Welcome to August! Argh! The summer is flying by too fast again! I’ve been busy, of course, and I’m excited to dive into some new developments for The World of Kiynan. In the last couple of newsletters, we explored the emotion-based magic system and the new House Magician class, followed by a preview of the new martial subclasses for Barbarian, Fighter, Monk, and Rogue.

This month, we’ll be looking at the new, cutting-edge technology that has been appearing in The World of Kiynan, particularly after 1050 A.F.. A new wave of steampunk-inspired inventions has emerged, largely thanks to the brilliant minds of the Inventor’s Guild in Spire.

Introducing Specialized Equipment

The World of Kiynan (2nd edition) introduces a whole new array of Specialized Equipment to add a thrilling technological dimension to your D&D 5e adventures. These aren’t just trinkets; they’re ingenious creations that can dramatically impact combat, exploration, and problem-solving.

This new gear is organized into several categories:

• Chemicals: Think corrosive acids or stimulants that can turn the tide of a skirmish.

• Devices: Complex contraptions, like a steam-powered excavator arm, offer unique solutions to various challenges.

• Explosives: Yes, you can now get your hands on grenades and other volatile devices for some serious boom!

• Traps: Mechanisms that can catch enemies off guard or protect valuable assets.

• Weapons: Specialized armaments like a syringe launcher for delivering chemicals or poisons, a grenade catapult, and more.

The Engineer Class

I wanted to balance the powerful House Magicians with a technological class that was equally rich. The core concept behind the Engineer was to create a non-magical character who plays like a spellcaster, but instead of channeling emotion to cast spells, they achieve their incredible effects by relying on an ever-expanding array of imaginative, crafted items.

This class isn’t about brute force; it’s about turning the battlefield into your personal workshop, crafting intricate gadgets, powerful explosives, and cunning traps to overcome any challenge. Engineers are proficient with the new Technology skill, which lets them understand, repair, build, and modify all sorts of Specialized Equipment. Right from the start, they learn to craft basic gadgets and gain new blueprints as they advance, expanding their arsenal of creations.

Crafting Marvels

Crafting these items is a journey in itself, requiring not just Tinker’s Tools but also the right components. Basic gadgets can be assembled from materials found in any town, but for intermediate devices, you’ll need to source parts from major cities like Vidliank or Haven. And if you’re aiming for advanced blueprints? You’ll be seeking highly specialized components, often found only in the Inventor’s Guild quarter in Spire itself.

Ingenuity in Action

Engineers shine through their practical skills. They learn to Recycle, meticulously recovering valuable materials from existing equipment to build their next grand invention. This means even broken or ahem, “recovered” tech can be a resource for their next big idea.

The Engineer class has three distinct specializations. Chemical Engineers focus on, well, chemicals, but also potions and poisons. The Innovator excels with devices and weapons, being able to customize them. The Sapper is the master of explosives and traps. Each path offers a unique way to approach challenges and combat, ensuring no two Engineers are quite alike.

World of Kiynan 2nd Edition Preview

Here is another sneak preview of The World of Kiynan (2nd edition):

I’m incredibly excited for you all to experience the Engineer class in The World of Kiynan (2nd edition). What kind of incredible contraptions would you want to build?

Thanks for reading! Take care!