# The Skinsmith

## An Ability-Stealing Player Character Class

\page # Skinsmiths The long trail finally came to an end with a three hour battle atop a mountain peak. Wiping the claw-blade on her furry chaps, the cloaked figure stood staring down at the remains of her duel, noting with respect the prowess of the vile creature staring lifelessly into the orange sky. With precise practiced movements she slices off the face of the illithid and places it in a small clay jar tied to her waist. She stares for a moment at her own arm where the mindflayer’s dagger had made her fingers practically unusable. She knew that over the course of the night she could attach the tentacles to her wrist and begin to use them to her advantage. ### The Symbiote Way Skinsmiths, or Practitioners of the Symbiote Way as they call themselves since skinsmith is a misnomer, are part animal trackers, part curators of the exotic. They roam the planes seeking unusual creatures in which they selectively choose parts from to magically in order to graft to their own bodies so that they can evolve into more perfect beings. They believe that they are creating better versions of themselves, that taking the parts and sometimes lives of the specimens add to the betterment of nature by becoming part of a greater collective. Often higher leveled skinsmiths are mistaken as devils or a mutant race because they have added so many specimens to their bodies making their original race all but disappear. They don’t care that others might not appreciate the beauty of their creative appearances. While they don’t ignore the value of normal treasures, their true valuables are the adaptations they collect in order to increase their own personal skill set. They don't wear armor and, beside their grafting knife, which is the only weapon they will use as a last resort. They might use manufactured equipment for special situations but refrain from collecting these or treasure without a very specific purpose. ### Creating a Skinsmith As you create your skinsmith, consider the many exotic and magical creatures that fill your world and which of abilities of those could help shape the character you want to be. Your magic is in the collecting of magic derived from other creatures, but this comes at a price -- you become an outcast from your home and race and at worst become the nemesis of those who you take your new abilities. Skinsmiths are mentored in their ways so you have spent several years in training under a powerful skinsmith. Traditionally, a skinsmith of 10th level or higher takes two apprentices. However, because of their survival-of-the-fittest mentality, usually only one attains skinsmith status. ``` ```

##### Skinsmiths & the DM Creating and improving a skinsmith can be a complex process. Because of this first ask your DM if this class is permitted> You will need to consult with your DM in order to know what creatures might be available in your campaign and what ability each graft part might grant your skinsmith.

### Quick Build You can make a skinsmith quickly by following these suggestions. First, put your highest ability score in Intelligence, followed by Constitution. Second, choose apprentice as your background. Skinsmiths are almost always chaotic neutral. ## Class Features As a skinsmith, you gain the following class features. HIT POINTS Hit Dice: 1d8 per skinsmith level Hit Points at 1st Level: 1d8 + constitution modifier Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 + constitution modifier per skinsmith level after 1st PROFICIENCES Armor: none Weapons: dagger Tools: none SAVING THROWS: Intelligence and Constitution SKILLS: Nature and Survival plus choose 1 from: Animal Handling, Arcana, History, Investigation, and Medicine. EQUIPMENT You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background: • a silvered grafting dagger • (a) an adventurer’s pack or (b) an explorer's pack GRAFTS: See section on Grafting below. You can start with 2 grafts from creatures CR 1/4 or lower with approval from your DM or you can select two of the following: • elk legs (your walking speed is 50') • tortle shell (Your shell provides ample protection and it gives you a base AC of 17. You cannot gain any benefit from wearing armor. You can apply the shield’s bonus if you are using a shield you are proficient with.) • myconid sprout rapport spores (as an action you create a 10-foot radius of spores that can go around corners and affect only creatures with an Intelligence of 2 or higher that aren't undead, constructs, or elementals. Affected creatures can communicate telepathically with one another while they are within 30 feet of each other. The effect lasts for 1 hour. You regain all uses of this after a short or long rest) • wolf bite (Melee Weapon Attack: reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 2d4 + Strength modifier piercing damage). \page

