Creative thinking and invention requires an amount of mental plasticity that is difficult to achieve. Some study many different disciplines or engage in rigorous physical activity to make the most out of their minds. These artificers seek these effects instead in the mysteries of biochemistry and find that a flexible mind often resides in an equally flexible body.
When you select this archetype at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with alchemist’s supplies and can use them as your tools of artifice. If you already had proficiency, you gain an expertise die instead.
Starting at 3rd level, you learn how to create special concoctions specifically suited to your body, allowing you to literally stretch your mental and physical abilities. You can create a number of potions equal to your proficiency bonus over the course of a long rest. Creating these alchemical brews has no material cost. You regain all expended uses when you finish a short or long rest by utilizing alchemist’s supplies as your tools of artifice. Your elastic potions have no effect on any other creature and turn inert after your next long rest.
To make this potion, you must expend an infusion use. After drinking it, for the next 10 minutes you gain an expertise die when making an attack roll for an artificer spell.
After drinking this solution, for the next 10 minutes you gain the following benefits:
Starting at 3rd level, when you prepare your artificer spells you can prepare certain spells and create spell inventions for them in addition to your normal number of prepared spells. These spells count as artificer spells for you, even if they aren’t on the artificer spell list.
TABLE: ELASTIC THINKER SPELLS
| ARTIFICER LEVEL | SPELLs |
|---|---|
| 3rd | calculated retribution, identify |
| 5th | alter self, invigorated strikes |
| 9th | crushing haymaker, dispel magic |
| 13th | fabricate, private sanctum |
| 17th | legend lore, teleportation circle |
Starting at 5th level, your stretching solution now grants the following additional benefits.
Beginning at 9th level, all your time with an enhanced mind has given you greater mental capacities even without the aid of your solution. You gain an expertise die on Intelligence checks and checks made to craft items. In addition, you can also create unstable arcanum using Tactical Chemistry. However, if you do not use by the end of your next turn, it explodes as if set and lit.
Your natural physical capabilities have also become flexible. You now always benefit from your solution’s expertise die on saving throws to avoid being grappled and checks made to escape a grapple and can always grapple creatures up to two size categories larger than you.
At 15th level, your Intelligence score increases by 2, and your maximum Intelligence score increases to 22.
Also at 15th level, the effects of your potions become absolutely fantastic. The expertise die granted by your cerebral potion becomes 1d6, and your expertise dice on attack rolls using artificer spells can be upgraded from d8 1d10, exceeding the usual limitation on expertise dice. While under the effects of your stretching solution you can pass through an opening as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing (though your equipment may not fit).