# The Powder Mage^[1](#p5) ###### **Fighter Martial Archetype** ___ ## Powder Mages The invention of Black Powder and the discovery of its anti-magical properties has wrought change across the whole of the world. One such change is the emergence of Powder Mages, warriors that have aligned their souls with the explosive substance. Powder Mages have learned to tap into gunpowder’s explosive and anti-magic powers to wield in battle.

##### The Powder Mage | Level |Features | Powder Trance Attack Bonus | |:-----:|:-------:|:--------------------------:| | 3rd | Firearm Proficiency, Combustive Mind, Powder Trance | +1 | | 7th | Munitions Expert | +2 | | 10th | Rapid Reload, Powder High | +3 | | 15th | Anti-magic Trance | +4 | | 18th | Powder Sage | +5 |

### Firearm Proficiency Starting when you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with firearms and bombs. You can add your proficiency bonus to attacks made with firearms and bombs. You also gain proficiency with Tinker’s Tools. ### Combustive Mind When you take this archetype at 3rd level you gain the ability to burn black powder at will. You sense the presence of black powder out to a range of 120 feet. As a bonus action you can mentally command any you can see within 60 feet to ignite. Furthermore, you can absorb the explosive energy and can use your action on the same turn to unleash it in a spot you can see in the same range. You also can add your Constitution modifier to the damage done by firearms and the DC for the splash damage of your bombs becomes: ___ - **Powder Mage save DC: 8 + Proficiency bonus + CON**. #### Powder Charges The power to burn black powder comes with additional benefits. You can prepare *Powder Charges*, paper wrapped packets of gunpowder that you can burn to fuel various *Powder Tricks*, listed below. You know three tricks to begin with. You learn an additional three of your choice at 7th, 10th, 15th, and 18th level. Each time you learn a new trick, you can replace one trick you know with a different one. ##### Powder Sickness Burning^[2](#p5) *Powder Charges* puts a strain on your body. You can burn a number of *Powder Charges* equal to half your Fighter level + your Proficiency rounded down and regain all uses at the end of a short or long rest. For each additional charge used you gain a point of exhaustion. At higher Fighter levels you make a CON saving throw before suffering *Powder Sickness*, DC 10 + current levels of exhaustion + number of charges over max. At level 7 the saving throw is made with disadvantage, rolled normally at level 10, and with advantage at 15th level. ##### Kickback Mentally igniting black powder does not come without its dangers. If the number of damage die caused by the explosion of *Combustive Mind* is greater than your Constitution modifier; you take 1d4 psychic damage per die over the max. ### Powder Trance Starting at level 3 you can use a bonus action to consume a *Powder Charge* and enter a trance. While in a *Powder Trance* you gain the following benefits: - You have advantage on all Dexterity checks and saving throws. - You gain a bonus to ranged attack and damage rolls as shown on the Powder Trance Attack Bonus column of the Powder mage table. - You can add your proficiency bonus twice to passive Perception (Wisdom) and Perception checks. You can see clearly to a distance of 1 mile, can make out fine details up to 100 feet away, and gain Darkvision out to a range of 30 feet. ### Munitions Expert^[3](#p5) At 7th level, you have gained a greater knowledge in the use of specific firearms. You chose ONE of the following abilities ___ - **Akimbo**^[4](#p5)**.** You can dual wield a material melee weapon and a firearm, or two firearms as long as neither have the heavy or two-handed property. When making a ranged attack with a firearm that lacks the two-handed property within 5 feet of a hostile creature, you do not have disadvantage on the attack roll. You may take a bonus action attack with an off-hand firearm. Additionally you do not need a free hand to reload dual wielded firearms. ___ - **Bombardier.** You no longer need to see black powder to ignite it. You can also add your Constitution modifier to the splash damage of your explosives. Your Proficiency bonus can be added to reduce the number of damage die before you suffer kickback damage. ___ - **Sniper.** You ignore cover when using your firearm, you can shoot from behind cover without breaking it, and do not suffer disadvantage when shooting at long range. You gain proficiency with stealth checks and you can hide when you are only lightly obscured by natural phenomena (ex. rain).

