charge detonations that you're desensitised to the sound. Either that or your ear drums have popped. Whatever the reason, you gain resistance to thunder damage, and you have advantage on saving throws against sound-based effects, for example a harpy's luring song.
SPECIAL DELIVERY
Sappers embrace their recklessness to use their charges to maximum effect. Beginning at 11th level, When you use your In and Out feature, you can ensure that your charge deals the maximum damage available on your direct hit damage die. You must roll for splash damage as normal. You may use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier.
RIDE THE WAVE
The ultimate Sapper doesn't only risk his own neck, but he does it in style. Beginning at 15th level, when you use your In and Out feature, you may choose to remain within the blast radius. If you do so, roll a Dexterity check (DC 15). On a pass, you may use your reaction to use another charge, and you are pushed 20ft directly away from your target and cannot move any further. On a fail, the effects are the same, but you must take the maximum splash damage from your first charge. You must then finish a short or long rest to use your Ride the Wave again.
TRAPPER
The Trapper style involves caution, camouflage and surprise attacks. As you learn the arts of the Trapper, you learn specialised techniques that allow you to control the flow and direction of battle, using your environment to your advantage and remaining hidden while you trap enemies in place, leaving them unguarded and vulnerable.
EXTRA MOVEMENT
Beginning at 3rd level, your base movement speed increases by 10ft.
BONUS PROFICIENCIES
At 3rd level, you gain proficiency in the use of the Trapper's tools. These comprise of the following:
Resins. You have a large supply of highly adhesive resins, which can be used as glue to affix charges (or other items) to the environment as an action. No attack roll is necessary when sticking a charge to a surface, although some surfaces are too slippery. A Trapper may only stick charges to surfaces within 5ft of them; throwing a charge will cause it to detonate as usual.
Fuses. You have 500ft of quick-burn fuses. Fuses can be trailed from the affixed charge and cut to length, before being ignited using matches. The fuses are thin strings of highly flammable metal, so they burn very quickly - a placed charge can be detonated as a bonus action. Alternatively, if any creature should come into contact with a placed charge, the charge will detonate. The Wisdom (Perception) required to spot a placed charge is equal to the Trapper's charge save DC.
Matches. These can be struck as a bonus action to light the fuse leading to a placed charge.
Camouflage. You can cover yourself in mud and dirt to give yourself advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks. Using this feature in-combat uses up your Action.
You may spend an hour during a short or long rest to replenish your Trapper's tools using materials you have gathered on your travels.
TRAPS
At 3rd level, you gain the ability to use traps and snares to disable your enemies. You may pick two of the following trap options to learn. Traps can be laid as an action anywhere within 5ft of you as long as the terrain allows for it. All traps have an AC of 5 and 3HP unless otherwise stated, and avoiding or defusing them requires a Dexterity save against your charge save DC.
Tripwire. This trap uses a thin wire of up to 30ft strung between two sturdy positions to trip enemies to the floor. If an enemy walks over the tripwire and fails on the Dexterity save, they will fall prone. On a successful save, their movement speed is reduced to 0 until they succeed on a Strength or Dexterity save (charge save DC) at the beginning of their turn to extricate themselves. A creature of Large or Huge size cannot fall prone to a tripwire. Tripwires have no effect on creatures of Colossal size or swimming creatures; flying or climbing creatures are only affected if the tripwire is perfectly placed.
Spike trap. This trap involves a line of up to 20ft of sharp spikes, usually covered over with leaves or some other camouflage. A creature who walks into a spike trap and fails the Dexterity save takes 1d6 plus your Intelligence modifier piercing damage and can only use half its movement speed on its next turn.
Poison pins. This trap involves a modified charge stuffed with poisoned pins and rusty nails. It is set off on contact, exploding in a 10ft radius sphere and dealing 1d4 plus your Intelligence modifier piercing damage and 1d4 poison damage, or half on a successful Dexterity save (as usual, the check is against your charge save DC).
Bear trap. This trap is a touch-sensitive pair of metal jaws that covers one 5ft square, and snaps closed around whatever is unfortunate enough to tread in it. A creature that steps on the trap takes 1d10 plus your Intelligence modifier piercing damage (or, if the target is armoured, bludgeoning damage) and is restrained until they pass a Strength check to break the trap open, or damage the trap sufficiently to break it.
Net snare. This trap involves a net spread flat across the ground in a 10ft square, which is triggered when a creature steps in it. The creature that triggers the trap is enveloped in the net and suspended above the ground, and is restrained until they succeed on a Strength check or until they deal sufficient damage to the net to destroy it. When a creature frees themselves from the net, they must succeed on a further Dexterity check or take 1d4 fall damage. This trap does not work on creatures of Huge size or above, and it can only be set up where there is something overhead from which the net can be suspended.
SIXTH SENSE
The best Trappers rig battlefields to their advantage before the enemy even knows they were there. Beginning at 7th level, you may use this feature once per long rest to move yourself to the top of the initiative order. Furthermore you are able to spot non-magical traps when walking at normal pace as if you were proceeding carefully.
