Index: scribus/pageitem_textframe.cpp
===================================================================
--- scribus/pageitem_textframe.cpp	(revision 27816)
+++ scribus/pageitem_textframe.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -846,10 +846,10 @@
 		*/
 
 		int startItem = 0;
-		if (glyphs[startItem].hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap))
-		{
-			naturalWidth += glyphs[startItem].width();  // add the drop cap's own width first
-			startItem++;                                // then skip it in the loop below
+		while (startItem < glyphsCount && glyphs[startItem].hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap))
+		{
+			naturalWidth += glyphs[startItem].width();
+			++startItem;
 		}
 		// distribute whitespace on spaces and glyphs
 		for (int i = startItem; i < glyphsCount; ++i)
@@ -1240,6 +1240,12 @@
 	double desc=0, asce=0, realAsce=0, realDesc = 0, offset = 0;
 	double maxDY=0, maxDX=0;
 	double DropCapDrop = 0;
+	double DropCapChs = 0.0, DropCapChsd = 0.0;
+	double DropCapEffectWidth = 0.0;
+	double DropCapPrefixAscent = 0.0, DropCapPrefixDescent = 0.0;
+	double DropCapScale = 1.0;
+	double DropCapYOffset = 0.0;
+	bool   DropCapSizeSet = false, DropCapUseCommonScale = false;
 	int    DropLines = 0;
 	int    DropLinesCount = 0;
 
@@ -1415,6 +1421,7 @@
 				continue;
 
 			int a = current.glyphs[currentIndex].firstChar();
+			const bool sourceDropCap = current.glyphs[currentIndex].hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap);
 			bool HasObject = itemText.hasObject(a);
 			PageItem* currentObject = itemText.object(a).getPageItem(m_Doc);
 			QRectF currentObjectBox;
@@ -1449,6 +1456,48 @@
 				{
 					BulNumMode = true;
 				}
+			}
+
+			DropCmode = style.hasDropCap() && sourceDropCap;
+			bool DropCapLast = DropCmode;
+			if (DropCmode && (i + 1 < glyphClusters.count()))
+				DropCapLast = !glyphClusters[i + 1].hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap);
+
+			const bool firstDropCapCluster = DropCmode && itemText.isBlockStart(a)
+				&& (i == 0 || glyphClusters[i - 1].firstChar() != a);
+			if (firstDropCapCluster)
+			{
+				DropLines = style.dropCapLines();
+				DropCapSizeSet = false;
+				DropCapUseCommonScale = (style.dropCapChars() > 1);
+				DropCapYOffset = 0.0;
+				DropCapEffectWidth = 0.0;
+				DropCapPrefixAscent = DropCapPrefixDescent = 0.0;
+				int dropCapClusterCount = 0;
+				for (int j = i; j < glyphClusters.count() && glyphClusters[j].hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap); ++j)
+				{
+					const GlyphCluster& capCluster = glyphClusters[j];
+					++dropCapClusterCount;
+					DropCapEffectWidth += capCluster.width();
+
+					const CharStyle& capStyle = capCluster.style();
+					const ScFace& capFont = capStyle.font();
+					if (capCluster.glyphs().count() != 1 || capCluster.firstChar() != capCluster.lastChar())
+						DropCapUseCommonScale = true;
+					for (const GlyphLayout& gl : capCluster.glyphs())
+					{
+						if (qFuzzyIsNull(gl.xadvance))
+							DropCapUseCommonScale = true;
+
+						GlyphMetrics gm = capFont.glyphBBox(gl.glyph, capStyle.fontSize() / 10.0);
+						const double glyphAscent = gm.ascent * capCluster.scaleV() - gl.yoffset;
+						const double glyphDescent = gm.descent * capCluster.scaleV() + gl.yoffset;
+						DropCapPrefixAscent = qMax(DropCapPrefixAscent, qMax(0.0, glyphAscent));
+						DropCapPrefixDescent = qMax(DropCapPrefixDescent, qMax(0.0, glyphDescent));
+					}
+				}
+				if (dropCapClusterCount > 1)
+					DropCapUseCommonScale = true;
 			}
 
 			if (current.isEmpty)
@@ -1472,22 +1521,9 @@
 			style.setLineSpacing (calculateLineSpacing (style, this));
 			FlopBaseline = (current.startOfCol && firstLineOffset() == FLOPBaselineGrid);
 
-			// find out about par gap and dropcap
-			if (a == firstInFrame())
-			{
-				if (itemText.isBlockStart(a))
-				{
-					if (!itemText.isBlockStart(a + 1))
-					{
-						DropCmode = style.hasDropCap();
-						if (DropCmode)
-							DropLines = style.dropCapLines();
-					}
-					else
-						DropCmode = false;
-					current.lineData.isFirstLine = true;
-				}
-			}
+			// find out about paragraph gap and first-line state
+			if (a == firstInFrame() && itemText.isBlockStart(a))
+				current.lineData.isFirstLine = true;
 
 			const ScFace& font = charStyle.font();
 
@@ -1541,16 +1577,6 @@
 					if (!current.afterOverflow && current.recalculateY && !current.startOfCol)
 						current.yPos += style.gapBefore();
 					DropCapDrop = 0;
-					if (!itemText.isBlockStart(a + 1))
-						DropCmode = style.hasDropCap();
-					else
-						DropCmode = false;
-					if (DropCmode && !current.afterOverflow)
-					{
-						DropLines = style.dropCapLines();
-//						DropCapDrop = calculateLineSpacing (style, this) * (DropLines - 1);
-//						qDebug() << QString("dropcapdrop: y=%1+%2").arg(current.yPos).arg(DropCapDrop);
-					}
 					current.lineData.isFirstLine = true;
 				}
 			}
@@ -1574,8 +1600,33 @@
 					realCharAscent = font.ascent(style.charStyle().fontSize() / 10.0);
 				if (current.startOfCol && (m_firstLineOffset == FLOPFontAscent))
 					realCharAscent = font.ascent(hlcsize10);
-				chsd = ((DropCapDrop + realCharAscent) / realCharHeight) * style.charStyle().fontSize();
-				chs  = ((DropCapDrop + realCharAscent) / realCharAscent) * style.charStyle().fontSize();
+				if (DropCapUseCommonScale)
+				{
+					if (!DropCapSizeSet)
+					{
+						const double prefixHeight = DropCapPrefixAscent + DropCapPrefixDescent;
+						DropCapScale = (prefixHeight > 0.0) ? (DropCapDrop + DropCapPrefixAscent) / prefixHeight : 1.0;
+						DropCapSizeSet = true;
+					}
+					chsd = charStyle.fontSize() * DropCapScale;
+					chs = chsd;
+				}
+				else if (!DropCapSizeSet)
+				{
+					// Preserve the legacy single-character sizing exactly.
+					chsd = ((DropCapDrop + realCharAscent) / realCharHeight) * style.charStyle().fontSize();
+					chs  = ((DropCapDrop + realCharAscent) / realCharAscent) * style.charStyle().fontSize();
+					DropCapChsd = chsd;
+					DropCapChs = chs;
+					DropCapSizeSet = true;
+				}
+				else
+				{
+					chsd = DropCapChsd;
+					chs = DropCapChs;
+				}
+				if (firstDropCapCluster)
+					DropCapYOffset = (chsd / 10.0) * style.dropCapOffsetY() / 100.0;
 				current.glyphs[currentIndex].setFlag(ScLayout_DropCap);
 				if (HasObject)
 				{
@@ -1601,10 +1652,17 @@
 
 			if (!current.glyphs[currentIndex].hasFlag(ScLayout_StartOfLine))
 			{
-				double tracking = charStyle.fontSize() * charStyle.tracking() / 10000.0;
-				current.glyphs[currentIndex].xoffset += tracking;
-				if (current.glyphs[currentIndex].width() != 0)
-					current.glyphs[currentIndex].extraWidth += tracking;
+				// A zero-advance cluster inside a shaped drop-cap band is normally an
+				// attached mark. Tracking must not move it away from its HarfBuzz anchor.
+				const bool attachedDropCapCluster = DropCmode && DropCapUseCommonScale
+					&& qFuzzyIsNull(current.glyphs[currentIndex].width());
+				if (!attachedDropCapCluster)
+				{
+					double tracking = charStyle.fontSize() * charStyle.tracking() / 10000.0;
+					current.glyphs[currentIndex].xoffset += tracking;
+					if (current.glyphs[currentIndex].width() != 0)
+						current.glyphs[currentIndex].extraWidth += tracking;
+				}
 			}
 
