Daggerheart Discussion

[Reynard]

I did a bunch of work on a Warhammer reskin, and quickly realized I was needing to tweak a bunch of domain cards.

Tweak in what way? Reskin them to be more like WHFRP, or actually change the mechanics?

 

[Thomas Shey]

I'd expect it would require considerable rework to look right, which isn't entirely surprising when you try and use a game for a purpose it was not designed.

 

[Reynard]

I'd expect it would require considerable rework to look right, which isn't entirely surprising when you try and use a game for a purpose it was not designed.

Post apocalyptic isn't so far from heroic fantasy. Dungeons, monsters and magic items map pretty easily onto ruins, mutants and ancient tech.

The problem with Daggerheart is that it is less generic in class design than D&D by a pretty wide margin. There are even fewer non-magical or "martial" character options, and everything has a strong implied setting. Even the farther out campaignf rames in the core book basically throw up there hands and say "pretend it is sci fi" without actually doing anything to make that work.

But the core of the game is extremely well designed and versatile. There is a lot of there there. That is why I was asking if anyone has had any luck on class and domain design. it isn't that it can't be done, just that it will take some work.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Post apocalyptic isn't so far from heroic fantasy. Dungeons, monsters and magic items map pretty easily onto ruins, mutants and ancient tech.

Its not the worst remapping I've seen by any means; as you say, post apoc can look somewhat like fantasy, but even when it does it usually low fantasy (unless you're getting into full wacky Gamma World stuff, which tends to look more like science-fantasy of the more over the top forms).

The problem with Daggerheart is that it is less generic in class design than D&D by a pretty wide margin. There are even fewer non-magical or "martial" character options, and everything has a strong implied setting. Even the farther out campaignf rames in the core book basically throw up there hands and say "pretend it is sci fi" without actually doing anything to make that work.

Well, like I say, that's often what happens when someone tries to use a wrench as a hammer. But I've expressed that about most 5e based games that weren't willing to do some heavy lifting, too.

But the core of the game is extremely well designed and versatile. There is a lot of there there. That is why I was asking if anyone has had any luck on class and domain design. it isn't that it can't be done, just that it will take some work.

Which is where I thought the "considerable rework" would be. Sorry if I was unclear about that.

 

[zakael19]

Tweak in what way? Reskin them to be more like WHFRP, or actually change the mechanics?

Yes.

Some are so explicitly high fantasy magic I had to tweak the mechanics over (like the Sage transport summons).

 

[Reynard]

Well, like I say, that's often what happens when someone tries to use a wrench as a hammer. But I've expressed that about most 5e based games that weren't willing to do some heavy lifting, too.

The difference is I feel like I can rework 5E a lot easier than Daggerheart, at least as far as characters go. That may just be because we don't have enough good examples of that in the DH space yet, and I am sure they will come.

 

[Thomas Shey]

The difference is I feel like I can rework 5E a lot easier than Daggerheart, at least as far as characters go. That may just be because we don't have enough good examples of that in the DH space yet, and I am sure they will come.

Very possibly. There's also the thing that D&D has usually kind of wanted to have its cake and eat it too; be vaguely fantasy-generic while having very recognizeable specifics. The latter are absolutely there, but can sometimes be paved over if you don't look at them hard.

Any critiques I may have of Daggerheart have to acknowledge its not afraid to be what it is, any more than Shadow of the Weird Wizard is.

 

[Reynard]

Very possibly. There's also the thing that D&D has usually kind of wanted to have its cake and eat it too; be vaguely fantasy-generic while having very recognizeable specifics. The latter are absolutely there, but can sometimes be paved over if you don't look at them hard.

Any critiques I may have of Daggerheart have to acknowledge its not afraid to be what it is, any more than Shadow of the Weird Wizard is.

Sure. It is not meant as a criticism of the game. My preference would just be a little more generic.

On another note: wow, the DH section of DTRPG is a slop-fest, huh?

 

[Agamon]

Sure. It is not meant as a criticism of the game. My preference would just be a little more generic.

On another note: wow, the DH section of DTRPG is a slop-fest, huh?

I mean, there is a lot there, but you do have to dig to get to it, the cream has risen to the top.