How to Create a Daggerheart Character: A Guide for Building Bold, Cinematic Heroes

Learn how to create a Daggerheart character step by step using the official SRD and Quest Portal’s no-code sheets. Build bold, cinematic heroes driven by Hope and Fear in this story-first fantasy TTRPG.

Creating a character in Daggerheart isn’t about stats. It’s about building a story. From the moment you sit down, you’re crafting a character’s journey: their struggles, values, and relationships. And with Daggerheart’s narrative-first design, those choices matter.

It’s easy to get started, even if you’re brand new to tabletop RPGs. But like the best systems, Daggerheart rewards players who dig deeper into their backstory, bonds, and motivation.

This guide walks you through the official 9-step character creation process from the Daggerheart SRD. It shows how to bring your character to life using Quest Portal’s no-code Character Sheets, plus tips to help you get the most from the system’s narrative potential.

Step-by-Step Character Creation in Daggerheart

Let’s break it down.

Step 1: Class and Subclass

Your Class defines your heroic role and mechanical core, whether you’re smiting foes, weaving illusions, or tracking beasts in the wild. Choose from nine classes: Bard, Druid, Guardian, Ranger, Rogue, Seraph, Sorcerer, Warrior, Wizard

Each Class includes:

• A unique class feature and Hope ability

• Class guide and Character Sheet

• Access to specific Domains (used in Step 8)

Then, pick one of two subclasses for that Class to specialize in your flavor and abilities. Each subclass has its own Foundation card with unique perks.

Example Builds:

• Want a divine healer who can also tank? Try a Seraph with the Valor and Splendor Domains.

• Want a silver-tongued trickster? A Rogue with the Grace and Midnight Domains might be your vibe.

Step 2: Heritage

Your Heritage is your Ancestry plus Community, which shapes your character’s identity and worldview.

• Ancestry (Elf, Orc, Faun, etc.): Grants 2 ancestry features

• Community (e.g., Wildborne, Slyborne, Orderborne): Grants 1 community feature

• You can also create a Mixed Ancestry using features from two ancestries

This combo gives flavor and mechanical hooks for how you interact with the world.

Example Builds:

• Want a sturdy forest warden? Try a Firbolg Wildborne Ranger

• Want a goblin raised in high society? A Goblin Highborne Sorcerer could be delightful chaos

Step 3: Traits

There are six core traits:

• Strength – brute force and physical prowess

• Agility – movement, and reflex

• Finesse – stealth, dexterity, fine control

• Instinct – intuition, awareness, natural insight

• Presence – charm, intimidation, performance

• Knowledge – logic, memory, and analysis

Assign modifiers using the spread: +2, +1, +1, 0, 0, -1. These impact how your character performs action roles and interacts with the world.

Let your concept guide your stats. Playing a musclebound druid? Give them +2 Strength instead of the usual +2 Instinct. Daggerheart rewards story-first thinking.

Example Builds:

• Playing a charming duelist? Give your Rogue +2 Finesse and +1 Presence.

• A scholarly Wizard might go with +2 Knowledge, +1 Instinct.

Step 4: Core Stats

Boring but necessary. Fill in the basics:

• Level: Start at 1

• Evasion: Found on your class sheet

• Hit Points (HP): Based on Class

• Stress: Everyone starts with 6 Stress slots

• Hope: Start with 2 Hope tokens

Example Builds:

• A Warrior with high Evasion can dodge and tank in close quarters

• A Bard with lots of Stress slots is ready for emotionally intense scenes

Step 5: Equipment

Time to suit up! Choose your weapons, armor, and starting gear:

• Weapons: Pick from Tier 1, one two-handed weapon or a primary + secondary one-handed set

• Armor: Choose Tier 1 and calculate Thresholds using your Level (1)

• Proficiency: Starts at 1; determines how many dice you roll for damage

• Starter Items: Torch, rope, gold, potion (healing or stamina), and class-specific gear

Example Builds:

• A Rogue might dual-wield daggers and wear light armor

• A Guardian could rock a warhammer and heavy plate armor

Step 6: Background

Here’s where the soul of your hero emerges. Use your Class guide's prompts or create your own story. It can be a single paragraph or open-ended, as long as it makes sense. Your Experiences (next step) should logically follow from it.

