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Word from the Burning Bird

September has been and gone, like a memorable Earth, Wind and Fire song. “Do you remember? Nah nah na na September!” It was another full and fun month for Rising Phoenix Games, here’s a recap. We’ve also got a little preview for you.
 

In the Works

Our next installment in the Undersea Sourcebook series is in layout, which I’m hoping to bring out in late October. Undersea Sourcebook: Water Magic offers loads of new spells and magical items for your underwater or ocean-themed campaign.
Here are some sample pages from the spell lists, to “wet” your appetite.

 
The Grimdark Pamphlet’s next update will include the dark rider, a saddle and shot character class for fifth edition fantasy. We’re also looking at including rules for court battles and other wars of words.
 

Tips, Tricks, and Gaming Advice

It was a busy month on the blog. We talked about Pathfinder Second Edition and RPG Settings. Here’s the recap:
 

Why You Absolutely Must Play Pathfinder 2nd Ed.

Pathfinder Second Edition has been around for a while now, and if you’re still finding excuses not to try out the system then let me tell you why you absolutely must play Pathfinder Second Edition.
Read Why You Absolutely Must Play Pathfinder Second Edition
 

Why RPG Settings are Built Like Theme Parks

Take a look at your favourite RPG setting and you’ll find odd similarities with theme parks. These settings can easily kill your group’s story if you’re not careful. Here’s why theme park settings are so popular,  their inherent pitfalls, and some ideas on how to fix them.
Read Why RPG Settings are Built Like Theme Parks
 

Wanna be a Great GM? Get an Education!

So, you want to impress the boys at your local with your masterful storytelling? Figure you’ll show the ladies a good time with dice and an epic quest? Looking to put “Professional GM” on your CV? Well then, if you want to be a great GM (or DM, or Storyteller), then you need to get an education.
Read Wanna be a Great GM? Get an Education!
 

Why is the RPG Industry Growing?

Despite Covid-19’s reign of terror, the RPG industry looks healthier than ever. But why? In a time when we couldn’t get around the table with friends, this surely wasn’t what anyone predicted. So, why is the RPG industry growing?
Read Why is the RPG Industry Growing?

 

Mini Monday Roundup

Spaghetti bullets and a sneak peek at some of the monsters we’ll be painting soon, that’s what we had this month. Keep painting happy little minis, everyone!
 

Dakka-Mart, our Gretchin Gun Shop — MM 49

The Gretchin Gun Shop uses a bit of hardboard for the base, some corrugated cardboard for the walls, bits of old pens and medicinal sprays for the turret, and spaghetti for the bullets.
Read Dakka-Mart: Our Gretchin Gun Shop (MM 49)
 

Paint Minis While the Sun Shines — MM 50

It’s funny how some things affect others. Take the weather, for instance. Here in South Africa, in the Highveld where Rising Phoenix Games is based, we have dry, hot summers and dry, cool winters. When it rains, painting is magic.
Read Paint While the Sun Shines
 


Comic Reviews Too?

Love comics? We do too! Comics got me into roleplaying, in fact. Amazing Spider-Man took me to my first convention, where I discovered and bought Warhammer 40,000 (the second edition boxed set). That led me happily into Warhammer Fantasy Role-Play, and the rest’s history. I figured I’d crack open my collection of unread comics and review some that stand out.
 

Flash #2 (July ’87) Savage Showdown

Flash #2: Savage Showdown (July ’87), written by Mike Baron, pencils by Jackson Guice, inker Larry Mahlstedt, letterer Steve Haynie, Carl Gafford on colors, and Mike Gold editing. Let’s take a look.
Read Our Review of Flash #2: Savage Showdown
 

Flash #5: Speed McGee (October ‘87): #CritFail

Flash #5: Speed McGee (October ‘87), by Baron, Guice, and Torrance. Let’s take a peek.
Read Our Review of Flash #5: Speed McGee
 

Flash: Red Trinity (#7, December ‘87)

Flash: Red Trinity (#7, December ‘87), by Baron, Guice, and Mahlstedt. This is gonna be fast, so try to keep up…
Read Our Review of Flash #7: Red Trinity
 

Hawk and Dove: Countdown (#7, Dec ’89)

Hawk and Dove: Countdown (#7, Dec ’89) is written by Barbara and Karl Kesel, with Greg Guler penciling and Scott Hanna inking. This one is worth a look.
I think DC just made a new fan!
Read Our Review of Hawk and Dove #7
 
 
That’s it for this month. Thank you for reading, have a great month, and be good to each other.
Finally, here’s a preview of the black rider class for fifth edition fantasy.

