D&D 5E (2014) Essential science guide for artificer

[Phion]

Hello. To cut to the chase I have made a artificer and quickly realized that my knowledge is lacking when it comes to science so I have created this thread in the hopes that a list of useful facts or random tips could be compiled to help myself/ others who feel the same roleplay characters more convincingly (I know the class mostly uses magic as an explanation but there is still science in the background). Perhaps its just useful engineering terms, maybe its elements that typically show up and should be known about or perhaps people could share some science jokes! Anything would be appreciated!

 

[abirdcall]

The bartender says 'we don't serve your kind here'.
A tachyon walks into a bar.

 

[Fanaelialae]

There's a concept in quantum mechanics known as entanglement, whereby acting upon one particle of an entangled pair changes the other. (That's not entirely accurate from a real world science perspective, but it's close enough for science fiction/fantasy.)

That could be used to explain things like Sending Stones.

Another interesting aspect of quantum mechanics is the concept of superposition, where a particle can be in multiple states at once until it is observed (and thereby falls out of superposition). This is most famously illustrated in the Schrodinger's Cat thought experiment. In short, you put a cat in a box. The box contains poison gas that is triggered by the decay of a radioactive element. The cat, standing in for a particle in superposition, is both alive and dead until observed, at which point it falls out of superposition and is either alive or dead. (Multiverse explanations then go on to state that if the cat died in this universe, it survived in another universe [and if it died in our universe, it survived in another universe]).

That could be used to explain any number of magical effects.

Finally there is quantum teleportation whereby quantum particles can travel from point A to point C without passing through the intervening point B.

While it doesn't really work that way in our universe, this could explain teleportation effects. Technically speaking, according to my extremely layman's understanding of quantum mechanics, a person teleporting via quantum teleportation could hypothetically happen, but the odds of it happening within the lifespan of our universe are infinitesimally miniscule.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

"Sufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology" - so if it doesn't work, handwave it, no one will notice.

“If it moves, it’s biology.
If it smells, it’s chemistry.
If it doesn’t work, a wizard did it.”

 

[BlivetWidget]

Feels awkward plugging my own work, but since it’s relevant: my wizard spell lessons sounds exactly like the sort of magic-as-science you’re asking for even if the intent was (obviously) for wizards. There’s a lot of focus on spells, but artificers have those too, and the parts on arcana, potions, and the like may be of particular interest. My IRL background is in materials science and engineering so everything was written as a sort of “fantasy chemistry.”

 

[Phion]

The bartender says 'we don't serve your kind here'.
A tachyon walks into a bar.

Just to clarify the joke was that the structure of the joke itself reflected that a tachyon is ahead of light? Just want to make sure im laughing about the right thing XD

 

[Phion]

Nice one guys, very helpful so far. Loving the explanations from Fanaelialae and BlivetWidget

 

[Umbran]

Just to clarify the joke was that the structure of the joke itself reflected that a tachyon is ahead of light? Just want to make sure im laughing about the right thing XD

Not quite. A tachyon is a theoretical particle that travels faster than light. Travelling faster than light implies the possibility of time travel, and thus the violation of causality. It isn't that the tachyon is there before the light to see it by - it is that it can be present before it even arrives.

 

[NotAYakk]

You can use sciency-magic.

Correspondance: Walnuts look like brains, so magic on walnuts can influence brains.

Similarity: Imitating an effect can produce the effect. Move like a snake to become a snake.

Contagion: Connected once means connected always; influence connected thing to influence original. Using hair to cast spells on the target, for example.

If you want ice magic, you'd find materials that look like ice, use ice-like symbols and shapes. You'd use things that where exposed to ice or cold.

You can also plumb modern pseudoscience. Homeopathy means you can imprint water with a substance, dilute it while reproducing the imprint, then use it to protect against the thing you imprinted on it.

Alchemy, where you assign patterns to raw materials and influences and tell a story about how they produce the effect you want. Produce a lightning rod by shaping fire with water and air, then channeling it through Vitae, the 5th element (wood). The wood would come from a lightning-struck tree, with a hollow core. Gold (fire) and Silver (water) alloy (electrum) would be shaped into alchemical glyphs down the side of the tool. Amber would be embedded at one end, and the trigger would be a bit of fir on a spinning gear (powered by a string you pull) that rubs against the Amber to create a charge.

Bzaaap!

 

[Kurotowa]

The thing to remember about the Artificer is that every spell requires a foci to cast, even the ones without a M component. Acceptable foci are Thieves' Tools, any Artisan's Tools, or any item you've Imbued. It's a very physically grounded form of spellcasting. So always start by asking, "What foci am I using to cast this spell?"

Are you an Artillerist using a rod Imbued with Enhanced Arcane Focus? Then you're waving your magic rod to cast a spell, not too different from a Wizard. Is your Artillerist using Woodcarver's Tools to cast a spell? Then perhaps you're reaching into your collection of purpose-made mini-wands, like a handyman with a dozen screwdrivers. Are you an Alchemist using Alchemist's Supplies? Then your signature might be quick mix potions; combine a little of Reagent A with a little of Reagent B, shake well, and throw for instant Fireball.

Things get a bit weirder if you're using Smith's or Tinker's Tools. That moves us into the realm of "Deploying a single-use device or construct to generate the spell effect." You quickly clip together a Spider-Man type web-shooter to spray out Web. Your ritual casting of Detect Magic or Identify is assembling spectacles with special lenses. You cast Levitate by securing a temporary liftstone to an object.

The class offers you a choice. You can use an Imbued weapon or wand as a focus and cast spells like most casters do, or you can really dig into what tools you carry around and how you use those to produce your prepared spells. It's a matter of player preference.