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Years before a little table got together to play something they called Critical Role, Dungeons and Dragons legends Jeremy Crawford and Chris Perkins were already filming their TTRPG adventures in a series called Acquisitions Incorporated. But even though the pioneer of actual play came before its successor, the two are about to cross paths in an unexpected way - with Acquisition Incorporated beginning an all-new campaign using CR's Daggerheart play system.

Let's back up a bit - anybody keeping up with news of Darrington Press's Daggerheart (on which Critical Role's Matt Mercer is a lead designer) knows that Crawford and Perkins officially joined the company this year. So though it's very exciting that AcqInc is headed to the new system, it's not completely shocking. What is shocking, though, is that the long-running campaign will seemingly be starting over.

Crawford himself made the announcement at the Daggerheart panel from PAX Unplugged '25, where he was joined by designers Mercer, Rowan Hall and Spenser Starke, plus producer Elise Rezendes. Oh, and also on stage for the announcement was Mike Krahulik, the RPGer and artist who fans know as Jim Darkmagic.

"Tonight, we're unveiling Acquisitions Incorporated Daggerheart," said Crawford, "We're starting a brand new campaign, starting at level 1, with every character reimagined for Daggerheart in a brand new world created just for Acquisitions Incorporated."

Ah, ok - so it won't be an entirely new experience for AcqInc fans; they'll apparently recognize familiar traits and maybe even names in this new cast. Just don't think you'll be too familiar.

"After 17 years of playing Jim," said Krahulik, "Getting to reimagine… the way Jeremy said it is - 'I want this to be the truest form of all of your characters.' I got so excited, I've been doing a ton of new character art for everybody. I won't spoil anything, but you won't recognize Jim Darkmagic."

With two animated series on Prime Video, Campaign 4 in full swing, and so much more Exandrian lore to come, Critical Role is showing no signs of slowing down. That's why the adventuring party at Popverse are here to bring you everything we can from those nerdy-ass voice actors & Bo., including:

• How to watch Critical Role in order
• Travis Willingham on the differences between The Legend of Vox Machina and The Mighty Nein
• Taliesin Jaffe on playing Mollymauk Tealeaf for Campaign 2 vs. playing him for Prime Video
• Matt Mercer's homebrew warrior class (created originally for Vin Diesel)

...and much, much more. Roll initiative, player. Magic awaits.