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### Rapid Reload Beginning at 10th level, you can use your bonus action to reload a firearm. ### Powder High At 10th level, when gaining health from a dice roll, such as a spell, potion, short rest, or *Second Wind*, you can consume *Powder Charges* to force a die to be the highest possible roll, one die per charge. At the end of a short or long rest^[5](#p5) and you can consume a powder charge to remove a level of exhaustion^[6](#p5). ### Anti-magic Trance Starting at 15th level you have learned to tap into the anti-magic properties of black powder. While in a *Powder Trance* you gain the following benefits: - You have advantage on all saving throws required by a spell. You take no damage from a successful save and half damage on an unsuccessful one. - You are immune to mind altering magic effects such as Charmed, Frightened, and Suggestion. ### Powder Sage At level 18, you have mastered the use of black powder, it courses through your blood with every heartbeat. You no longer need to consume a *Powder Charge* to enter a *Powder Trance*. When entering combat with no uses of *Powder Charges* left, you gain five back. #### Powder Tricks ___ - **Empowered Shot.** Once per turn, as part of one of your attack actions you can burn a number of *Powder Charges* to increase your firearm’s damage. You roll an additional damage die per charge expended. You must declare this intent and number of charges before rolling attack. ___ - **Empowered Explosions.** You can burn *Powder Charges* as part of one of your attack actions to increase the splash damage of your bombs. Roll an additional damage die per *Powder Charge*. ___ - **Expanded Explosions.** You can burn *Powder Charges* as part of one of your attack actions to increase the splash radius of your bombs. 5 feet per charge. ___ - **Manage Misfire.** If your firearm misfires you can use your reaction to burn two *Powder Charges* to ignore the negative effects. ___ - **Divert Missile.** You can use your reaction to burn one *Powder Charge* to divert the missile when you are hit by a ranged weapon attack. When you do so, the damage is reduced by 1d10 + Fighter level. ___ - **Divert Weapon.** You can use your reaction to burn two *Powder Charges* to divert a weapon when you are hit by a melee attack. When you do so, the damage is reduced by 1d10 + Fighter level. ___ - **Divert Magic.** You can use your reaction to burn two *Powder Charges* to divert a spell’s damage when you are hit by a spell attack. When you do so, the damage is reduced by 1d10 + Fighter level. ___ - **Float Shot.** You can spend a *Powder Charge* to increase the range of your firearm. 30 feet per charge spent. ___ - **Dry Shot.** You can burn one *Powder Charge* to fling any small object with the force of a bullet. You make a ranged attack roll, the object does 1d10 piercing damage on a hit. You do not add any bonuses to the attack or damage roll. ___ - **Elemental Bomb.** Burn three *Powder Charges* to change the damage type of an explosive. You can decide to change the damage from force to fire, cold, lightning, necrotic, or radiant. ___ - **Arcane Awareness.** You can burn two *Powder Charges* to cast Detect Magic. Doing so also lets you see if a creature is a magic user or another Powder Mage. ___ - **Steady Aim (7th Level or Higher).** You can burn three *Powder Charges* to double your Proficiency Bonus when making an attack with a firearm. ___ - **Magic Sinkhole (7th Level or Higher).** You can use three *Powder Charges* to cast Counterspell or Dispel Magic. You can burn additional charges to cast the spell at higher ‘levels’. ___ - **Course Adjust (7th Level or Higher).** If an attack from your firearm misses the target you can use your reaction to burn two *Powder Charges* to reroll the attack against a new target as long as they are not in front of the original target. ___ - **Ignite Ward (7th Level or Higher).** You can use Divert Missile, Weapon, or Magic on any creature you can see within 60 feet by burning an additional *Powder Charge*. ___ - **Careful Explosion (7th Level or Higher).** You can burn a *Powder Charge* to direct explosions around creatures. Choose one creature to ignore the damage. You can add additional creatures by burning more charges, one per charge. ___ - **Potshot (10th Level or Higher).** Burn two *Powder Charges* to make a bonus action firearm attack^[7](#p5). ___ - **Third Eye (10th Level or Higher).** You can burn three *Powder Charges* to gain Truesight for one hour. ___ - **Blessed Smoke (10th Level or Higher).** You can burn three *Powder Charges* as an action to touch a willing creature to give them advantage on Spell saving throws and grant them darkvision out to 30 feet. ___ - **Aura of Grit (15th Level or Higher).** While in a *Powder Trance* you can burn four *Powder Charges* to create a 15ft aura around you. Any creature you deem an ally in the aura gains the benefits for your *Powder Trance* and *Anti-magic Trance*. ___ - **Barrage (15th Level or Higher).** As an action you can burn three charges to fire all shots in your firearm or launcher. Doing so only requires one attack roll but damage must be rolled separately for each shot. Your firearm immediately suffers the effects of a misfire at the end of your turn regardless of the roll.

