So you're done with D&D but still want to play D&Dish fantasy...

[Vael]

I didn't think I was done with DnD ... tbh, I still want to play it. But I'll confess Daggerheart kinda stole my heart. It's simpler, faster and just seems to have synthesized a lot of elements from other games and made them work together.

I do think that it is primarily that my taste for system complexity has been trending down. Any system that claims to offer something crunchier than 5e gets an immediate ... eh, probably not for me response. Bounced off Pathfinder 2, haven't even considered trying Level Up, barely got through an Exalted campaign. When 5e came out, it was the sweet spot for system complexity ... now I'm feeling it's close to the upper bound for me.

 

[jian]

This always seems to go back to what your group liked about D&D but why they don’t want to play D&D.

For our group, 5E was the most palatable version since 2E but it still got a bit wearying. At the same time we’d absorbed a lot of more modern fantasy tropes and didn’t mind seeing those reflected in our games. So arguably the only game to scratch the D&D itch we’ve played is Fabula Ultima, but as the GM I’m also looking at Dragonbane and Daggerheart. But currently we’re deep into an X-men 1995 MSH campaign so we’ll see after that.

 

[jmartkdr2]

Near as I can tell, Daggerheart is one step toward narrative-focused play (starting from 5e). So if you like 5e but wish it was a little easier to refluff, was more flexible on backstory, and had more roleplaying prompts than 5e, Daggerheart might be right for you.

If you’re starting from a PbtA position, Daggerheart is less if those things and way crunchier.