Vol 21: Homebrew & Heartache

SPOTLIGHT

“But it helped me really understand the core of Daggerheart: Coming to the table with people you love to create something beautiful to really lose yourself in. Even the mechanics spoke to me while talking about it. Failure, even failure with fear, doesn't mean nothing happens. It doesn't mean everything stops or that the world ends. It is a part of every narrative, and at the end of it all, there's still hope to spend.” Thank you, Little Sherbet. Rest up.

NEWS & RELEASES

Deliver Us Unto Daggerheart

Daggerheart was the engine for the Kingdom Come: Deliverance II one-shot that streamed earlier this week on CR’s YouTube channel. It’s worth a watch for the fun (Ashely Johnson and Deborah Ann Woll are among the players), but also to study GM George Primavera, who skillfully ran the system while threading the short story. 

A Pass at Multiclass

I know Leeloo Dallas Multipass has nothing to do with Liam O’Brien Multiclass, but it was fun to say both of them over and over as I watched yet another famous D&D player helpfully explain to the world how to play his game instead of Hasbro’s. (Sadly, the toy company’s CEO doesn’t resemble 90s Gary Oldman, but I digress.)

Who's on First?

The Brits have Oxventure, Kiwis have Azerim, and now the land of Mad Max has Hammanaroth, the grim-dark setting for Who’s on First Watch?, an actual play podcast now on EP7 of its first season. Tired of Americans pretending to be British? Enjoy some Aussie slang in the wasteland.

A Known from the Unknown

The New Unknown team is on a tear teasing their sci-fi expansion book, this time with the cover reveal. Illustrated by David Demaret, it’s a perfect mix of sci-fi and fantasy, with a lovely Mass Effects vibe.

Tools of the Dark Trade

Having just released adventure module Blind Faith, Adversary designer Chris Davidson is back with The Gothic Horror Toolkit, a book with dozens of Adversaries, Environments, encounters, and equipment inspired by Ravenloft, Castlevania, and Vampire Hunter. Adventurer—may the night break before you do.

VTT Vid

Foundryborne, the VTT choice of every Linux-lovin’, why-yes-I-mod-my-PC-and-run-my-own-server GM, released a very handy overview video this week, in addition to a roster of small updates.

Roll for Combat

The Netherleaf VTT came out of beta with a remarkably capable Roll20-like experience, offering character sheet and campaign management in addition to real-time encounters. Another platform joins the melee! Pass the popcorn.

Fantasy Fulfilment

Do we just make a permanent slot for Heart of Daggers announcements? The platform is back with news that they now provide Kickstarter backer fulfilment, a move that makes me think less about Daggerheart and more what looks like a run at DriveThru/Roll20. I suspect that’s the end game, and there’s a lane if they keep up this pace and quality.

DISCUSSIONS

Sleepy Head

Prestigious Emu came to the rescue of a GM struggling with handling in-game, multi-day travel: "separate rest from sleep." 

Sleep is sleep. We just assume characters get their 6-8 hours a night unless something (aka a Fear spend) interrupts it. We don't spend table time on it (unless it's interrupted of course). Rest is a deliberate choice the players make in order to replenish resources. It gets "screen time" as the players tend to wounds, prepare for what's ahead, repair armor etc.

The example I use is the Lord of the Rings movie. The journey to Rivendell is 400 miles and takes over a month. We don't spend time with the characters camping every single night. Just when it's important.

Non-Player Coordinator

Over on the Discord, @OWHL similarly came to the aid of a player who, because they are the sole PC in a party of four, asked about running NPCs in Daggerheart: 

"There are 3 ways to handle NPCs:

• One: Create adversary blocks
• Two: Create NPC blocks (Covered in pg 166-7 in the CRB)
• Three: Create full PC builds

1 is the middle ground, 2 is the easiest and 3 is very involved. I use #2 when first introducing them. If they turn enemies or evil I switch to #1. When I run 1:1 or solo games I pick #3."