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# Appendix ## Firearms^[8](#p5) ___ ### Reload The weapon can be fired a number of times equal to its Reload score before you must spend 1 attack or 1 action to reload. You must have one free hand to reload a firearm. ### Misfire Whenever you make an attack roll with a firearm, and the dice roll is equal to or lower than the weapon’s Misfire score, the weapon misfires. The attack misses, and the weapon cannot be used again until you spend an action to try and repair it. To repair your firearm, you must make a successful Tinker’s Tools check (DC equal to 8 + misfire score). If your check fails, you can keep trying each turn. Creatures who use a firearm without being proficient increase the weapon’s misfire score by 2. ### Explosive Whether or not the weapon hits, everything within the splash radius of the target must make a Dexterity saving throw against your powder save DC (12 for non-powder mages) or suffer the weapons splash damage. If the weapon misfires, the ammunition fails to detonate. ### Ammunition All firearms require ammunition to make an attack, and due to their rare nature, ammunition may be near impossible to find or purchase. However, if materials are gathered, you can craft ammunition yourself using your Tinker’s Tools at half the cost. Each firearm uses its own unique ammunition and is generally sold or crafted in batches listed below next to the price.

___

#### Launchers | Name | Cost | Ammo | Range | Weight | Properties | |:-----:|:----:|:----:|:-----:|:------:|:----------:| | Sling | 1 sp | Gernade, Hand Bomb | 30/120 | ─ | See ammo's properties | Flintlock | 450 gp | Grenade | 60/120 | 3 lb | Reload 2, misfire 1 | | Bomber | 600 gp | Bomb | 60/120 | 15 lb | Heavy, two-handed, reload 1, misfire 2 | | Hand Mortar | 1000 gp | Large Bomb | 30/600 | 10 lb | Two-handed, reload 1, misfire 3 |

#### Firearms | Name | Cost | Ammo | Damage | Weight | Range | Properties | |:----:||:---:|:----:|:------:|:------:|:-----:|:----------:| | Palm Pistol | 50 gp | 2 gp (20) | 1d10 piercing | 1 lb | 40/160 | Light, reload 1, misfire 1 | | Pistol | 150 gp | 4 gp (20) | 1d12 piercing | 3 lb | 60/240 | Reload 4, misfire 1 | | Musket | 300 gp | 5 gp (20) | 2d8 piercing | 10 lb | 120/480 | Two-handed, reload 1, misfire 2 | | Long Rifle | 600 gp | 10 gp (10) | 3d12 piercing | 15 lb | 300/600 | Heavy, two-handed, reload 1, misfire 5 | | Pepperbox | 250 gp | 4 gp (20) | 1d10 piercing | 5 lb | 80/320 | Reload 6, misfire 2 | | Blunderbuss | 300 gp | 5 gp (5) | 6d4 piercing | 10 lb | 15/60 | Reload 1, misfire 2 | | Halfbuss | 350 gp | 5 gp (5) | 6d4 piercing | 8 lb | 10/30 | Reload 2, misfire 3 |

#### Melee Attachments | Name | Cost | Damage | Weight | Properties | |:----:||:---:|:------:|:------:|:----------:| | Bayonet | 3 gp | 1d6 piercing | 1 lb | Attaches to musket, reach when attached, finesse |

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## A World of Powder A world with gunpowder and magic can offer a plethora of fun optional and house rules. Here are a few that I, the author, like. ### Potions Black powder can make an excellent addition to potions. Depending on the other ingredients gunpowder can be used as a catalyst to increase their potency or bring out unique attributes, even from the powder itself. ##### Black Powder Potions | Potion | Effect | |:------:|:-------| | Health Potion | Adds CON modifier to roll | | Grit Oil | Deals extra damage to magic users when applied to a weapon, or reduces spell damage when applied to armor | | Potion of Heightened Sight | Increases passive perception and range of sight | | Potion of Anti-magic | Splash potion that acts like the Dispel Magic spell | | Mage Poison | Poison that only affects magic users. Reduces the number of spell slots or spell level one can cast | ### Enchantments Powder can be worked directly into metal, cloth, and leather giving them special properties. ##### Powder Infused Items | Item | Properties | |:----:|:-----------| | Mage Slayer Armor | Gives advantage on spell saving throws | | Explosive Weapon | Deals extra force damage on hit | | White Powder Amulet | Negates the negative effects black powder has on magic users | | Blast Bow | Bow that shoots with the force of a gun | ### Gunpowder Allergy All those connected to the arcane have adverse reactions to black powder that can manifest as a horrible allergy. Rashes develop from physical contact with the material, constant sneezing or itching eyes around gun fire, and general discomfort when around Powder Mages. In extreme cases, and with enough black powder, an arcane user can find themselves completely cut off from their powers or even comatose. ``` ``` ## Powder Afflictions ___ ### Powder Sickness Powder sickness is a constant problem that powder mages must deal with. Exactly when the sickness will hit them is a science that would be mages must learn to master. An optional rule can be used to allow Powder Mages to temporarily ignore the effects of powder sickness for 1 hour by ingesting a *Powder Charge*. Doing so allows the mage to ignore the drawbacks of exhaustion. Levels of exhaustion still accumulate as normal. Using this optional feature to many times may lead to *Powder Addiction*. ### Powder Addiction (Optional Rule) Powder Mages that constantly suffer from *Powder Sickness* may become dependent on black powder to function normally. The conditions needed to become addicted are set by the DM, but a good rule of thumb is curing the sickness by consuming black powder 3 times in one day, 5 times in 3 days, or 7 times in 1 week. Powder addicted mages permanently suffer from powder sickness, either 1 level of exhaustion or powder blindness, unless they consume a powder charge every 4 hrs. ### Powder Blindness (Optional Rule) Powder blindness can be a symptom of *Powder Sickness* or replace exhaustion. When a Powder Mage becomes Powder Blind, they lose the use of two of their *Powder Tricks*, determined by the DM. The Powder Mage also loses the Perception and sight benefits granted by the trance. The mage loses use of an additional trick for each day that passes without having cured themselves of their blindness. Powder blindness may be cured by not ingesting any black powder for 2 days, for each feature the mage has lost use of. *Powder Blindness* is not affected by any effect that grants disease immunity. If a powder blind mage is affected by a magical effect that cures disease, the powder blindness is cured.

