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Rider Class 5e Supplement

From

Paul Gabat

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PDF

$3.99

Throw that sword away and never look back. Now is your chance to fight evil monsters while riding a medieval (or futuristic) looking giant mecha! That's right! Become a rider and bond with your sentient clockwork automaton companion. With enough training and hard work, your automaton will gain the power to ascend and become a large mechanical beast, a fortress ship, or a giant humanoid construct that you can pilot with over-the-top size greatsword and cape included!

This product includes the following:

1. Rider Class Details
2. Three Rider Subclasses

Ascension Mode: Fortress
Ascension Mode: Behemoth
Ascension Mode: Colossus

3. A list of Ascension Upgrade parts that you can buy
4. Three new Backgrounds that is perfect for your Rider Class

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Let your bard start playing jazz music and have your spellcaster provide you with the most badass fireworks as you launch at the enemies riding the most insane looking giant mecha! Annihilating all of them in the coolest way possible because that's how you always do it in the world's greatest roleplaying game!

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Reviews (1)

Discussions (5)

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John S August 10, 2022 6:25 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Heyo! I was wondering if you can clarify some things for me. But first, I bought this a while ago and was instantly attracted to it's specific style and the unique way you mechanically made mechs viable in really any setting, as well as giving the class a pretty pogging flavor of it's own. I really like the class, and am really excited to play a Rider as my next character!

I just need a few things cleared up, either because I had a hard time understanding for some reason or it simply wasn't explained in the PDF. Also just general musings here and there.
-Can your automata in it's base for wield weapons or armor, and does it add your INT to attack and damage rolls if it does? I think the answer is yes, since it shares your proficiencies, but better safe than sorry. Especially since the Ascended forms seem to have only one able to wield weapons.
-Why does the Fortress Mech's laser weapon not allow you to target the same enemy twice? 2d6 is a strong ranged weapon, I admit and it has a non-typical...See more

John S August 16, 2022 4:55 pm UTC

PURCHASER

So after a few days thinking on it and also re-reading the pdf tonight, I did come up with a few more questions. I also noticed the multiclass box on page 6. I have eyes, I swear. I'm also sorry if my typo comment seemed rude or hoity toity, especially after I didn't fix all of them in my comment.

I really do like this class, though. As far as a mech and pilot class goes it's pretty much what I've been looking for and more. I really like the flavor of it too, the automaton has so much story potential that it's nuts! I do have a few gripes and grumbles here and there, but I want to save that for a review post and for after I've actually sat down and played a game or two with the class to see how it feels, even if I don't use all of the features. I also hope that these questions don't feel combative, they're just thoughts I've had as I've read and re-read the class.

Onto the newer questions and thoughts.
-Why does the Colossus lose it's damage resistances? I get that, through you,...See more it can wear magical armor for incredible AC or other benefits. But it's still kind of jarring that your unarmored automaton is better at soaking weapon damage. The Behemoth gets to keep it, so why not the Colossus?

-Do we really need to spend an upgrade slot and 2000gp to use feats? I love the ascension upgrade system, including the variant rule, but this one kind of stings. If you spent your ability score increase at level 4 to gain a feat instead you just cant use that while piloting inside your mech until level five, or maybe longer because 2000 gp is a lot of money. I get that since you're playing around your mech, you aren't spending a lot of money for weapons and armor unless you're playing Colossus, so saving money is easier, but it's still so much just to use your feats. Yes, using this upgrade means your automaton can use that feat outside of big boy mode, and that's highly useful, but it still fills like so much cost just to do a character build. I think the upgrade is fine, I just hate that it costs so friggin much and that you have to wait till 5th level.

-Why is the fortress only not resistant against cold? I have no gripe against it, it's just a curious choice.

-Does the buster charge and it's boosts stack with magic item +1s? I imagine not since an extra damage dice on Colossus AND +4 weapon would be overkill at any level.

-Do you really get nothing at class-wise at level 10? You don't even get an ascension upgrade. Most other classes atleast give you a class feature, a resource boost, or a new spellslot, like the Rider gets at lv 13, but at 10 you get nothing besides the hit die and HP increase. I'm kinda hoping I'm missing something in the features' text again

-I kind of wish there were more upgrades to toy with, do you plan on expanding the class any time? Don't get me wrong, there's plenty there to toss with and the gp cost will have you working hard to get those upgrades,

-Besides grapples for the behemoth, and how many people you can hide as fortress, what are the benefits of the huge and gargantuan sizes down the line?

