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We're still reeling from the Daggerheart panel at PAX Unplugged '25, and not just from the newly announced campaigns and GM tools. Critical Role's Darrington Press had plenty more to share about bringing new adventure to the TTRPG community, and at one point, even announced how they were going to do it completely free of charge. See, the Daggerheart team is partnering up with exactly the kind of questmate you'd want to explore lands unknown - Free RPG Day.

In case you don't know, Free RPG Day is both the title of an organization and the event they bring to game shops across the globe - wherein curious players get to experience the thrill of an unfamiliar TTRPG without dipping into their wallets. This past June, Daggerheart provided a one-page RPG called A Familiar Problem (written by Grant Howitt and the Mighty Nein's own Marisha Ray), which focused on the animal sidekicks of your standard adventuring party. And in 2026, a new adventure will take shape.

Well, almost new. As the panellists (that is, Daggerheart designers Spenser Starker, Rowan Hall, and Matt Mercer, producer Elise Rezendes, and game director Jeremy Crawford) explained, the story Daggerheart is bringing to Free RPG Day has already been in the world - or at least, has been to Gen Con.

"For those of you who are looking for other ways to play Daggerheart," said Matt Mercer, "We're actually partnering with Free RPG day to bring you another Venture to all participating game stores all over. there are a few folks that were lucky enough to play the earlier Dying Spire Gen Con premade adventure - this actually continues that story onward."

"So Dying Spire will no longer be something that's just reserved for the GMs at Gen Con," continued Starke, "So if you played [the game] at Gen Con and were like, 'What do I do next?' You can jump into it again."

Again, clarified Mercer, but with a "full update" to the campaign as well - new adversaries, new arcs, etc.

"I think if I did the math right," jumped in Rezendes, "There are over 1,800 stores [participating in Free RPG Day], and every store gets a 12-pack [of the game], and each pack includes enough for six players, I think over 90,000 people will have an opportunity to play that for Free RPG Day."

Well damn. Your move, Starfinder.

From the lands of Exandria to your very own smartscreens, Popverse has everything you need to know about the TTRPG phenomenon that is Critical Role. Here you'll find:

• Popverse's Critical Role watch order
• An interview with GM Brennan Lee Mulligan
• The cast's appearance at C2E2 '25

...and more. Roll initiative, player. Adventure awaits.