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5e: HARDCORE MODE

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In a game’s maturity, the chase of character evolution has limits. After a few life cycles, players are looking closer, thinking deeper, and asking for more substance. Challenge becomes a word often heard at the table, and the GM feels a pressure that isn’t easy to satisfy. It’s time, then, to cook with fire. It’s time to go to HARDCORE MODE.

This D&D fifth edition rules mod from RUNEHAMMER and DRUNKENS & DRAGONS will push your game to the limits of simple, fast, deadly play. Keep your core books, and mind your feet. It's dangerous to go alone. 

Now also available in a super slim, backpack friendly hardback for your tabletop! The hardback also includes CASTLE OF MIRRORS.

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Reviews (25)
Discussions (37)
Customer avatar
Dale P January 01, 2024 2:23 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Been 2+ months and I haven't been sent my for the hardcover. At the stage where I'm going to be giving a one star if I don't get an update soon.
Customer avatar
Dylan H June 16, 2022 2:05 am UTC
This is not a 'plug and play' book. It is a collection of House Rules for D&D and it's not a particularly well put together list of House Rules either.
It randomly references D&D 3.5 mechanics even though it's designed for D&D 5e and aims to emulate AD&D or D&D Basic.
It completely throws any semblance of balance out of the window.
Weirdest of all, it adds rules making the game *easier* for players.
Customer avatar
User N October 20, 2021 4:01 am UTC
PURCHASER
I like it but the retcon candle is super out of place. 5E is already too much like an MMO.
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James C July 19, 2022 11:12 pm UTC
Your comment made me realize what it was about 5e that bugged me. I could not put my finger on it, but that is it. I haven't played RPGs/D&D since 3.0 came out, and honestly, the more rules or the more something becomes overpowered (like an MMO) the less I am enjoying it. Shoot, even my old stand-by of 2e is just so freaking rules heavy. IMO, strip it down, play it and make it gritty and dirty.
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Shane S September 01, 2022 8:24 am UTC
For a comparison - The reason DICE's Star Wars Battlefront game worked and the reason Rogue One (A Star Wars Story) was popular, was not because the characters were overpowered superheroes but instead because they were typical people trying to achieve a challenge an OP Character could cakewalk... It wasn't about representation of identity [Something modern comics get WRONG! "This character looks like you & look, they're invincible!"] but instead representation of our own mortality and "Humanity".
Customer avatar
Jon "The Basic Expert" T October 04, 2021 8:39 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Really great. I love the simplicity. This is how I think WotC should have done with a 5th edition but didn't.
Customer avatar
Darin H May 18, 2021 12:20 am UTC
PURCHASER
Purchased today and can't wait to use it! I do have a few questions that I don't see answered in the document or that I'm just a little confused on.

What XP path would the Artificer follow if implemented into this style of game?

Do half-casters also recieve spells at the same rate as full casters? I guess I should rephrase this, because as written they would: should they also recieve levels at the same rate as full casters?

If Expertise completely removed from the game?

Is the Memorization the frequency limit to spell casting? If so, it seems odd that paladins get the same as clerics while clerics get less than wizards, and warlocks getting the same as everyone is especially odd to me. Additionally, where would Artificers fall on this list?
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Chris W May 07, 2021 12:30 am UTC
PURCHASER
Just bought this and read it through, so excited to play with these rules in my next campaign. I hope I can ask a question here for clarification though: under spellcasting it isn't clear to me if the intention is that a wizard, for example, who is 3rd level can cast fireball as often as they wish? If there aren't spellslots thats what it would mean... right?
Customer avatar
Kristopher T March 18, 2021 12:29 am UTC
PURCHASER
So, question... in Hardcore when it comes to spellcasters and using Eldritch Blast as an example; Do you roll Int or Wis to cast, then your normal spell attack bonus for hit, then damage if successful? Or is it just the Int or Wis roll, then damage if successful? Since the group that I'm in includes a couple of Charisma-caster classes (Warlock and Sorcerer)
Customer avatar
TS W March 08, 2021 5:11 am UTC
PURCHASER
Is there a version w/o the unnecessary gray background? The file is too large to open on Google Drive & I assume it's that. My laptop doomcircles on this size PDF, so I can't read the purchase sadly.
Customer avatar
Robert R February 26, 2021 6:39 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Just and read. I think this will add a little more excitement and tension to my games and look forward to trying it.

I have a few questions, though.

Regarding the various class mechanics and archetypes. Do you still use them as writer in the PHB? Do most people house them case by case? Specifically wondering about warlock invocations, sorcerer metamagic and monk Ki points.

Still apply racial modifiers at creation?

Customer avatar
Nick W December 28, 2020 8:17 pm UTC
hi i wanted to ask if it was possible to gain a liscnece or something to help develop this into a game system for foundry. as i mostly use vtts to do my gm work. and foundry have a policy where if they dont have explicit permissions to use material due to copywrite that they cannot develop a game system without authors permission.
Customer avatar
Jonathan S October 04, 2020 5:08 am UTC
PURCHASER
I apologize if this was answered, but I don't see it below. The spells are increased by learning 3 new spells at their current level, so does that mean when they are level 1, they have 3, level 1 spells; at level 2 the learn 3 level 2 spells, etc. or do they know only cantrips at level 1; learn 3 level 1 spells at level 2; 3 level 2 spells at level 3; etc.? I ask because standard 5e does not have any level 10 spells.
Customer avatar
Alex D August 06, 2020 3:03 pm UTC
I noticed this is missing the OGL, which should be there since this is a third party 5e offshoot.
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Customer avatar
Travis P March 26, 2021 5:59 pm UTC
PURCHASER
The OGL is there. It's in micro-print on the first page.
Customer avatar
Erwan G July 23, 2020 10:18 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Can't download it, except the nice character sheet.
Customer avatar
Michael M July 11, 2020 12:09 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I will be using this for my next D&D campaign. Question about spell casting - a caster gets 3 spells of their level. Does this mean at level 9 they can pick up to 3 level 9 spells to add to their known spells? And what happens at level 10? OR they get 3 spells of the level they would normally get - so at level 5 they can pick 3, 3rd level spells?

Any reason for not allowing "3 spells of their level or lower"?

Thanks.
Customer avatar
Aaron A June 20, 2020 1:26 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I don't understand how monster creation works. What is the damage calculation for attacks supposed to be? And if they're under cr 1, what's should their HP be? 1HP?
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Customer avatar
Richard M July 18, 2020 11:45 pm UTC
PURCHASER
If s CR1 has 10HP then a CR 1/2 has 5HP. A CR 1/4 would have 2 or 3 HP. A CR 1/8 would be like a 4e minion, 1 HP. That's how I have handled it. This document and it's author intend the DM to make some rules decisions that best suite his/her game. Nothing is written in stone until you, the DM, says it is.
Customer avatar
Zenith C June 05, 2020 3:40 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Print on Demand? Any chance that is coming? :)
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This title was added to our catalog on February 11, 2020.