THE HEARTBEAT ISSUE #1: GNOLLS

A Daggerheart Adversary Themed Zine

"Thought for centuries to be little more than rabid beasts, gnolls are humanoids that resemble hyenas. Recent revelations have discovered gnolls actually possess intelligence and complex social structures to match their fierce savagery. To the surface world, they appear as a nightmare of fur and teeth. Those who look closer find a society built on the Hierarchy of Hunger: a system where strength is the only currency and power is harvested from the marrow of the fallen."

This issue of The Heartbeat contains a complete ecosystem for Daggerheart that transforms one of fantasy’s most savage lineages into a sophisticated narrative threat.

Inside Issue #01, you will find:

1. New Ancestry: Take the role of a Gnoll who has rejected the Calling. Bring the strength of the pack to your party with unique features like Kinship and Thrill of the Kill.

1. Lore for Gnolls: A deep cultural history for the Gnolls, Naming tables for Gnolls and factions, and six GM hooks that move beyond the basics. Learn the secrets of the First Feast and the horrific Birth-Rite that fuels the horrifying Clans.

1. 16 Adversaries and 3 Environments: From the Gnoll Scout, to Gnoll Hulk, to the world-shaking Entity of Savagery. Designed as Tier 2 threats but fully scalable for all Tiers (1-4) using our Ettin Two-Headed Table System.

1. Ettin's Scaling System: Using our Two-Headed Scaling System and Benchmark Tables, every single adversary can be adjusted across all 4 Tiers using our special rules brought to life that were inspired by RightKnight’s Guide to Making Custom Adversaries.

1. Ettin's Innovations: We share our thoughts and mechanics to expand your table's experience. In this Issue, we discuss a Dungeon Crawling framework for Environments. Use the Gnoll Burrow to encompass your dungeon, layered with specialized event rooms like the Gnoll Brewery and the Calling of the Entity.

1. One-Shot Frame: A 3-4 hour Tier 2 adventure featuring the Path of Science or the Path of Violence for your Party to decide how they want to play. The One-Shot introduces your players to the Gnoll world ending with a terrifying multi-phase boss encounter.

1. Maps for VTT: 6 Maps included to use for VTTs as backdrops for the Gnoll Burrow, a Tribe or Pack's Den, or an Ambush site.

The Heartbeat is the definitive toolkit for GMs who want their adversaries to have a pulse. Don’t just run an encounter, give it a heartbeat.