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Dice mechanics

Percentile (d100) checks in Daggerheart

Roll under skill mechanics and difficulty bands.

Explanation

Percentile checks resolve by rolling d100 and succeeding at/under a target value. This mechanic is most directly associated with Call of Cthulhu-style play loops.

At the table (quick loop)
  • Build your pool from the relevant traits.
  • Roll and count successes according to the system’s thresholds.
  • Apply consequences and record changes on the sheet.
Example: Treat every roll as a decision: success advances, failure changes the situation.
Examples
Example: skill target

If a system uses percentile checks, roll d100 and succeed at/under the target value.

Example: fail forward

If the clue matters, don't block progress on failure. Trade success for time, noise, or a new complication.

Common mistakes (smallest fix)
  • Mistake: Forgetting difficulty bands. Fix: Use Regular/Hard/Extreme (or your table’s bands) to express stakes quickly.
  • Mistake: Failure stops the investigation. Fix: Fail forward: you still get something, but pay a cost.
More dice mistakes

Daggerheart FAQ

How does the Hope and Fear system work in Daggerheart?
What are the classes in Daggerheart?
What are domain cards in Daggerheart?
How do traits work in Daggerheart?

Keep play fast

Use quick references, then jump back into the scene.