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DexArcana is a set of free browser tools for Dungeon Masters, so there's nothing to install. Its Dungeon Master Screen keeps turn order, fog, dice rolls, notes and cue cards on one page during a session, and players don't see the Dungeon Master's notes. The screen also has a dice tray with d4 to d100, plus advantage and disadvantage on the d20, and encounter tables under Extras: roll one and the monster or NPC drops straight onto the open map. A soundboard and ambience layers are there too. The map builder lets a Dungeon Master lay down floors, walls, furniture and lighting to make a battle map without drawing skills. Fog and lights decide what players see, and maps can be exported as PNG or JSON. The world notebook links lore entries so places, people and factions stay connected. Players join from their own Player Screen, where they keep their sheet, the party list, chat and dice. Players need a free account to join. Every tool is free on every plan. Paid plans only add saving space: Dungeon Master is $5 a month and Guild is $12 a month. The free plan needs no card. It works for in-person tables using a second screen and for online games.

GM Assistant automates session notes for tabletop RPG game masters. Record your session however you like, then upload the audio to get structured session notes, NPCs, locations, and story recaps in minutes. No manual note-taking required. Works with any TTRPG system, including D&D 5e, Pathfinder, and Call of Cthulhu, and recaps can be shared with your players by link. Pay as you go or subscribe, your choice. GM Assistant documents your game; it never plays it. No AI-generated content in your campaign, never an AI game master, no training on your data, and your audio is deleted the moment processing finishes. Unlike generic meeting transcribers, GM Assistant is purpose-built for tabletop RPGs, producing the most accurate and detailed session notes you can get from a campaign recording.

Obsidian is a free, locally-stored Markdown note-taking application that the TTRPG community has widely adopted as a campaign wiki, session planner, and lore database. Originally designed as a personal knowledge management tool, it stores everything as plain text files on your own machine with no subscription required. Description Unlike purpose-built platforms such as World Anvil, Obsidian was not designed with TTRPGs in mind, which means it arrives without templates, stat block support, or any TTRPG-specific structure out of the box. GMs who want those features need to install and configure community plugins themselves, which carries a steeper setup cost than dedicated alternatives. For those comfortable with that process, however, the result is a highly customizable system with no ongoing fees and no vendor lock-in. A thriving plugin ecosystem has filled most of the gaps, and the tool has become a genuine alternative to subscription-based worldbuilding platforms for technically comfortable Game Masters. The plugin ecosystem extends well beyond what is listed here, with community tools covering everything from database-style note querying and cross-device sync to interactive maps and combat automation. A full directory is available at community plugins.