 //			glyphs->yadvance = 0;
@@ -1641,6 +1699,26 @@
 					glyphCluster.setScaleV(realAsce / itemHeight);
 					glyphCluster.setScaleH(glyphCluster.scaleH() * glyphCluster.scaleV());
 					wide *= glyphCluster.scaleH();
+				}
+				else if (DropCapUseCommonScale)
+				{
+					// Preserve the HarfBuzz geometry of the complete shaped prefix. The
+					// advances define horizontal placement (including zero-advance marks),
+					// while GPOS offsets grow by the same factor as the glyph outlines.
+					for (GlyphLayout& gl : glyphCluster.glyphs())
+					{
+						gl.xoffset *= DropCapScale;
+						gl.yoffset *= DropCapScale;
+					}
+					glyphCluster.setScaleH(glyphCluster.scaleH() * DropCapScale);
+					glyphCluster.setScaleV(glyphCluster.scaleV() * DropCapScale);
+					wide = glyphCluster.width();
+					realAsce = (DropCapPrefixAscent + DropCapPrefixDescent) * DropCapScale;
+					asce = DropCapPrefixAscent;
+					if (current.startOfCol && (m_firstLineOffset == FLOPFontAscent))
+						asce = font.ascent(hlcsize10);
+					if (firstDropCapCluster)
+						glyphCluster.xoffset -= 0.5; // apply the legacy edge correction once per cap band
 				}
 				else
 				{
@@ -1827,13 +1905,16 @@
 					{
 						if (style.parEffectIndent())
 						{
-							double effectWidth = 0.0;
-							for (int j = i; shapedText.haveMoreText(j, glyphClusters); ++j)
+							double effectWidth = DropCmode ? DropCapEffectWidth : 0.0;
+							if (!DropCmode)
 							{
-								const auto & glyph = glyphClusters[j];
-								if (glyph.firstChar() != a)
-									break;
-								effectWidth += glyph.width();
+								for (int j = i; shapedText.haveMoreText(j, glyphClusters); ++j)
+								{
+									const auto & glyph = glyphClusters[j];
+									if (glyph.firstChar() != a)
+										break;
+									effectWidth += glyph.width();
+								}
 							}
 
 							if (style.direction() == ParagraphStyle::RTL)
@@ -2184,10 +2265,16 @@
 			if (DropCmode)
 			{
 				double yoffset = 0.0;
-				const QList<GlyphLayout>& glyphs = current.glyphs[currentIndex].glyphs();
-				for (const GlyphLayout& gl : glyphs)
-					yoffset = qMax(yoffset, font.glyphBBox(gl.glyph, chsd / 10.0).descent);
+				if (DropCapUseCommonScale)
+					yoffset = DropCapPrefixDescent * DropCapScale;
+				else
+				{
+					const QList<GlyphLayout>& glyphs = current.glyphs[currentIndex].glyphs();
+					for (const GlyphLayout& gl : glyphs)
+						yoffset = qMax(yoffset, font.glyphBBox(gl.glyph, chsd / 10.0).descent);
+				}
 				current.glyphs[currentIndex].yoffset -= yoffset;
+				current.glyphs[currentIndex].yoffset += DropCapYOffset;
 			}
 			// remember x pos
 			double breakPos = current.xPos;
@@ -2398,10 +2485,11 @@
 			}
 
