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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Daggerheart''}}
[[File:Daggerheart promo - Nikki Dawes.jpg|270px|thumb|{{art official caption|subject=a Daggerheart promotional piece|artist=Nikki Dawes|source=https://youtu.be/RX0Cex2UZYQ}}]]
'''''Daggerheart''''' is a fantasy tabletop roleplaying game (RPG) system "designed for long-term campaign play and rich character progression" published by [[Darrington Press LLC]].<ref>{{DP|daggerheart|Daggerheart}}</ref>  The lead designer is [[Spenser Starke]].<ref name="first">See [https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/daggerheart-first-impressions-critical-role-gameplay/ "Daggerheart First Impressions: Critical Role's New TTRPG Blends Crunch and Narrative Play in Unique Ways"] by Christian Hoffer on ComicBook.com, 5 August 2023.</ref>

=='''History'''==
The system was first announced in [https://youtu.be/_Ynl9weMWb8?t=387 "State of the Press | Darrington Press 2023 Announcements"] and on the [https://critrole.com/event/darrington-press-at-gen-con-2023/ Critical Role website] on 20 April 2023. The website stated: "Daggerheart: Adventure, Hope, and Fear (4 hours): Heroes needed! Create characters and embark upon a fresh fantasy adventure as you get a taste for this new system featuring rich, accessible storytelling and a focus on long-term campaign play."

''Daggerheart'' was playtested at [https://www.gencon.com/ GenCon] in August 2023.

Open beta playtesting started on ''Critical Role'''s 9th anniversary: 12 March 2024.<ref>{{CR|hype-the-open-beta-playtest-for-daggerheart-begins-on-march-12/|''Hype: The Open Beta Playtest for Daggerheart begins on March 12!''}}</ref> In connection with this release, the cast of Critical Role livestreamed a special Daggerheart one-shot on Tuesday, March 12th at 7pm Pacific on both Twitch and YouTube, and a [https://www.daggerheart.com/#daggerheart Daggerheart.com] website was revealed. 

On September 17, 2024, pre-orders for Daggerheart were announced to be live.<ref>"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZldyqZSEFCE Daggerheart Pre-Order Live Now!]" on YouTube. See [https://www.daggerheart.com/pre-order/ the pre-order page] on Daggerheart.com.</ref>

The cast plan to play a "final version" of Daggerheart on December 7, 2024 in a live, [[Critmas]]-themed show.<ref>See the [https://youtu.be/YjtCHRoi2-Y Fall Programming Announcement 2024] on YouTube at [https://youtu.be/YjtCHRoi2-Y?t=165 2:45]. Also see the official event announcement on critrole.com: [https://critrole.com/event/dh-critmas-story/ Critical Role Presents: A Daggerheart Critmas Story LIVE].</ref> The full game is scheduled for public release in Spring 2025, and will be available as either the Core Set or the Limited Edition.<ref>See [https://www.daggerheart.com/pre-order/ the pre-order page] on Daggerheart.com.</ref>

== '''Gameplay''' ==
The game utilizes two d12s of different colors, one called "Hope" and one called "Fear", the higher roll of which determines which attribute the total roll affects. For example, if the total required to succeed is a 12, rolling less than that on both dice combined is a failure. Rolling that total or above is a success, and if the higher number is on the "Hope" die it's a success with hope; if the higher number is on the "Fear" die it's a success with fear. "Advantage" is given by rolling an additional d6. Rolling a double on the d12s results in a critical success.

Succeeding with Hope gives the player a spendable Hope resource and can give positive narrative benefits while retaining initiative with the player characters in combat, whereas succeeding with Fear triggers some narrative consequence and in combat returns initiative to the enemy.

