D&D or Daggerheart – Which One Fits Your Table?

Daggerheart vs. D&D: Which One Fits Your Table?

If you’re into tabletop roleplaying games, chances are you’ve heard of Dungeons & Dragons.

But there’s a new name starting to pop up in those same conversations—Daggerheart, the fantasy TTRPG from Critical Role’s Darrington Press.

And that’s raising some interesting questions.

Is it part of D&D? A new edition? A totally different game?
And if you’re new to the hobby—or looking to shake things up—should you start with Daggerheart instead?

Both games offer that classic fantasy feel. You’ll find familiar archetypes, spells, and adventures. But the way they handle the game experience? That’s where things really start to diverge.

D&D gives you structure. You build your character from a menu of classes, abilities, and feats. You roll a d20, plan your moves, and fight tactical battles using initiative and turn order. It’s reliable, flexible, and built for long-term play.

Daggerheart takes a different path. Character creation leans into story and identity. Its core mechanic – the Duality Dice – adds emotional tone to every roll. There’s no initiative, just a narrative Spotlight that shifts from one player to the next. And instead of XP, you level up through major moments in the story.

In our latest video, we take a closer look at the differences and similarities between the two systems. Everything from character creation, combat, mechanics, and even where you can try each game for free.

Whether you’re a veteran DM or just curious about the buzz, this side-by-side comparison might be just what you need to explore something new.

Cheers,
Brian