Hero's Rise
A companion tool for cross-system GMs
Stop translating game mechanics alone.
f your campaign borrows from Pathfinder, D&D 5e, 3.5, or anything else at the same time, Hero's Rise is for you. We do the translating. We do the math. You run the game.
The problem
Cross-system games are a math problem usually solved alone.
A Pathfinder feat in a D&D 5e campaign. A 3.5 mechanic the table refused to retire. The translations work, but only because someone spends weeks re-writing them.
The cost shows up at the table: players waiting on math, rulings others struggle to understand, and newer GMs deciding it's not worth the trouble. The unfortunate part is, the most interesting campaign ideas never happen.
Hero's Rise fixes cross-system play with an easy-to-use tool — not a lengthy chore.
Three worked translations
What this means.
Pathfinder Hero Points → D&D 5e Inspiration
Trade Pathfinder's three-uses-per-session Hero Point economy for D&D 5e's binary Inspiration — without losing the mechanical heartbeat.
Pathfinder Conditions vs. D&D 5e Conditions
Pathfinder has graded condition values; D&D 5e has binary conditions. Map them so a Pathfinder-style debuff lands as something D&D 5e tables can adjudicate.
D&D 5e Bonus Actions → Pathfinder swift/move economy
D&D 5e split actions; Pathfinder has standard/move/swift/free. Most D&D 5e bonus actions land cleanly on Pathfinder swift — but not all.
The four pillars
What the tool does.
Cross-system rules engine
Translate feats, spells, conditions, and class features between systems without re-doing the math by hand.
Player character sheets
Sheets that understand the source system and the system the table is currently running in.
GM support
Encounter math, NPCs, and pacing tools that respect the system you're actually using.
World organization
Notes, factions, places, and session logs — keyed to the rules in play, not a generic wiki.
Where we are
Three people, pre-product, and listening.
There's nothing to download or demo yet. We're three people deciding whether this is worth the six months it would take to build. What we need right now is simple: tell us what you're running at your table. The systems you mix, the translations that eat your prep, the rulings that stall the game. Tell us that, and we'll show you how Hero's Rise would carry the math for you.
If you'd rather skip the waitlist and just tell us about your table, please do. Every response gets read.
Who's building it
Three people. Two paragraphs each.
Game-master lead
Twenty-five years of running cross-system campaigns. Leads the worldbuilding, shapes the rules engine, and writes the story and rule translations by hand.
Operations & community
Runs the survey program, the Discord, and the calendar of GM interviews. Talks to most of you first.
Engineering
Builds the tool. Quietly skeptical of any feature that can't be explained to a new GM in one sentence.
This is the tool Phil wishes he'd had ten years ago.
What we're not building
Discipline, stated up-front.
- Not a virtual tabletop. There are good ones; we won't compete with them.
- Not a GM replacement. The GM is the point.
- Not bundled with D&D or Pathfinder content we don't own.
- Not built for tournament or competitive play. Cross-system play assumes table consent.
- Not free forever. We'll be honest about pricing when we know it.
Frequently asked
Nine short answers.
When is this coming out?
What stops WotC from suing you?
What systems will you support?
Are you using D&D content I can't?
Will this replace my GM?
How much will it cost?
Why not just use Foundry with multiple system plugins?
What if the AI translates a feat wrong?
Can I see what's been built so far?
Two more ways in
If the waitlist isn't your speed.
3–5 minutes
Have three minutes?
Tell us how you play. Twelve questions, all optional except email. Every response gets read.
Take the survey →Fifteen minutes
Want fifteen minutes with Phil?
If you run a cross-system table and want to nerd out about it, Phil will happily nerd back. No agenda.
Book a call →