Hardcore heroes: one life, no second chances

Hardcore mode in The Ember Depths: permadeath, a separate economy, Hard or harder only, no trading, hardcore-only parties, the Hall of the Fallen and boards.

Tick the Hardcore box when you forge a hero and the dice stop forgiving. Death is permanent. Your hero, their gear and their bag are lost forever.

The rules

Death is permanent: the hero, their equipped gear and the hardcore bag go into the grave.
Hardcore heroes keep their own gold, stash, materials, town, sellswords and pets.
Hard, Epic or Legendary only.
No trading, no gifts, and parties only with other hardcore heroes.

When a hardcore hero falls

Quillon reads a eulogy (always the same one for the same hero) and carves the stone: name, class, level, what killed them, where, and what was lost.
The Hall of the Fallen keeps every name. It opens from hero select and the funeral.
Going down is not dying: an ally's revive or a Scroll of Raising can still save you, but softcore co-op mercy doesn't apply. If nobody raises you in time, that's it.
An arena defeat is never a death: duels fight with a copy of the hero.
Closing the tab while your hero is dying doesn't save them. The page turns anyway.

Two realms

Hardcore heroes share their own gold, stash, town, sellswords, pets, quests and campaign progress, apart from your softcore heroes. Your first hardcore hero starts a fresh town with 50 gold. The town survives the death of any one hero. Achievements, unlocks and titles are yours, whichever realm earned them.

Worn with pride

An ember name, a skull sigil and an HC chip everywhere your name shows: chat, party frames, the player list, leaderboards.
Hardcore boards: highest level (living), deepest Endless Descent, fastest campaign, Hall of the Fallen.
Five hardcore deeds with titles, from One Life to Ember-Hearted (clear all 25 campaign dungeons with one hardcore hero).