Combat Wheelchair

Accessibility & Inclusive Design

Equipment
By Mark Thompson

The combat wheelchair is a ruleset designed to help you play a wheelchair user in Daggerheart. This section provides mechanics and narrative guidance for you to work from, but feel free to adapt the flavor text to best suit your character. Have fun with your character's wheelchair design, and make it as unique or tailored to them as you please.

Action and Movement

Movement Descriptions

When describing how your character moves, you can use descriptions such as the following:

"I roll over to the door to see if it's open."

"I wheel myself over to the group to ask what's going on."

"I pull my brakes and skid to a halt, turning in my seat to level my bow at the intruder."

Consequences

Complication Examples

Here are some ways you might describe complications you encounter when your character uses their wheelchair:

"I pull my brakes, but I don't think to account for the loose gravel on the ground."

"I hit a patch of ice awkwardly and am sent skidding out past my target."

"I go to push off in pursuit, but one of my front caster wheels snags on a crack in the pavement, stalling me for a moment."

Important GM Guideline

GMs should avoid breaking a character's wheelchair or otherwise removing it from play as a consequence, unless everyone at the table, especially the wheelchair user's player, gives their approval.

Game Mechanics

Evasion

Your character is assumed to be skilled in moving their wheelchair and navigating numerous situations in it.

Only the Heavy Frame model gives a penalty to Evasion.

Burden

All wheelchairs can be maneuvered using one or two hands outside of combat.

When used as a weapon, burden depends on the model chosen.

Accessibility Adaptations

If you're playing a character who has limited to no mobility in their arms, their wheelchair can be attuned to them by magical means. For example, your character might use a psychic link to guide the chair around like a pseudo-electric wheelchair.

Design Philosophy: All the rules presented here can be tailored and adapted to any character's needs.

Choosing Your Model

All combat wheelchairs are equipped as Primary Weapons. There are three models of wheelchair available: light, heavy, and arcane. You're encouraged to consider the type of character you're playing and the class they belong to, then choose the model that best matches that character concept.

Light Frame Models

Though tough, these wheelchairs have light frames that allow the chair to move with your character in more acrobatic ways. These models are best suited to adventurers who rely on speed and flexibility.

Light-Frame Wheelchair

Tier 1 Agility d8 phy One-Handed

Quick: When you make an attack, you can mark a Stress to target another creature within range.

Improved Light-Frame Wheelchair

Tier 2 Agility d8+3 phy One-Handed

Quick: When you make an attack, you can mark a Stress to target another creature within range.

Advanced Light-Frame Wheelchair

Tier 3 Agility d8+6 phy One-Handed

Quick: When you make an attack, you can mark a Stress to target another creature within range.

Legendary Light-Frame Wheelchair

Tier 4 Agility d8+9 phy One-Handed

Quick: When you make an attack, you can mark a Stress to target another creature within range.

Heavy Frame Models

These wheelchairs have bulky and heavier frames, allowing the chair to lend its weight to your character's attacks. It also makes them a bigger target.

Note: Heavy Frame models provide enhanced damage but may affect mobility. See full Heavy Frame table for complete specifications.

Arcane Frame Models

Magically enhanced wheelchairs that provide unique spellcasting capabilities and magical features for characters with Spellcast traits.

Note: Arcane Frame models integrate magical abilities with mobility. See full Arcane Frame table for magical features and spellcasting bonuses.

Design Philosophy

Customization

  • Make the wheelchair as unique as your character
  • Adapt flavor text to suit your character concept
  • Consider magical or technological enhancements

Inclusivity

  • Rules can be adapted to any character's needs
  • Magical attunement for different mobility levels
  • Respectful representation and gameplay