FLASHBANG
Beginning at 11th level, when an enemy makes a melee weapon attack against you, you can use your reaction to toss a small firecracker to distract your attacker, who must make a Wisdom (Perception) check against your charge save DC.
If your attacker succeeds on its check, it is partially distracted and has disadvantage on any attack rolls made on its turn. However if your attacker fails the check, it is wholly distracted by the flash and bang, and you immediately enter stealth, you may choose to lay a placed charge at your location, and you can immediately move up to your full movement speed as a free action. You may use this feature once between short rests.
RAZE
Beginning at 11th level, you are adept at spotting structural weaknesses and placing your charges to exploit them. Your placed charges are now capable of felling small trees or breaking large chunks of rock free from walls or structures. Any creature in the area beneath any falling debris must succeed on a DC15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 22 (4d10) bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one. Once the debris has fallen, the floor of the area is filled with rubble and becomes difficult terrain. If destroying a section of the environment releases another hazard, for example a cascade of water or a flow of molten rock, then further damage may be added depending on the weight and severity of the hazard.
IMPROVED TRAPS
Beginning at 15th level, you are a master trapmaker. You may choose to learn two other traps from the list above, and each trap has the following additional effects:
Your Tripwire trap now knocks enemies prone on a failed save and restrains them on a successful save, and works against creatures of Huge size and below. Furthermore, when the tripwire snaps, it lashes round the creature's legs or body, dealing 1d8 plus your Intelligence modifier slashing damage.
Your Spike trap now has a maximum length of 30ft, and on a failed save, deals 1d12 plus your Intelligence modifier piercing damage. Affected enemies can only use half their movement speed on their next turn.
Your Poison pin trap now deals 1d8 plus your Intelligence modifier piercing damage and 1d8 poison damage in a 15ft sphere, and any creatures that take damage are poisoned.
Your Bear trap now deals 1d12 plus your Intelligence modifier piercing damage and 1d12 plus your Intelligence modifier bludgeoning damage, regardless of whether or not the enemy is armoured; if the affected body part of the target is not armoured and the creature affected is Large or smaller, the body part is severed according to the rules on page 272 of the Dungeon Master's Guide.
Your Net snare trap now works on creatures of Huge size or smaller, and can be set up to trap creatures at ground level. If an enemy frees themselves from a net at ground level, no further Dexterity check is required as no fall damage will be taken.
THUNDERCLAPPER
The Thunderclapper style is for adventurers who enjoy maximising the explosions they cause... but watching them from a safe distance. As you learn the arts of the Thunderclapper, you craft your own custom charge launcher which allows you to fire your charges great distances, blanketing wide areas with explosives and dealing high damage to large targets, all the while safely tucked in the rearguard.
CHARGE LAUNCHER
At 3rd level, the Thunderclapper designs their very own charge launcher, and becomes proficient in its use. It is up to you how you wish for your launcher to appear, so long as your DM agrees that it fits in-universe.
All charge launchers are intricate contraptions of metal pipework with thick barrels that thrust charges great distances in a soaring arc; using a launcher requires mathematical and algorithmic calculations to judge the trajectory, and therefore attack rolls when firing a charge from your launcher use your Intelligence modifier (if you throw charges as normal, they still retain the Thrown property).
Charge launchers can fire charges much further than a person can throw them; as such, your range when using your charge launcher is 150/600ft. Your charges also explode more fiercely when fired from your launcher due to the extra impact. The blast radius of your charges is increased by 5ft when you fire them from your launcher.
However, a charge launcher is heavy and requires a few seconds to put it down and aim it before firing; therefore your movement speed is reduced by 10ft as long as you are carrying your launcher.
SQUARE PEGS, ROUND HOLE
From 7th level, you are able to tweak your launcher's firing mechanism so that it can launch objects other than your charges. You can use your action to fire any object or creature up to a weight of 50lbs using your launcher, making an attack roll as normal (including the additional d8 direction roll on a miss).
The range of the projectile is 50ft for a 50lb weight, increasing by 1ft for every 1lb decrease in weight. If you are firing something breakable or alive, you must ensure that there is a soft or safe landing or the object or creature will take 4d10 bludgeoning damage on impact.
The projectile will deal direct-hit damage according to its hardness and weight. A soft projectile will deal 1d6 damage per 10lbs weight on impact. A hard projectile will deal 1d10 damage per 10lbs on impact.
Firing projectiles other than the charges for which the launcher was designed can cause damage to the barrels. As such, you may only use this feature a number of times between rests equal to your Intelligence modifier.
SCORCHED EARTH
Beginning at 11th level, you have developed a high degree of efficacy in your launcher. Whenever any target is hit by the splash damage from a charge fired using your launcher, you can use the direct-hit damage die instead. Additionally, targets of Huge size or larger take both direct hit and splash damage when hit by a charge fired from your launcher.