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# References and Notes

1. Based on the *Powder Mage* series of books by Brain McClellan [Author Page](https://www.brianmcclellan.com/)

2. Burning and consuming powder is treated the same for the purpose of *Powder Sickness*. Ingesting a charge to cure the sickness has the potential to add even more exhaustion. The exhaustion is still ignored but the number of levels can go up.

3. Essentially more options for Fighting Styles. If you use the Optional Martial Versatility feature you can switch out your Munitions Expertise as well. Its up to the DM if you can have two Munitions Expertise and no Fighting Style but as a rule of thumb I say no.
3a. Archery Fighting Style does not apply to firearms or launchers. They are a separate category from ranged weapons.

3b. Dueling Fighting Style can apply to the Bayonet when not attached to a firearm. Since basically it is a dagger.

The Great Weapon Fighting Fighting Style can be applied to a Bayonet that is attached to a two-handed firearm.

4. Behaviors the same as the Two-Weapon Fighting style but with guns. You do NOT need both to add ability modifiers to the damage roll of the bonus action attack.

5. Thematically this is done during the short rest but for game mechanics it is done at the end of the rest. So that the *Powder Charge* comes from the newly replenished stock.

6. The optional rule of Powder Addiction can be applied here.

7. Stacks with Akimbo.

8. Rules for Firearms and explosives as stated here should replace the ones mentioned in the *Dungeon Master’s Guide* or other official WoTC materials.

8a. The Gunner Feat from *Tasha's Cauldron of Everything* should not be used in a game that includes Powder Mages or at least drop the "You ignore the loading property of firearms" part of the feat.

8b. Should really ignore any rules or other Homebrews (Matt Mercer's Gunslinger) that use firearms, as the damage and properties of the weapons are heavily modified for this Subclass. Some Feats and Features would also make some of the potential of a Powder Mage redundant.

# Table Of Contents - **[1 The Powder Mage](#p1)** - [1.1 Powder Mage](#p1) - [1.1.1 Firearm Proficiency](#p1) - [1.1.2 Combustive Mind](#p1) - [1.1.3 Powder Trance](#p1) - [1.1.4 Munitions Expert](#p1) - [1.1.5 Rapid Reload](#p2) - [1.1.6 Powder High](#p2) - [1.1.7 Anti-magic Trance](#p2) - [1.1.8 Powder Sage](#p2) - **[2 Appendix](#p3)** - [2.1 Firearms](#p3) - [2.1.1 Reload](#p3) - [2.1.2 Misfire](#p3) - [2.1.3 Explosive](#p3) - [2.1.4 Ammunition](#p3) - [2.2 A World of Powder](#p4) - [2.2.1 Potions](#p4) - [2.2.2 Enchantments](#p4) - [2.2.3 Gunpowder Allergy](#p4) - [2.3 Powder Afflictions](#p4) - [2.3.1 Powder Sickness](#p4) - [2.3.2 Powder Addiction (Optional Rule)](#p4) - [2.3.3 Powder Blindness (Optional Rule)](#p4)

Made By evergreyforest using The Homebrewery. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License.

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