Codex Umbra :
Maxwell is capable of summoning shadow puppets by placing the Codex Umbra on the ground and selecting one from the corresponding crafting tab.
Shadow puppets spawned by Maxwell can perform their individual action a select amount of times before they expire and are banished, they will last approximately one day before vanishing on their own if they do not exceed their action cap. Shadow puppets require nothing to be summoned except for a cost of sanity, furthermore they will drain Maxwell's sanity while active; diminishing his natural sanity aura.
Most shadow puppets will only interact with objects Maxwell himself is interacting with, however Maxwell is capable of directing them to interact with objects from a distance by clicking on them with the Codex Umbra held in cursor. Maxwell can furthermore banish his puppets manually by clicking on them with the Codex Umbra held in cursor.
Maxwell can have a maximum of two puppets active at once.
Shadow Logger – Cost / 30 Sanity, Lasts / 50 Chops, 100 Health / -5 Sanity Aura per min
Chops from trees Maxwell is chopping.
Shadow Miner – Cost / 30 Sanity, Lasts / 20 Picks, 100 Health / -5 Sanity Aura per min
Mines from rocks Maxwell is mining.
Shadow Digger – Cost / 20 Sanity, Lasts / 10 Digs, 100 Health / -3 Sanity Aura per min
Digs up nearby stumps automatically, or plants if directed manually.
Shadow Collector – Cost / 25 Sanity, Lasts / 30 Grabs, 100 Health / -3 Sanity Aura per min
Picks up nearby dropped items, acquired items are deposited in Maxwell's inventory.
Shadow Duelist – Cost / 35 Sanity, Lasts / 20 Swings, 100 Health / 75% Damage Resistance / 40 Damage / -7 Sanity Aura per min
Attacks enemies Maxwell is in combat with. Kites, uses melee.
Shadow Conjurer - Cost / 35 Sanity, Lasts / 10 Casts, 100 Health / 25% Damage Resistance / 30 Damage / -7 Sanity Aura per min
Attacks enemies Maxwell is in combat with. Flees, uses a slow to cast small area effect spell. Will only flee enemies for a certain distance before returning to Maxwell.
With this new Codex Umbra, Maxwell is once again a puppet master.
Maxwell's high sanity and sanity aura instead of removing sanity management exist to counterbalance the cost and drain of using his puppets, instead of needing sanity restoration to normally survive Maxwell uses it to refuel the cost of conjuring shadows.
Maxwell's puppets naturally aid him in whatever task he performs which they also specialize in, however Maxwell is also able to control them with the Codex Umbra. This allows for a variety of strategic uses. Maxwell can direct his puppets to harvest from one type of resource while he harvests another, he can send a Collector to pick up items in a dangerous area to avoid risk, and he can command his Duelists and Conjurers to fight other creatures without him even needing to join the fray. All of this weighed by the initial cost and subsequent drain which requires Maxwell to keep replenishing his sanity like any other survivor, but for different reasons. His lower health also a balance to his ability to summon combat allies.