Daggerheart Core Set

I got the hang of it in age of Umbra and I’m playing my first campaign. I’m really liking it.

The book is beautiful, and everything about the cards is fantastic!

I started playing D&D when 5th edition launched (10 years ago, if you can believe it) and now I am paid to run TTRPGs at a local game store. I run a lot of games, over the summer I was doing around 6 a week, for groups of ten year olds, teens, and adults. I find running games in Daggerheart is preferable in every way for every age group.

My favorite thing is the flow of combat, the constant tug of war of the spotlight between players and adversaries created naturally by the Hope and Fear system results in a dynamic scene that is more engaging, more narratively fulfilling, and ultimately easier to run. The more streamlined statblocks of Daggerheart adversaries versus systems like D&D or Pathfinder makes it so much easier to prep, and so much easier to create custom enemies. The included advice for creating custom adversaries in the core book is so helpful. The general philosophy of supporting GMs in creating homebrew content is evident throughout the core rulebook, and through the excellent resources available on their website.

Player character creation is also so much easier with the card system, and the class-specific character sheets. The cards each have unique art and make putting together a character so much more fun and involve way less writing down abilities. Very rarely do I need to crack the book open for a rules clarification, because player abilities are all included on the cards or the class character sheet. Daggerheart is excellent at just letting you play, so much more story happens in a session because play is not bogged down with dense stat blocks or page long spell descriptions.

I could wax poetic about this incredible system indefinitely. Suffice it to say I was getting pretty burnt out on TTRPGs, and Daggerheart has completely revitalized my love of the game. I have never written a product review before, but this game has so tangibly benefited my professional and personal life that I felt moved to do so, which sounds insane but is true.

One drawback is a lack of physical accessories. If they sold just a pair of d12s, that would be great, so that players could have what they need without buying a whole new set of dice. I also wish they sold tokens, that would be a nice touch. Mostly I wish there was a Daggerheart GM screen. I know it was part of the limited edition, which I now wish I had gotten, but I would really appreciate an individually purchasable option.

Cards and book are great quality & the ruleset seems great.

I finally had a chance to go through and look at the game and all its glory. Not going to lie I’m a little overwhelmed because I do not have an extensive history of playing ttrpgs but I am excited to start this game!