 			// hyphenation
-			if ((current.glyphs[currentIndex].hasFlag(ScLayout_HyphenationPossible)
+			if (!(DropCmode && !DropCapLast)
+				&& (current.glyphs[currentIndex].hasFlag(ScLayout_HyphenationPossible)
 				  || itemText.text(a) == '-'
 				  || itemText.text(a) == SpecialChars::SHYPHEN)
-				 && (!outs) && ((i == 0) || !itemText.text(glyphClusters[i - 1].lastChar()).isSpace()) )
+				&& (!outs) && ((i == 0) || !itemText.text(glyphClusters[i - 1].lastChar()).isSpace()) )
 			{
 				breakPos = current.xPos;
 				if (itemText.text(a) != '-')
@@ -2449,68 +2537,94 @@
 			}
 			if ((DropCmode || BulNumMode) && !outs)
 			{
-				current.xPos += style.parEffectOffset();
-				// for bulleted lists, make sure offset is applied only after last bullet char
-				// for numbered lists, make sure that offset is applied only after the suffix
-				// loop over previous current.glyphs and set their extraWidth to 0.0
-				for (int j = 0; j < current.glyphs.size(); j++)
-				{
-					if (j != currentIndex)
-					{
-						GlyphCluster& currentGlyph = current.glyphs[j];
-						current.xPos -= currentGlyph.extraWidth;
-						currentGlyph.extraWidth = 0.0;
-					}
-				}
-				// set the offset for Drop Cap, Bullet & Number List
-				current.glyphs[currentIndex].extraWidth += style.parEffectOffset();
-				// RTL: the line is reversed at render time, so trailing extraWidth lands on
-				// the marker's OUTER (right) edge, not between the marker and the text. Shift
-				// the marker glyph to the right of its advance box so the reserved offset
-				// falls on the inner (left) side, next to the text. Drop caps and bullet /
-				// numbered-list markers share this offset mechanism.
-				if (style.direction() == ParagraphStyle::RTL && (DropCmode || BulNumMode))
-					current.glyphs[currentIndex].xoffset += style.parEffectOffset();
-
-				if (DropCmode)
+				const bool finalizeDropCap = DropCmode && DropCapLast;
+				const bool applyEffectOffset = BulNumMode || finalizeDropCap;
+				if (applyEffectOffset)
+				{
+					current.xPos += style.parEffectOffset();
+					// Bullet/number markers can span multiple clusters for one source
+					// character; retain their existing last-cluster offset behavior.
+					if (BulNumMode)
+					{
+						for (int j = 0; j < current.glyphs.size(); j++)
+						{
+							if (j != currentIndex)
+							{
+								GlyphCluster& currentGlyph = current.glyphs[j];
+								current.xPos -= currentGlyph.extraWidth;
+								currentGlyph.extraWidth = 0.0;
+							}
+						}
+					}
+
+					// A multi-character drop cap gets one offset, after its final cluster.
+					current.glyphs[currentIndex].extraWidth += style.parEffectOffset();
+					// RTL: the line is reversed at render time, so trailing extraWidth lands on
+					// the marker's OUTER (right) edge, not between the marker and the text. Shift
+					// the marker glyph to the right of its advance box so the reserved offset
+					// falls on the inner (left) side, next to the text.
+					if (style.direction() == ParagraphStyle::RTL)
+						current.glyphs[currentIndex].xoffset += style.parEffectOffset();
+				}
+
+				if (finalizeDropCap)
 				{
 					DropCmode = false;
 					DropLinesCount = 0;
 					maxDY = current.yPos;
 					current.hasDropCap = true;
 					maxDX = current.xPos;
-					// Follow-line reserve must be the cap's own band, not maxDX
-					// (maxDX = colLeft + leftIndent + capWidth, so it over-reserves
-					// by leftIndent). width() here already includes parEffectOffset.
-					current.dropCapWidth = current.glyphs[currentIndex].width();
-					// Strong-LTR char (e.g. English letter) keeps LTR placement even
-					// in an RTL paragraph. Weak types (Arabic-Indic digits) and
-					// strong-RTL chars (Arabic letters) follow the paragraph's RTL side.
-					current.dropCapIsLTR = (itemText.text(a).direction() == QChar::DirL);
+
+					int firstDropIndex = currentIndex;
+					for (int j = 0; j <= currentIndex; ++j)
+					{
+						if (current.glyphs[j].hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap))
+						{
+							firstDropIndex = j;
+							break;
+						}
+					}
+
+					// Strong-LTR first character keeps LTR placement even in an RTL paragraph.
+					// Weak types and strong-RTL characters follow the paragraph's RTL side.
+					current.dropCapIsLTR = (itemText.text(current.glyphs[firstDropIndex].firstChar()).direction() == QChar::DirL);
 					if (style.direction() == ParagraphStyle::RTL)
 					{
-						GlyphCluster& cap = current.glyphs[currentIndex];
-						double sizePt = charStyle.fontSize() / 10.0;
+						// The first logical cluster forms the outer edge of the RTL cap block.
+						// Extend its box for ink overhang exactly as for the legacy one-char cap.
+						GlyphCluster& cap = current.glyphs[firstDropIndex];
+						const CharStyle& capStyle = itemText.charStyle(cap.firstChar());
+						const ScFace& capFont = capStyle.font();
+						double sizePt = capStyle.fontSize() / 10.0;
 						double pen = 0.0, inkRight = 0.0, inkLeft = 0.0;
 						for (const GlyphLayout& g : cap.glyphs())
 						{
-							double xMax = font.glyphBBox(g.glyph, sizePt).width;          // ink right edge (base pt)
-							QRectF ob = font.glyphOutline(g.glyph, sizePt).boundingRect();
-							double s  = (ob.right() != 0.0) ? xMax / ob.right() : 0.0;     // outline units -> base pt
-							double xMin = ob.left() * s;                                  // ink left edge (base pt)
+							double xMax = capFont.glyphBBox(g.glyph, sizePt).width;
+							QRectF ob = capFont.glyphOutline(g.glyph, sizePt).boundingRect();
+							double outlineScale = (ob.right() != 0.0) ? xMax / ob.right() : 0.0;
+							double xMin = ob.left() * outlineScale;
 							inkRight = qMax(inkRight, pen + xMax);
-							inkLeft  = qMin(inkLeft,  pen + xMin);   // <0 only if ink bleeds left of origin
+							inkLeft = qMin(inkLeft, pen + xMin);
 							pen += g.xadvance;
 						}
-						double overhang  = qMax(0.0, (inkRight - pen)) * cap.scaleH();    // ink past advance, right
-						double leftBleed = qMax(0.0, -inkLeft)        * cap.scaleH();     // ink left of origin (Naskh bowl)
+						double overhang = qMax(0.0, inkRight - pen) * cap.scaleH();
+						double leftBleed = qMax(0.0, -inkLeft) * cap.scaleH();
 						if (overhang > 0.0 || leftBleed > 0.0)
 						{
-							cap.extraWidth       += overhang + leftBleed; // box = full ink WIDTH (xMax - xMin)
-							cap.xoffset          += leftBleed;            // shift right so ink right edge stays at colRight
-							current.dropCapWidth += overhang + leftBleed; // follow-line reserve matches
+							cap.extraWidth += overhang + leftBleed;
+							cap.xoffset += leftBleed;
 						}
 					}
+
+					// Reserve the complete multi-character cap band (including its one offset)
+					// for following lines.
+					current.dropCapWidth = 0.0;
+					for (int j = firstDropIndex; j <= currentIndex; ++j)
+					{
+						if (current.glyphs[j].hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap))
+							current.dropCapWidth += current.glyphs[j].width();
+					}
+
 					double spacing = calculateLineSpacing (style, this);
 					current.yPos -= spacing * (DropLines - 1);
 					if (style.lineSpacingMode() == ParagraphStyle::BaselineGridLineSpacing)
@@ -2605,7 +2719,7 @@
 					// for now, such chars is only spaces but may change in the future
 					// e.g. https://www.w3.org/TR/css-text-3/#hanging
 					QChar ch = itemText.text(a);
-					if (ch.isSpace() && SpecialChars::isBreakingSpace(ch))
+					if (!(DropCmode && !DropCapLast) && ch.isSpace() && SpecialChars::isBreakingSpace(ch))
 						current.rememberBreak(i, breakPos, style.rightMargin());
 
 					if (current.breakIndex >= 0)
@@ -2754,9 +2868,10 @@
 					{
 						if (current.glyphs[0].hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap))
 						{
-							// put line back to top
+							// Put the line back to the top and shift the complete cap prefix.
 							current.lineData.y -= DropCapDrop;
-							current.glyphs[0].yoffset += DropCapDrop;
+							for (int j = 0; j < current.glyphs.count() && current.glyphs[j].hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap); ++j)
+								current.glyphs[j].yoffset += DropCapDrop;
 						}
 						current.fillInTabLeaders();
 						//if right margin is set we temporally save line, not append it
@@ -2882,7 +2997,7 @@
 				if (shapedText.haveMoreText(i + 1, glyphClusters))
 				{
 					const GlyphCluster& nextCluster = glyphClusters[i + 1];
-					if (nextCluster.hasFlag(ScLayout_LineBoundary))
+					if (nextCluster.hasFlag(ScLayout_LineBoundary) && !nextCluster.hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap))
 					{
 						// #16100: why preventing possible line break when there are two
 						// consecutive line break opportunities? This is bad for CJK. /
@@ -2895,7 +3010,7 @@
 						}
 					}
 				}
-				if (HasObject)
+				if (HasObject && !(DropCmode && !DropCapLast))
 				{
 //					qDebug() << "rememberBreak object @" << i;
 					current.rememberBreak(i, breakPos, style.rightMargin());
@@ -3018,9 +3133,10 @@
 			}
 			if (current.glyphs[0].hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap))
 			{
-				// put line back to top
+				// Put the line back to the top and shift the complete cap prefix.
 				current.lineData.y -= DropCapDrop;
-				current.glyphs[0].yoffset += DropCapDrop;
+				for (int j = 0; j < current.glyphs.count() && current.glyphs[j].hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap); ++j)
+					current.glyphs[j].yoffset += DropCapDrop;
 			}
 			current.fillInTabLeaders();
 			current.startOfCol = false;
Index: scribus/plugins/fileloader/scribus171format/scribus171format.cpp
===================================================================
--- scribus/plugins/fileloader/scribus171format/scribus171format.cpp	(revision 27816)
+++ scribus/plugins/fileloader/scribus171format/scribus171format.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -2520,6 +2520,8 @@
 			pstyle.resetGapAfter();
 		if (pstyle.dropCapLines() < 0)
 			pstyle.resetDropCapLines();
+		if (pstyle.dropCapChars() < 1)
+			pstyle.resetDropCapChars();
 		if (pstyle.parEffectOffset() <= NOVALUE)
 			pstyle.resetParEffectOffset();
 		fixLegacyCharStyle(pstyle.charStyle());
@@ -3654,6 +3656,10 @@
 		newStyle.setDropCapLines(attrs.valueAsInt("DROPLIN"));
 	else if (attrs.hasAttribute("DropCapLines"))
 		newStyle.setDropCapLines(attrs.valueAsInt("DropCapLines"));
+	if (attrs.hasAttribute("DropCapChars"))
+		newStyle.setDropCapChars(qMax(1, attrs.valueAsInt("DropCapChars")));
+	if (attrs.hasAttribute("DropCapOffsetY"))
+		newStyle.setDropCapOffsetY(attrs.valueAsDouble("DropCapOffsetY"));
 
