Daggerheart Sold Out in Two Weeks, Has Three-Year Plan in Place

A recent interview with Business Insider revealed just how well Daggerheart did for Critical Role's Darrington Press when it first launched earlier this year. Ed Lopez, Critical Role's chief operating officer, revealed that Daggerheart sold out in two weeks. According to Lopez, Critical Role anticipated that their stock would last a year, but the game was forced to go into reprints in a hurry. "The amount of units that we ordered we thought was going to last us a year, and it lasted us literally two weeks," Lopez said. "It's a great problem, it's a Champagne problem, but it's now changing our view in terms of what this product can be."

Lopez also revealed that Darrington Press has a three-year plan in place for Daggerheart, which includes the already announced Hope & Fear expansion, which adds a new domain and several new classes and backgrounds to the game.

Lopez also spoke about the hires of Jeremy Crawford and Chris Perkins, stating that the two would be working on both Daggerheart and D&D material for Darrington Press. "We really want their creative juices brought to the world of 'Daggerheart.' That being said, we're also doing a bunch of 'D&D' stuff, and who better to bring in than the guys who used to do it?" Lopez said.

 

[Zehnseiter]

For me AP clearly means "All Purpose", like AP Flour ;-)

As for sales ... no one, not Pathfinder, not Daggerheart, are in DnD's league. That doesn't mean Daggerheart isn't doing shockingly well on its own terms.

Indeed I always loathe it when threads about completlly different games turn into a useless D&D sales number discussion.

This thread is Daggerheart's place to shine. And shine it indeed does when it overshoots the planning of it creators in such a spectacular way.

It also means that they probably ramp up their internal plans for further support for the game.

 

[Neonchameleon]

I have the PDF and skimmed through it, but have not actually played it so I am a bit ignorant here. Why do you think this?

I don't think it's a bad system for APs - but Daggerheart comes with a lot of tools from Hope and Fear to Connections questions to the way the campaign frames work that make it really good for running largely improvised character-centtic campaigns.

If you try to run an adventure path it will be rules lighter and both smoother mechanics and more chaotic situations than D&D but other than more mechanically engaging Environments and easier to use and more varied NPCs it won't be substantially different.

 

[Deth Stalk]

I played Dagger Heart and it was alright. I do like the stress aspect, it's a fresh feel from D&D but it still lacks the mechanics that I care about in a Table Top Game. In My Opinion G.U.R.P.S will always be far superior to any other table top game since it does not limit the player in any way and has far superior mechanics. Any game that forces class and race Like D&D will always be lacking in the creation aspect. Any game that does not have hit locations is lacking in interesting combat, Also any game does not have Armor = Damage resistance make it so your gear feels meaningless. I was super excited about Dagger Heart since it had armor slots but it was still lacking the flavor of Generic Universal Role Playing System. So It's not worth my time.

 

[aramis erak]

Before 2000?
Dunno about that

Late 1970's in wargaming, perhaps earlier.
Actual Play was used in re RPGs in the BBS scene and USENet in the 90's. Specifically for reviews based upon.... Actual Play of the reviewed game.

The modern use? muddled as hell. Paizo's Adventure Paths didn't become a thing until D&D 3E in 1999... But AP for actual play in reviews is still present and AP for Actual Play recordings is also widely present.

 

[MNblockhead]

I still read "AP" as Associated Press, have to remind myself this is a gaming forum and then read it as Adventure Path because that is the first TTRPG use of the initials I encountered. Having AP being used for Adventure Path and Actual Play in the same thread is confusing. My New Years resolution is to use LP for Live Play and AP for Adventure Path, unless I'm in a forum discussing writing styles.

Again, i think you are overestimating the importance to the success of Dh a actual play campaign is. Has there ever been another game besides D&D that has explicitly benefited from an actual play show?

I think all systems with Live Play (LP) podcasts, Twitch Streams, and You Tube videos benefit from it, just like they benefit from discussion boards and blogs. I builds and solidifies fan communities and helps people learn about and learn how to play the games.

Personally I think all AP is a separate Hobby completely. I'm not liking how alot of games are designed with AP in mind. I don't think that is a good thing for gaming.

I guess, in the same way that world building is a separate hobby. I see it as just another way to engage in the hobby. I've enjoy live plays not only for listening / viewing entertainment but they help me learn and internalize the rules and give me ideas and approaches to use in my own games.

I don't know what about a TTRPG system makes it designed specifically for LP. Any system can be used for LP. There were systems that emphasized improv and story-focused games before LP shows and podcast really took off. Has the popularity of LP as entertainment influenced more rules-light, improv-focused games. I don't know. I generally run more crunchy, tactical games for my long-term campaigns and tend to listen to LPs running those systems. I also enjoy rules light improv heavy games, like InSPECTREs and Stealing Stories from the Devil, but mostly as beer-and-pretzle one shots. In any event, the rise in LPs and whatever influence they've had on design goals and player expectations have not had any impact on my ability to enjoy the hobby.

Until a game system includes advice on audio and video setups, how to drive audience engagement, and tips on improving improv and voice acting skills, I won't consider any system as specifically designed with LP in mind. And when such a system is published, or if one exists now, I probably won't have much interest in it, but it doesn't affect my ability to enjoy playing the kinds of games I like.

 

[MNblockhead]

Late 1970's in wargaming, perhaps earlier.
Actual Play was used in re RPGs in the BBS scene and USENet in the 90's. Specifically for reviews based upon.... Actual Play of the reviewed game.

The modern use? muddled as hell. Paizo's Adventure Paths didn't become a thing until D&D 3E in 1999... But AP for actual play in reviews is still present and AP for Actual Play recordings is also widely present.

Yeah, I mean every game I play is actual play and live play. Maybe "broadcast actual/live play" would be better? BAP? BLP?

 

[overgeeked]

Its come up half a dozen times at least this year on this very forum. If it did or didnt, will not change the narrative.

Whoever finally manages to kill that particular meme should move on to killing the meme that Gumshoe was made in response to failures of the Call of Cthulhu game system. The sooner both those BS claims die im a fire the better.

 

[overgeeked]

I still read "AP" as Associated Press, have to remind myself this is a gaming forum

Same. AP will always be Associated Press first and foremost.

 

[overgeeked]

Yeah, I mean every game I play is actual play and live play. Maybe "broadcast actual/live play" would be better? BAP? BLP?

Broadcast Live Actual Play. BLAP!