What Is Daggerheart? Why Everyone’s Talking About This Narrative-First TTRPG

Daggerheart at a Glance

Daggerheart is the brand-new fantasy tabletop RPG designed by Critical Role’s Darrington Press. Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard the game is powered by a unique dual d12 system that lets characters wrestle with the emotional stakes of every roll. Whether you’re launching an epic campaign or telling a one-shot tale, Daggerheart brings cinematic drama to the table in a way few systems can.

It's already making waves across the TTRPG community, not just because of its famous origins.

Why Is Daggerheart So Popular Right Now?

The short answer? It’s built for the moment. Daggerheart responds to what players and Game Masters have been asking for:

Emotional, Character-Driven Storytelling

Daggerheart puts narrative consequences front and center. Players solve problems while confronting their values, fears, and bonds. Each roll has the potential to shape your character’s arc.

Built for the Streaming Generation

Critical Role’s storytelling sensibility runs deep in Daggerheart. Sessions are designed around scenes, spotlight moments, and episodic pacing, perfect for actual play, streaming, or simply keeping your game night tight and focused.

Hope vs. Fear: The Dual d12 System That Sets Daggerheart Apart

Every major action in Daggerheart is resolved by rolling two 12-sided dice: a Hope Die and a Fear Die. You add modifiers and compare the result to a difficulty number… but that’s just the beginning.

The die that rolls higher sets the tone:

• If Hope rolls higher, players succeed with inspiration and gain Hope tokens for future use.

• If Fear rolls higher, even success can bring danger or consequence, and the Game Master gains a Fear token to shape future challenges.

This mechanic creates a beautiful push-pull of tension, reinforcing the emotional reality of the scene. Players feel the stakes every time they roll.

Why Daggerheart Is a Perfect Fit for Quest Portal

Daggerheart's scene-based structure maps perfectly onto Quest Portal’s storytelling tools. Our platform is built around structured scenes, spotlight moments, and cinematic pacing.

Here’s what that means for your game:

• Scene-Based Agile Storytelling: You can easily structure sessions around flashbacks, cutaways, or emotional beats.

• Organic Campaign Growth: With lighter automation and open-ended mechanics, Daggerheart campaigns evolve naturally with your group.

• Easy Setup for Game Masters: Fewer crunchy mechanics mean you can focus on prepping rich, emotionally charged moments.

Is Daggerheart Right for You?

Daggerheart isn’t aiming to replace heavy, tactical systems like Pathfinder or D&D. It doesn’t try to simulate every inch of a dungeon crawl or parse out 10-foot cones. What it does offer is freedom:

• To tell collaborative stories with your group

• To customize your world without breaking the rules

• To focus on characters, not combat math

If your group thrives on homebrew, roleplay, emotional arcs, or flexible rulings, Daggerheart may become your new favorite system. Whether you’re building a party of outcasts navigating ancient magic or telling a slow-burn political drama, Daggerheart says “yes.”

Next Steps

• Add the Daggerheart SRD to your Quest Portal library for free

• Try the pre-built Daggerheart Quickstart adventure: Sablewood Messengers, on Quest Portal for free

• Read our blog How to Create a Daggerheart Character: A Guide for Building Bold, Cinematic Heroes

• Read our blog Where to Buy Daggerheart (Physical, PDF, & Online Play)