 	// static const QString DROPDIST("DROPDIST");
 	// if (attrs.hasAttribute(DROPDIST))
@@ -6697,6 +6703,10 @@
 	else
 		if (attrs.hasAttribute("DropCapLines"))
 			pstyle.setDropCapLines(attrs.valueAsInt("DropCapLines"));
+	if (attrs.hasAttribute("DropCapChars"))
+		pstyle.setDropCapChars(qMax(1, attrs.valueAsInt("DropCapChars")));
+	if (attrs.hasAttribute("DropCapOffsetY"))
+		pstyle.setDropCapOffsetY(attrs.valueAsDouble("DropCapOffsetY"));
 	//Remove uppercase in 1.8
 	if (attrs.hasAttribute("DROPDIST"))
 		pstyle.setParEffectOffset(attrs.valueAsDouble("DROPDIST"));
Index: scribus/plugins/fileloader/scribus171format/scribus171format_save.cpp
===================================================================
--- scribus/plugins/fileloader/scribus171format/scribus171format_save.cpp	(revision 27816)
+++ scribus/plugins/fileloader/scribus171format/scribus171format_save.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -852,6 +852,10 @@
 		docu.writeAttribute("HasDropCap", static_cast<int>(style.hasDropCap()));
 	if (!style.isInhDropCapLines())
 		docu.writeAttribute("DropCapLines", style.dropCapLines());
+	if (!style.isInhDropCapChars())
+		docu.writeAttribute("DropCapChars", style.dropCapChars());
+	if (!style.isInhDropCapOffsetY())
+		docu.writeAttribute("DropCapOffsetY", style.dropCapOffsetY());
 	if (!style.isInhHasBullet())
 		docu.writeAttribute("Bullet", static_cast<int>(style.hasBullet()));
 	if (!style.isInhBulletStr())
Index: scribus/styles/paragraphstyle.attrdefs.cxx
===================================================================
--- scribus/styles/paragraphstyle.attrdefs.cxx	(revision 27816)
+++ scribus/styles/paragraphstyle.attrdefs.cxx	(working copy)
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@
 ATTRDEF(bool, keepTogether, KeepTogether, false)
 ATTRDEF(bool, hasDropCap, HasDropCap, false)
 ATTRDEF(int, dropCapLines, DropCapLines, 2)
+ATTRDEF(int, dropCapChars, DropCapChars, 1)
+ATTRDEF(double, dropCapOffsetY, DropCapOffsetY, 0.0)
 ATTRDEF(double, parEffectOffset, ParEffectOffset, 0.0)
 ATTRDEF(bool, parEffectIndent, ParEffectIndent, false)
 ATTRDEF(QString, peCharStyleName, PeCharStyleName,"")
Index: scribus/text/boxes.h
===================================================================
--- scribus/text/boxes.h	(revision 27816)
+++ scribus/text/boxes.h	(working copy)
@@ -215,6 +215,8 @@
 	void removeBox(int i) override;
 
 protected:
+	QRectF dropCapBounds() const;
+	int dropCapPointToPosition(const QPointF& coord, const StoryText& story) const;
 	virtual void drawBackGround(TextLayoutPainter *p) const;
 	virtual void update();
 };
@@ -253,7 +255,9 @@
 	void render(TextLayoutPainter *p) const override;
 	void render(ScreenPainter *p, ITextContext *ctx) const override;
 	void drawSelection(ScreenPainter *p, ITextContext *ctx) const override;
-
+	void drawSelection(ScreenPainter *p, ITextContext *ctx, double top, double bottom) const;
+
+	QRectF visualBounds() const;
 	GlyphCluster glyphRun() const { return m_glyphRun; }
 
 	const CharStyle& style() const { return m_glyphRun.style(); }
Index: scribus/text/boxes.cpp
===================================================================
--- scribus/text/boxes.cpp	(revision 27816)
+++ scribus/text/boxes.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
  */
 
 #include <cmath>
+#include <limits>
 #include <unicode/brkiter.h>
 
 #include "pageitem.h"
@@ -155,7 +156,11 @@
 
 int LineBox::pointToPosition(const QPointF& coord, const StoryText &story) const
 {
-	int position = GroupBox::pointToPosition(coord, story);
+	int position = dropCapPointToPosition(coord, story);
+	if (position >= 0)
+		return position;
+
+	position = GroupBox::pointToPosition(coord, story);
 	if (position < 0 && containsPoint(coord))
 	{
 		const ParagraphStyle& style = story.paragraphStyle(firstChar());
@@ -193,16 +198,98 @@
 		if (box->containsPos(pos))
 		{
 			double xPos = x() + box->positionToPoint(pos, story).x1();
-			result = QLineF(xPos, y(), xPos, y() + height());
+			const GlyphBox* glyphBox = dynamic_cast<const GlyphBox*>(box);
+			if (glyphBox && glyphBox->glyphRun().hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap))
+			{
+				const QRectF capRect = dropCapBounds();
+				if (!capRect.isEmpty())
+					result = QLineF(xPos, capRect.top(), xPos, capRect.bottom());
+				else
+					result = QLineF(xPos, y(), xPos, y() + height());
+			}
+			else
+				result = QLineF(xPos, y(), xPos, y() + height());
 			break;
 		}
 	}
 	return result;
 }
 
+QRectF LineBox::dropCapBounds() const
+{
+	QRectF bounds;
+	bool haveBounds = false;
+	for (const Box* box : boxes())
+	{
+		const GlyphBox* glyphBox = dynamic_cast<const GlyphBox*>(box);
+		if (!glyphBox || !glyphBox->glyphRun().hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap))
+			continue;
+
+		QRectF glyphBounds = glyphBox->visualBounds();
+		if (glyphBounds.isEmpty())
+			continue;
+		glyphBounds.translate(x(), y() + ascent());
+		if (!haveBounds)
+		{
+			bounds = glyphBounds;
+			haveBounds = true;
+		}
+		else
+			bounds = bounds.united(glyphBounds);
+	}
+	return bounds;
+}
+
+int LineBox::dropCapPointToPosition(const QPointF& coord, const StoryText& story) const
+{
+	const QRectF capRect = dropCapBounds();
+	if (capRect.isEmpty() || !capRect.contains(coord))
+		return -1;
+
+	int capFirst = INT_MAX;
+	int capLast = INT_MIN;
+	for (const Box* box : boxes())
+	{
+		const GlyphBox* glyphBox = dynamic_cast<const GlyphBox*>(box);
+		if (!glyphBox || !glyphBox->glyphRun().hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap))
+			continue;
+		capFirst = qMin(capFirst, glyphBox->firstChar());
+		capLast = qMax(capLast, glyphBox->lastChar());
+	}
+	if (capFirst == INT_MAX || capLast < capFirst)
+		return -1;
+
+	int bestPosition = -1;
+	double bestDistance = std::numeric_limits<double>::max();
+	auto considerPosition = [&](int pos)
+	{
+		const QLineF caret = positionToPoint(pos, story);
+		if (caret.isNull())
+			return;
+		const double distance = qAbs(coord.x() - caret.x1());
+		if (distance < bestDistance)
+		{
+			bestDistance = distance;
+			bestPosition = pos;
+		}
+	};
+
+	considerPosition(capFirst);
+	BreakIterator* it = StoryText::getGraphemeIterator();
+	QString text(story.text(capFirst, capLast - capFirst + 1));
+	UnicodeString unicodeStr((const UChar*) text.utf16());
+	it->setText(unicodeStr);
+	for (int boundary = it->first(); (boundary = it->next()) != BreakIterator::DONE;)
+		considerPosition(capFirst + boundary);
+
+	return bestPosition;
+}
+
 bool LineBox::containsPoint(const QPointF& coord) const
 {
-	return QRectF(0, m_y, m_width, height()).contains(coord);
+	if (QRectF(0, m_y, m_width, height()).contains(coord))
+		return true;
+	return dropCapBounds().contains(coord);
 }
 
