I've been playing D&D for years, but Daggerheart might make me use it instead thanks to one simple yet brilliant mechanic

Photo of Daggerheart Core Set opened up to showcase the various decks next to the core rulebook.

Daggerheart is hoping it can tempt you away from D&D, and honestly? The Critical Role RPG may just be able to pull it off.

Not that it'll be easy, mind you. Anyone trying to crack the world of pen-and-paper RPGs is in for an uphill battle. As one of the oldest and most popular fantasy roleplaying games, D&D is like a tree that's grown so large it hogs almost every drop of sunlight – all the plants around it struggle to grow in its shadow. That's why the best tabletop RPGs have to adopt a different approach if they want a chance at survival, and Daggerheart has opted for something Critical Role is famous for – the classic "yes, and" exercise.