Example Builds:

• A Faerie Bard who once performed for royalty? Great setup for “Silver Tongue” or “The Show Must Go On.”

• A haunted ex-soldier might choose “Lone Wolf” and “Hold the Line”

Step 7: Experiences

This is one of Daggerheart’s most innovative features. Experiences are short phrases that reflect your character’s past, such as "Streetwise," "Reluctant Heir," "Nature’s Friend," or even "Fake It ‘Til You Make It." Think of them like personal story tags. They’re your secret weapons for flavoring the action and tying mechanics to roleplay.

• You start with two, each with a +2 modifier.

• Spend a Hope to apply an Experience to a role.

• Experiences don’t grant spells or features. They’re purely narrative tools.

• Each gives a +2 bonus when you spend Hope, and the tag applies

• Must align with your background (no “Supersonic Flight” unless that’s your story)

• It can be a profession (Bounty Hunter), a trait (Affable), or a phrase (Fake It Till You Make It)

Example Builds:

• A stealthy Slyborne Rogue might take “Sticky Fingers” and “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing”

• A Seraph raised in a noble temple could go with “High Priestess” and “Leader”

Step 8: Domain Cards

Domains are magical, thematic power sets that grant active and reactive abilities.

Your Class determines which two Domains you have access to. Choose two 1st-level Domain Cards from those domains—either two from one Domain or one from each.

You start with two 1st-level Domain cards and expand your deck as you level up. Unlike spell slots or rigid spell lists, you can swap Domain cards to suit your current narrative arc. Daggerheart did a great job of baking flexibility into their system.

Example Builds:

• A Sorcerer could take “Arcana” and “Spark” for control and chaos.

• A Bard might go with “Grace” and “Splendor” to beguile and inspire.

Step 9: Connections

This is where your party becomes a story. Your Connections are social ties with the rest of the group. Use your Class guide's prompts, go around the table, and create at least one link with each other PC (or leave some open for later play).

Example Builds:

• “You once saved me from my worst fear.”

• “I know your secret and I’ll keep it for now.”

Using Quest Portal Character Sheets

Creating a character in Quest Portal is easy, fast, and beautifully visual.

• No-code template: Select your Class, copy and paste your domain cards, and fill in traits and experiences.

• Built-in visuals: The layout emphasizes your character’s story—background, bonds, and connections are front and center.

• Connections field: Establish bonds with other PCs using optional “Connections” questions that help unify your party’s narrative.

• Fully customizable: Copy characters, tweak builds, and version new templates in seconds.

Tips for Players: Get the Most from Your Character

Here are a few suggestions to make your Daggerheart character shine:

• Build from the backstory forward: Let your experiences reflect your character’s past, even if it doesn’t affect combat directly.

• Use the sheet as a journal: Track fears, evolving relationships, story beats, and character growth.

• Don’t sweat optimization: Daggerheart rewards story arcs over min-maxing. A well-written Experience or low stat can be more powerful than a big bonus.

Next Steps with Daggerheart

• Add the Daggerheart SRD to your Quest Portal library for free

• Try the pre-built Daggerheart Quickstart adventure: Sablewood Messengers, on Quest Portal for free

• Read our blog Where to Buy Daggerheart (Physical, PDF, & Online Play)

FAQ: Creating a Character in Daggerheart

Q: Do I need the physical Daggerheart Core Set to build a character? Nope! Everything you need is available through the free Daggerheart SRD on Quest Portal. The no-code character sheet walks you through each step.

Q: Can I mix ancestries? Yes. Daggerheart supports mixed ancestry characters—just combine one feature from each ancestry and choose your community as normal.

Q: What if I want to change Domains or Experiences later? Daggerheart is flexible by design. As your character grows, you can swap Domain cards or update Experiences to reflect new story arcs (with GM approval, of course).

Q: Are certain Classes better for new players? Yes. Classes like Guardian and Seraph offer intuitive playstyles, while Rogue and Wizard have more moving parts. But all Classes are viable and narratively rich.

Q: How do I use Hope and Fear in character creation? You don’t assign stats to them; Hope and Fear shape your emotional tone. Choose a Hope and a Fear that reflect your character’s heart and inner conflict. These affect dice rolls and story beats throughout play.

Q: Can I build my character before Session Zero? You can start early, but leave room to connect with the rest of your party. Session Zero is a perfect time to refine connections and thematic alignment.