You’ve probably heard the name Daggerheart pop up a bunch of times by now. It’s the RPG system from Darrington Press, and it’s been getting a LOT of attention.
So, why is everyone suddenly talking about Daggerheart? For starters, it’s the brainchild of Critical Role, one of the most influential names in tabletop gaming history. The physical starter sets sold out almost immediately across the globe, and the game even cracked the top 100 bestselling books on Amazon. Even without the buzz, though, there’s genuine curiosity from players who want to explore systems beyond DnD and Pathfinder. The popularity is definitely going beyond just Critical Role fans.
How Daggerheart Compares to DnD
I know, I know... there's more to life than just DnD. But, most TTRPG players have played DnD, so it helps to use it as a comparison. Let's look at how the two stack up side-by-side. They’re different systems with different vibes, and here’s a quick overview:
| Feature |
Daggerheart |
DnD 5E |
| Core Dice | Two d12s (Hope & Fear dice) | One d20 plus modifiers |
| Tone | Leans into emotional stories; role-play heavy | Classic high fantasy; flexible for every table |
| Classes & Character Builds | Broad archetypes; character domain specialities, communities | Detailed classes, subclasses, backgrounds and feats |
| Combat Style | Fast and focused on storytelling; streamlined initiative | More tactical, with detailed combat rules on a fixed grid |
| Magic & Abilities | Tied to character stories and experiences; input from the players | Based on what is written in the class rules |
| Level Up Customisation | Narrative choices inform how characters level up | Subclass options determine choices |
| Resting & Downtime | Can clear two of Armour, Hit Points or Stress; GM gains fear to use | All character abilities and spell slots refresh to full |
Daggerheart puts a strong emphasis on role-play, collaborative storytelling and stories that revolve around the characters at the table. If you’re coming from DnD 5E, some of the mechanics will feel quite different, but there’s still plenty to get stuck into when it comes to character building, abilities and combat.
Want to See It In Action?
If you’re curious but not quite ready to dive in, you can check out a few actual play shows that use Daggerheart:
- Age of Umbra: Sallowlands – A flagship campaign using the new system, featuring the cast of Critical Role and GMed by Matt Mercer.
- City of the Black Rose: Dice, Danger, Daggerheart – This one-shot explores an urban horror setting and showcases Daggerheart's flexibility.
- Daggerheart Campaign Frames: Beast Feast – A fun one-shot diving into Daggerheart’s own Beast Feast campaign setting, run by your favourite content creators!
Already Playing?
If you’re already playing or looking to expand your campaign, here are a few cool things you should definitely check out next:
-
Community Content – The open SRD means folks are already making homebrew stuff, like new domains and settings.
- Print Your Own Cards – The official site includes a print-and-play card system so you can make your own decks for domains, traits, and more. Perfect for GMs and players who want physical aids.
- Daggerheart: Hope & Fear – Daggerheart’s first expansion book is now available to order. It nearly doubles the game’s worldbuilding and character-building options, adding four new classes – Witch, Warlock, Brawler and Assassin – alongside new ancestries, communities and transformations, 130+ adversaries, new environments, loads of weapons and items, and four new campaign frames.
How to Get Started
You can jump in and try the game for free. The Daggerheart System Reference Document (SRD) is online and open to everyone. It’s got the core rules, character creation tools, and even a campaign frame called Witherwild. Whether you’re a player or a GM, it’s enough to get you going.
Darrington Press have a series of videos on YouTube called “Get Your Sheet Together”. If you’re looking for a whistlestop tour of the rules, a guide on how to create characters, and GMing advice, their full playlist is a really helpful resource.
A Modern Daggerheart Setting?
Want to see what Daggerheart can do outside of traditional heroic fantasy? The City of the Black Rose campaign frame takes you to Mavros, a gothic horror-noir metropolis where crime, corruption and supernatural horrors lurk around every corner. It’s inspired by a smog-filled New York from the 1930s. If you’re looking for automobile chases, mobsters, private investigators, and a sprinkling of eldritch horror, this is for you.
Alongside a city packed with characters, locations and factions, the book includes new Daggerheart Adversaries, Environments, weapons, items and custom rules to help bring Mavros to your table.
City of the Black Rose is available to pre-order now, with the digital edition available straight away.
Want More Adventures?
If you’re looking for EVEN MORE adventures to bring to your Daggerheart table, we’ve got something new on the way. One-Shot Wonders: Daggerheart is being created in partnership with Darrington Press, packed with 100+ quick-prep adventures covering every official campaign frame for Tiers 1–4. Each adventure is designed to be prepped in around 15 minutes, making it perfect for one-shot nights, last-minute sessions, or dropping a new adventure into an ongoing campaign.
The Kickstarter launches in Fall 2026, so sign up here to be the first to know when it goes live and also get a free adventure from the book!
Are you checking out Daggerheart? Are you a pro already? Tell us all about how you're finding it on our Discord server!
