Downtime¶
A party can choose to rest before they continue forward on their journey, and when they do, each PC has the chance to make two downtime moves. Though downtime is a chance to recover from the dangers they've faced, it's also an opportunity for characters to have important, emotional scenes with each other—to learn more about one another in the quiet moments and have character-centric conversations they might not have had time for during big battles or high-intensity exploits.
When the characters decide they want to have downtime, they choose between a short rest and a long rest. A party can take up to three short rests before their next rest must be a long rest. If a short rest is interrupted (such as by an adversary's attack), characters don't gain its benefits. If a long rest is interrupted, the characters instead gain the benefits of a short rest (even if they've already had three short rests).
Short Rest¶
A short rest is when the characters stop to catch their breath, taking a break for about an hour. Each player can swap any domain cards in their loadout for cards in their vault, then choose two of the following moves (or choose the same move twice). Some short rest downtime moves require you to use your reset to a value. This is covered in the upcoming "Tiers of Play" section.
Tend to Wounds: Describe how you hastily patch yourself up, then clear a number of Hit Points equal to 1d4 + your tier. You can do this to an ally instead.
Clear Stress: Describe how you blow off steam or pull yourself together, then clear a number of Stress equal to 1d4 + your tier.
Repair Armour: Describe how you quickly repair your armour, then clear a number of Armour Slots equal to 1d4 + your tier. You can do this to an ally's armour instead.
Prepare: Describe how you prepare yourself for the path ahead, then gain a Hope. If you choose to Prepare with one or more members of your party, you each gain 2 Hope.
Long Rest¶
A long rest is when the characters make camp, relax for a few hours, and get some rest. Each player can swap any domain cards in their loadout for cards in their vault, then can choose two of the following moves (or choose the same move twice).
Tend to All Wounds: Describe how you patch yourself up, then clear all Hit Points. You can do this to an ally instead.
Clear All Stress: Describe how you blow off steam or pull yourself together, then clear all Stress.
Repair All Armour: Describe how you spend time repairing your armour, then clear all Armour Slots. You can do this to an ally's armour instead.
Prepare: Describe how you prepare for the next day's adventure, then gain a Hope. If you choose to Prepare with one or more members of your party, you each gain 2 Hope.
Work on a Project: Establish or continue work on a project (see the following "Working on a Project in Downtime" section).
Working on a Project in Downtime¶
If a PC wants to pursue a project that would take them a substantial amount of time but that they can work on during a long rest, they should first discuss it with the GM. That could mean designing an ancient text, crafting a new weapon, or something similar. Projects usually involve a Progress Countdown (see the "Countdowns" section on page 162). Each time a PC takes the Work on a Project downtime move during a long rest, they either automatically tick down their countdown, or the GM might ask them to make an action roll to gauge their progress.
For more information on projects, see the "Using Downtime" section on page 181.
Downtime Consequences¶
Downtime allows for quiet scenes between characters, encouraging personal moments in the story—but the world doesn't stop when you rest! The GM also takes actions during downtime. On a short rest, they gain 1d4 Fear. On a long rest, they gain an amount of Fear equal to 1d4 + the number of PCs, and they can advance a long-term countdown.
Refreshing Features During Downtime¶
Resting can refresh the availability of your features and end some temporary effects.
- Any effects that last until your next rest end when your character finishes either a long or short rest. Likewise, any features that can be used a number of times per rest refresh when your character finishes a long or short rest.
- Any effects that last until your next long rest end when your character finishes a long rest. Likewise, any features that can be used a number of times per long rest only refresh when your character finishes a long rest.
Once Per Session Features¶
Some features say you can use them "once per session." These features don't refresh during rests, but instead are available again at the start of your next Daggerheart session. If your table decides to play a long session, the GM might decide that all "once per session" abilities are refreshed during a break in play instead.