Constructs are artificial servants created and maintained by an artificer. Each construct is defined by three fundamental elements:
- Statistics - the physical and cognitive capabilities of the construct.
- Frame - the physical chassis that determines its durability, mobility, and available capacity.
- Augments - additional systems incorporated into the construct to provide specialized capabilities.
The artificer’s level determines how many constructs they can maintain, as well as the number and technological complexity of the Augments they can incorporate.
Abbreviations
Abbreviations used in this manual:
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| LVL | Artificer’s level |
| PROF | Artificer’s proficiency bonus |
| AT | Augment Tier |
| HP | Construct’s hit points |
| AC | Construct’s Armor Class |
| SDC | Construct’s Spell DC |
| MOV | Construct’s movement speed |
| STR, DEX, CON, WIS, INT, CHA | Construct’s ability score modifier |
| CAC | Construct Augment Capacity |
Artificer
The artificer’s level determines the number and technological complexity of constructs they can maintain.
| Level | Respec | CAC | Constructs | AT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | 2 | 1 | α |
| 2 | 1 Day | 3 | 1 | β |
| 3 | Long Rest | 4 | 2 | β |
| 4 | Short Rest | 5 | 2 | γ |
| 5 | Short Rest | 6 | 3 | γ |
Artificer Level
The artificer’s level determines their overall technological capability and progression within the construct system.
Respec
Respec determines how frequently the artificer can reconfigure the Augments installed in their constructs.
- - - No regular respec available.
- 1 Day - Augments may be reconfigured after 1 day of work.
- Long Rest - Augments may be reconfigured during a Long Rest.
- Short Rest - Augments may be reconfigured during a Short Rest.
Respec allows the artificer to redistribute or replace existing Augments, provided the resulting configuration satisfies all Tier, Frame Compatibility, and Capacity requirements.
Constructs
The maximum number of active constructs the artificer can maintain.
Augment Tier (AT)
AT determines the highest Augment Tier available to the artificer.
The artificer progresses through:
α -> β -> γ
They may incorporate Augments of their current Tier or any lower Tier.
Construct Augment Capacity (CAC)
CAC represents the maximum number of Augment Slots the artificer can allocate to a single construct before Frame limitations are applied.
The construct’s Frame imposes an additional physical limitation by determining its actual Capacity.
The available Capacity is calculated as follows:
| Frame | Capacity Formula |
|---|---|
| Light | CAC - 1 |
| Standard | CAC |
| Heavy | CAC + 1 |
For example, a 5th-level artificer has 6 CAC.
Their constructs can accommodate the following number of Augment Slots:
- Light Frame: 3 slots.
- Standard Frame: 5 slots.
- Heavy Frame: 6 slots.
This represents the difference between what the artificer is capable of configuring and what the construct can physically accommodate.
Construct Statistics
Constructs use the standard D&D ability scores, but their attributes represent different aspects of an artificial body.
| Ability | Construct Function |
|---|---|
| STR | Physical strength and force |
| DEX | Dexterity, precision, and reaction speed |
| CON | Structural integrity and durability |
| WIS | Sensors, perception, and environmental awareness |
| INT | Processing power and computational ability |
| CHA | Communication and signal transmission |
Basic Statistics
A construct’s basic statistics are generated using the standard D&D Point Buy system.
- Point Buy budget: 27 points
- Minimum ability score: 8
- Maximum ability score: 15
These statistics are determined when the construct is created and may be modified by its Frame, Augments, and other abilities.
Ability Score Improvements
Whenever the artificer gains an Ability Score Improvement (ASI), each construct controlled by the artificer receives an ASI as well.
The ASI is applied independently to each construct. The artificer therefore chooses how to improve the statistics of every construct they currently control.
For each construct, the artificer may:
- Increase one ability score by 2, or
- Increase two ability scores by 1 each.
The normal D&D ability score maximum of 20 applies unless an Augment or other ability explicitly allows a construct to exceed it.
An ASI applied to a construct affects only that construct and does not modify the artificer’s own ability scores.
Construct Frames
Every construct is built around a Frame. The Frame represents the physical chassis of the machine and determines its durability, armor, mobility, and structural capacity.
There are three available Frames:
| Light Frame | Standard Frame | Heavy Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP | 8 + LVL × DEX | 2 × CON × LVL | 3 × CON × LVL |
| AC | 10 + DEX | 10 + DEX + CON | 15 + CON + DEX |
| MOV | 40 + DEX × 5 ft. | 30 ft. | 20 ft. |
| Capacity | CAC - 1 | CAC | CAC + 1 |
| Special | — | — | Cannot fly |
| Brak efektu z difficult terrain z standard |
Light Frame
A Light Frame sacrifices structural integrity and available space for speed and maneuverability.