 void LineBox::render(TextLayoutPainter *p) const
@@ -240,8 +327,17 @@
 {
 	p->save();
 	p->translate(0, ascent());
+	const QRectF capRect = dropCapBounds();
+	const double capTop = capRect.top() - y() - ascent();
+	const double capBottom = capRect.bottom() - y() - ascent();
 	for (const Box *box : boxes())
-		box->drawSelection(p, ctx);
+	{
+		const GlyphBox* glyphBox = dynamic_cast<const GlyphBox*>(box);
+		if (glyphBox && glyphBox->glyphRun().hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap) && !capRect.isEmpty())
+			glyphBox->drawSelection(p, ctx, capTop, capBottom);
+		else
+			box->drawSelection(p, ctx);
+	}
 	p->restore();
 }
 
@@ -423,8 +519,13 @@
 		*/
 
 	int startItem = 0;
-	if (dynamic_cast<GlyphBox*>(m_boxes[startItem])->glyphs.hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap))
-		startItem++;
+	while (startItem < m_boxes.count())
+	{
+		GlyphBox* box = dynamic_cast<GlyphBox*>(m_boxes[startItem]);
+		if (!box || !box->glyphs.hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap))
+			break;
+		++startItem;
+	}
 
 	// distribute whitespace on spaces and glyphs
 	for (int i = startItem; i < m_boxes.count(); ++i)
@@ -524,10 +625,11 @@
 			p->setSelected(true);
 			qreal firstX = positionToPoint(selectionFirst, item->itemText).x1();
 			qreal lastX = positionToPoint(selectionLast + 1, item->itemText).x1();
+			QRectF visualRect = m_glyphRun.hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap) ? visualBounds() : QRectF(x(), y(), width(), height());
 			if (m_glyphRun.hasFlag(ScLayout_RightToLeft))
-				p->clip(QRectF(lastX, y(), firstX - lastX, height()));
-			else
-				p->clip(QRectF(firstX, y(), lastX - firstX, height()));
+				p->clip(QRectF(lastX, visualRect.top(), firstX - lastX, visualRect.height()));
+			else
+				p->clip(QRectF(firstX, visualRect.top(), lastX - firstX, visualRect.height()));
 			render(p);
 			p->restoreState();
 		}
@@ -540,6 +642,11 @@
 }
 
 void GlyphBox::drawSelection(ScreenPainter *p, ITextContext *ctx) const
+{
+	drawSelection(p, ctx, -ascent(), -descent());
+}
+
+void GlyphBox::drawSelection(ScreenPainter *p, ITextContext *ctx, double top, double bottom) const
 {
 	const PageItem* item = ctx->getFrame();
 	bool s = p->selected();
@@ -558,7 +665,10 @@
 		}
 	}
 
-	QRectF rect(x(), -ascent(), width(), height());
+	QRectF visualRect = m_glyphRun.hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap) ? visualBounds() : QRectF(x(), top, width(), bottom - top);
+	const double left = qMin(x(), visualRect.left());
+	const double right = qMax(x() + width(), visualRect.right());
+	QRectF rect(left, top, right - left, bottom - top);
 	p->setSelected(true);
 	p->setStrokeWidth(0);
 
@@ -574,15 +684,58 @@
 			qreal firstX = positionToPoint(selectionFirst, item->itemText).x1();
 			qreal lastX = positionToPoint(selectionLast + 1, item->itemText).x1();
 			if (m_glyphRun.hasFlag(ScLayout_RightToLeft))
-				rect = QRectF(lastX, -ascent(), firstX - lastX, height());
-			else
-				rect = QRectF(firstX, -ascent(), lastX - firstX, height());
-			p->drawRect(rect);
+				rect = QRectF(lastX, top, firstX - lastX, bottom - top);
+			else
+				rect = QRectF(firstX, top, lastX - firstX, bottom - top);
+			p->drawRect(rect.normalized());
 		}
 	}
 
 	p->setSelected(s);
 	p->setStrokeWidth(sw);
+}
+
+QRectF GlyphBox::visualBounds() const
+{
+	if (!m_glyphRun.hasFlag(ScLayout_DropCap))
+		return QRectF(x(), -ascent(), width(), height());
+
+	const CharStyle& charStyle = style();
+	const ScFace& font = charStyle.font();
+	const double fontSize = charStyle.fontSize() / 10.0;
+	const double scaleH = m_glyphRun.scaleH();
+	const double scaleV = m_glyphRun.scaleV();
+	const double styleYOffset = -fontSize * (charStyle.baselineOffset() / 1000.0);
+	double advance = 0.0;
+	QRectF bounds;
+	bool haveBounds = false;
+
+	for (const GlyphLayout& gl : m_glyphRun.glyphs())
+	{
+		const GlyphMetrics gm = font.glyphBBox(gl.glyph, fontSize);
+		const double glyphX = x() + m_glyphRun.xoffset + advance * scaleH + gl.xoffset;
+		const double glyphY = y() + m_glyphRun.yoffset + styleYOffset + gl.yoffset;
+		QRectF glyphRect(glyphX, glyphY - gm.ascent * scaleV,
+			gm.width * scaleH, (gm.ascent + gm.descent) * scaleV);
+		glyphRect = glyphRect.normalized();
+		if (!haveBounds)
+		{
+			bounds = glyphRect;
+			haveBounds = true;
+		}
+		else
+			bounds = bounds.united(glyphRect);
+		advance += gl.xadvance;
+	}
+
+	if (!haveBounds)
+		return QRectF(x(), -ascent(), width(), height());
+
+	// Include the cluster's logical advance so the interactive region remains
+	// continuous even when a mark has ink but zero advance (or vice versa).
+	bounds.setLeft(qMin(bounds.left(), qMin(x(), x() + width())));
+	bounds.setRight(qMax(bounds.right(), qMax(x(), x() + width())));
+	return bounds.normalized();
 }
 
 void GlyphBox::render(TextLayoutPainter *p) const
Index: scribus/text/textshaper.cpp
===================================================================
--- scribus/text/textshaper.cpp	(revision 27816)
+++ scribus/text/textshaper.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -19,6 +19,54 @@
 
 using namespace icu;
 
+namespace
+{
+
+int paragraphEffectLength(const ITextSource& story, int start, int graphemeCount)
+{
+	if (graphemeCount <= 0 || start < 0 || start >= story.length())
+		return 0;
+
+	const QChar firstChar = story.text(start);
+	if (firstChar == SpecialChars::PARSEP)
+		return 0;
+	if (SpecialChars::isBreak(firstChar, true))
+		return 0;
+
+	int end = start;
+	while (end < story.length() && !SpecialChars::isBreak(story.text(end), true))
+		++end;
+	if (end <= start)
+		return 0;
+
+	const QString text = story.text(start, end - start);
+	BreakIterator* charIt = StoryText::getGraphemeIterator();
+	if (!charIt)
+	{
+		int length = qMin(graphemeCount, text.length());
+		if (length > 0 && length < text.length() && text.at(length - 1).isHighSurrogate() && text.at(length).isLowSurrogate())
+			++length;
+		return length;
+	}
+
+	icu::UnicodeString unicodeStr(true, (const UChar*) text.utf16(), text.length());
+	charIt->setText(unicodeStr);
+	int32_t boundary = charIt->first();
+	for (int count = 0; count < graphemeCount; ++count)
+	{
+		const int32_t next = charIt->next();
+		if (next == BreakIterator::DONE)
+		{
+			boundary = text.length();
+			break;
+		}
+		boundary = next;
+	}
+	return qMax(1, static_cast<int>(boundary));
+}
+
+}
+
 TextShaper::TextShaper(ITextContext* context, ITextSource &story, int firstChar, bool singlePar)
 	: m_context(context),
 	m_story(story),
@@ -205,33 +253,55 @@
 		
 		str.replace(SpecialChars::SHYPHEN, SpecialChars::ZWNJ);
 
