Daggerheart Establishes Itself as the Premier TTRPG
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Fifty years back, *Dungeons & Dragons* set the foundation for the whole tabletop RPG landscape, spawning countless adventures—and various games that take different paths within that framework. Few titles have distinguished themselves like Darrington Press’ *Daggerheart*, which officially debuted just over a month ago.

Similar to other prominent *D&D* alternatives, *[Daggerheart](https://www.daggerheart.com/)* has effectively emerged from the extensive legacy of the original game, yet unlike *Pathfinder*, it did not rise from an earlier iteration of *D&D* but instead from a highly influential community of *D&D* players: [Critical Role](https://www.cgmagonline.com/review/tv-series/the-legend-of-vox-machina-series-review/). What initially started as a bunch of voice actors live-streaming their personal game has evolved over a decade, culminating in the establishment of Darrington Press, the game publishing arm of Critical Role Productions, in 2020.

Now, the company’s flagship TTRPG system is available to players far and wide, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. But what makes *Daggerheart* one of the fiercest contenders to *Dungeons & Dragons*’ dominance in the space?

## A Formidable Team of Developers

First and foremost, the creative team behind *Daggerheart* was remarkable from the start. The lead designer is Spenser Starke, who had earlier crafted *Kids On Brooms* for Renegade Studios and *Alice Is Missing*, a silent yet collaborative game played through text messages. After joining Darrington Press, Starke directed design for their previous TTRPG, *[Candela Obscura](https://www.cgmagonline.com/articles/buyers-guides/tabletop-games-2023/)*, a game centered around paranormal exploration with [strong Lovecraftian or dark fantasy themes](https://darringtonpress.com/candela/).

Matthew Mercer, Critical Role’s principal Dungeon Master, contributes his vast experience as an additional Game Designer, and his distinctive style of running adventures is reflected throughout much of the text. The credits are similarly packed with seasoned tabletop creators of various kinds, enriching the game with a wide range of viewpoints.

In addition, in recent weeks, Darrington Press has brought on board two particularly noteworthy figures—[Chris Perkins](https://www.cgmagonline.com/interviews/curse-strahd-interview-chris-perkins/) and [Jeremy Crawford](https://www.cgmagonline.com/interviews/jeremy-crawford-d-and-d-legacy/) as Creative Director and Game Director, respectively, after they departed from *D&D* publisher Wizards of the Coast earlier this year. As two of the industry’s most esteemed leaders over the past few decades, the exit of *D&D* translates into a direct advantage for *Daggerheart*. Todd Kenreck, the well-known face of *D&D*‘s social media, was (confusingly) let go as well and [will now be producing content independently for both games](https://www.instagram.com/toddkenreck/reel/DLkYKzUR0TF/?hl=en).

A multitude of influential forces in tabletop RPGs is rallying around *Daggerheart*, and this shared pedigree alone should catch the attention of players.

## An Abundant Core Rulebook

Regardless of the terminology a game prefers for its primary player-facing rulebook, it becomes the most crucial volume to possess, and *Daggerheart*’s Core Rulebook stands out compared to many of its contemporaries.

The core element is the hardcover book itself. With 366 pages, it encompasses all vital components for individual players and groups—efficiently fulfilling the roles of the [Player’s Handbook](https://www.cgmagonline.com/review/tabletop/dnd-2024-players-handbook/) and [Dungeon Master’s Guide](https://www.cgmagonline.com/review/tabletop/dnd-2024-dungeon-masters-guide/) found in other games, alongside aspects of a Monster Manual. While the enhanced layout was one of my favorite features of the 2024 edition of *Dungeons & Dragons*, perusing the *Daggerheart* Core Rulebook felt even more streamlined and effective.

The second part of the Core Rulebook offering consists of a set of cards that contain the details for all the components that create a complete character. Ancestry, Community, Subclasses, and features connected to the various Domains form this collection of 279 cards, stored in a magnet-clasped box for easy organization and transport. While information can be found in the book itself, the cards prove useful during character creation *and* as a reference throughout gameplay.

For a similar price, *Daggerheart*

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