Daggerheart to Heart – Details, episodes & analysis

The Spotlight is an oft talked about facet of Daggerheart, often creating a lot of debate about how it's best used, and how it reframes the way we play TTRPGs. It's a lot simpler than people seem to think though.

Gethin:  @thewelshdm  Nico:  @NicodeGallo 

=== COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT - MENAGERIE OF MAYHEM ===Menagerie of Mayhem: Volume 1 introduces 35 new adversaries, including multi-phase foes like the Blood Mage and adversary groups such as the ferocious Umbral Hunting Pack and the nihilistic Congregation of the End.

Heart of Daggers: https://heartofdaggers.com/products/menagerie-of-mayhem-vol-1/

DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/553609/menagerie-of-mayhem-volume-1?affiliate_id=3073419Topics:00:00 - Character Establishment Tricks04:57 - Sharing the Spotlight38:13 - Community SpotlightMusic - Middle-Earth by Luis_Humanoide

Combat in Daggerheart invites players and GMs to fill the story with high octane action and dramatic moments. But the lack of initative has been a major hold up for many. This episode we discuss why Daggerheart's story first combat opens the door for much better experiences at the table.Gethin:  @thewelshdm  Nico:  @NicodeGallo === COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT - HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL ===Hope Springs Eternal has 120+ pages of original content made for Daggerheart. All 5 campaign frames are complemented by a location usable in any campaign. Check out further details at the Kickstarter below.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ericlazure/hope-springs-eternal/Topics:00:00 - Fear Trackers03:17 - No Initiative System14:11 - Action Movies18:38 - Narrative Over Mechanics33:10 - Community SpotlightMusic - Middle-Earth by Luis_Humanoide

Environments invite players and GMs to explore their worlds, and face new challenges outside of combat. Daggerheart has provided a whole buffet of options for you to choose from.

Gethin:  @thewelshdm 

Nico:  @NicodeGallo 

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT - WONDROUS ENVIRONMENTS

Expand your Daggerheart adventures with a selection of mysterious locations drawn from across the realms of nature and magic. Wondrous Environments provides 50+ Environment Stat Blocks ready to drop into your campaign, along with bespoke Adversaries to go with them.

⁠https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/552648/wondrous-environments⁠

Topics:

00:00 - Best New Genre

03:11 - Versatile Environments

35:31 - Community Spotlight

Music - Middle-Earth by Luis_Humanoide

Session 0's are a foundational part of TTRPGs, Daggerheart even has an entire chapter dedicated to them. However it is very easy for players and GMs to come to them ill prepared to collaboratively build the world and establish their story. Let's discuss how we can all do better in our Session 0s.Gethin:  @thewelshdm  Nico:  @NicodeGallo  === COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT - THROUGH THE UNSEEN EYE ===Explore your characters' backstories and connections with your friends while being stuck in a realm made up of your own memories. 
Collaboratively build your own big boss that you have to face as a group together. All of this is possible, in “Through The Unseen Eye”Heart of Daggers: https://heartofdaggers.com/products/mystical-emotional-adventure-for-all-levels-through-the-unseen-eye/DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/555026/mystical-character-driven-daggerheart-adventure-through-the-unseen-eye?src=hottest_filtered&affiliate_id=3073419Topics:00:00 - Intro01:02 - Our Dream Characters04:43 - Main Topic08:02 - Nico Doesn't Run Session 0s11:50 - Creating Characters Collaboratively15:24 - Don't Railroad the GM22:20 - Don't Prewrite the Adventure32:02 - Community SpotlightMusic - Middle-Earth by Luis_Humanoide

Ever since it's launch there have been a number of swirling half-truths about Daggerheart in the online community. Hearsay and passed on pieces of information that have led many to believe certain elements of the game that aren't true. Let's shine a light on these, and figure what the game actually wants you to do.

Gethin:  @thewelshdm 

Nico:  @NicodeGallo 

=== COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT - FANGS & FELONS ===The ultimate campaign companion designed to keep your game running smoothly and your players running scared. Whether your table is wandering the corrupted wilds of the Witherwild, navigating the political fires of Five Banners, or exploring any Daggerheart world, this book drops predators, profiteers, and peril directly into play. Every adversary and environment is designed to create motion, pressure, and conflicts, with scaling guidance so they grow alongside your campaign.

