#construct handbook

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Engineer (Investigator Archetype)

(art by James Ng from jamesngart.com)

  I’ve ragged about the book on and off ever since I read it, but Construct Handbook continues to frustrate me. This time, it isn’t even my favorite complaint about the lack of options for characters that want to build constructs, rather than destroy them, but rather, that today’s option already has a similar counterpart in another book that arguably did it better!

Today’s subject is the engineer, an investigator whose profession is specifically a builder of machines and mechanisms. They have an array of neat little gadgets and spare parts that they can use to make useful little devices.

The only issue is, the scavenger investigator already does that, but arguably better since their gadgets are their reflavored extracts, whereas the engineer converts their inspiration pool into gadgets which they can then hand out. Hell, scavenger even gets craft construct and bonuses to crafting magic items.

However…

I can’t rag on the engineer too hard. After all, we’ve had plenty of archetypes which cover the same ground to varying degrees or more, and these archetypes can coexist in the same place, with one having a greater focus on gadgets and constructs than the other, and aside from the mechanical benefits of the scavenger’s gadgetry, there’s no reason you can’t reflavor the engineer’s extracts as gadgets too. (Sadly, the two archetypes cannot be stacked since they have overlapping ability replacements)

Indeed, the engineer, as we will soon see, might just be perfect for a low-tech take on the steampunk aesthetic.

 The defining feature of these engineers is their ability to spend inspiration and about a minute’s work to cobble together a small device that can help them with an upcoming task. Normally these last for a few minutes before the delicate mechanisms have to be recycled if they are not used before the point, but as they grow in skill eventually they can make them last hours. These mechanisms can take many forms, such as perhaps an inflatable ballast for swimming, or a mini-grapnel to assist in climbing. They can even be used to aid in combat, though it costs more inspiration to do so. What’s more, while these devices can be handed out, a person can only reliably hold and utilize one at a time.

Beyond this, these engineers have a greater understanding of constructs and more mundane works of engineering.

It’s a simple archetype, but if you wish you could share your inspiration pool with others, this archetype might be for you. No matter what build you go with, you should probably make some room for increasing the number of uses of inspiration you have, so that you can keep handing your allies little buffs here and there throughout the day. Again, however, if you want your character to have more direct connection to constructs without spending feats, you’re better off with the scavenger archetype.

 Having a gadget for every situation is always fun, regardless of whether it gives a bonus or emulates a spell effect. With this archetype, however, you may have to use a bit more creativity to articulate exactly what the device is and how it’s providing the extra dice to a roll.

  Though an eccentric man, the many inventions and keen mind of Dr. Balcanas often see him called in to investigate many strange events. One such case is the sudden uptick of the nearly-skeletal halfling mortics known as jitterbones. What has led to so many of them appearing? Were they there all along? What does all this portend?

 Kavasi the tinker fills her shop with all sorts of wonders, ranging from simple windup toys to useful, well-engineered tools. However, there is something that she hides behind her new life here, for she is in fact a vishkanya assassin, taking her extensive knowledge of simple automatons which she once used to end lives.

 A bishop has been found murdered, and the fragmented remains of some sort of spring-loaded device was found beneath the open window of his room. The only person in town who deals with such devices is a local tinkerer, but he denies all knowledge of it. It will be up to the party to find out what is really going on.

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Forgefather’s Seeker (Paladin Archetype)

(art by Straban on DeviantArt)

Another paladin archetype today! And this one comes from… Ah, Construct Handbook again.

I’ve made my general disappointment with the book well-known, with the dearth of character options meant to make building constructs more fun and easier, and the overabundance of archetypes that are just for destroying them, so I don’t think I have to go into that again.

And yet, here we are, with another archetype centered around the destruction of constructs. It’s cool, we’ll just gird our loins and try to remember the things we actually like about the book.

The head of the dwarven pantheon, Torag, is not simply a god of the forge and of creation, but also one of righteousness and good. As such, he passes judgement upon creators for what they create, and what they use their creations for.