-		//set style for paragraph effects
+		// Set the character style for paragraph effects. Drop caps may cover a
+		// grapheme-safe prefix; ScLayout_DropCap marks only the automatic range so
+		// a later count/style change can clean up characters that leave the prefix.
 		if (m_story.isBlockStart(i) && (m_context != nullptr) && (m_context->getDoc() != nullptr))
 		{
 			const ScribusDoc* doc = m_context->getDoc();
 			const ParagraphStyle& style = m_story.paragraphStyle(i);
+			const QString& curParent(style.hasParent() ? style.parent() : style.name());
+			const QString baseParent = doc->paragraphStyle(curParent).charStyle().name();
+			const int dropCapLength = style.hasDropCap() ? paragraphEffectLength(m_story, i, style.dropCapChars()) : 0;
+
+			// Remove automatically applied drop-cap styling outside the new prefix.
+			for (int pos = i + dropCapLength; pos < m_story.length() && m_story.hasFlag(pos, ScLayout_DropCap); ++pos)
+			{
+				CharStyle charStyle = m_story.charStyle(pos);
+				const QString oldParent = charStyle.parent();
+				if (oldParent != baseParent && doc->charStyles().contains(oldParent))
+					charStyle.eraseCharStyle(doc->charStyle(oldParent));
+				charStyle.setParent(baseParent);
+				m_story.setCharStyle(pos, 1, charStyle);
+				m_story.clearFlag(pos, ScLayout_DropCap);
+			}
+
 			if (style.hasDropCap() || style.hasBullet() || style.hasNum())
 			{
-				CharStyle charStyle = (m_story.text(i) != SpecialChars::PARSEP) ? m_story.charStyle(i) : style.charStyle();
-				const QString& curParent(style.hasParent() ? style.parent() : style.name());
-				CharStyle newStyle(charStyle);
-				if (style.peCharStyleName().isEmpty())
-					newStyle.setParent(doc->paragraphStyle(curParent).charStyle().name());
-				else if (charStyle.name() != style.peCharStyleName())
-					newStyle.setParent(doc->charStyle(style.peCharStyleName()).name());
-				charStyle.setStyle(newStyle);
-				m_story.setCharStyle(i, 1, charStyle);
+				const int effectLength = style.hasDropCap() ? dropCapLength : 1;
+				for (int pos = i; pos < i + effectLength && pos < m_story.length(); ++pos)
+				{
+					CharStyle charStyle = (m_story.text(pos) != SpecialChars::PARSEP) ? m_story.charStyle(pos) : style.charStyle();
+					CharStyle newStyle(charStyle);
+					if (style.peCharStyleName().isEmpty())
+						newStyle.setParent(baseParent);
+					else if (charStyle.name() != style.peCharStyleName())
+						newStyle.setParent(doc->charStyle(style.peCharStyleName()).name());
+					charStyle.setStyle(newStyle);
+					m_story.setCharStyle(pos, 1, charStyle);
+					if (style.hasDropCap())
+						m_story.setFlag(pos, ScLayout_DropCap);
+				}
 			}
 			else if (!style.peCharStyleName().isEmpty())
 			{
-				//par effect is cleared but is set dcCharStyleName = clear drop cap char style
+				// Paragraph effect is cleared but its character style is still selected.
 				CharStyle charStyle = (m_story.text(i) != SpecialChars::PARSEP) ? m_story.charStyle(i) : style.charStyle();
 				if (charStyle.parent() == style.peCharStyleName())
 				{
-					const QString& curParent(style.hasParent() ? style.parent() : style.name());
 					if (doc->charStyles().contains(style.peCharStyleName()))
 						charStyle.eraseCharStyle(doc->charStyle(style.peCharStyleName()));
-					charStyle.setParent(doc->paragraphStyle(curParent).charStyle().name());
+					charStyle.setParent(baseParent);
 					m_story.setCharStyle(i, 1, charStyle);
 				}
 			}
Index: scribus/ui/propertywidget_pareffect.cpp
===================================================================
--- scribus/ui/propertywidget_pareffect.cpp	(revision 27816)
+++ scribus/ui/propertywidget_pareffect.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@
 
 	languageChange();
 	dropCapLines->setValue(2);
+	dropCapChars->setValue(1);
+	dropCapOffsetY->setValue(0.0);
 
 	if (m_doc)
 		peCharStyleCombo->updateStyleList();
@@ -42,6 +44,10 @@
 	numSuffix->setMaximumWidth(QFontMetrics(numSuffix->font()).averageCharWidth() * 7);
 	dropCapLines->setMinimum(2);
 	dropCapLines->setMaximum(99);
+	dropCapChars->setMinimum(1);
+	dropCapChars->setMaximum(99);
+	dropCapOffsetY->setMinimum(-100.0);
+	dropCapOffsetY->setMaximum(100.0);
 	peCombo->setCurrentIndex(0);
 	setType(peCombo->currentData().toInt());
 
@@ -117,6 +123,8 @@
 	IconManager& iconManager = IconManager::instance();
 	bulletCharTableButton->setIcon(iconManager.loadIcon("tool-insert-table"));
 	peCharStyleLabel->setPixmap(iconManager.loadPixmap("character-style"));
+	dropCapOffsetYLabel->setPixmap(iconManager.loadPixmap("character-offset-baseline"));
+	dropCapOffsetYLabel->setContentsMargins(4, 0, 0, 0);
 	peOffsetLabel->setPixmap(iconManager.loadPixmap("paragraph-list-offset"));
 	peLabel->setPixmap(iconManager.loadPixmap("paragraph-effects-style"));
 }
@@ -222,6 +230,8 @@
 
 	QSignalBlocker blocker1(peCombo);
 	QSignalBlocker blocker2(dropCapLines);
+	QSignalBlocker blockerDropCapChars(dropCapChars);
+	QSignalBlocker blockerDropCapOffsetY(dropCapOffsetY);
 	QSignalBlocker blocker3(bulletStrEdit);
 	QSignalBlocker blocker4(numComboBox);
 	QSignalBlocker blocker5(numLevelSpin);
@@ -252,6 +262,8 @@
 