Light constructs are suited for reconnaissance, rapid deployment, skirmishing, and specialized roles where mobility is more valuable than durability.
Capacity: Half of the artificer’s CAC, rounded up.
Standard Frame
The Standard Frame provides a balance between durability, mobility, and available space for additional systems.
It is the most versatile Frame and forms the basis of most general-purpose constructs.
Capacity: Artificer’s CAC minus 1.
Heavy Frame
The Heavy Frame provides substantial structural reinforcement and additional space for complex machinery at the cost of mobility.
Heavy constructs are suited for frontline combat, artillery, mobile fortifications, and large industrial systems.
A Heavy Frame cannot fly unless a specific Augment or other ability explicitly allows it.
Capacity: Equal to the artificer’s CAC.
Frame Capacity
Each Frame has a Capacity representing the physical space, power infrastructure, structural support, and available mounting points for additional systems.
Frame Capacity is calculated using the artificer’s Construct Augment Capacity (CAC) and varies depending on the selected Frame.
Each Augment occupies 1 Augment Slot.
The total number of Augment Slots occupied by a construct cannot exceed its Frame Capacity.
This makes Frame selection an important part of construct design:
- Light constructs have limited capacity but excel at mobility.
- Standard constructs provide a balanced platform.
- Heavy constructs accommodate the greatest number of systems at the cost of mobility.
Automaton Spell DC
The Automaton Spell DC (SDC) is the saving throw difficulty used by an automaton’s abilities. Whenever an automaton’s ability requires a creature to make a saving throw, that creature must make the saving throw against the automaton’s SDC, unless the ability explicitly states otherwise.
The SDC is calculated using the automaton’s INT modifier and the artificer’s Proficiency Bonus:
SDC = 8 + INT + PROF
The SDC is the same regardless of the automaton’s Frame. Light, Standard, and Heavy Frames do not modify the SDC.
The SDC represents the automaton’s ability to accurately deploy, control, and direct its systems, whether through magical power, mechanical precision, or arcane processing.
Augments
Augments are modifications, upgrades, and additional systems that an artificer incorporates into their constructs.
An Augment can represent almost any specialized piece of machinery: weapons, defensive systems, targeting equipment, mobility mechanisms, manufacturing equipment, sensors, communication systems, or other technological improvements.
Augments are what distinguish one construct from another.
Two constructs may share the same Frame and basic statistics while serving completely different purposes through their respective Augments.
Each Augment has three important properties:
- Augment Tier — determines whether the artificer has sufficient technological expertise to incorporate it.
- Frame Compatibility — determines which Frames can accommodate the Augment.
Every Augment costs 1 Augment Slot.
Augment Tiers
Augment Tiers represent the artificer’s progression in fabrication knowledge and available technology:
α -> β -> γ
An artificer can only incorporate an Augment if its Tier is equal to or lower than the highest Tier currently available to them.
An Augment of a higher Tier cannot be installed until the artificer reaches the required Tier.
Tier Scaling
Some Augments become more powerful as the artificer gains access to higher Tiers.
When an Augment scales with its Tier, its corresponding values are shown in square brackets.
The values always correspond to:
[α | β | γ]
For example, Starburst Powder has a number of uses that increases with Augment Tier:
| Tier | Uses |
|---|---|
| α | 1 |
| β | 2 |
| γ | 3 |
Its card therefore displays:
[1|2|3]
An Augment does not necessarily need to change its Slot Cost when advancing to a higher Tier. If its cost changes, this is explicitly stated in the Augment’s description.
Frame Compatibility
Not every Augment can be installed into every Frame.
Each Augment specifies the Frames capable of accommodating it. This represents the physical requirements of the system: some mechanisms are simply too large, heavy, power-hungry, or structurally demanding to be incorporated into smaller chassis.
For example:
- Sentinel Protocol — L / S / H
Compatible with all three Frames. - Marching Manufactorum — H
Requires a Heavy Frame.
An Augment can only be incorporated into a construct when all three requirements are satisfied:
- The artificer has reached the required Augment Tier.
- The construct uses a compatible Frame.
- The construct has sufficient available Capacity to accommodate the Augment.
Construct Design
The construction process can be summarized in five steps:
1. Assign Statistics
Determine the construct’s STR, DEX, CON, WIS, INT, and CHA using the Point Buy system.
2. Select a Frame
Choose between Light, Standard, and Heavy Frames.
3. Determine Capacity
Calculate the construct’s available Capacity using the artificer’s CAC and the selected Frame.
4. Select Augments
Choose Augments that are compatible with the construct’s Frame and available to the artificer.
5. Verify Requirements
Ensure that the artificer meets the required Augment Tier and that the total number of occupied Augment Slots does not exceed the construct’s available Capacity.
The result is a construct whose capabilities are determined by the interaction between its Statistics, Frame, and Augments.