This skill should be used when creating Daggerheart adversaries, building stat blocks, designing encounters, or determining enemy difficulty. Invoke when the GM needs to create enemies, generate adversary stat blocks, calculate Battle Points for encounter balance, or reference adversary types (Bruiser, Horde, Leader, Minion, Ranged, Skulk, Social, Solo, Standard, Support).
This skill should be used when creating Daggerheart adversaries, building stat blocks, designing encounters, or determining enemy difficulty. Invoke when the GM needs to create enemies, generate adversary stat blocks, calculate Battle Points for encounter balance, or reference adversary types (Bruiser, Horde, Leader, Minion, Ranged, Skulk, Social, Solo, Standard, Support).
version
1.0.0
Daggerheart Adversary Creation Skill
Create adversaries and build balanced encounters using the Daggerheart SRD format. This skill provides stat block templates, encounter building formulas, and reference for all 10 adversary types.
Authoritative Source: For exact rule wording, use the dh-rules skill to reference srd/contents/Adversaries.md.
When to Use This Skill
This skill applies when:
Creating a new adversary or enemy for an encounter
Converting a narrative concept into a Daggerheart stat block
Building an encounter and calculating Battle Points
Damage: Dice expression based on Tier (see table above)
Damage Type: Physical or Magic
Step 5: Add Features
Add Features that reinforce the concept:
Standard Features (always available):
Action: Takes the adversary's action for the turn
Reaction: Triggered by specific events
Passive: Always active
Fear Features (cost Fear tokens):
More powerful than standard Features
GM spends 1+ Fear to activate
Create dramatic moments
Step 6: Assign Experience (Optional)
If the adversary has relevant expertise, add an Experience line:
Experience Name (e.g., Ambusher, Intimidation, Stealth)
To use: GM spends a Fear to add the Experience bonus to an attack roll OR increase the Difficulty of a roll made against the adversary
Step 7: Validate with Battle Points
Check that the adversary fits your encounter budget using the Battle Points formula (see references/encounter-building.md).
Using the Templates
Stat Block Template
Load references/stat-block-template.md for a complete template with inline comments explaining each field.
Example Stat Block
Load references/stat-block-example.md for a complete Tier 1 Standard adversary with detailed breakdown.
Encounter Building
Use the Battle Points formula for balanced encounters:
Battle Points = (3 x Number of PCs) + 2
Battle Point Costs
Battle Points
Adversary Type
1
Group of Minions equal to party size
1
Social or Support
2
Horde, Ranged, Skulk, or Standard
3
Leader
4
Bruiser
5
Solo
Encounter Adjustments
Adjustment
Condition
-1
Easier or shorter fight
-2
Using 2+ Solo adversaries
-2
Adding +1d4 (or +2) to all adversary damage
+1
Adversary from a lower tier
+1
No Bruisers, Hordes, Leaders, or Solos
+2
Harder or longer fight
Load references/encounter-building.md for detailed encounter building guidance.
Fear Feature Design
Fear Features should:
Cost 1-2 Fear tokens (rarely 3+)
Be significantly more powerful than standard Features
Create memorable dramatic moments
Force tactical decisions from players
Good Fear Features:
Interrupt player actions
Deal threshold-breaking damage
Create environmental hazards
Summon reinforcements
Impose conditions
Avoid:
Instant-kill effects
Removing player agency entirely
Effects with no counterplay
Recording Adversaries
After creating a stat block, add it to the adventure's world files for reference during play. Include:
Full stat block
Location where the adversary can be found
Role in the story
Disposition toward players
License
This work includes material from the Daggerheart System Reference Document by Darrington Press, used under the Darrington Press Community Gaming License (DPCGL). Daggerheart and all related marks are trademarks of Darrington Press LLC.
