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You won't have to spend too long on Popverse to figure out I enjoy horror in the world of tabletop role-playing games. So as you can imagine, I was pretty excited for the Daggerheart panel at this year's PAX Unplugged - where last year I learned about Age of Umbra, the moody and terrifying soulslike campaign frame designed by Critical Role's own Matt Mercer. And let me tell you right now - I didn't leave disappointed. Announced at this year's panel was Dark Heart of Andaloria, a Gothic horror adventure coming to the new expansion book Daggerheart: Hope & Fear.

Let's back up a bit - taking the stage to chat Daggerheart at this year's PAXU was Mercer himself, along with fellow game designers Spenser Starke, Rowan Hall, and Elise Rezendes, alongside Game Director Jeremy Crawford. During the announcements stage of the panel, it was Hall that brought up Dark Heart of Andaloria, introducing it as the perfect place for a new game feature - terrifying "transformation cards" that change characters into more monstrous versions of themselves.

"[Dark Heart of Andaloria] was the first campaign frame that we conceived of for this book," she explained, "It's gothic horror. It's Van Helsing, it's monster hunting - it maybe has a little bit of Constantine in there. There's some Vampire Hunter D and Castlevania as well. It's a place for these transformations to have a wonderful and beautiful home, for adversaries that can maybe turn you into vampires and werewolves."

Crediting "brilliant" writer Carlos Cisco for helping craft the campaign, Hall further revealed that the aesthetic of of the campaign will come from Spanish history, pointing out the "lush vineyards" that will be a part of the world's geography. But don't get that comment wrong - we're not headed to Andaloria for any relaxing scenery. Players will be on their toes throughout the entire campaign - not even certain of the very reality around them.

"One of my favorite parts of it is exploring folklore," said Hall, "Your table gets to decide what beliefs are true and which aren't. Does garlic really work against a vampire? Do you really have to invite them in? You figure it out as you go."

Sounds absolutely panic-inducing, Rowan. I am 100% in.

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.