When someone creates constructs through vile means, such as those fueled by souls, suffering, and the like, or that are used for horrible acts such as slaughtering innocents, the Forgefather frowns upon such deeds, and his Seekers, warrior paladins that revere his aspect as a patron of artificers, may be guided by his hand to bring low such constructs.

Of course, you could theoretically use this archetype with any deity with the artifice domain that a paladin could reasonably worship, but obviously what constitutes the proper use of constructs will vary by deity.

Additionally, while the majority of these warriors in the Golarion setting may be dwarves, there is no such restriction.

Unsurprisingly, these holy beings can sense constructs, as well as any aura they might have, useful if the construct is sapient can capable of morality.

Their smite is geared towards destroying constructs as well. While it can be used on other targets, it is weaker, and has no special benefit against the classic paladin enemies.

They can also grant this special smite to allies, unsurprisingly.

The weapons that they and nearby allies wield are also blessed to pierce the durable materials that constructs are typically made from as well.

Naturally, the power these paladins wield at the zenith of their abilities is also modified. While they still gain greater protection and produce exceptional healing from their touch, instead of banishing fiends, they can attempt to unmake a smote construct with a single blow.

Constructs are a relatively rare creature type, depending on the campaign, so taking this archetype and being effective really depends on what sort of game your GM is crafting. In a traditional dungeon crawler it may see moderate use, while others might not get much out of it at all. Meanwhile, a campaign set in a region undergoing a technological revolution might benefit from their special abilities every single session. In any case, most of their abilities not tied to smiting or fighting certain foes remain intact, so you can still build them as a support combatant.

Of course, as the executioners of wayward constructs, the tools of slaughter, and their creators, we can’t help but wonder how they interact with fully sapient constructs, such as the construct-like androids and of course any construct that achieves sapience either by itself or by design. Do they quietly judge these beings, or welcome them as children of a new and wondrous form of life? How bitter must it be to have to destroy a sapient construct that refuses to see a way other than bloodshed and evil?

Dollhouse is a commune of soulbound constructs and awakened poppets that exists above the ramshackle streets of Shalan’s docks district. While people know of the community, some suspect they may harbor evil constructs in their midst, which has the Gearguard interested.

The ruins of the sunken civilization of Paradi have long been haunted by not just undead, but also the machines that once served as their primary offensive force. Among the cecaelia that also live in these ancient cities, there are those that take on the mantle of construct-hunters, empowered by their god to destroy these ancient idols of hubris and bloodshed.

A dread infection from beyond the stars has come to this world. It is a mechanical malady that slowly transforms flesh, living, dead, or undead, into mechanical equivalents, creating hybrid horrors that serve the source of this plague. What’s more, the illness has claimed many champions, such as the graveknight Brondstein and his vukoldlak steed. Specialists that can fight effectively against these mechanical horrors are needed.

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Clocksmith (Wizard Archetype)

(art by Marcel Mercado on Artstation)

 Oof, this one.

Well, I suppose I had to do it eventually. I’ve made it clear repeatedly in these various archetypes from Construct Handbook that I dislike the angle that most of the archetypes took in that book, most focusing on destroying them or emulating their power. I even said that the arcane tinkerer archetype for arcanists was the poster child of that very thing.

But today’s subject is perhaps the one that vexes me the most, and it’s the only one with inbuilt abilities tied to building your own constructs, the one thing that I was actually hoping for with character options from this book!

Essentially, the clocksmith is a wizard specializing in the crafting of clockwork constructs, perfecting the magic needed to animate them as well as the mechanical engineering that powers their motion. Hell, this archetype has the fastest turnaround of learning craft construct, giving it to you at first level, bypassing the prerequisites!

So what’s the problem?

The problem is, the drawback of having an early to mid-level feat at the start of your journey is the stipulation that while you can craft clockwork constructs just fine, all other construct types cost 1.5 times as much gold to craft, which makes most other constructs pretty much non-viable to craft without some serious investment, pretty much limiting you to clockworks. HOWEVER, the thing about clockwork constructs is, they are difficult to make, and not just because they have a subtype ability called “difficult to create” in the name which makes them more expensive than other constructs of their CR anyway.

