Daggerheart Reveals Ranger Class Preview (Exclusive)

EN World has the opportunity to reveal the final version of Daggerheart's Ranger class. Set to release on May 20th, Daggerheart is a new fantasy RPG that combines some of the rules-focused combat focus with narrative-based roleplaying. The game uses a Duality dice system that adds both mechanical and narrative consequences to every check made in gameplay.

The Ranger (seen below) has a core class feature of choosing a Focus during combat. A Ranger's Focus takes additional Stress whenever the Ranger attacks them, and the Ranger can reroll attacks against them when they miss. Additionally, the Ranger has two subclasses, one built around having an animal companion and one built around hunting prey. The Beastbound subclass has an animal companion that grows steadily, while the Wayfinder gains additional benefits from targeting a Focus.

Also of note is that the Ranger's Domains are Bone and Sage (Domains provide abilities that overlap with other classes), while the Ranger's Hope Feature allows a Ranger to spend three Hope (a kind of metacurrency in the game) to turn a successful attack roll on one target into a successful attack on three targets.

You can check out our preview pages below and check out Daggerheart's full release later this month.

 

[Sossij]

The artwork does look wonderful, my only question with it is a random thought that her metal arm must clearly be magically attached because otherwise that motion of pulling a bowstring would likely result in it deattaching from her arm. Even with metal bolts that specific movement puts a lot of pressure on the direct side of one's limb and would likely cause severe chafing or pain if the limb did not become dislodged. Especially with the repetitive nature of firing multiple arrows.

Like I fully support the representation and all, but I kind of wish they had either made her other arm the artificial one, or drawn some sort of straps on the artifical limb running up her arm that were indicating that they were were preventing this issue.

A wizard did it.

 

[definiteFreakyFishGuy]

Agility as spell cast trait feels very odd. Maybe it's just a terminology issue? Like if ranger "spells" are physical feats that a highly agile person could perform (but to someone who is untrained, it feels like magic), that'd makes sense.

The image of the ranger with the tiger reminds me of Laura Bailey's Vex cosplay in from the critical role intro (C1) . The tiger in the back made me think of Vex's familiar Trinket.

One big gripe I have is the layout. I would have preferred having a bigger text-to-page ratio, so either a bigger font size or smaller page size, with no or less art. The art, while it is done well, feels like filler. (I'm def in the minority, but I am not a huge fan of the daggerheart artwork. I think they are executed really well, but I find the color palette & the style a bit off-putting.)

 

[definiteFreakyFishGuy]

The artwork does look wonderful, my only question with it is a random thought that her metal arm must clearly be magically attached because otherwise that motion of pulling a bowstring would likely result in it deattaching from her arm. Even with metal bolts that specific movement puts a lot of pressure on the direct side of one's limb and would likely cause severe chafing or pain if the limb did not become dislodged. Especially with the repetitive nature of firing multiple arrows.

Like I fully support the representation and all, but I kind of wish they had either made her other arm the artificial one, or drawn some sort of straps on the artifical limb running up her arm that were indicating that they were were preventing this issue.

Interesting point about the arm. I didn't even notice that it was mechanical until now.

Is it just me or is does the mechanical arm look weirdly twisted? It looks like the elbow is way too high and it is bending in a funny way that forces the wrist to twist strangely.

 

[Faolyn]

The artwork does look wonderful, my only question with it is a random thought that her metal arm must clearly be magically attached because otherwise that motion of pulling a bowstring would likely result in it deattaching from her arm. Even with metal bolts that specific movement puts a lot of pressure on the direct side of one's limb and would likely cause severe chafing or pain if the limb did not become dislodged. Especially with the repetitive nature of firing multiple arrows.

Like I fully support the representation and all, but I kind of wish they had either made her other arm the artificial one, or drawn some sort of straps on the artifical limb running up her arm that were indicating that they were were preventing this issue.

Maybe it's bolted into the humerus?

 

[Reynard]

You know, maybe it works better to start with the fantasy that is presented and fill in the gaps, rather than to complain that it doesn't match your old, staid, dare-I-say boring interpretation of what fantasy "should look like."

 

[Corinnguard]

Now I want to create a Ranger called Will Dobinson. And all players must call them "Ranger Will Dobinson".

I wish there was a 'groan' emoji among the emojis used in Post reply. "Ranger Will Dobinson" requires a WIS saving throw.