==='''Character creation'''===
Bits of the character sheets were shown on ComicBook.com's coverage of GenCon 2023. Taken from that:
{{Quotebox|source=''We Learned DAGGERHEART With TRAVIS! Daggerheart Rules REVEAL!''{{ep ref|ep=[https://youtu.be/1tDy9E_Oqi8 "We Learned DAGGERHEART With TRAVIS! Daggerheart Rules REVEAL!"] | vod=https://youtu.be/1tDy9E_Oqi8 | 0:02:19}}|quote=<br />'''1) Choose a Class'''<br />Your class represents what kind of character you'll be playing and will give you access to certain abilities and spells during the game. Take the character sheet specific for this class.<br />'''2) Choose a Foundation'''<br />Each class has a number of foundation cards to choose from that help better define what kind of focus you'd like your character to have.<br />'''3) Choose a Heritage'''<br />Heritage is made up of both an Ancestry and a Community card. These two cards that establish your physical appearance and the kind of environment you grew up in. Place these cards directly on your character sheet.<br />'''4) Assign Your Character Traits'''<br />Distribute 4 points across your Character Traits, then subtract one point from any Trait. When rolling, you'll apply the value of the Character Trait to the roll.<br />'''5) Set Your Hit Points and Hope'''<br />Each class will start with its own Damage Thresholds detailed on the character sheet under the Hit Points section. Record these in their appropriate spaces. Then take 2 Hope to start the game.<br />'''6) Choose Your Starting Weapon'''<br />Decide what kind of weapon you want to start the game with, and record its details in the appropriate spaces.<br />'''7) Choose Your Starting Armor'''<br />Take one of the available starting armors, and record its details in the appropriate spaces. Also put your Armor Score in the Armor box at the top of the Character Sheet.<br />'''8) Take Your Starting Inventory'''<br />The available items for your class are listed on your character guide. Record everything in your inventory section.<br />'''9) Choose Your Description'''<br />Make choices from the available options of the character guide or create your own. This will help you start to build out your character's look and attitude.<br />'''10) Take Domain Deck Cards'''<br />Each class is made up of two different domains, listed below the class name on the character sheet. Choose 2 cards total from the Level 1 cards in those domains from the domain decks. You may share these decks with other classes. If you do, make sure to talk with them about what cards they're interested in as well.<br />'''11) Answer Background Questions'''<br />Use the background questions on your character guide as a jumping off point to build out your character's history.<br >'''12) Generate Experience'''<br />Use all of the choices and backstory you've made about your character so far to generate their Experience, a set of narrative words or phrases that represent the kinds of things they've learned or become on their journey so far. Assign both of these Experience a value of +1.<br />'''13) Record Your Name and Pronouns'''<br />Create a name for your character and choose what pronouns they use. Then share your character with the rest of the table when they're ready.<br />'''14) Create Connections'''<br />Connection questions on your character guide to [...] other characters at the table, or generate your [...] Use this as an opportunity to also discuss[...] all met, what brought you together, and [...] decided to travel as a party.}}

==='''Domains'''===
Domains are core gameplay themes and abilities. Each class focuses on two domains:  
* '''Arcana''': Instinctive magic
* '''Blade''': Weaponry
* '''Bone''': Swiftness, coordination, and tactics 
* '''Codex''': Studied magic 
* '''Grace''': Charisma 
* '''Midnight''': Stealth
* '''Sage''': Nature magic 
* '''Splendor''': Life magic 
* '''Valor''': Protection and defense 

During gameplay, as characters grow in experience they gain new abilities linked to their domains.

==='''Classes'''===
The following classes were available at the start of open beta testing. There are two foundations per class to choose from, similar to subclasses.<ref name="1.2">Darrington Press LLC, ''Daggerheart Playtest Manuscript, Version 1.2'', 12 March 2024.</ref> 
* '''Bard'''
:: Wordsmith: uses clever wordplay to captivate crowds
:: Troubadour: uses music to bolster allies

* '''Druid'''
:: Warden of the Elements: embodies nature
:: Warden of Renewal: uses magic to heal party members

* '''Guardian'''
:: Stalwart: takes heavy blows and keeps fighting
:: Vengeance: strikes down enemies 

