I have been looking for ways to make the Steel Defender (SD) more useful/powerful and trying to think of creative builds that use the Homunculus Servant (HS) as well as Flying Mechanical Wonder (FW) more interesting than simple Wand of Magic Missile turrets.
I was wondering if it might be worth it to build the SD to focus on Grappling (using Gauntlets of Ogre Power + Winged Boots) with the HS & FW (using Gloves of Thievery) focused on restraining the grappled targets (with rope and/or manacles). Assuming that all the constructs are made with hands to allow this, the SD can grapple one enemy (up to 210lbs) and fly 20' up to drop them or can grapple two enemies and have the HS & FW restrain them. The Gloves of Thievery give +5 to Slight of Hand checks and the Gauntlets give +4 against enemies Str/Dex saves on the Grapple check (I think your proficiency bonus is also added for the grapple ST since all creatures are proficient in unarmed strikes). I think this would just use up the Artificer's Bonus Action to command the Steel Defender (or one extra attack at higher levels if you wanted to grapple two targets in the round).
It takes around 8 weeks (4 weeks with an assistant) and 800gp to make the gauntlets, boots, and 2x pairs of the gloves. It would really compliment this approach if the Artificer has a Weapon or Warning and/or Sentinel Feat (and a Familiar) since that combo would give massive initiative advantage and help all your constructs go first in the round.
I also know about the cheese grater approach with AOE effects so that could maybe part of this as well (although try to find something different that is worthwhile).
Does this work? Is this worth it? Anything else to add to the approach
I was wondering if it might be worth it to build the SD to focus on Grappling (using Gauntlets of Ogre Power + Winged Boots) with the HS & FW (using Gloves of Thievery) focused on restraining the grappled targets (with rope and/or manacles). Assuming that all the constructs are made with hands to allow this, the SD can grapple one enemy (up to 210lbs) and fly 20' up to drop them or can grapple two enemies and have the HS & FW restrain them. The Gloves of Thievery give +5 to Slight of Hand checks and the Gauntlets give +4 against enemies Str/Dex saves on the Grapple check (I think your proficiency bonus is also added for the grapple ST since all creatures are proficient in unarmed strikes). I think this would just use up the Artificer's Bonus Action to command the Steel Defender (or one extra attack at higher levels if you wanted to grapple two targets in the round).
It takes around 8 weeks (4 weeks with an assistant) and 800gp to make the gauntlets, boots, and 2x pairs of the gloves. It would really compliment this approach if the Artificer has a Weapon or Warning and/or Sentinel Feat (and a Familiar) since that combo would give massive initiative advantage and help all your constructs go first in the round.
I also know about the cheese grater approach with AOE effects so that could maybe part of this as well (although try to find something different that is worthwhile).
Does this work? Is this worth it? Anything else to add to the approach
