dh-combat

Daggerheart Combat Management Skill

Use this skill to guide Daggerheart combat encounters. Daggerheart uses spotlight flow instead of fixed initiative: the GM takes action when player rolls result in Fear or failure. The Hope/Fear token economy creates narrative tension between player momentum and GM opportunity.

Authoritative Source: For exact rule wording, use the dh-rules skill to reference srd/contents/Combat.md, srd/contents/Making Moves and Taking Action.md, and srd/contents/Death.md.

Starting Combat

When combat begins:

1. Establish the scene - Describe positions, threats, and environmental features
2. Initialize token tracking - Set up Hope (per player, max 6) and Fear (GM, max 12)
3. Players act first - The player who initiated the conflict typically takes the first spotlight
4. Flow continues - Spotlight passes based on roll outcomes

Initial Token State

At combat start:

• Player Hope: Carry over from session state (PCs start with 2 Hope at character creation, max 6)
• GM Fear: Carry over from session state (max 12)

Use the encounter template from references/encounter-template.md to track state.

The Spotlight System

Daggerheart doesn't use initiative. Instead, the spotlight flows based on action outcomes:

When Players Hold Spotlight

• A player takes an action and rolls
• If Success with Hope: Party keeps spotlight (players choose who acts next)
• If Success with Fear: GM takes spotlight (rolled with Fear)
• If Failure (Hope or Fear): GM takes spotlight
• If Critical Success: Player succeeds with bonus, gains Hope, clears Stress

When GM Takes Spotlight

• Adversaries act, Fear Features activate, dangers escalate
• After GM action, spotlight returns to a player
• GM can spend Fear tokens for additional effects

Spotlight Flow Diagram

Player Action
    |
    v
Roll Duality Dice
    |
    +---> Success + Hope higher ---> Party keeps spotlight
    |                                (choose who acts next)
    |
    +---> Success + Fear higher ---> GM takes spotlight
    |                                (rolled with Fear)
    |
    +---> Failure (any) -----------> GM takes spotlight
    |                                (GM makes a move)
    |
    +---> Critical ------------------> Auto success + bonus
                                       (gain Hope, clear Stress)

Action Roll Resolution

When a player attempts an action with uncertain outcome:

1. Determine the trait - Which of the six traits applies?
2. Check for Experiences - Does a bounded Experience apply? (Review positive scope)
3. Set the difficulty - Use standard difficulties or adversary Evasion
4. Roll Duality Dice - DdD + Trait + Experience (if applicable)
5. Determine outcome - See the five outcomes below

Difficulty Reference

Difficulty	Target Number
Easy	10
Moderate	15
Hard	20
Formidable	25
Legendary	30

The Five Action Outcomes

See references/action-outcomes.md for detailed resolution tables.

Outcome	Condition	Token Effect	Spotlight
Critical Success	Both dice match	Gain Hope, clear Stress	Auto success with bonus
Success with Hope	Total >= difficulty, hope > fear	Player gains Hope	Party keeps
Success with Fear	Total >= difficulty, fear > hope	GM gains Fear	GM takes
Failure with Hope	Total < difficulty, hope > fear	Player gains Hope	GM takes
Failure with Fear	Total < difficulty, fear > hope	GM gains Fear	GM takes

Note: A Critical Success counts as a roll "with Hope."

Tie between dice values (non-critical): Player chooses Hope or Fear.

Using the Dice Tool

Use the mcp__corvran__roll_dice tool:
{ "groups": [{ "n": 1, "d": 12, "label": "hope" }, { "n": 1, "d": 12, "label": "fear" }], "modifier": 3 }

Output:

{
  "groups": [
    { "label": "hope", "rolls": [7] },
    { "label": "fear", "rolls": [4] }
  ],
  "modifier": 3,
  "total": 14
}

Compare the "hope" and "fear" group rolls to determine which die is higher for spotlight and token effects.

