On the Hunt

First in the pack is The Chase, a shared procedure for pursuit. The quarry has a Lead from 0 to 5 that moves with every exchange, and zero means interception while five means escape. Any table can run it with none of these subclasses in the party.

THE HORNBEARER (ranger) runs the hunt with three calls. The View moves the whole party at once, the Bay makes leaving slow and expensive, and the Recheat brings everyone back. In a chase, the ranger sets the pace for whoever leads.

THE THIEF-TAKER (fighter) closes distance for money. Distance erased turns into Momentum, and the rule is written tight enough that backing up to charge gets you nothing, while an enemy who runs has only wound the spring. Between fights there's a Book of names to bring in breathing.

THE TRAPMASTER (rogue) walked the ground yesterday. Its snares only catch on ground it read in advance, and Caught is what turns on Sneak Attack. At 17th level every snare springs at once.

PATRON: THE OLD HUNT (warlock) was already running when the first fire was lit. It knows where the quarry is and what it's doing, and it offers three Terms for more, called No Turning, No Hiding, and No Quarter. Accept one and the warlock lives under it until they next sleep.

WHAT'S INSIDE

• 4 full subclasses built on the 2024 rules, with features at each class's own subclass levels.
• Balanced against the strongest published 2024 subclasses, and never stronger than them.
• The Chase, a one-page shared procedure for pursuit that's open to everyone at the table.
• Play notes for all four, and a d6 flavor table for each one.
• Conversion sidebars on every subclass for tables still playing the 2014 rules.
• A screen edition and a plain white print edition, both US Letter, plus the full text as plain text for VTT import.
• A bookmarked PDF that isn't locked.

Compatible with the 2024 rules for fifth edition. Includes material from the SRD 5.2 by Wizards of the Coast LLC under CC-BY-4.0. Full license statement in the PDF. Unaffiliated with Wizards of the Coast.

The rest of the Sleeper's Options line runs No. 1, Dream & Ruin, and No. 2, Lullaby & Larceny, then No. 3, Ruin & Remnant, No. 4, Keep the Vigil, and No. 5, Hearth & Home. No. 7 is The First Age.

We'll Pick Up Next Week, the free letter: sleepersartifice.substack.com