 	QString numName = numComboBox->currentText();
 	dropCapLines->setValue(newPStyle.dropCapLines());
+	dropCapChars->setValue(newPStyle.dropCapChars());
+	dropCapOffsetY->setValue(newPStyle.dropCapOffsetY());
 	bulletStrEdit->setEditText(newPStyle.bulletStr());
 	numName = newPStyle.numName();
 	if (numName.isEmpty())
@@ -280,6 +292,8 @@
 {
 	connect(peCombo, SIGNAL(activated(int)), this, SLOT(handleParEffectUse()), Qt::UniqueConnection);
 	connect(dropCapLines, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(handleDropCapLines(int)), Qt::UniqueConnection);
+	connect(dropCapChars, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(handleDropCapChars(int)), Qt::UniqueConnection);
+	connect(dropCapOffsetY, SIGNAL(valueChanged(double)), this, SLOT(handleDropCapOffsetY(double)), Qt::UniqueConnection);
 	connect(bulletStrEdit, SIGNAL(editTextChanged(QString)), this, SLOT(handleBulletStr(QString)), Qt::UniqueConnection);
 	connect(numComboBox, SIGNAL(textActivated(QString)), this, SLOT(handleNumName(QString)), Qt::UniqueConnection);
 	connect(numLevelSpin, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(handleNumLevel(int)), Qt::UniqueConnection);
@@ -296,6 +310,8 @@
 {
 	disconnect(peCombo, SIGNAL(activated(int)), this, SLOT(handleParEffectUse()));
 	disconnect(dropCapLines, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(handleDropCapLines(int)));
+	disconnect(dropCapChars, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(handleDropCapChars(int)));
+	disconnect(dropCapOffsetY, SIGNAL(valueChanged(double)), this, SLOT(handleDropCapOffsetY(double)));
 	disconnect(bulletStrEdit, SIGNAL(editTextChanged(QString)), this, SLOT(handleBulletStr(QString)));
 	disconnect(numComboBox, SIGNAL(textActivated(QString)), this, SLOT(handleNumName(QString)));
 	disconnect(numLevelSpin, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(handleNumLevel(int)));
@@ -366,6 +382,8 @@
 	if (peCombo->currentIndex() == 1)
 	{
 		newStyle.setDropCapLines(dropCapLines->value());
+		newStyle.setDropCapChars(dropCapChars->value());
+		newStyle.setDropCapOffsetY(dropCapOffsetY->value());
 		newStyle.setHasDropCap(true);
 		newStyle.setHasBullet(false);
 		newStyle.setHasNum(false);
@@ -433,6 +451,24 @@
 	handleChanges(m_item, newStyle);
 }
 
+void PropertyWidget_ParEffect::handleDropCapChars(int dcChars)
+{
+	if (!m_doc || !m_item)
+		return;
+	ParagraphStyle newStyle;
+	newStyle.setDropCapChars(dcChars);
+	handleChanges(m_item, newStyle);
+}
+
+void PropertyWidget_ParEffect::handleDropCapOffsetY(double offset)
+{
+	if (!m_doc || !m_item)
+		return;
+	ParagraphStyle newStyle;
+	newStyle.setDropCapOffsetY(offset);
+	handleChanges(m_item, newStyle);
+}
+
 void PropertyWidget_ParEffect::handleNumName(const QString& numName)
 {
 	if (!m_doc || !m_item)
Index: scribus/ui/propertywidget_pareffect.h
===================================================================
--- scribus/ui/propertywidget_pareffect.h	(revision 27816)
+++ scribus/ui/propertywidget_pareffect.h	(working copy)
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@
 	void handleParEffectUse();
 	void handleBulletStr(QString);
 	void handleDropCapLines(int);
+	void handleDropCapChars(int);
+	void handleDropCapOffsetY(double);
 	void handleNumName(const QString&);
 	void handleNumFormat(int);
 	void handleNumLevel(int);
Index: scribus/ui/propertywidget_pareffectbase.ui
===================================================================
--- scribus/ui/propertywidget_pareffectbase.ui	(revision 27816)
+++ scribus/ui/propertywidget_pareffectbase.ui	(working copy)
@@ -119,6 +119,58 @@
         </widget>
        </item>
        <item row="0" column="2">
+        <widget class="QLabel" name="dropCapCharsLabel">
+         <property name="toolTip">
+          <string>Number of characters used by the drop cap</string>
+         </property>
+         <property name="text">
+          <string>Characters:</string>
+         </property>
+         <property name="buddy">
+          <cstring>dropCapChars</cstring>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
+       <item row="0" column="3">
+        <widget class="QSpinBox" name="dropCapChars">
+         <property name="toolTip">
+          <string>Drop Cap Characters</string>
+         </property>
+         <property name="minimum">
+          <number>1</number>
+         </property>
+         <property name="maximum">
+          <number>99</number>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
+       <item row="0" column="4">
+        <widget class="QLabel" name="dropCapOffsetYLabel">
+         <property name="toolTip">
+          <string>Drop Cap Vertical Offset</string>
+         </property>
+         <property name="text">
+          <string/>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
+       <item row="0" column="5">
+        <widget class="ScrSpinBox" name="dropCapOffsetY">
+         <property name="toolTip">
+          <string>Drop Cap Vertical Offset</string>
+         </property>
+         <property name="suffix">
+          <string> %</string>
+         </property>
+         <property name="minimum">
+          <double>-100.000000000000000</double>
+         </property>
+         <property name="maximum">
+          <double>100.000000000000000</double>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
+       <item row="0" column="6">
         <spacer name="horizontalSpacer">
          <property name="orientation">
           <enum>Qt::Orientation::Horizontal</enum>
@@ -560,6 +612,8 @@
   <tabstop>peIndent</tabstop>
   <tabstop>peCharStyleCombo</tabstop>
   <tabstop>dropCapLines</tabstop>
+  <tabstop>dropCapChars</tabstop>
+  <tabstop>dropCapOffsetY</tabstop>
   <tabstop>bulletStrEdit</tabstop>
   <tabstop>bulletCharTableButton</tabstop>
  </tabstops>
Index: scribus/ui/smpstylewidget.cpp
===================================================================
--- scribus/ui/smpstylewidget.cpp	(revision 27816)
+++ scribus/ui/smpstylewidget.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -72,6 +72,10 @@
 	fillNumRestartCombo();
 	dropCapLines->setMinimum(2);
 	dropCapLines->setMaximum(99);
+	dropCapChars->setMinimum(1);
+	dropCapChars->setMaximum(99);
+	dropCapOffsetY->setMinimum(-100.0);
+	dropCapOffsetY->setMaximum(100.0);
 
 	fillPECombo();
 	connect(peCombo, SIGNAL(currentIndexChanged(int)), this, SLOT(handleParEffectUse(int)));
@@ -118,6 +122,8 @@
 	consecutiveHyphenLabel->setPixmap(iconManager.loadPixmap("hyphen-consecutive"));
 
 	bulletCharTableButton->setIcon(iconManager.loadIcon("character-table"));
+	dropCapOffsetYLabel->setPixmap(iconManager.loadPixmap("character-offset-baseline"));
+	dropCapOffsetYLabel->setContentsMargins(4, 0, 0, 0);
 	distFromTextLabel->setPixmap(iconManager.loadPixmap("paragraph-list-offset"));
 	parEffectCharStyleComboLabel->setPixmap(iconManager.loadPixmap("character-style"));
 	peLabel->setPixmap(iconManager.loadPixmap("paragraph-effects-style"));
@@ -307,6 +313,10 @@
 		parEffectIndentBox->setParentValue(parent->parEffectIndent());
 		dropCapLines->setValue(pstyle->dropCapLines(), pstyle->isInhDropCapLines());
 		dropCapLines->setParentValue(parent->dropCapLines());
+		dropCapChars->setValue(pstyle->dropCapChars(), pstyle->isInhDropCapChars());
+		dropCapChars->setParentValue(parent->dropCapChars());
+		dropCapOffsetY->setValue(pstyle->dropCapOffsetY(), pstyle->isInhDropCapOffsetY());
+		dropCapOffsetY->setParentValue(parent->dropCapOffsetY());
 		bulletStrEdit->setEditText(pstyle->bulletStr());
 		setWidgetBoldFont(bulletCharLabel, !pstyle->isInhBulletStr());
 