No, clockworks are difficult to make because NO MATTER WHAT THE CR OF THE CLOCKWORK IS, THE MINIMUM CASTER LEVEL TO CRAFT ANY CLOCKWORK CONSTRUCT IS ALWAYS AT LEAST 12. Yes, even for low-CR stuff like Clockwork Goblin or Clockwork Songbird!

Which means, dear reader, that by taking this archetype at first level, you’ve basically got a dead feat for what could be most of, or even the entirety of the campaign, relying entirely on what other benefits the archetype gives you, and when you finally start getting able to use it, every non-clockwork construct in the game is now just as expensive as a comparable CR clockwork construct.

So honestly, I can only recommend this archetype if you like the idea of a customizable construct familiar, but even that isn’t as good as it seems, as we’ll see below. Still, this archetype is, I suppose, a thematic option should you find yourself at mid-level, and like having a neat familiar.

 The first thing that this path does offer is a construct familiar, which mimics pretty much any normal familiar you could take, and even grants a limited version of that form’s bonuses. However, unless you make one and take improved familiar, it is very specifically not a clockwork familiar, using the base stats for the basic familiar instead, albeit modified for being a construct.

They also are intimately familiar with how clockwork constructs operate, that knowledge helping them to resist the abilities of clockworks much better and letting their spells be more effective against them.

Additionally, as mentioned above, they gain access to the ability to craft constructs early in their career (for all the good it does them).

A major upside of this archetype, however, is that they periodically upgrade their familiar, increasing the number and complexity of their modifications as time goes on, as well as changing them as they gain mastery.

This archetype… honestly feels like it was either made by a freelancer who didn’t fully understand the penalties for making constructs, or it was bogged down by at least one person on the creative team being afraid of what game-breaking could be done with powerful construct minions, which is fair, but the compromise we got out of this archetype was… not good. It’s probably only worth taking if you’re starting at mid-level and therefore don’t have to slog through the levels with it, or if you really, really want to have a familiar with free eidolon evolutions. It also lets you keep your arcane school, but also replaces the arcane school abilities, which depending on the school in question, may or may not be worth it, especially in the early game. It really is an archetype that wants to look like it’s designed for the construct-loving player, but really isn’t at all. If you’re in it for the master craftsman that builds their own powerful minions for others or themselves, you’re better off working with a vanilla wizard with the arcane builder focused subschool of universalist. Still, if you think you can make it work and just really like the flavor and the custom familiar, or are playing in a campaign where clockworks are common enough to make the bonuses worth it, go for it.

 Clocksmiths focus on the mysteries of engineering more so than they do arcane secrets, so I’d imagine they get along quite nicely with alchemists and even 2nd edition’s inventors, though outside of their mystical clockwork-making circles they might find themselves alienated among other arcane spellcasters. Such peers might view them with curiosity, or even disdain.

  All concepts exist in some form in the fey realms, including clockwork wonders the material world has never seen. The Timeless Mechanism is a whole city devoted to strange wonders that do not exist anywhere else, including things like fully mechanical jubjub birds and others replicas of the Tane. A clocksmith wizard would do nearly anything to study such wonders for even one day.

 Kobolds have long prided themselves on their engineering, so it would only make sense that they take to clockwork mechanisms with ease. Such is the case with the newly founded nation of Brasswing, which hopes to establish itself as a country that must be taken seriously by it’s neighbors, but they have many enemies, some who will not suffer kobolds to ascend to the same table as their kind, and some who want their innovations for themselves.

 Mitzi Rotorvisk has been fascinated by clocks since she first saw one, and the young gnome saved up a surprising sum to attend a prestigious academy and learn all she could. Already, she is surpassing her peers, having created a clockwork hedgehog assistant to aid her, and she grows with every challenge she meets. However, she feel dissatisfied, sure that there must be one discovery which will simplify the creation of clockworks forever.

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Cruorchymist (Alchemist Archetype)

 Fed with blood and created from the alchemist’s own being, today we are looking at another construct-themed alchemist archetype, and the third one that has creatures called homunculi in the name, though in today’s case, this is the only one that directly seems based on the lore of homunculi in the real world.