* '''Ranger'''
:: Wayfinder: hunts prey using deadly force
:: Companion: forms a deep bond with an animal ally

* '''Seraph'''
:: Winged Sentinel: flies and fights from the sky
:: Divine Wielder: dominates the battlefield with a legendary weapon

* '''Rogue'''
:: Nightwalker: uses stealth
:: Syndicate: has useful contacts everywhere 

* '''Sorcerer'''
:: Primal Origin: extends the versatility of spells
:: Elemental Origin: channels raw magic to an elemental shape

* '''Warrior'''
:: Call of the Slayer: strikes down adversaries with power
:: Call of the Brave: uses the might of enemies against them 

* '''Wizard'''
:: School of Knowledge: understands the world 
:: School of War: uses magic for violence 

==='''Ancestries'''===
[[File:Daggerheart promo - Jessica Nguyen.png|270px|thumb|{{art official caption|subject=a Daggerheart promotional piece featuring a galapa|artist=Jessica Nguyen|source=https://darringtonpress.com/daggerheart/}}]]
Similar to races in D&D 5e, the following ancestries were available at the start of open beta testing.<ref name="1.2" />
* '''Clank''': Mechanical humanoids
** Purposeful Design: Choose an Experience that reflects your purpose and add +1 to to.
* '''Daemon''': Descendants of fallen gods from the Circle Below.
** Fearless: When rolling with Fear, can choose to mark a Stress instead of the GM gaining Fear. 
** Dread Visage: Advantage on rolls to intimidate non-daemons.
* '''Drakona''': Wingless dragon humanoids
** Elemental Breath: Use as a weapon
* '''Dwarf'''
** Increased Fortitude: Spend 3 Hope to take half damage
* '''Elf'''
** Elven Trance: During a long rest, roll d8s equivalent to number of Stress you have. Clears all Stress. If any d8s match this number, also clear all Hit Points.
* '''Faerie'''
** Wings: Use Stress to fly (Evasion +2) until next Fear roll
** Luckbender: 1x/session, after an Action Roll by yourself or ally, can use a Stress to allow a reroll of Duality Dice
* '''Faun''': Deer humanoids with antlers
** Headbutt: Use 1 Fear to damage enemy
* '''Firbolg'''
** Natural Calm: If roll a 6 on a d6, takes no Stress 
* '''Fungril''': Fungus humanoids
** Always Connected: Hivemind with other Fungril
* '''Galapa''': Turtle humanoids
** Shell of Protection: Add proficiency to armor score
* '''Giant'''
** Endurance: Extra hit points slot. 
** Reach: All melee weapons' range increases to Very Close.
* '''Goblin'''
** Danger Sense: Once per short rest, use a stress to reroll an attack roll. If it still hits you, reduce the incoming value by your Proficiency. 
* '''Halfling'''
** Little Lucky: Reroll 1s on Hope dice. At start of each session, everyone in party gets a Hope.
* '''Human'''
** Perseverance: If you fail a roll utilizing an Experience, you can use 1 Hope to reroll.
* '''Katari''': Cat humanoid
** Feline Instincts: Can use 1 Stress to reroll Hope Die on any Agility roll.
* '''Orc'''
** Sturdy: Roll a d6 when using armor. On a 5 or 6, damage is reduced at no cost to armor slots.[[File:Daggerheart Ribbit - Leesha Hannigan.jpg|thumb|270px|{{art official caption|subject=a ribbet|artist=Leesha Hannigan|source=https://x.com/LeeshaHannigan/status/1767875640609644640}}]]
* '''Ribbet''': Frog humanoid
** Amphibious: Can breathe and move underwater as on land. 
** Long Tongue: Use tongue to grab things and as a weapon (uses 1 stress for d12 damage).
* '''Simiah''': Ape/monkey humanoid
** Nimble: +1 to Evasion; advantage on Agility Rolls that involve balancing and climbing

==='''Character Traits'''===
Players have four points to distribute among Strength, Agility, Precision, Presence, Intuition, and Knowledge, then subtract 1 from any score. These scores are added to ability checks or weapon attacks that utilize that Trait.<ref name="first"/>

==='''Abilities'''===
Each class may choose two ability cards from their two class-determined domains. When a player levels up, they may choose more abilities, and have up to five abilities active at any one time. Abilities may be swapped out during rests.

