Critical Role Announces Two New RPGs

Critical Role’s publishing arm, Darrington Press, has released a ‘State of the Press’ video announcing two new tabletop RPGs.

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Two new RPG systems we’ll be releasing: Illuminated Worlds, optimized for short story arcs and adaptable to myriad settings, and Daggerheart, a fresh take on fantasy RPGs with emphasis on longer campaigns and rich character options.

At Gen Con this year, you’ll be able to play AND purchase Queen by Midnight, and you’ll even be able to take our two upcoming RPGs for a spin. We hope to see you there!

 

[Parmandur]

I am a little surprised to discover it is a flavor of PbtA. I would have guessed a more traditional RPG, seeing as how they (and their audience, presumably) are coming off 5E.

Nah, thst fits their style in a lot of ways, and PbtA is the main alternative to D&D.

 

[OB1]

I am a little surprised to discover it is a flavor of PbtA. I would have guessed a more traditional RPG, seeing as how they (and their audience, presumably) are coming off 5E.

I would guess this means that Dagger Heart, like Candela, will be used by them as a break or a side game from the main campaign, not as a replacement of it, at least initially.

 

[Reynard]

Nah, thst fits their style in a lot of ways,

True

and PbtA is the main alternative to D&D.

Not so sure. Like, the Avatar game didn't hit $10m because it was PbtA. If, for example, WotC Kickstarted a 5E Star Wars game*, I think it would break every crowdfunding record ever.

If there is a "main alternative to D&D" (and I don't think there is) it would be BRP because CoC is the next biggest game as far as installed user base goes.

*Of course they won't and wouldn't.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I am a little surprised to discover it is a flavor of PbtA. I would have guessed a more traditional RPG, seeing as how they (and their audience, presumably) are coming off 5E.

Yeah, quite frankly this is a disappointment to me. I was hoping we would get something more traditional, especially given Mercer's claims that many styles of gaming are equally valid, having both of their exclusive games fall on the narrative side of the spectrum shows a clear bias towards that style.

 

[Aldarc]

I would guess this means that Dagger Heart, like Candela, will be used by them as a break or a side game from the main campaign, not as a replacement of it, at least initially.

It's hard to imagine Matt Mercer making a full break from D&D. The other players may not care as much, but Mercer's blood seems to run the color of 2e D&D.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It's hard to imagine Matt Mercer making a full break from D&D. The other players may not care as much, but Mercer's blood seems to run the color of 2e D&D.

True, which is why this move is strange and saddening.

 

[OB1]

It's hard to imagine Matt Mercer making a full break from D&D. The other players may not care as much, but Mercer's blood seems to run the color of 2e D&D.

Agree, though I'd put Liam in that category as well. Business wise, it probably makes the most sense for them to stay with D&D with Exandria, launching campaign 4 around the same time as 5.24 releases to take advantage of that hype cycle. Maybe they take a 6 month break in between to play Daggerheart if it's ready, which is no sure thing. In fact, that would be a great way to test their audience and their product to see if it could sustain them breaking away from D&D eventually while not risking their great symbiotic relationship with WotC.

I doubt, for example, that Daggerheart sales in the first few years would come anywhere close to their sales of 5e supplements. If they're really looking to build a competitive alternative to D&D, they're looking at 5 years of work at a minimum. Their stream is popular, but they would need a great system that appeals to more than just their fans and is actually playable by people without S Tier level skill.

 

[Reynard]

Agree, though I'd put Liam in that category as well. Business wise, it probably makes the most sense for them to stay with D&D with Exandria, launching campaign 4 around the same time as 5.24 releases to take advantage of that hype cycle. Maybe they take a 6 month break in between to play Daggerheart if it's ready, which is no sure thing. In fact, that would be a great way to test their audience and their product to see if it could sustain them breaking away from D&D eventually while not risking their great symbiotic relationship with WotC.

I doubt, for example, that Daggerheart sales in the first few years would come anywhere close to their sales of 5e supplements. If they're really looking to build a competitive alternative to D&D, they're looking at 5 years of work at a minimum. Their stream is popular, but they would need a great system that appeals to more than just their fans and is actually playable by people without S Tier level skill.

I think it is highly likely crowdfunding for Dagger Heart will break records, just because of fan loyalty. but that doesn't really say anything about what people will actually want to play.

 

[Parmandur]

True

Not so sure. Like, the Avatar game didn't hit $10m because it was PbtA. If, for example, WotC Kickstarted a 5E Star Wars game*, I think it would break every crowdfunding record ever.

If there is a "main alternative to D&D" (and I don't think there is) it would be BRP because CoC is the next biggest game as far as installed user base goes.

*Of course they won't and wouldn't.

User base, possibly, but there are a lot of PbtA games, and not too many BRP ones. And big non-D&D streaming games...tend towards PbtA. It's very streamer friendly.

 

[Reynard]

User base, possibly, but there are a lot of PbtA games, and not too many BRP ones. And big non-D&D streaming games...tend towards PbtA. It's very streamer friendly.

It is probably impossible to know, but I wonder what the relationship is between stream viewership and people playing in real life is.