What is Daggerheart?
Daggerheart is a new fantasy tabletop role-playing game by Darrington Press (Critical Role), released in spring 2025. Developed under the direction of Spenser Starke and with the involvement of Matthew Mercer, it brings epic narratives to game night while promoting intense, collaborative world-building
It combines:
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A dual-dice system with two twelve-sided dice (Hope & Fear) for consistent and dramatically charged results
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Index cards for character abilities, backgrounds, and subclasses – clear, visual, and directly usable on the game screen .
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A clear asymmetry between player and game master, which deliberately creates tension: players collect Hope, GMs use Fear
What sets it apart?
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Collaborative storytelling
Daggerheart promotes collaborative world-building, where game masters and players actively shape the game world – inspired by the "Yes-and" dynamic from Critical Role
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Result-oriented dice mechanics
Through the dual-dice system, even failed rolls (with high Hope dice) have useful effects, while the Fear system for GMs ensures compact conflict
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Unification of complexity
All-in-one mechanics: only three states (Hidden, Restrained, Vulnerable) and a simple modifier system (±d6) instead of complex mechanics from other RPGs
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Visual & Fast Setup
279 cards with strong artwork, a hardcover rulebook (300 pages), and clear tutorials make it easy to get started and motivate quick sessions
Potential for New Players
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Easy Entry: Tutorials, visual aids, and story-focused mechanics minimize entry barriers.
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Effective Dice Rolls: Failures always offer narrative value, ideal for players who like to co-create.
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Small Groups, Big Impact: Asymmetry and resources (Hope & Fear) encourage focus on character development and drama.
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Spontaneous Adventure Structure: Enables creative, collaborative storytelling and encourages the initiative of everyone at the table.
Included in the Core Set
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300-page hardcover rulebook – everything about character creation, game mechanics, and campaign management
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279 lovingly illustrated cards:
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18 Ancestry cards
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54 Subclass cards
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189 Domain cards
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2x9 Community cards
Why new players love Daggerheart
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Jump right in and start playing – without "walls of text" literature.
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Always productive dice results, even on failures.
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Collaborative storytelling creates group dynamics – ideal for newcomers.
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Visual support through cards reduces rule following and paperwork.
Conclusion
Daggerheart is a modern, narrative-focused fantasy RPG with intuitive mechanics and a collaborative play style. Ideal for new groups and role-playing newcomers – it combines ease of entry with narrative depth and offers a gaming experience that resonates long after the game ends.
When you purchase the Daggerheart Core Set, you also receive a download link to the digital edition of the rulebook.
