Biddlebrix

Biddlebrix is a first-level Commander who specializes in directing others throughout the battlefield.

Biddlebrix

Small humanoid (gnome), lawful neutral
Commander 1; Petty Officer

Armor Class 18
Hit Points 10 (1d8+2)
Speed 25 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
08 (-1) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 10 (+0)

Saving Throws Wis +3, Cha +2; advantage on Int, Wis and Cha saves vs. magic
Skills Acrobatics +4, Athletics +1, History (magical items, alchemical objects, or technological devices) +7, Perception +3, Stealth +4
Tools Cartographer’s Tools, Tinker’s Tools, Navigator’s Tools, Vehicles (water)
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Common, Gnomish
Challenge 1/2

Martial Tradition Petty Officer
Sphere DC 13
Alchemy sphere (variant: hippocratic oath). – Talents (formula) Salve, Panacea • formula, (30 ft.), 4 formulae

  • Salve; Restore 1 Hit Die + 3 hit points, expend focus to increase healing by 1d8.
  • Panacea; remove blinded, deafened, or poisoned condition from target. Expend focus to also remove frightened condition.

Warleader sphere. – Talents none
Equipment sphere. – Talents Armor training, Armor Expert

  • Armor Training: Proficiency in medium armor and shields
  • Armor Expert: Don and doff medium armor as if light, no disadvantage on stealth checks when wearing medium armor

Gnome Cunning. Biddlebrix has advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against magic.
Tinker. Can make tiny clockwork devices with 10gp and 1 hour of work.

Actions
Fierce Shout. All allies within 10ft of you gain +2 to the damage roll of the next attack they make within 1 round.
Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6+2)
Dagger. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4+2)

Bonus Actions
Direct Ally. One ally who can see and hear you may make a single attack with a melee or ranged weapon or an unarmed attack as a reaction.
Aggressive Flanking. When two allied creatures who are within 20ft of you and can see and hear you both have the same hostile creature within their reach, both gain a +2 on attack rolls against them.

Reactions
Commands (3/long rest, d6). Choose 1 creature other than yourself in 60ft. They may roll 1d6 and add the number to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw they make before the end of their next turn.

Equipment. A shortbow (and 20 arrows), two daggers, scale mail, a shield, a spear a diplomat’s pack, a belaying pin (club), 50ft silk rope, a lucky charm, a set of common clothes, 10gp

Future Abilities

This works as a good basic chassis for any Commander, but if you like the no-attacking, frontline buff style, my recommendation is to follow the following or a similar path:

At 2nd level take quick commands to overcome the negative synergy between tactics and direct ally.

At 3rd become a drill sergeant and get gladiator as bonus, then exemplar so that you can boast for your allies.

At 4th get derision, one of the most important talents given that Biddlebrix is not going to fuel his boasts by attacking himself. You might want to pick up the Combat Dabbler feat here to get to 18 Int, and a talent. Tinkerer Sphere is a good option since you already have Tinkerer’s tools proficiency, so you’ll be able to start off with two talents in the sphere. Utility gadgets or further buffs for your party are most in character, although shoring up your defenses or mobility are also good options. Or get Beastmastery sphere so you can ride around on a pony!

5th is mostly a lost level since we never take the attack action, oh well.

And at 6th, grab the Fencing sphere so through Troop Training and Exemplar Biddlebrix can give super advantage to an ally he directs. After that, it's shout, tactics and boast talents to taste.

Biddlebrix can be truly lazy: every bonus action after initially starting tactics directs an ally, he has a bunch of non attack action options, from shouts and demoralize to salve or panacea for clutch healing, not to mention group focus/commands. His reactions can all be for commands and boasts, with derision doing some serious work in giving him the ability to boast without attacking himself. Fan favorite might be a good investment at some point too, for the same reason.

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