In real-world alchemy, the homunculus was theorized to be a tiny microscopic humanoid or animal that dwelled withing the spermatozoa of animals, which would grow into a new being when “planted” in a womb.

Much like phlogiston and other theoretical substances which were later disproved, however, homunculi as a concept exist now only in alchemical texts and fantasy, particularly being used as a term for artificial beings created from flesh and blood. This didn’t stop there from being many stories of alchemists who claimed to have used their arts to simulate a womb-like environment in a flask, growing and cultivating the homunculus inside of the flask in order to ask it questions of the secrets of life.

In Pathfinder, and indeed in the world’s oldest roleplaying game, homunculi are more traditionally made from the blood of their creator, and generally resemble misshapen imps, though different alchemist archetypes vary this up, such as homunculists specializing in creating artificial animals for use as familiars, and the promethean alchemist having a more humanoid homunculus companion.

Today’s subject, however, utilizes the imp-like homunculi, and explores the bond they share with their masters, one formed from blood. Their reliance on a bodily fluid, though very different in nature, does give the cruorchymist’s homunculus a touch more in common with the lore.

 The homunculus created by these alchemists resembles a tiny humanoid, and shares a bond similar to that of a familiar. They can even use infusions to deliver extracts that allow for touch attacks on their masters behalf. What’s more, cruorchemists can use a large quantity of their own blood to help offset the cost of creating a new homunculus should theirs be destroyed.

They can also bleed themselves to heal their homunculus on the fly, should they need to.

Furthermore, they can temporarily grant their homunculus various enhancements similar to the animal aspects of hunters with blood as well.

This archetype is very much about the alchemist damaging their own constitution to heal and buff their familiar, which is a neat concept, but difficult to use. You also can’t take any form of mutagen, even via discovery, so I think the strategy here is to be a ranged bomber and touch-spell deliverer build that uses their homunculus for scouting and support. HOWEVER, I would be remiss not to point out that using blood to recreate or heal the homunculus (but not buff it) explicitly uses the word “drain” which is much more permanent than ability damage, so I’d consult with your GM to confirm whether this should be considered a typo or not, as currently written, the cost of those abilities is far too harsh in my opinion.

 All of these homunculus-focused archetypes are focused at least on some extent on the creation of life and unlocking its mysteries, as are most other construct-focused alchemists. However, many cruorchemists might be dangerously focused on success, ignoring the toll on their own bodies.

  It comes as no surprise that vampires have an interest in the sciences of vitality and blood. However, even after freshly feeding, they remain incapable of bringing normal homunculi to life, instead creating horrible amalgams of construct and undead, deathly things with no breath.

 According to myth, goblinkind was born from the blood of fiends spilled in a great war on the Material Plane. Seeking the truth of this, the hobgoblin alchemist Miccsar the Pale seeks to see if goblin blood retains any such properties. The results so far, while interesting, are inconclusive.

 A black dragon is rumored to have moved into Ghosthand Marsh, an eerie and foreboding place. The cruorchymist Elindere wants it’s blood, in as large of quantities as can be collected, for his experiments, requiring a party to lure the beast onto land before slaying it.

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Construct Caller (Unchained Summoner Archetype)

(art by butterfrog on DeviantArt)

 And we’re back again, too soon, to my favorite punching bag: Construct Handbook, with another archetype.

By my own admission I rag on that book as a disappointment a lot, but today’s archetype I don’t actually mind that much, and in my opinion provides an elegant solution to something that felt missing from the game for a long while: A summoner character that conjures a construct-like eidolon to aid them!

Unlike other summoners, construct callers use their rote and rituals to literally build their eidolon, crafting astral quintessence into a perfect orderly form which might resemble any sort of construct, from a golem to a clockwork to something more cultural or regional. However, others might resemble more esoteric concepts, such as a mathematical or geometric equation given roughly humanoid form. Unlike inevitables, however, they are not necessarily lawful.

Some of these summoners might craft their eidolon entirely from scratch, but others might instead use an eidolon consciousness as a “seed” or core around which their body is built. Either way, as we’ll soon see that prove to have impressive control over their eidolon’s form.

