Yesterday, Viva La Dirt League (VLDL) launched Daggerheart: Azerim, a new actual play series that sees the New Zealand-based comedy troupe adopting Critical Role’s proprietary roleplaying system.
The series premiered on Tuesday, January 13, exclusively on Beacon, Critical Role’s dedicated streaming service. The show brings back VLDL’s popular “Baradun and the Dickheads” adventuring party, placing them into the mechanics of Daggerheart for a campaign that promises to shift from lighthearted adventure to cosmic horror.
The Dickheads Return
The cast features the core Viva La Dirt League team, well-known for their viral Epic NPC Man and D&D Logic sketches. Robert Hartley takes the chair as Game Master, guiding players Adam King (High Sorcerer Baradun), Alan Morrison (Greg the Garlic Farmer), Rowan Bettjeman (Bodger Blodger), and Ben Van Lier (Bartholomew Osiris Bladesong / BOB).
According to the announcement, the story begins with the “Beast Feast” campaign frame, a standard Daggerheart starter scenario, but quickly deviates. The plot catalyst is the disappearance of Bodger’s “Grandfather’s Hammer,” which leads the group to uncover a “spreading Void horror” threatening the world of Azerim.
A Tiered Release Strategy
The distribution model for Daggerheart: Azerim highlights the increasing fragmentation of the actual play landscape, where creators are prioritising their own subscription platforms over open platforms like YouTube.
The series is subject to a strict windowing schedule:
- Out Now: Streaming first on Beacon (Critical Role’s membership service).
- Jan 20: Available on VivaPlus (VLDL’s own subscription platform).
- Jan 27: General release on the Viva La Dirt League DnD YouTube channel.
This release structure suggests a strategic effort to drive traffic to both groups’ independent revenue streams, incentivising dedicated fans to pay for early access rather than waiting for the free YouTube upload.
Why It Matters
This collaboration is a significant marketing push for Daggerheart. Since the Open Gaming Licence (OGL) controversy of 2023, Critical Role has been steadily building Daggerheart (published by their arm, Darrington Press) as a distinct alternative to Dungeons & Dragons. By placing the system in the hands of VLDL, who command millions of subscribers and a massive casual audience, Critical Role is effectively showcasing the game’s versatility and “watchability” to a broader demographic.
For Viva La Dirt League, the partnership solidifies their standing as major players in the TTRPG space, moving beyond short-form sketches into high-production long-form campaigns that rival established actual plays.
