Dice mechanics
Contested rolls in Daggerheart
Opposed checks and ties.
Explanation
Daggerheart resolves contests through the GM framing: both characters roll 2d12 + trait; higher wins. Hope and Fear still trigger normally, the loser may spend Hope to soften consequences, and the winner's Fear die can still hand the GM a Fear point.
Examples
Example: direct contest
Use opposed rolls when two actors directly compete (chase, grapple, deception vs insight). Resolve it quickly and move on.
Example: avoid unnecessary contests
If the opposition is passive (a lock, a cliff), use a DV/DC instead of rolling twice.
Common mistakes
- Mistake: Using contests for everything. Fix: Use contests only for direct opposition; use DV/DC for passive obstacles.
- Mistake: Re-rolling until someone wins. Fix: One contest should change the situation enough to move the scene forward.