As this archetype specifically works with the eidolon subtypes of the unchained version of the summoner class, it is limited to that version, but we’ll soon see exactly what that means.

 The summoner’s eidolon functions much like an inevitable, but having no constitution and having size-based vitality. What’s more, their durability against all but the most chaotic attacks is instead bypassed by the hardest materials.

Additionally, due to how thorough their control over their minion’s form is, they prove able to squeeze more unique abilities and evolution out of their eidolon than most.

A simple archetype which provides a different sort of companion creature at the cost of limiting the progression of their ability to summon other creatures, this option is a fun, flavorful way to scratch that “pet automaton” itch, no matter what form it takes. You’ll be a bit less reliant on your other summons, so I suggest a build focused on supporting your eidolon in particular.

 While some of these summoners might be brilliant engineers, capable of crafting complex esoteric constructs, the fact that they remain charisma-based casters does suggest that there may be a significant portion that are not so extremely gifted when it comes to engineering expertise, and might instead construct their eidolons because they lack the ability to craft such a being from components more restricted by the laws of physics than quintessence. In such cases, many might struggle with imposter syndrome, particularly if they had construct-crafting or engineering-focused peers. Conversely, however, some may see their creations as just as much art as engineering, not as bothered by the intricacies under the hood. Of course, this is less likely to come up with construct callers that have eidolons that resemble solid-material constructs like most golems.

  Researching the strange denizens of Leng is no easy task. One needs a companion that can handle the rigors of that maddening environment, and Kadia envisioned such an ally, a construct eidolon, into being. Even still, she reaches out to the part for help with a particularly nasty target, a leng hound.

 Endlessly fascinated by crafting and invention, many catfolk around the Scarred Cape take up a craft to pass the time, and some even learn to summon their ideal creations into existence. Some resemble the ruined automatons seen throughout the region, while others resemble more rustic materials. Jokes about yarn, however, are not appreciated.

 Rather than being scorned as “false craftsmen” the construct callers of Vendia are reknowned as innovators, constantly perfecting their eidolons with new designs which true crafters study in order to realize them as true constructs. However, plagerism with the help of evolution surge and devolution spells is common.

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Construct Saboteur (Rogue Archetype)

 One last time (for now) we take a look at an archetype from Construct Handbook, and yes, it is one of the ones specifically designed to kill constructs… But at least for this one it makes sense and isn’t just “a scholar of constructs and their lore, but all their abilities are geared towards killing them”.

Anyway, the construct saboteur is exactly what you expect it is, a rogue specializing in the destruction of constructs, but there are a few things to note that make it interesting.

You see, back in 3.5, the edition of D&D that Pathfinder 1e was based on, constructs were one of several creature types that were completely immune to precision and critical hit damage, a category that included the likes of elementals, oozes, and undead as well, the reason being that such creatures lacked an internal anatomy (or at least a functional one), to target.

While some creatures retain that trait, such as elementals and oozes purely because there are no organs or discernable anatomy to target, Pathfinder removed that from most constructs and undead on the reasoning that while they have no organs, such creatures do have areas where one can maximize damage, such joints or locuses of mystical/unholy power, which can be damaged to inhibit function. For constructs, these could be anything from vulnerable joints to runes that can be ruined, or gearboxes that can be jammed.

And that is where the gimmick of today’s subject really comes into play, for these rogues can not only deal extra damage with their sneak attack, but also take advantage of the unique vulnerabilities of constructs to debilitate them further, similar to the rogue talents that add extra effects to sneak attack with other creatures that a construct would be immune to, such as bleed or nausea and whatnot.

As one might imagine, these saboteurs might arise as tomb-breakers specializing in ancient ruins with construct guardians, or they might be rebels in a land where machines are tools of oppression, or survivors in wastelands plagued by alien machines.

 Befitting their occupation, these sneaks are quite knowledgeable about the inner workings of constructs and other similar mechanisms and architecture. Additionally, they learn how to channel minor magical power into their weaponry to enhance their attacks, which in turn serves as the focus for their later abilities.

