Essa Subclass — Fighter

Machinist

✦ Support / Field Engineer

You don't fight the battle. You build the battlefield everyone else fights in.

Hit Died10
PrimaryCON (for Feedback Saves and construct DCs)
SavesSTR, CON
ResourceVials
RigFull Rig
Armor
All armor, shields
Weapons
Simple, martial
Key Mechanic
Construct Deploy
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Rule Break

Construct Deploy: You deploy autonomous constructs that act independently on their own initiative. No other subclass can do this. Constructs are not bonus action attacks — they are creatures with their own turns.

Archetype: Battlefield engineer — construct deployment

The Machinist is an engineer first. The Forge Rig is a full exosuit with integrated construction bays. You deploy autonomous constructs — independent units that follow orders, hold positions, fire on designated targets, run support protocols. While they operate you manage the field. The Machinist is the reason a party can take two more encounters before a long rest.

The Forge Rig is the largest and most visible Essa Rig in common use. Empire licensing is expensive and heavily scrutinized. Most independent Machinists are unlicensed. The constructs that emerge from the back bays are clearly mechanical — they do not pass as organic, and the Suppression Grid logs every deployment.

Machinist — Shatterds Sourcebook
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Key Mechanic: Construct Deploy
Deploy autonomous constructs that act on their own initiative. 1 construct at L3, 2 at L5, 3 at L13. Each construct acts at your initiative count (after you). Constructs can: Essa Strike (1d8 + Rig Tier force), Support Protocol (Ward ally, Scan zone, Stabilize), or Hold Position (opportunity attacks). At Level 10: constructs can deliver one Machinist Technique per encounter.

Essa Interaction

Standard vial + Feedback Save. Forge Rig has larger Burn Buffer than Gauntlets (distributed across the full suit). No Rig Current — Machinist Rig output goes into constructs. Ward and Reinforce are the primary active defense outputs. Clear Burn is the only class in the game that can remove Burn from other practitioners.

Class Features

Techniques

Character Level32/6 unlocked
Showing 2 of 6 techniques

Level Progression

LevelFeaturesChannel SlotsRig TierConstructs
3Forge Rig, Construct Bay (1), Barrier, Shell, Scan, Profile2T11
5Ward, Suppress, Construct Bay (2), Rig Tier 23T22
7Reinforce, Repair, Field Protocol3T22
9Rig Tier 34T32
10Burst, Throw, Clear Burn, Construct Upgrade4T32
13Rig Tier 4, Construct Bay (3)5T43
15Root, Construct Overclock5T43
17Rig Tier 56T53
18Full Deployment, Apex Calibration6T53

All Subclasses

Essa KnightEdge KnightHexslingerTetherboundWarrantCovenantIronhandRawcasterThe StillMachinistOathboundBurnboundCipherboundWildboundCantboundDoctrine of the VanguardDoctrine of the WardenDoctrine of the Veil
fighteressa subclassfull rigsupportconstructsvials