Antiquarian

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Class Features

Esoterica

At 1st level, you gain two Esoterica of your choice. Your Esoterica options are detailed Here. When you gain certain antiquarian levels, you gain additional Esoterica of your choice, as shown in the Esoterica known column of the Antiquarian table. These Esoterica advance and adapt the magic you know, making it more powerful, flexible and useful.   When you select an esoterica from this list, you must allocate it to an item on your character’s person, the artefact from which your character learned this secret. This object functions as a component for the esoterica – without it in hand, the esoterica cannot be called on. You may withdraw an esoterica from your packs as part of the Cast a Spell action.   If an Esoterica has prerequisites, you must meet them to learn it. You can learn the esoterica at the same time that you meet its prerequisites. A level prerequisite refers to your level in this class.

Timeless Techniques

At 1st level, your long experience as a dabbler in the historical arts has given you an eye for the unusual.

• You can touch a nonmagical art object and ascertain its value in gold pieces where applicable
• You can use an action to scrutinize an item within 10 feet of you, and discern if it is a magical item.

Expertise 

At 2nd level, choose two of your skill proficiencies, or one of your skill proficiencies and your proficiency with a tool set. 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 (in skills or tools) to gain this benefit.

Nimble

Starting at 2nd level, you can take a bonus action on each of your turns in combat. This action can be used only to take the Use an Object, Dodge or Disengage actions.

Acquisitive Archetype

At 3rd level, you choose an archetype that you emulate in the exercise of your antiquarian abilities: Disenchanter, Curator and Infernal Trader. Your archetype choice grants you features at 3rd level and then again at 7th, 14th, and 18th level.

Expertise

At 6th level, choose two more of your skill proficiencies, or one more of your skill proficiencies and your proficiency with any tool set. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses either of the chosen proficiencies.

Wards And Wyrds

At 10th level, you are shrouded in mystic protections and lesser wards that protect you from supernatural influence. Choose a damage type: you have resistance to that damage type as long as you are conscious. At the end of a long rest, you can change the damage type to a new one.

Reading The Room

At 15th level, your long experience dealing with charlatans, merchants and archaeologists has left you with an instinctive sense as to when you are being misled. You are always aware whenever you hear a direct, intentional lie. This feature does not detect falsehood by omission, or half-truths.

Worker Of Wonders

At 20th level, your ability to wield esoterica is unrivalled. You can concentrate on up to three cantrips at any one time.
 

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Starting Equipment

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

• a hand crossbow and case of 20 bolts or (b) a club
• a component pouch or (b) an arcane focus
• a burglar’s pack, (b) a dungeoneer’s pack, or (c) an explorer’s pack
• Leather armor, a dagger and a tool set of your choice.

 

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Spellcasting

Old Magic

As an antiquarian, you frequently come into contact with odds and ends of magic from all manner of sources. These spells and formulas are old magic, powerful magic, but magic that you don’t entirely understand (whether or not you admit it). Your grasp of the arcane, whilst broad, is less powerful than those who have dedicated their lives to its practice.

Spellcasting Ability

Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your antiquarian spells, since the power of your magic relies on your ability to decipher and remember strange magics. You use your Intelligence whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Intelligence modifier when setting the saving throw DC for an antiquarian spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.   Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier   Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier

Spellcasting Focus

You can use an arcane focus (see the Adventuring Gear section) as a spellcasting focus for your antiquarian spells.

Cantrips

At 1st level, you know two cantrips of your choice from the following list:   Blade ward, guidance, light, mage hand, mending, produce flame, resistance, spare the dying, chill touch, dancing lights, true strike, gust*, control flames*, control water*, mold earth*, infestation, magic stone*, message, shillelagh, druidcraft, prestidigitation   You learn additional cantrips from this list at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Antiquarian table. When you select a cantrip from this list, you must allocate it to an item on your character’s person, the artefact from which your character learned this secret. This object functions as an additional component for the spell – without it on your person, the spell cannot be cast.   Effective Level. As you gain levels in this class, your cantrips (and spell-like effects generated by esoterica) are treated as spells for the purposes of spells and abilities that interact with them, such as dispel magic. These cantrips and spells are treated as being cast at the level indicated in the Effective Spell Level column of the Antiquarian table.

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Subclass Options

Acquisitive Archetypes

Antiquarians all share a love for tweaking and discovering lost magics, but many steer these talents in different directions, becoming specialists in their own right. Your choice of archetype is a reflection of that specialism, not necessarily a direct indication of your profession but granting you abilities you might find useful in the pursuit of your vocation.    

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Disenchanter

Your specialism is curses. Old curses, new curses, bad curses, good curses, you’ve seen them all. These days, you’re more surprised when a musty old item comes along which doesn’t have some dire enchantment attached to it. Still, a little polish, and most bad magic comes right off. The rest is just a peril of the occupation.    

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Curator

No-one really appreciates art like you do. You understand the pieces you acquire, and carefully store away where people can’t hurt them anymore. Your focus is retrieval and preservation at any cost – after all, if you don’t look after these treasures for the future, then who will?  

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Infernal Trader

You make deals with devils. No, not the kind you’d think. Avernus needs more than just souls, you know. You acquire things that the devils need, and they provide you with things in return – tit for tat, and all that. This makes you quite the useful fellow to have around, but as you’re fond of reminding your companions – everything has a price.  

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Professor

You are an academic. At least, that’s what you tell yourself when you’re barricading a door against goblins, or running away from a rolling boulder trap clutching the gilded crux of your next thesis. Your talents lie in quick analysis, and a deep, burning need to answer the world’s questions.  

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Numismatist

Gold. The world runs on gold. It’s funny the power a simple disc of metal can have in the right hands - and the right hands are yours.  

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Taxidermist

Necromancer is an ugly word. You study the noble art of arcane taxidermy - far less messy, and less likely to get you sanctioned by the ethics committee.