Indeed, by using the arcane to empower their weapon while also targeting the weak points of a construct, they can target parts of their construction or animating forces to debilitate them. For example, they might blind them, or temporarily weaken the magic immunity of some constructs, overwhelm their bodies to reduce their activity, or dramatically slow their speed.

They also study the materials from which constructs are made, learning the best ways to bypass the inherent durability therein.

A simple archetype, but one that gives the rogue an edge against construct foes. If your campaign has a lot of dungeons with construct guardians, or takes place in a setting where constructs are common like Golarion’s Numeria, this archetype might be quite useful, but in places where it is not, it is luckily so intrusive as to make them unviable for other scenarios. That being said, don’t ask them to disable magical traps or be the first line of defense in discovering traps in the first place.

 While these figures are not necessarily defined by their relationship with constructs, it likely does have a heavy influence. They might hate them, or they might view them as a valuable resource, or as simply something to be good at destroying for the profits.

  One would assume that most constructs would be at a disadvantage underwater, but the advanced magical weaponry of the stone men of sunken Anoga make them quite formidable in protecting the ruins abandoned to the waves. However, some locathah tribes have studied the constructs to find their weaknesses, opening up ruins for salvage and exploration.

 Angry and depanding recompense, an azruverda, normally peaceful beetle-like beings, has begun accosting travellers looking for a specific band of adventurers. Apparently, this band came and destroyed all of the constructs the lonely creature had come to regard as her friends in her abandoned temple home, and now she seeks to avenge them.

 The mighty golem called Vigilance has been lauded by the people as the perfect defender, ever watchful against danger to the city. When the city guard find the statue inert, destroyed with a few well-placed strikes, their gemstone eyes plucked out, the people that had come to love the artificial being are left angry and distraught.

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Construct Collector (Occultist Archetype)

 It’s fairly predictable that once we hit the word “construct” in my master list of archetypes and options for this blog that we would have at least one more archetype from Construct Handbook, and it’s yet another one that focuses on destroying constructs or using their remains after destruction, we’ve seen it all before… or have we?

From the perspective of occultists and psychic spellcasting in general, constructs can actually prove a proverbial gold mine even after destroyed. The vast majority of constructs are works of art and engineering, and you can’t pour your heart and soul into something without literally metaphysically pouring yourself into it, making constructs a natural receptacle for all sorts of mystical association and energies, and that’s before even considering the animating force that constructs serve as a vessel for.

The occultists known as construct collectors may be archeologists, treasure hunters, or antique dealers, but they all share a fascination for constructs, both the intact and destroyed alike. If at all possible they enjoy studying the psychic energies coming off of these beings, though for their own safety they often have to defend themselves from and destroy constructs. That intimate knowledge, however, does let them draw upon the last vestiges of a fallen construct, as we’ll see below.

Honestly while part of me sees this archetype as just another construct-breaker, the themes of the occultist class help elevate the concept for me.

 By searching through the remains of constructs, these occultists can find mystically significant trinkets that still carry a bit of power: a stone shard with an intact cluster of runes, a clockwork heart, and the like. By keeping these items with them, they can draw upon them for a little bit extra focus in a pinch that is not tied to any of their implements. However, draining this energy from the components removes the last vestiges of power from them, rendering them inert and only valuable as collector’s bric-a-brac.

More impressively, with a surge of uninvested focus, these mystics can pour their power into a construct that has just been destroyed in order to animate it briefly under their control. This power starts out only lasting a moment, but later on they can invest more power to make it last several seconds, or even minutes before the construct collapses, inert once more.

A simple archetype, this version of the occultist doesn’t really specialize you for fighting against constructs, but it does reward you for slaying them, either by giving you a small supply of extra focus points, or that rare opportunity where you get to destroy a foe’s construct bodyguard and immediately turn it against them, which is a niche ability, but a satisfying one. The focus on having a supply of un-invested focus points means you’ll have to carefully decide when to invest and when to leave some points free, but you’re losing out on a portion of your focus powers as well as all the magic circle gimmick stuff anyway.

