Archetype: Tinkerer

Tinkerer by Tillerz using MidJourney

Unlike inventors, tinkerers are not big on extensive planning. They excel at scavenging and transforming leftover materials into practical contraptions. They wander through the land, scavenging valuable resources and crafting impromptu traps, defensive mechanisms, and various gizmos as the need arises. With their resourcefulness and cleverness, tinkerers prove to be formidable adversaries for anyone who dares to challenge them.
Role in the Party: The role of a tinkerer in an adventuring party is primarily that of a resourceful problem solver and support specialist. They excel at crafting gadgets, traps, and devices that can provide valuable assistance to the party in various situations. Tinkerers are often tasked with:

Trap Design and Disarmament: Tinkerers can create intricate traps to protect the party's camp or to ambush enemies. They are also skilled at identifying and disarming traps set by others.
Support and Utility: Tinkerers can provide utility to the party by creating gadgets for illumination, communication, or even surveillance.
Repair and Maintenance: Tinkerers are adept at repairing and maintaining the party's equipment, ensuring that everything functions smoothly during adventures.

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• Affinity: Iron
• Primary Characteristics: Dexterity, Intelligence
• Earning Skill: Trade (Engineer)
• Equipment: Trade Tools (Engineer), eg. hammer, tongs, hourglass, measuring rod, fuse cord, drafting compass, t-square.

Skills

• Climb, Evaluate, Gossip, Lore (Customs / Law), Lore (Alchemy), Lore (Engineering), Lore (Local), Lore (Metallurgy), Melee (Basic), Perception, Secret Signs (Engineer), Set Trap, Track, Trade (Engineer), Weapon: Explosives

Building the Backstory

These questions don't have to get answered and written down in detail, they are just there to make your think about your hero, but the answers can help the gamemaster to set up connections and stories related to your character.

• What sparked your interest in tinkering and invention, and who served as your mentor or inspiration?
• Describe your most ambitious or innovative invention. How did it function, and what challenges did you face in creating it?
• Have your inventions ever caused unintended consequences or accidents? How did you handle the fallout?
• How do you balance your desire to invent with the ethical implications of your creations, especially when they can be used for harm as well as good?
• What is your ultimate goal as a tinkerer? Do you aspire to change the world with your creations, or do you tinker for personal enjoyment?

Progression

A character begins with a selection of abilities and features listed in the Novice tier. If there are additional entries available, they can be acquired as the character advances through gameplay. Upon reaching specific milestones, the character can advance to the next tier. However, certain traits from those higher tiers must be earned through effort and accomplishment.

Legend: Companion Gadget Mutation Potion Scroll Spell Talent

✠ Novice

• Talents: Read/Write, Tinker, Orientation

Sketches

• Clockwork Toy
• Firestarter
• Alarm Bell Trap: Assembled with salvaged bells and wires, rings loudly when activated, alerting nearby allies of intruders.
• Net Trap: Made by weaving ropes and cables into a net, springs open to entangle intruders when triggered.
• Pressure Plate Trap: Constructed from scrap metal and wood, activates when stepped on, releasing a spring-loaded mechanism.
• Tripwire Trap: Utilizing a taut wire and a mechanism, triggers an object to fall or a door to close when disturbed.

♟ Adept

• Talents: Craftsman (Engineer), Etiquette (Guilder)
• Equipment: Guild License, Quality Trade Tools (Engineer)

Sketches

• Spring-Loaded Grappling Claw: Fashioned from salvaged metal claws and equipped with a spring-loaded mechanism, allows adventurers to retrieve distant objects or disarm enemies from a distance.
• Explosive Mine: Fashioned from salvaged metal parts and explosives, detonates when pressure is applied or a tripwire is triggered.

♜ Master

• Talents: Etiquette (Scholar), Master Tradesman (Engineering), Super Numerate
• Equipment: Workshop (Engineer)

Sketches

• Gas Trap: Uses makeshift pipes and valves to release a noxious gas when triggered, incapacitating or disorienting trespassers.
• Flamethrower Trap: Crafted from salvaged pipes and fuel, releases a burst of flames when activated by a tripwire or pressure plate.

♛ Legend

• Talents: Magnum Opus, Savant (Engineering), Unshakable
• Equipment: Library (Engineer), Large Workshop (Engineer)

Sketches

• Clockwork Automaton: Constructed using intricate clockwork mechanisms and scrap metal parts, capable of performing complex actions and tasks.
• Projectile Launcher: Constructed from salvaged springs and mechanisms, shoots projectiles when triggered by a tripwire or pressure plate.