D&D (2024) Is There A New Sheriff in Town?

[Theory of Games]

D&D faces a real rival in Critical Role as a true TTRPG showdown begins

Is DnD’s dominance about to end?

www.polygon.com

Welp, things have gotten interesting! Chris Perkins and Jeremy Crawford jumped ship from WotC to Darrington Press! Now another WotC content boss, Todd Kenreck, has pulled his parachute waving buh-bye to the Lizards! Is there a power-shift occurring in the TTRPG industry? Are the stars lining up to make Daggerheart the next big thing -- even bigger than the TTRPG final boss, Dungeons & Dragons?

I can't remember something like this happening ever in this hobby and it's worth speculating at this point - especially since talking heads have started percolating. The big question: did "OneDnD 2k24" answer all the problems the community had with 5e? 5e was a very good system, but it had its holes (CR, limited content, unoriginal settings, kit-based chargen, et al) and groups were anxiously awaiting innovative fixes -- that didn't come.

Daggerheart had a great Kickstarter, already had a fabulous fanbase and seems ready to snatch a sizable piece of the ttrpg playerbase. They didn't need an adrenaline shot like Perkins and Crawford, but they got it anyway! I don't know about youz guys, but this looks like a fight brewing -- one the likes of which we haven't seen since 4e vs. Pathfinder!

What do you guys think? Gaining Crawford, Perkins and whoever else comes over, does Daggerheart have a realistic shot at taking D&D down as the #1 TTRPG? Are the winds of change whistling? Does WotC have the talent (and interest) to address the design issues of 2024e? In your humble opinions, which is currently the bestest game: D&D 2024 or Daggerheart?

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

My impression is that most gamers want a game rather than a collaborative world-building exercise, so Daggerheart isn't really competing in the same segment as D&D.

That's not to say Daggerheart isn't going to be successful. There's probably a lot of gamers who do want a more story-focused game, but only have experience with D&D 5e and don't really understand their own preferences. Daggerheart can probably grab a huge chunk of those gamers.

 

[ECMO3]

​

I can't remember something like this happening ever in this hobby and it's worth speculating at this point - especially since talking heads have started percolating. The big question: did "OneDnD 2k24" answer all the problems the community had with 5e? 5e was a very good system, but it had its holes (CR, limited content, unoriginal settings, kit-based chargen, et al) and groups were anxiously awaiting innovative fixes -- that didn't come.

It will certainly be interesting, Daggerheart is the first thing I have seen that has a chance to unseat D&D.

As far as the paragraph I qouted, I don't think "that crowd" is going to adapt Daggerheart. The people that wanted "innovative fixes" to 5E are a minority I think and I think Daggerheart goes in the opposite direction from the direction they want to go.

 

[mamba]

What do you guys think? Gaining Crawford, Perkins and whoever else comes over, does Daggerheart have a realistic shot at taking D&D down as the #1 TTRPG?

No, no chance at all. People like tearing D&D down, but those two did not make it and it will do just fine without them.

They might still be valuable assets for CR and grow their business, that does not require they surpass D&D however.

 

[Minigiant]

Nope.

All of good RPGs thrive under the shadows.

Being #1 involves commiting some of the same actions and submitting to the same amount of criticism D&D does in order to get there.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It will certainly be interesting, Daggerheart is the first thing I have seen that has a chance to unseat D&D.

As far as the paragraph I qouted, I don't think "that crowd" is going to adapt Daggerheart. The people that wanted "innovative fixes" to 5E are a minority I think and I think Daggerheart goes in the opposite direction from the direction they want to go.

The funny thing is, I'm one of the people who wants innovative fixes for 5e, and 5.5 didn't go in a direction I want to go either.

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

 

[Frozen_Heart]

I feel the only thing which can kill D&D is D&D (I think losing all their staff and replacing them with AI could do this)

I think Daggerheart will be extremely successful, but it's appealing to a slightly different (but overlapping) crowd compared to 5e. I think it might even overtake Pathfinder, as by its nature Daggerheart is far more accessible to casual players.

 

[DEFCON 1]

No, there is no "fight" between D&D and Daggerheart. And no, Daggerheart will not "surpass" D&D. There is no legitimate shot in any sense of the word of that happening.

Will Jeremy and Chris' expertise help extend Daggerheart's game and reach? Sure. But there have been countless games that have employed former D&D core book designers over the last 50 years and that hasn't pushed any of them to surpass Dungeons & Dragons.

If people like Daggerheart... then just enjoy Daggerheart. Take it and play it for what it is. That's all anyone need do. But don't waste anyone's time trying to generate some sort of showdown between them and Dungeons & Dragons just so (general) you can massage your ego into thinking you're backing some new horse up onto the podium.

 

[Scribe]

In your humble opinions, which is currently the bestest game: D&D 2024 or Daggerheart

Shadowdark.

Of these options however?

Which system has the most focused and intentional design?

I believe that to be Daggerheart.