Heart of Daggers: https://heartofdaggers.com/products/ettins-adversaries-fangs-felons/

DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/555251/ettin-s-adversaries-fangs-felons?affiliate_id=3073419Topics:00:00 - First Adventure Adversaries04:11 - Daggerheart Myths06:40 - The Cards11:26 - Fuzzy Ranges14:36 - Gold System21:29 - Character Sheets25:31 - What's In the Chest!?37:53 - Community Spotlight48:43 - OutroMusic - Middle-Earth by Luis_Humanoide

Daggerheart is still a new system, barely a year old, and yet we've seen loads of great 3rd party content already. This week we ask Carlos Cisco how they've found desigining in Daggerheart, and share our own experiences as well.

Gethin: @thewelshdm

Nico: @NicodeGallo

=== COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT - PISTOLHEART VOL 2 ===

Heart of Daggers:

DriveThruRPG:

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

02:32 - Iconic Items in Daggerheart

05:24 - Daggerheart Survey

08:30 - Designing in Daggerheart

18:45 - Shifting to Daggerheart

23:06 - Homebrew vs Publishing

26:57 - Designing to a Theme

29:44 - Community Spotlight

Music - Middle-Earth by Luis_Humanoide

Campaign Frames were an innovative alternative to a singular world, campaign settings, or adventure modules at Daggerheart's launch. What do they provide as us GMs and Players in creating exciting games?Gethin:  @thewelshdm  Nico:  @NicodeGallo  === COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT - BEACON OF HOPE ===Now, after centuries, one nation has shattered the towers and slain their draconic overlord. In the newly-free country of Bastion, a defiant few stoke the flames of revolution. In a Bastion of Hope campaign, you’ll face impossible odds as you fight to end the age of tyrants. This original campaign frame provides everything needed to play using the Daggerheart rules, including: Heart of Daggers - itch.io - https://michaelrunderwood.itch.io/bastion-of-hopeTopics:00:00 - Intro01:18 - Hope & Fear Excitement06:02 - Main Topic: Campaign Frames11:44 - Inciting Incidents Value18:47 - Campaign Mechanics25:17 - What About Adventures?31:00 - Community SpotlightMusic - Middle-Earth by Luis_Humanoide

As the cursed artifact of polluted mimicry becomes more prevelant in modern society, this weeks episode discusses AI in Daggerheart, the community's usage of it, and what other options are available to us for our tables and design work.

Gethin: @thewelshdm

Nico: @NicodeGallo

=== COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT - TTRPG RESOURCES ===

If you need to find art, artists, or other resources for your Daggerheart - other other TTRPG - experiences, ttrpgresources.com is the place to go. A centralised hub of public access artwork, places to find artists, and other ethical generative content.

https://ttrpgresources.com/

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

00:58 - Iconic Items in Daggerheart

02:35 - The Presence of AI

04:57 - The Need for Art in TTRPGs

08:14 - Why AI is Bad

14:27 - Other Options to AI

18:38 - Community Response to its Use

25:04 - Community Spotlight

35:35 - Character Sheet Tangent

39:41 - Outro

Music - Middle-Earth by Luis_Humanoide

The Social Pillar is often one of the least supported pillars in TTRPGs. This happens because it's hard to plan for every element. Daggerheart still has plenty of tools to help you out though.

Gethin: @thewelshdm

Nico: @NicodeGallo

=== COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT - THE DICE ROLETH ===

Made up of an unexpected party of heroes from the Heart of Daggers community, The Dice Rolleth is a mostly Daggerheart Actual Play!

https://www.youtube.com/@UCJANKDCZ6YtnSuUUbGjnCVA

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

02:54 - Your Best NPC Voice

06:40 - New Daggerheart Actual Plays

11:57 - The Art of Daggerheart

12:59 - Fear Fest!

16:15 - The Challenge of Social Encounters

22:22 - Social Sub-systems

27:47 - Using Stress

30:17 - When to Use Mechanics

35:58 - Know Your NPCs

39:00 - Community Spotlight

Music - Middle-Earth by Luis_Humanoide

Looking around the internet there is a wealth of digital tools available for Daggerheart and TTRPGs. But do you need them to have a good game? Which ones are useful? And can they get in the way of the system?

Gethin: @thewelshdm

Nico: @NicodeGallo

=== COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT - HEART OF DAGGERS ===

Heart of Daggers is a one-stop shop for all things Daggerheart. Whether you are looking for 3rd party content to expand your games. A Character Creator for your dozens of character ideas. Or GM tools to help you run smoother and more enjoyable games.

https://heartofdaggers.com/

Topics:

00:00 - Intro

02:45 - News

06:57 - Digital Tools in Daggerheart

37:41 - Heart of Daggers

Music - Middle-Earth by Luis_Humanoide