Critical Role Unveils Daggerheart’s Age of Umbra Campaign

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Summary

  • Age of Umbra is Critical Role’s first Daggerheart campaign in a dark fantasy world with Hope and Fear mechanics.
  • Critical Role launches Daggerheart TTRPG on May 20, offering a new narrative-focused system.
  • Age of Umbra’s eight-part series premieres May 29, featuring the core cast of Critical Role in a unique campaign format.

Critical Role unveiled “Age of Umbra”, their inaugural campaign series based on the original, dark fantasy world of Daggerheart. The initial episode of this eight-episode Daggerheart miniseries will debut on Twitch, YouTube, and Beacon on May 29th, marking a significant milestone as it represents Critical Role’s largest project outside of Dungeons & Dragons to date.

The innovative tabletop role-playing game known as “Daggerheart,” created by “Critical Role,” will make its grand debut on May 20th. This story-driven game features an unique system that incorporates custom d12s, showcasing a Hope and Fear mechanism which empowers both the Game Master and players to shape the game in unforeseen ways. While “Critical Role” has already conducted several one-shot games using this system, they have yet to embark on any extended campaign with it.

The dynamics are set to shift as Critical Role has formally unveiled the eight-part miniseries titled “Age of Umbra”, which will star the main cast of Critical Role, including game master Matthew Mercer and players Ashley Johnson, Laura Bailey, Liam O’Brien, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, Taliesin Jaffe, and Travis Willingham. From May 29 onwards, fans can tune in to Twitch, YouTube, or Critical Role’s Beacon streaming service every Thursday at 7 PM PT. However, a special Session Zero episode will be available a week prior on May 22 for those who want an early peek.

Critical Role Age of Umbra Daggerheart Campaign Release Schedule

AGE OF UMBRA is a new 8-episode #Daggerheart series coming May 29th to Beacon, Twitch, and YouTube! GM and Age of Umbra designer Matthew Mercer leads the #CriticalRole founders through a dark, survival fantasy undertaking, in which small communities hold fast against the darkness of a dying world. — Critical Role (@criticalrole.bsky.social) 2025-05-12T16:05:38.976Z

  • May 22 – Session Zero
  • May 29 – Episode 1
  • June 5 – Episode 2
  • June 12 – Episode 3
  • June 19 – Episode 4
  • June 26 – Episode 5
  • July 3 – No Episode (4th of July)
  • July 10 – Episode 6
  • July 17 – Episode 7
  • July 24 – Episode 8 (Finale)

The story unfolds within the ominously named realm of Umbra, a setting first unveiled in the Daggerheart Core Set. This world, called Halcyon Domain, is godless and plagued by returning dead who transform into terrifying creatures. A looming danger known as the Umbra, a dark abyss, threatens to corrupt everything it touches. However, Sacred Pyres, protected by tight-knit communities, act as a barrier against this encroaching darkness. The narrative will initially center around characters Riegel, Ray, Jaffe, Willingham, and Johnson from Desperloch, with Bailey and O’Brien expected to join them midway through their journey.

The unique approach that Critical Role is employing for Age of Umbra deserves recognition. Previously, they’ve produced miniseries like Exandria Unlimited or Wildemount Wildlings, but few have exceeded four episodes or utilized a game system other than Dungeons and Dragons, and even fewer delved into worlds outside the main campaign settings. In essence, Age of Umbra appears to follow a format similar to Dimension 20 – the Dropout actual play series, which features seasons consisting of smaller, largely unconnected narratives and environments.

It seems unlikely that Critical Role is ending their extended story arcs, like the ones fans are accustomed to with over 100 episodes. However, no news has been shared about a fourth campaign yet. So, we’ll probably have to be patient until ‘Age of Umbra’ concludes on July 24 to learn what Critical Role plans next.

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2025-05-15 02:47