Advantage and Disadvantage

Daggerheart uses additional d6 dice for advantage/disadvantage:

Advantage (+d6)

Roll an additional d6 and add it to your total.

With the dice tool, include a third labeled group in the same call:

{ "groups": [{ "n": 1, "d": 12, "label": "hope" }, { "n": 1, "d": 12, "label": "fear" }, { "n": 1, "d": 6, "label": "advantage" }], "modifier": 3 }

All groups sum into the total. The hope/fear determination still comes from comparing the two d12 groups.

Common sources:

• Target is Hidden (against you, until revealed)
• Target is Vulnerable
• Target is Restrained
• Tactical superiority (high ground, flanking)

Disadvantage (-d6)

Roll a d6 and subtract it from your total. Since all dice groups are additive, roll the disadvantage d6 in a separate call and subtract the result narratively from the action roll total.

Common sources:

• You are Frightened (against source of fear)
• Poor visibility or conditions
• Attempting something beyond your training
• Attacking a Hidden target

Multiple Advantages/Disadvantages

• Multiple advantages stack (roll multiple d6s, add all)
• Multiple disadvantages stack (roll multiple d6s, subtract all)
• Advantages and disadvantages cancel one-to-one

Example: 2 advantages and 1 disadvantage = 1 advantage = +1d6

Reaction Rolls

Some abilities allow reactions outside normal spotlight flow. Reaction rolls do NOT generate Hope or Fear tokens.

When Reactions Occur

• Specific class features trigger
• Certain adversary abilities respond
• Environmental events require immediate response

Resolving Reactions

1. Roll Duality Dice as normal
2. Apply success/failure based on total vs. difficulty
3. Skip token generation - ignore which die was higher for economy purposes
4. Spotlight does NOT shift based on reaction results

Attack and Damage Flow

Making Attacks

1. Roll Duality Dice + appropriate trait + modifiers
2. Compare total to target's Evasion
3. If total >= Evasion, the attack hits
4. Roll damage and apply to target

Damage Resolution

1. Roll weapon damage dice (Proficiency × damage die + modifier)
2. Compare total damage to target's Damage Thresholds
3. Mark HP slots based on severity:

Damage vs Thresholds	HP Marked
Below Major threshold	1 HP
At or above Major, below Severe	2 HP
At or above Severe	3 HP

If damage is reduced to 0 or less, no HP is marked.

Optional Rule - Massive Damage: If damage equals twice the Severe threshold, mark 4 HP instead of 3.

Armor Slots

Your Armor Score determines how many Armor Slots you have. When you take damage:

• You can mark 1 Armor Slot to reduce HP marked by 1
• This choice is made when marking HP
• Armor Slots don't reduce the damage number, they reduce HP marked

HP and Stress Tracking

Use visual notation for quick scanning:

## Current Status
- **HP Marked**: ●●○○○○ (2/6)
- **Stress Marked**: ●○○○○○ (1/6)
- **Armor Slots Used**: ●○○

Hope/Fear Token Economy

Hope Tokens (Per Player)

Aspect	Details
Maximum	6 per character
Gained	When hope die is higher on action rolls
Not gained	On reaction rolls or critical success
Overflow	Excess tokens are lost

Spending Hope:

• Reroll a die
• Boost damage
• Activate certain class features
• Assist another player's roll

Fear Tokens (GM)

Aspect	Details
Maximum	12 total
Gained	When fear die is higher on player action rolls
Not gained	On reaction rolls or critical success
Overflow	Excess tokens are lost

Spending Fear:

• Activate adversary Fear Features (costs vary)
• Introduce environmental complications
• Have reinforcements arrive
• Escalate a threat beyond normal action

Token Tracking Format

Use visual notation (per TD-4):

## Hope/Fear Economy

### Player Hope
| Player | Hope (max 6) |
|--------|--------------|
| Kira   | ●●●○○○       |
| Thorn  | ●●○○○○       |

### GM Fear
Fear: ●●●●●○○○○○○○ (5/12)

Stress and Conditions

Stress Accumulation

Characters gain Stress from:

• Narrative consequences
• Failed Fear rolls (GM discretion)
• Certain ability effects
• Witnessing trauma

Maximum Stress

When all Stress slots are marked, the character gains the Vulnerable condition.