##### The Skinsmith | Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Grafts | |:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:| | 1st | +2 | Grafting | 2 | | 2nd | +2 | Graft Tracking | 3 | | 3rd | +2 | Graft Pack | 3 | | 4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | | 5th | +3 | Improved Graft Tracking | 4 | | 6th | +3 | ─ | 4 | | 7th | +3 | Graft Companion | 5 | | 8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | | 9th | +4 | ─ | 5 | | 10th | +4 | Extra Graft Attack | 5 | | 11th | +4 | ─ | 6 | | 12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 6 | | 13th | +5 | ─ | 6 | | 14th | +5 | Cocoon | 6 | | 15th | +5 | ─ | 6 | | 16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 7 | | 17th | +6 | ─ | 7 | | 18th | +6 | Polymorph from Graft | 7 | | 19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 7 | | 20th | +6 | Graft Touch | unlimited |

### Grafting Skinsmiths train to take useful parts of creatures they encounter (these parts are called specimens), carving off horns or pelts or eyes or other adaptations as needed and then adding them to their own bodies using a combination of secret surgical and magical techniques, often replacing parts (transplant) for ones they see as more useful. While these grafts are transplants, there is magic involved to make the graft take and the parts fit seemlessly together. Whether a graft replaces an existing body part is up to the Skinsmith. She can add an additional set of arms, but until she gains Extra Graft Attack these do not add an attack of their own. What part of the creature's body contains the abilities (such as a Koa-Toa's barbels contain their ability to see invisible creatures) must be discussed with the DM. A skinsmith begins at 1st level with 2 grafts. Additional grafts can be collected from creatures that she encounters. Your DM may also allow you to add a graft in between adventures/levels depending on time and the availablity of creatures. The DM may say that you can purchase parts (if killed, must be less than 12 hours since death) creature for its parts; a base asking price might be 1,000 gold pieces per CR level. A skinsmith can add a graft using this formula: - A skinsmith can add a graft from a creature that is 1/4 of your skinsmith level. A skinsmith can graft or ungraft one specimen each level they have as a skinsmith during a long rest to herself or her companion. She can remove a grafted specimen and replace it with another specimen to stay within her graft limit. The size must be considered for skinsmiths to use specimens from creatures of differing size as themselves (giant arms on a human would make them unusable). A skinsmith must use a specimen that was alive within the last 12 hours for grafting until they are able to use their Graft Pack. Grafts cannot be made from constructs, diseased creatures, fiends, or undead. \page Each specimen’s ability derives its damage, movement, frequency, and other stats from the originating beast, taking into consideration their other abilities (minotaur horns wouldn’t grant charge ability unless minotaur hooves were also grafted). Graft specimens cannot grant inate spell-casting abilities and do not change ability scores. Damage, to hit, and Armor Class from a graft use the skinsmith's ability score modifers. The number of specimens that can be used is limited by the skinsmith’s training (level) to suppress the rejection of the graft/transplant; this increases as she gains levels. ### Graft Tracking Starting at 2nd level, at each level the skinsmith gains the following abilities during a long rest: • recoginize 1d4 - 1 potential creatures for grafts in the current environment and what abilities these specific specimens from these creatures would grant you (consult your DM). • the ability to detect the presence of one specific creature. As an action, you detect the distance and direction to any of the creatures within 1,000 feet of you. • advantage on Intelligence checks to recall information about that one creature. ### Graft Pack Starting at 3rd level, you are able to magically preserve collected specimens so that they will not spoil. These can be grafted at a later time, swapping these as the need arises. This is done by the skinsmith creating a Graft Pack. Skinsmiths must consider the encumbrance of preserved specimens. ### Improved Graft Tracking For the creatures you select to track using Graft Tracking, your research has given you these bonuses: • the ability to detect the presence of one specific creature. As an action, you detect the distance and direction to the nearest creature that is on the same plane as you. