Richard and Karl return for Session Zero of The Witherwild, crafting a new campaign from the roots up and ending with a froggy foray into adventure!

In our second podcast episode, we dive into character creation using the Witherwild campaign frame for Daggerheart, setting the tone for a sprawling, mythic story full of creeping corruption, fractured alliances, and moss-covered gods who may or may not smell like compost.

• Deep-dive into Daggerheart’s collaborative character creation, with ancestry, community, and class choices inspired by the setting's lore-rich factions
• Karl builds a tragicomic frogman (Half human, half Ribbit,) character who—after being killed as part of a scheme navigates politics, death, and being the lord of the fly's.
• Exploration of key Session Zero tools like crafting Experiences, tying character backstories to the political tensions of Fanewick and Haven, and answering worldbuilding prompts together
• Discussion of tone and themes for The Witherwild: cultural clash, nature’s revenge, divine weirdness, and what it means to survive in a world that’s overgrown and under-cared-for
• GM tips on using the Save the Cat structure, Hope/Fear dice mechanics, and Wither tokens to shape emotional arcs and long-term corruption effects
• Introduction of campaign NPC Kreil Dirn, Haven’s suspiciously charming spymaster who recruits the frogman for a shady job after spotting his potential (and desperation)
• Honest post-game talk about how Daggerheart handles season zeros, how to keep players invested, and the best order to start your games.

Whether you’re prepping your own game or just want to watch a frog dig holes until the government shows up, this episode’s a heartfelt, funny, and lore-rich intro to The Witherwild campaign.

P.S. No frogs were harmed in the making of this episode. Just emotionally destabilized.

Download episode content at https://rajkevis.itch.io/

Richard and Karl venture into the dangerous world of Daggerheart, playing through the official quickstart adventure in a special one-on-one session to test the new game by Darrington Press.

• Comprehensive overview of Daggerheart's core mechanics, including the hope/fear duality dice system, character experiences, and streamlined combat
• Exploration of the Sablewood Forest and its unique hybrid animals like lemur toads and strix wolves
• Encounter with bandit Thistlefolk who attempt to ambush and steal from our hero
• Visit to the peaceful village of Hush with its magical protective barrier and unusual customs
• Meeting with the eccentric Whitefire Arcanist, a fairy-like being with mysterious powers
• Epic final battle to protect a magical ritual that maintains the village's protective wards
• Demonstration of Daggerheart's death and sacrifice mechanics when our hero falls in battle
• Side-by-side comparison of how this system differs from D&D and other traditional TTRPGs

If you're interested in trying Daggerheart, the quickstart adventure we played is available for free on the Darrington Press website!

P.S, I got the crit mechanic wrong!

Follow along at https://rajkevis.itch.io/

Download episode content at https://rajkevis.itch.io/