Viva La Dirt League and Critical Role Launch Daggerheart Azerim

Viva La Dirt League and Critical Role Productions debuted a long-form Daggerheart actual-play series, Daggerheart: Azerim, on January 13, 2026, delivering an early-access episode on Critical Role's Beacon subscription service. The show brings VLDL's established Baradun and the Dickheads party into a Beast Feast campaign frame that starts light and comedic before escalating into cosmic horror after the disappearance of a legendary hammer.

The initial Beacon release gives subscribers first sight of the production, with a staggered rollout scheduled one week later on VivaPlus and two weeks later on Viva La Dirt League’s YouTube channel. That places the VivaPlus premiere on January 20 and the public YouTube premiere on January 27, providing clear windows for players and viewers who prefer different access models.

Robert Hartley serves as Game Master for the campaign. The player cast features Adam King as Baradun, Alan Morrison as Greg, Rowan Bettjeman as Bodger, and Ben Van Lier playing Bartholomew, also known as BOB. The series uses the Daggerheart ruleset in a long-form actual-play format, emphasizing narrative development across multiple sessions rather than one-shots or short arcs. The Beast Feast frame gives the party a familiar party dynamic that quickly tests character bonds as the plot darkens.

For community members, the rollout is significant on two fronts. First, it continues the trend of creator collaborations that blend production values and audience reach, allowing fans to see familiar performers in a different mechanical and narrative setting. Second, the staggered release highlights a trade-off between early access and eventual free availability; players deciding whether to subscribe to Beacon have a defined window to watch before the episode moves to VivaPlus and later to YouTube.

Practical viewing details: the premiere is available now on Beacon, with the next release on VivaPlus on January 20 and the public YouTube upload on January 27. Fans can watch the trailer and find platform episode pages on Beacon, VivaPlus, and Viva La Dirt League’s YouTube channel to plan watch parties, session prep, or character inspiration. Dungeon Masters looking for tone examples will find a useful case study in how a campaign can pivot from comedic hooks to eldritch stakes without losing character momentum.

Daggerheart: Azerim offers an accessible example of cross-publisher actual-play production and a fresh narrative vein for folks hunting new campaign hooks. For viewers, the immediate choice is whether to catch the Beacon premiere or wait for the wider releases in the coming weeks; for GMs, the series provides new material to steal, subvert, or adapt at the table.