=='''Hit points, stress, and death mechanics'''==
Characters start with 6 hit points. Damage is determined by rolling d6-d20 dice. The player's armor score is subtracted from this roll, but the armor is damaged (armor can be repaired during a short rest). If the total is below a pre-set threshold, the player takes a stress point instead of damage. If it exceeds the threshold, depending on by how much the player loses 1, 2, or three hit points.<ref name="first"/>{{ep ref|ep=[https://youtu.be/3oHQ27-aMxQ "Daggerheart Designer Interview - Critical Role's New Game Exclusive Sneak Peek!"] |vod=https://youtu.be/3oHQ27-aMxQ |0:16:01}} 

If a player loses all their hit points, they can choose to either perma-die but achieve a critical success, permanently lose a hope point, or roll both hope and fear dice to potentially return without dying. There is a single use resurrection spell available per game.<ref name="first"/>
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== '''Trivia''' ==
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=='''External links'''==
* '''[https://www.daggerheart.com/play Download]''' current play test materials.
* {{DP|daggerheart|Daggerheart}}
* {{YouTube|1tDy9E_Oqi8|''We Learned DAGGERHEART With TRAVIS! Daggerheart Rules REVEAL!''|The Character Sheet on ComicBook.com|}}
* [https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/daggerheart-first-impressions-critical-role-gameplay/ "Daggerheart First Impressions: Critical Role's New TTRPG Blends Crunch and Narrative Play in Unique Ways"] by Christian Hoffer on ComicBook.com, 5 August 2023.
* {{YouTube|3oHQ27-aMxQ|''Daggerheart Designer Interview - Critical Role's New Game Exclusive Sneak Peek!''|LegendsofAvantris|Legends of Avantris}}
* {{CR|hype-the-open-beta-playtest-for-daggerheart-begins-on-march-12/|''Hype: The Open Beta Playtest for Daggerheart begins on March 12!''}}
* [https://www.daggerheart.com/#daggerheart Daggerheart.com]
*{{YouTube|nYVrzqTPHRA|How to Play Daggerheart {{!}} Open Beta|criticalrole| Critical Role}}
*{{YouTube|IbNsxHuX1FE|How to Make a Character in Daggerheart {{!}} Open Beta|criticalrole| Critical Role}}
*{{YouTube|q9mVtQLNwDY|Daggerheart Version 1.3 Updates {{!}} Open Beta|criticalrole| Critical Role}}
*{{YouTube|oO4DPvgh5l4|Daggerheart Version 1.4 Updates {{!}} Open Beta|criticalrole| Critical Role}}
*{{YouTube|BhLNN5nnnIw|Daggerheart Version 1.4.2 Updates {{!}} Open Beta|criticalrole| Critical Role}}
*{{YouTube|pvX_IVul9HE|Critical Role Creates Characters in Daggerheart {{!}} Open Beta|criticalrole| Critical Role}}
*{{YouTube|6VaGJzB6tms|The Menagerie Levels Up with Daggerheart! {{!}} Open Beta|criticalrole| Critical Role}}
* {{YouTube|mmPp1q6l2bI|Daggerheart: What You Need to Know|criticalrole| Critical Role}}
* {{YouTube|VIGtVcwbgEk|Daggerheart First Look: Worldbuilding with Critical Role - Live from PAX Unplugged|DarringtonPress| Darrington Press}}

=='''References'''==
{{Reflist}}
'''Art:'''
{{Reflist|group="art"}}

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