Sheety Vault it's a webapp to create character sheets of any system and automate the leveling up or progression of the characters. Any user can do this 3 things: Create characters: Make a character sheet in a given system and following a class (if the system has), get their feats automatically added to the sheet. Create systems: Define a system in Sheety Vault. This involves setting how the sheet looks, which things has the system to take into account and how a character is created. Then, anyone can use it. Create books: Create a book which adds content to a system. Classes, spells, races, feats, etc. Then, anyone with the book, can use that content in their characters. For now, DnD 2014 and Nimble are implemented with their base content.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Software, Hardware, and Finding the Perfect Digital Table Dungeons & Dragons is known to be illustrated by people sitting around a table, rolling dice and eating snacks together. But with the rapid rise in popularity, many games are now happening online. Tables have extended beyond physical limitations and can now connect players in different countries or even continents.  Playing tabletop RPGs online has evolved from a backup plan into the preferred way to play for millions of players worldwide. Whether you are struggling to coordinate schedules with local friends or want to dive into the hobby for the very first time, playing online removes geographic boundaries entirely. This guide breaks down exactly how to play dnd online, detailing the tools you need, the best software available, and how to find a welcoming group. Hardware and setup You don't need a powerful gaming computer to play D&D, although making sure you meet the baseline requirements will help you avoid any technical glitches or issues and make sure the focus remains on what matters - the story itself. The computer A standard laptop or desktop computer is highly recommended. While you can access certain character sheets via your phone, running a virtual map, looking up rules, and participating in a voice call simultaneously requires the screen real estate of a proper monitor. The microphone Bad video is tolerable, bad audio ruins games. Built-in laptop microphones may pick up the sound of your computer's fans, your typing and every nearby siren. Invest in a dedicated USB microphone or a decent headset. Your party will thank you. Headphones over speakers Always wear headphones while playing online. If your microphone picks up the game audio coming out of your desktop speakers, it creates an unbearable echoing feedback loop for everyone else in the call. A webcam Ask your group what their camera policy is before Session 0. Some tables require webcams because reading facial expressions drastically improves roleplay and keeps players focused. Other groups prefer voice-only "Theater of the Mind" style play to protect privacy and keep things casual. The Virtual Tabletop (VTT) A Virtual Tabletop (VTT) is the software that acts as your digital table. It displays maps, tracks the locations of character tokens, and handles dice rolling (if your group decides to roll digital dice). Choosing the right one depends entirely on your budget and how much time you want to spend learning the software. Owlbear Rodeo Free (with premium tiers) Best for: Casual groups, fast setup, simplicity Roll20 Free / Optional subscription Best for: Browser-based play, massive player base FreeVTT Free with no registration required Best for: Online and in-person games Foundry VTT One-time GM fee ($50, free for players) Best for: Advanced automation, heavy modding, lighting Fantasy Grounds One-time Subscription or license tiers Best for: Deep rulebook integration, tactical automation and many others you can browse here If your game does not rely on battlemaps, you might not even need to set up a VTT system. Or your GM might direct a webcam at their table, where they have a physical grid or terrain removing the need for a digital platform setup. Video and voice Unless your game is "play by post" (text-based game through a chat or forum) you will need a platform to communicate on. For most people the primary choice will be Discord. Although there is a multitude of various other platforms (Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and many others alike) that work just as well. Some VTT platforms have integrated a video and voice module to keep things in one place. Make sure to test your microphone and video before the game begins to avoid the classic "Can you hear me? I cant hear you? Why can't you see my video" situation. How to be a great digital player Playing through a monitor requires a distinct set of social manners to keep the game moving smoothly. Implement these four simple habits to ensure your Game Master invites you back: Art of the Pause Online audio cuts out when multiple people speak at once. Practice leaving a tiny half-second buffer zone before speaking up to prevent accidentally talking over your fellow players or the GM. Minimize digital distractions It is incredibly easy to open a second browser window to browse social media or play a video game while another player is taking their turn in combat. Avoid this at all costs. GMs put hours of unpaid work into prepping maps and stories; give them your full attention. Remove the background noise If you are playing in a loud household, have pets that bark, or are chewing on snacks, turn on Push-to-Talk or keep your microphone muted whenever you aren't actively speaking. Test your tech early Don't wait until exactly game time to find out your browser needs an update or your headset isn't syncing. Log into your Discord channel 5 to 10 minutes early to run an audio diagnostic test and ensure everything is working smoothly. How to find an online group Once you have your headset plugged in and your necessary accounts created, you face the most notorious hurdle in the entire hobby: finding an active group of people to play with. With Groupfinder you can filter players and games by timezones, to make sure that your schedules align. There is a multitude of groups and players looking for their next game - Either reach out to a group or create your own player post.

Nav-Fi³ is a web-based campaign companion for the Traveller RPG, covering both the classic Third Imperium setting and Mongoose's 2300AD. Run your ship like a real operation: a time-aware financial ledger tracks income, costs, mortgages, and crew payroll against each vessel's account, with automatic PENDING/POSTED transitions synced to your campaign's calendar. Plot jump routes on an interactive TravellerMap-integrated navigator, manage cargo holds and speculative trade, and let The Cube (or 2300AD's The Link) generate freight, passenger, mail, salvage, and prize contracts on demand. Multi-user by design: a Referee can grant players granular access to piloting, cargo, or finance on a per-ship basis, suspend and reinstate them without touching the roster, and everyone logs in with Google or Discord (2FA supported). Crew records track status over time — active, MIA, deceased — and every session's changes surface in an automatic "Since Last Session" recap. Two settings, one interface: pick Traveller (with full Milieu/era support) or 2300AD (Gregorian calendar, Stutterwarp drives, colonial nations) from the sidebar — same tool, faithfully adapted rules underneath.