Clearing Stress

• Short Rest: Clear a few Stress (GM discretion)
• Long Rest: Clear all Stress
• Roleplay: Recovery scenes can clear Stress
• Specific abilities: Some class features clear Stress

Standard Conditions

See references/conditions.md for full condition effects. Daggerheart has three standard conditions:

Condition	Effect
Hidden	All rolls against you have disadvantage. Ends when seen, you move into line of sight, or you attack.
Restrained	You can't move, but can still take actions from your current position.
Vulnerable	All rolls targeting you have advantage.

Note: Some features apply special or unique conditions that work as described in the feature text.

Death and Dying

When a PC Marks Their Last HP

When a PC marks their last Hit Point, they must make a death move by choosing one of three options:

Blaze of Glory

Your character embraces death and goes out in a blaze of glory. Take one final action—it automatically critically succeeds (with GM approval)—then your character dies.

Avoid Death

Your character avoids death and faces consequences. They drop unconscious and can't move, act, or be targeted by attacks. Work with the GM to describe how the situation worsens.

They return to consciousness when an ally clears 1+ HP or after a long rest. After falling unconscious, roll your Hope Die—if the result ≤ your level, gain a scar: permanently cross out a Hope slot and determine its narrative impact with the GM. If you ever cross out your last Hope slot, your character's journey ends.

Risk It All

Roll your Duality Dice:

• Hope Die higher: Stay on your feet, clear HP or Stress equal to the Hope Die value (divide as you choose)
• Fear Die higher: Your character dies
• Matching dice: Stay up but clear nothing

When Adversaries Fall

When an adversary marks their last HP, they typically die or are defeated (GM discretion based on narrative).

Encounter Management

Use the encounter template from references/encounter-template.md to track:

• GM Fear tokens
• Current spotlight holder
• Party HP/Stress/Hope per player
• Adversary HP/Stress/Conditions
• Active effects

Example Encounter State

## GM Fear
Fear: ●●●●●○○○○○○○ (5/12)

## Spotlight
Currently: GM (after Kira's Fear roll)

## Combatants

### Party
| PC    | HP       | Stress   | Hope     | Conditions |
|-------|----------|----------|----------|------------|
| Kira  | ●●○○○○   | ●○○○○○   | ●●●○○○   | -          |
| Thorn | ○○○○○○   | ●●○○○○   | ●●○○○○   | Frightened |

### Adversaries
| Adversary      | HP       | Stress | Conditions |
|----------------|----------|--------|------------|
| Bone Wraith    | ●●●○○○   | ●○○    | -          |
| Skeleton (x2)  | ●●○○     | -      | -          |

GM Guidance: Running Combat Narratively

Describe, Don't Just Resolve

Each roll outcome should advance the fiction:

• Success with Hope: "You strike true, and as the blade bites, you feel a surge of confidence—take a Hope token."
• Success with Fear: "Your attack lands, but you've overextended. The wraith's hollow eyes lock onto you—I'll take a Fear token and the spotlight."

Spend Fear Actively

Fear tokens are narrative fuel. Spend them to:

• Make adversaries more dangerous at dramatic moments
• Introduce complications when the party seems too comfortable
• Create memorable villain moments

Don't hoard Fear—a pile of unspent tokens means missed opportunities.

Spotlight Flow as Pacing

The spotlight system naturally creates dramatic pacing:

• Tension builds as Fear accumulates
• Players feel momentum when Hope flows
• GM spotlight moments punctuate player actions

---

Combat rules derived from the Daggerheart SRD by Darrington Press, used under the DPCGL.