-It could be useful on the subclasses to just put in a blurb section about that it comes with this or that ascended form stat block at 3rd level, just for class feature purposes.

-More subclasses and ascended forms would be awesome for an expansion down the line. Some half casting magitech, and maybe something focused a long range damage roll, or maybe even a stealth based suit would be cool.

I've thrown a friggin lot of questions and stuff at you, and if you address even a quarter of them, Paul, I'd be seriously grateful. No rush, though. This is still my favorite, not overly complicated, flavorful mech pilot class that I could find after months, near on a year of searching. I don't think that'll change much after some play time either.

Ev A May 12, 2021 8:40 am UTC

PURCHASER

Do you choose one ascension mode stat block and keep that one, or can you choose a different stat block whenever you use the ascension?

Paul G May 12, 2021 9:12 am UTC

CREATOR

Yes, you only choose one ascension mode. The ascension modes are the subclasses for Rider. Of course, you are free to change this rule as long as you have your DM's approval :)

Matthew C August 27, 2020 1:48 am UTC

PURCHASER

I'm wondering if you'd have any suggestions for a variation of this class where the Automaton is more of a non-sentient vehicle rather than a companion? Or is that too far away from the class's core concept?

Paul G August 27, 2020 4:27 am UTC

CREATOR

Not at all far from the core concept. Although an automaton's ascension mode is already considered a mount. Also, since an automaton can take any form and its size is Medium, a small creature can already treat it as a mount. Just make the automaton look like your preferred vehicle. Lastly, if you want you can create an upgrade for your automaton that will transform it into a non-sentient, medium-size armor that can give its master flying/swimming or higher walking speed. Hope this helps!

Paul G June 07, 2020 12:20 pm UTC

CREATOR

June 07, 2021 - Version 1.1 Change Log

Clockwork Automaton (p.7) - "If you are incapacitated or absent, your automaton acts on its own as long as your hit points is not at zero—focusing on protecting you and itself."

Synergize Effect (p.9) - "Every other rider within range that used their reaction loses their turn this round and instead can act on the same initiative as you. Until the end of this round, you and each of those riders also get an advantage on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws, +5 to AC, and +5 to DC."

Franz J June 01, 2020 3:17 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Hi, I have some questions based on the preview.

Pg.7 The rider’s bond.
- “Starting at 1st level, whenever your automaton or it’s chosen ascension mode takes damage, you take damage for it. When your hit points reach 0, the automaton will cease to function.”

Does this mean that if the rider has 10 HPs and both the rider and the automaton are inside of an area of effect that damages each of them for 5 HPs, that both damage totals will be removed from the rider. Effectively knocking the rider unconscious and ceasing the automatons functions?

Pg.7 Clockwork automaton
- “If you are incapacitated or absent, your automaton acts on its own, focusing on protecting you and itself. It never requires your command to use its reaction, such as when making an opportunity attack.”

Falling unconscious includes the incapacitated condition. But if you fall unconscious due to dropping to zero HPs your automaton ceases to function.

Does this...See more

Paul G June 01, 2020 10:12 pm UTC

CREATOR

Hi Franz! Let me answer your queries:

1. Does this mean that if the rider has 10 HPs and both the rider and the automaton are inside of an area of effect that damages each of them for 5 HPs, that both damage totals will be removed from the rider. Effectively knocking the rider unconscious and ceasing the automatons functions?

Answer: That is correct. If a rider and its automaton are both caught in a fireball spell, the rider will take twice the damage. It is one of the weaknesses of the rider class and part of game balance. What I’ve learned though, through playtest, is that players enjoy finding different strategies on how to avoid being in that situation. The fighting style of a rider can be aggressive on its attacks using the automaton, but at the same time, being mindful of the distance and making sure that the rider will not be caught in an AOE spell together with its buddy.

2. Falling unconscious includes the incapacitated condition. But if you fall unconscious due...See more