 I never thought I’d look to modern collector culture for inspiration with an archetype, but there you have it. Construct collectors most likely have a large selection of bits and bobs taken from destroyed constructs, some from before they were able to draw power from them, many after. Even after they’ve used up the power within, I imagine they still keep many of them around as mementos or collector’s items from those meaningful encounters. Additionally, some may choose to learn how to craft constructs themselves, copying or drawing inspiration from ancient and novel designs.

  For decades, the Red Eye, once the focus for a mighty robot weapon from the Star Invasion, has passed from construct collector to collector, seething with potential. However, unbeknownst to anyone, reinforcements of that invasion have arrived, and they are eager to retrieve and revive what once was theirs.

 They say that the cecaelia once had a great undersea empire now long lost. Regardless of whether that is true, there are plenty of octopus-folk that are curious about ancient sunken ruins, and the guardians that their owners made long ago to protect them.

 Alien and cryptic, flail snails are a mystery whose shells have strange mystical properties that were once valued by an ancient civilization, so much so that entire colonies of the beings are protected to this day by eternal construct guardians. However, this new interloper, Vaxi Thunderclash, is not interested in the flail snails, but rather, in their guardians, eager to study and collect bitf of the golems as an archaeological expedition.

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Arcane Tinkerer (Arcanist Archetype)

(art by Waltercomics87 on DeviantArt)

 Perhaps the poster child of my problems with the Construct Handbook, today we’re looking at an archetype whose name suggests that they are good at crafting constructs. However, all of the special abilities of this archetype are geared towards destroying constructs instead. Not saying you can’t also build them to be construct crafters, but still, this focus on destroying or emulating constructs, with literally only one archetype geared towards making a single subset of them vexes me.

Regardless of my feelings on the matter, I present the arcane tinkerer!

These arcanists, like all of their craft, dare to fiddle around with the laws of magic, testing them in ways considered dangerous by others. In particular, they focus on the exact inner workings of constructs, trying to understand exactly what makes them tick, from the creations of modern foundries to ancient guardians whose secret of creation has been long lost, and even the simple crafted servants of more rural areas.

While they may study these things in theory or to try and put them into practice creating their own, they can also use the secrets to unmake constructs with skill the surprises most other mages.

 More so than other spellcasters, these mystics have learned to see the energies manipulating constructs, and with a little energy of their own, try to arrest them. At first, they can only slow their attacks a little, but by training this ability, they can upgrade it to significantly slow them down, or even bring them to a helpless standstill for a few moments, making them easier for them and their allies to fight them.

The magic immunity of golems and golem-like constructs is what makes them a terror to most mages, who have to either work around them with indirect spells or those that allow no resistance. Arcane Tinkerers, however, learn the secrets of how to truly get around this immunity, treating it as a strong spell resistance instead, which grows weaker as they grow stronger. Certainly there is still a chance of failure, but the shock on their master’s face when a powerful spell pierces that defense is priceless.

A fairly simple archetype, whether you make them an anti-golem hunter or a master of creating their own, I definitely recommend exploits and feats that help them pierce spell resistance, as that is useful across the board, not just their interest in constructs. Beyond that, a variety of spells that cannot be all blocked out by the same type of defense is very useful here.

 Depending on their outlook, these arcanists might consider constructs their enemy, or be absolutely fascinated by them, and there is plenty to be said about character arcs involving the creation and perfection of construct design, perhaps creating sapient constructs in a bid to create their own form of life.

  They say that the very first constructs were made in the laboratory of Mystic Zhotal, which is now colloquially called the Golem Foundry in legend. A young arcanist hires the party to accompany her, claiming to have found its location.

 Seeing the cycle of life, death, and reincarnation as a sort of cosmic clock, Najier the samsaran has a long history across their past lives of a fascination with clockwork, even having invented a few innovations in the field in their past lives. As such, they left several vaults guarded by clockwork soldiers that in theory will allow them to enter and reclaim their lives’ work.

 The golem-killers of Tirkanan have long studied the arts of destroying the abominations of industrial Gurvra, but in order to pierce the immunity to magic, they need special powders and fetishes made from something with a sympathetic connection to penetration, in this case the wall-splitting beak of a kongamato dragon.