A tabletop rpg system!
Daggerheart is a new fantasy tabletop role-playing game created by Darrington Press, the publishing arm of the Critical Role team. Officially released in May 2025, it is designed to support narrative-heavy, long-form campaigns, while being approachable for newcomers.
🎲 Core Mechanics: Duality Dice & Card
🎲 Duality Dice: Hope vs. Fear
Instead of a single die roll, Daggerheart uses two d12s:
- A Hope die (good outcomes, player benefits)
- A Fear die (bad outcomes, GM gains narrative leverage)
Whichever die rolls higher determines the outcome and which side gains points toward abilities or complications. This system ensures every roll matters, even on a “failure.”
➡️ Learn more at daggerheart.com
🃏 Card-Based Character Building
Characters are created and evolved using a modular card system:
- Ancestry and Community cards reflect who you are and where you come from.
- Class and Domain cards unlock powers, spells, and mechanics.
You don’t just track a sheet—you build your character’s identity like a deck.
📄 Download character sheets and starter decks from the official site.
🌍 Collaborative World-Building
At Session Zero, players co-create the world:
- Name cities, factions, cultures, and threats
- Establish shared values and conflicts
- Set up themes for the campaign collaboratively
This ensures everyone has creative buy-in from the start.
➡️ Check out Daggerheart’s worldbuilding guides
⭐ What Makes Daggerheart Unique
| Feature | What It Adds |
|---|---|
| 🎲 Duality Dice System | Introduces mechanical tension between player success (Hope) and GM-driven drama (Fear) |
| 🃏 Deck-like Characters | Modular growth and variety in progression |
| 🌍 Collaborative Setting Creation | Gives players creative input from session one |
| 🔁 Narrative Flow Combat | Fast-paced, improvisational battles (no strict initiative) |