 

Black Rider

New Class

Black riders are masters of shot and saddle, daring outriders who fight equally well from horseback or on foot. They are expert marksman with a pistol or rifle, though always ready to draw swords and fight in bloody hand-to-hand combat when needed.
 

Class Features

As a black rider, you gain the following class features.
 

Hit Points

Hit Dice: 1d10 per black rider level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution
modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your
Constitution modifier per black rider level after 1st
 

Proficiencies

Armor: All armor, shields
Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons
Tools: None
Saving Throws: Dexterity, Constitution
Skills: Choose any two from Animal Handling, Athletics, Insight, Intimidation, Medicine, Nature, Perception, and Survival
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
  • a) a martial weapon and a shield or (b) two martial weapons
  • a) a pair of flintlock pistols or (b) a flintlock musketoon
  • bullets and powder, enough for 20 shots
  • an explorer’s pack
 

Mount

You gain a combat-trained mount that accompanies you on your adventures. Choose a beast that is one size category larger than you and has a challenge rating of 1/4 or lower, such as a camel or riding horse if you are Medium, or a mastiff or pony if you are Small. You may also choose a mount that is the same size as you, if it has the beast of burden ability, such as a mule if you are Medium. Add your proficiency bonus to the beast’s AC, attack rolls, and damage rolls, as well as to any saving throws and skills it is proficient in. Its hit point maximum equals the hit point number in its stat block, or four times your black rider level, whichever is higher. Like any creature, it can spend Hit Dice during a short rest to regain hit points.
The beast obeys your commands as best it can. It takes its turn on your initiative, though it doesn’t take an action unless you command it to. On your turn, you can verbally command the beast to move to you or to remain where it is (no action required by you). If you are riding your mount, you can use your action to verbally command it to take the Attack, Dash, Disengage, Dodge, or Help action. Once you have the Extra Attack feature, you can make one weapon attack yourself when you command the beast to take the Attack action.
If you are incapacitated or absent, the beast acts on its own, focusing on protecting you and itself. The beast never requires your command to use its reaction, such as when making an opportunity attack. If the beast dies, you can obtain a new mount by spending two weeks of downtime training a beast that isn’t hostile to you and meets the requirements.
 

Ability Score Improvements

When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
 

Extra Attack

Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
 

Grit

You’ve risked your neck countless times from the back of a charging horse and you’re used to staring fear in the eyes and taking risks others would call insane. This resolve grants you a number of grit points. Your black rider level determines the number of points you have, as shown in the Grit Points column of the Black Rider table.
You can spend these points to fuel various grit features. You start knowing three such features: Duck and Step, Me First, and Snapshot. You learn more grit features as you gain levels in this class.
When you spend a grit point, it is unavailable until you finish a short or long rest, at the end of which you regain your expended grit again. You must spend at least 30 minutes of the rest recounting tales of your deeds to regain your grit points.
Some of your grit features require your target to make a saving throw to resist the feature’s effects. The saving throw DC is calculated as follows:
Grit save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier
 

Duck and Step

You can spend 1 grit point to take the Dodge or Disengage action as a bonus action on your turn. Your mount can use either action instead of you.
 

Me First

If you are not surprised, as a free action before initiative is rolled for combat, you can spend 1 grit to gain a +2 bonus on your initiative roll.
 
 
The Grimdark Pamphlet includes rules, gear, classes, and more for your grimdark adventures with the fifth edition fantasy roleplaying game. The Grimdark Pamphlet is available on Drive Thru RPG.



Until next time,
Be the Hero

Rodney Sloan
Rising Phoenix Games
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