DOUBLE-BARRELLED
Beginning at 15th level, you add a second barrel to your charge launcher. When you use your action to Attack, you may fire two chargers from your launcher at once. This feature stacks with the Saboteur 20th level Ambidextrous feature.
VOLATILE MIX
Each saboteur uses a different mix of chemicals and herbs when putting together their charges, and there are many secret ingredients that can add unique effects to charge detonations. You cannot choose the same mix more than once. As the volatile ingredient must be added to the charge mix at the last moment, you can decide which mix of the ingredients you have learned to use when you are making your Attack roll. Any additional damage applies to both direct hit and splash damage rolls.
1. Berserk mix
You add a pinch of a rare herb that causes the victim to become enraged. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 psychic damage and must perform a Wisdom saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they go berserk and must use their next action to attack the creature nearest them.
2. Boom mix
You add a dab of a rare liquid that magnifies sound. Your charge detonations ring out with a loud boom that is audible within 300ft of you. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 thunder damage and must perform a Constitution saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they become deafened until the end of your next turn.
3. Burn mix
You add a tuft of a fire giant's eyebrow. Your charges explode in a shower of liquid flame, dealing 1d6 fire damage to all targets within the blast radius and igniting flammable objects inside the radius that are not being worn or carried. The blast momentarily sheds bright light in a 10ft radius and dim light for an additional 10ft. If an enemy is within the radius of the oil spread by a slick mix charge when the burn mix charge is used, they take an extra 1d4 damage and the oil is burned away.
4. Charm mix
You add a drop of Rakshasa essence. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 psychic damage and must perform a Wisdom saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they are charmed until the end of your next turn.
5. Cloud mix
You add a touch of efreeti soot. The blast radius of your charge undergoes the effects of a Fog Cloud spell (ignoring the spell's radius of effect).
6. Corrosive mix
You add a swab of gray ooze extract. Your charges explode in a spray of corrosive acid, dealing 1d6 acid damage to all targets within the blast radius. If any creature hit by the charge is wearing non-magical metal armour, the next weapon attack against them has advantage.
7. Fear mix
You add a pinch of mummy bonemeal. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 psychic damage and must perform a Wisdom saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they become frightened until the end of your next turn.
8. Flash mix
You add a drop of holy water. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 radiant damage and must perform a Constitution saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they are blinded until the end of your next turn. The blast momentarily sheds bright light in a 30ft radius and dim light for an additional 30ft.
9. Frag mix
You carefully split the casing of your charge. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 piercing damage and must perform a Constitution saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they take a further 1d4 damage as they pull the shrapnel out.
10. Freeze mix
You add a tuft of frost giant hair. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 cold damage and must perform a Dexterity saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they fall prone. If an enemy is within the radius of the oil spread by a slick mix charge when the freeze mix charge is used, automatically fail the Dexterity saving throw.
11. Mental mix
You add a drop of beholder blood. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 psychic damage and must perform a Wisdom saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, roll a d100. The creature affected falls under the relevant effect from the "Short-term Madness" table on p.259 of the Dungeon Master's Guide until the end of your next turn.
12. Push mix
You add an amplifying reagent. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 force damage and must perform a Dexterity saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they are pushed 10ft away from the epicentre of the charge detonation and fall prone.
13. Quiet mix
You add a mysterious magical essence. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 necrotic damage and must perform a Constitution saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they are silenced until the end of your next turn.
14. Shock mix
You add a tuft from a storm giant's beard. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 lightning damage and must perform a Dexterity saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they are paralyzed until the end of the current turn. If the creature hit is wearing metal armour, they automatically fail the saving throw.
15. Sicken mix
You add a vial of gorgon breath. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 poison damage and must perform a Constitution saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they are poisoned until the end of your next turn.
16. Slick mix
You add a drop of slaad grease. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 bludgeoning damage and must perform a Dexterity saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they fall prone. This mix creates a slick of oil on the floor in the charge's blast radius that can be ignited by a burn mix or can amplify the slipperiness of the ice left behind by a freeze mix.
17. Snare mix
You add a cutting from a vine blight. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 slashing damage and must perform a Dexterity saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they are restrained until the end of your next turn.
18. Spread mix
You add a wisp from an air elemental. The blast radius of your charges is extended by 5 feet. This effect stacks with the Thunderclapper's Charge Launcher feature.
19. Weak mix
You add a numbing anaesthetic. All targets hit by your charges take an additional 1d6 necrotic damage and must perform a Constitution saving throw against your charge save DC. On a fail, they have advantage on attack and damage rolls until the end of your next turn.
20. Lucky dip mix
You add a fistful of whatever comes to hand first. Roll two d20s. Your charge takes the effects of the corresponding mixes according to the two numbers rolled. If either die roll results in a 20, the charge is a dud and deals no damage, additional or base.
MULTICLASSING
Prerequisites: DEX 13 and INT 13
Proficiencies Gained: Light armour, simple weapons, saboteur's supplies