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest. • you have great understanding of these creatures; you may read their Monster Manual, Volo's Guide, or other source entry at any time for information regarding the tracked creature, • you gain advantage on attacks against these creatures. ### Graft Companion Starting at 7th level, you are able to call a beast or plant and create a graft companion using your grafting skills. Choose a beast or plant that is no larger than Medium and that has a challenge rating of 1/2 or lower. You can add up to 2 grafts to the companion; use your graft formula. These grafts do not count against your graft level total. The companion obeys your commands as best as it can. It takes its turn on your initiative, though it doesn’t take an action unless you command it to; if it is attacked it flees if not commanded. On your turn, you can verbally command it where to move (no action required by you). You can use your action to verbally command it to take the Attack, Dash, Disengage, Dodge, or Help action. It continues these actions unless told to stop. If the companion dies, you can obtain another one by spending 8 hours magically bonding with another creature that isn’t hostile to you, either the same type of as before or a different one. It also gains additional hit dice equal to your skinsmith proficiency level - giant wasp has 3d8 so if you are 7th level with +3 Profiency Bonus, it gains 3 dice to make it 6d8. These increse when your Profiency Bonus incresease. ### Extra Graft Attack Beginning at 10th level, you are able to use one of your grafts to make an extra attack each round. ### Cocoon Starting at 14th level, you are able to encase yourself in a magical organic cocoon. This happens automatically when you reach 0 hit points but do not die ouright. You do not make death saves while in a cocoon. The cocoon has an AC of 15 and 10 hit points. When encased, you are unconscious. If you remain in the cocoon for 1d4 hours (unless cocoon drops to 0 hit points), it withers and you emerge regaining 1d4 +1 hit points. You cannot get yourself out of the cocoon early although someone trying to cut you out carefully can do so without damage to you. You receive only 1d4 -1 hit points if the cocoon drops to 0 hit points. You regain this feature after a long rest. ### Polymorph from Graft Starting at 18th level, as a bonus action you are able to polymorph yourself into one of the creatures that you have grafted to yourself for 1 minute. You can as a bonus action polymorph out of the form before the minute is up. Your game Statistics are replaced by the Statistics of the creature, but you retain your alignment, personality, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You also retain all of your skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the creature. If the creature has the same proficiency as you and the bonus in its stat block is higher than yours, use the creature's bonus instead of yours. If the creature has any legendary or lair actions, you can't use them. When you transform, you assume the creature's Hit Points and Hit Dice. When you revert to your normal form, you return to the number of hit points you had before you transformed. However, if you revert as a result of Dropping to 0 Hit Points, any excess damage carries over to your normal form. For example, if you take 10 damage in creature form and have only 1 hit point left, you revert and take 9 damage. As long as the excess damage doesn't reduce your normal form to 0 hit points, you aren't knocked Unconscious. \page You can't cast Spells, and your ability to speak or take any action that requires hands is limited to the capabilities of your creature form. Transforming doesn't break your Concentration on a spell you've already cast, however, or prevent you from taking actions that are part of a spell, such as Call Lightning, that you've already cast. You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so. However, you can't use any of your Special senses, such as Darkvision, unless your new form also has that sense. You choose whether your Equipment falls to the ground in your space, merges into your new form, or is worn by it. Worn Equipment functions as normal, but the DM decides whether it is practical for the new form to wear a piece of Equipment, based on the creature's shape and size. Your Equipment doesn't change size or shape to match the new form, and any Equipment that the new form can't wear must either fall to the ground or merge with it. Equipment that merges with the form has no effect until you leave the form. ### Graft Touch At 20th level, you can copy graft-like specimens and abilities from any creature you touch once per round; they are not removed from the creature using this ability. You graft a specimen from any CR and you no longer have a limit to the number of grafts you can have. You can also make any of your grafts appear or disappear at will. \page

** Skinsmith PC class 5e created by Jim Heston 2017** Skinsmith photo taken by Jim Heston. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, the dragon ampersand, Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, Dungeon Master’s Guide, D&D Adventurers League, all other Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries. All characters and their distinctive likenesses are property of Wizards of the Coast. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast. ©2016 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707, USA. Manufactured by Hasbro SA, Rue Emile-Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont, CH. Represented by Hasbro Europe, 4 The Square, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB11 1ET, UK.

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