@@ -361,6 +371,8 @@
 		disconnect(parentParEffectsButton, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(slotParentParEffects()));
 
 		dropCapLines->setValue(pstyle->dropCapLines());
+		dropCapChars->setValue(pstyle->dropCapChars());
+		dropCapOffsetY->setValue(pstyle->dropCapOffsetY());
 		bulletStrEdit->setEditText(pstyle->bulletStr());
 		setWidgetBoldFont(bulletCharLabel, false);
 		QString numName = pstyle->numName();
@@ -1061,6 +1073,36 @@
 		dropCapLines->clear();
 	else
 		dropCapLines->setValue(lines);
+
+	int chars = -1;
+	for (int i = 0; i < pstyles.count(); ++i)
+	{
+		if (chars > -1 && pstyles[i]->dropCapChars() != chars)
+		{
+			chars = -1;
+			break;
+		}
+		chars = pstyles[i]->dropCapChars();
+	}
+	if (chars == -1)
+		dropCapChars->clear();
+	else
+		dropCapChars->setValue(chars);
+
+	double offsetY = pstyles[0]->dropCapOffsetY();
+	bool sameOffset = true;
+	for (int i = 1; i < pstyles.count(); ++i)
+	{
+		if (!isEqual(pstyles[i]->dropCapOffsetY(), offsetY))
+		{
+			sameOffset = false;
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+	if (!sameOffset)
+		dropCapOffsetY->clear();
+	else
+		dropCapOffsetY->setValue(offsetY);
 }
 
 void SMPStyleWidget::showBullet(const QList<ParagraphStyle *> &pstyles, const QList<CharStyle> &cstyles, int unitIndex)
Index: scribus/ui/smpstylewidget.ui
===================================================================
--- scribus/ui/smpstylewidget.ui	(revision 27816)
+++ scribus/ui/smpstylewidget.ui	(working copy)
@@ -1116,6 +1116,55 @@
                </property>
                <property name="maximum">
                 <number>20</number>
+               </property>
+              </widget>
+             </item>
+             <item>
+              <widget class="QLabel" name="dropCapsCharLabel">
+               <property name="text">
+                <string>Characters:</string>
+               </property>
+               <property name="buddy">
+                <cstring>dropCapChars</cstring>
+               </property>
+              </widget>
+             </item>
+             <item>
+              <widget class="SMSpinBox" name="dropCapChars">
+               <property name="toolTip">
+                <string>Drop Cap Characters</string>
+               </property>
+               <property name="minimum">
+                <number>1</number>
+               </property>
+               <property name="maximum">
+                <number>99</number>
+               </property>
+              </widget>
+             </item>
+             <item>
+              <widget class="QLabel" name="dropCapOffsetYLabel">
+               <property name="toolTip">
+                <string>Drop Cap Vertical Offset</string>
+               </property>
+               <property name="text">
+                <string/>
+               </property>
+              </widget>
+             </item>
+             <item>
+              <widget class="SMScrSpinBox" name="dropCapOffsetY">
+               <property name="toolTip">
+                <string>Drop Cap Vertical Offset</string>
+               </property>
+               <property name="suffix">
+                <string> %</string>
+               </property>
+               <property name="minimum">
+                <double>-100.000000000000000</double>
+               </property>
+               <property name="maximum">
+                <double>100.000000000000000</double>
                </property>
               </widget>
              </item>
@@ -1791,6 +1840,8 @@
   <tabstop>peCombo</tabstop>
   <tabstop>parentParEffectsButton</tabstop>
   <tabstop>dropCapLines</tabstop>
+  <tabstop>dropCapChars</tabstop>
+  <tabstop>dropCapOffsetY</tabstop>
   <tabstop>parEffectOffset</tabstop>
   <tabstop>parEffectIndentBox</tabstop>
   <tabstop>parEffectCharStyleCombo</tabstop>
Index: scribus/ui/smtextstyles.cpp
===================================================================
--- scribus/ui/smtextstyles.cpp	(revision 27816)
+++ scribus/ui/smtextstyles.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -510,6 +510,8 @@
 	connect(m_pwidget, SIGNAL(useParentParaEffects()), this, SLOT(slotParentParaEffects()));
 	connect(m_pwidget->peCombo, SIGNAL(currentIndexChanged(int)), this, SLOT(slotPargraphEffects(int)));
 	connect(m_pwidget->dropCapLines, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(slotDropCapLines(int)));
+	connect(m_pwidget->dropCapChars, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(slotDropCapChars(int)));
+	connect(m_pwidget->dropCapOffsetY, SIGNAL(valueChanged(double)), this, SLOT(slotDropCapOffsetY()));
 	connect(m_pwidget->parEffectOffset, SIGNAL(valueChanged(double)), this, SLOT(slotParEffectOffset()));
 	connect(m_pwidget->parEffectIndentBox, SIGNAL(toggled(bool)), this, SLOT(slotParEffectIndent(bool)));
 	connect(m_pwidget->parEffectCharStyleCombo, SIGNAL(activated(int)), this, SLOT(slotParEffectCharStyle(int)));
@@ -605,6 +607,8 @@
 	disconnect(m_pwidget, SIGNAL(useParentParaEffects()), this, SLOT(slotParentParaEffects()));
 	disconnect(m_pwidget->peCombo, SIGNAL(currentIndexChanged(int)), this, SLOT(slotPargraphEffects(int)));
 	disconnect(m_pwidget->dropCapLines, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(slotDropCapLines(int)));
+	disconnect(m_pwidget->dropCapChars, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(slotDropCapChars(int)));
+	disconnect(m_pwidget->dropCapOffsetY, SIGNAL(valueChanged(double)), this, SLOT(slotDropCapOffsetY()));
 	disconnect(m_pwidget->parEffectOffset, SIGNAL(valueChanged(double)), this, SLOT(slotParEffectOffset()));
 	disconnect(m_pwidget->parEffectIndentBox, SIGNAL(toggled(bool)), this, SLOT(slotParEffectIndent(bool)));
 	disconnect(m_pwidget->parEffectCharStyleCombo, SIGNAL(activated(int)), this, SLOT(slotParEffectCharStyle(int)));
@@ -934,6 +938,35 @@
 	slotSelectionDirty();
 }
 
+void SMParagraphStyle::slotDropCapChars(int chars)
+{
+	if (m_pwidget->dropCapChars->useParentValue())
+		for (int i = 0; i < m_selection.count(); ++i)
+			m_selection[i]->resetDropCapChars();
+	else
+		for (int i = 0; i < m_selection.count(); ++i)
+			m_selection[i]->setDropCapChars(chars);
+
+	slotSelectionDirty();
+}
+
+void SMParagraphStyle::slotDropCapOffsetY()
+{
+	if (m_pwidget->dropCapOffsetY->useParentValue())
+		for (int i = 0; i < m_selection.count(); ++i)
+			m_selection[i]->resetDropCapOffsetY();
+	else
+	{
+		double a, b, value;
+		int c;
+		m_pwidget->dropCapOffsetY->getValues(&a, &b, &c, &value);
+		for (int i = 0; i < m_selection.count(); ++i)
+			m_selection[i]->setDropCapOffsetY(value);
+	}
+
+	slotSelectionDirty();
+}
+
 void SMParagraphStyle::slotParEffectOffset()
 {
 	if (m_pwidget->parEffectOffset->useParentValue())
Index: scribus/ui/smtextstyles.h
===================================================================
--- scribus/ui/smtextstyles.h	(revision 27816)
+++ scribus/ui/smtextstyles.h	(working copy)
@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@
 	void slotParentParaEffects();
 	void slotPargraphEffects(int index);
 	void slotDropCapLines(int lines);
+	void slotDropCapChars(int chars);
+	void slotDropCapOffsetY();
 	void slotParEffectOffset();
 	void slotParEffectIndent(bool);
 	void slotParEffectCharStyle(int);