OpenFray

One Realm is an AI-assisted campaign workspace and virtual tabletop built for groups that want to play tomorrow—not spend the week preparing. It turns adventures, source material, and campaign notes into an organized, playable world, helping GMs complete work that might otherwise take hours or days in a matter of minutes. Characters, locations, encounters, maps, relationships, and story events are automatically organized and connected. From there, the GM can prepare scenes, create artwork, manage characters, and run the game through the integrated virtual tabletop. Because everything shares the same campaign context, preparation flows directly into play without rebuilding the session across multiple tools.

Hedron is a one-stop shop for everything TTRPG. Design and play entirely new TTRPGs, build robust worlds for your home games, and connect with your community – sharing your lore, worldbuilding, homebrew, and other creations! Links projecthedron.com - Official website discord.gg - Discord server reddit.com - Hedron subreddit

Mappadux is a free, browser based virtual tabletop built for in person play, often referred to as "VTT@Home". It needs no account, no server, and no install. It runs entirely in the browser, and the maps and assets a GM uploads stay on their own device. The aim is a tool that sets up immersive maps in minutes and stays out of the way during a session, rather than one that becomes an evening prep job. Built originally by the creator for their own table and needs, it offers a streamlined solution for anyone with similar goals. /images/general-media/1785161337_ZnhecuRG.png Mappadux is system agnostic and designed to be used for any in person RPG, fitting a playstyle where the same game system is rarely used twice. It does not enforce any rules, but it does contain general purpose GM tools applicable to most games, such as scaled maps, measuring tools, clocks, timers, initiative trackers, and map markers. This VTT is about adding immersion and setting a mood. For in person games, these elements are far more important than managing movement, actions, or other busywork. Setting the mood and getting players immersed in the game with audio and visual effects without getting in the way is the central design philosophy. Allowing the GM to manage everything during play with a couple of clicks or by pressing a touch screen is key; needing to reach for a keyboard during a session is considered a design failure. On the GM side, Mappadux covers usual table needs without menu hunting mid scene: fog of war, painted shader effects, animated backdrops, markers, motion trackers, atmospheric and positional audio, and immersive visual filters like parchment, hand drawn, or CRT phosphor. Image maps, animated maps, composite or layered maps, and rich text map handouts like letters, posters, and journal pages all sit side by side in one library. Players are not passive participants unless the GM wants them to be. While phones or tablets are not required at the table, connecting them unlocks optional Player Voice functionality. These features give each player a named identity with their own draggable map token, map pings (a quick 'look here!'), two way secret note passing with an optional LLM assisted reply for the GM, and a way to submit initiative easily. Everything a GM builds, including maps, audio, splash screens, and themes, travels in a single .mappadux pack file that can optionally be encrypted. This allows a prepared session to be handed to players, posted to a Patreon, or shared with the wider community as easily as forwarding a file. Mappadux is attribution focused: every map and sound carries its license, source, and creator, and the asset library can copy a ready to paste credits block. /images/general-media/1785161343_us80ZTo0.png Its defining trick is peer to peer screen sharing over the local network. Any phone, tablet, TV, or laptop on the same WiFi becomes a fully functional second screen by scanning a QR code or entering details manually, with no HDMI cable, no dongle, and no app to install. A GM can run a laptop as a control screen, lay a tablet flat on the table at true 1 inch or 25 mm scale as a mini battlemap, and face another tablet at the players for handouts and reveals. This creates a complete three screen setup that fits in a bag. Mappadux includes accessibility features such as screen reader compatibility for handout text blocks on both GM and player views, and feedback for improvement is always welcome. Mappadux is open source (MIT), free to download, modify, and use, and remains under active development with a community on Discord for feedback and bug reports. /images/general-media/1785161349_qbDExtcX.png Links mappadux.com - Mappadux website github.com  - Github page discord.gg - Discord server ko-fi.com - Support the project

An Australian RPG podcast. Providing cosmic horror audio dramas, using the Call of Cthulhu 7e system. Links youtube.com - Youtube channel spotify.com - Spotify feed podcasts.apple.com - Apple Podcasts feed patreon.com - Patreon page

Dark Dice is the horror actual-play Dungeons & Dragons podcast that uses immersive soundscapes and intense editing to create added layers of immersion. Each season, travelers embark on a journey into the dark corners of a world brimming with dragons, monsters, and dark gods. They will never be the same again. Campaigns Domain of the Nameless God A rescue team ventures into the Dead Pines to find the missing children of Ilmater's Hope. Instead, a shapeshifting monster known as “The Silent One” infiltrates the party, impersonating those it kills. Can the team find the missing children before they are sacrificed in a dark ritual, or will the world be consumed by the sinister Nameless God? Shores of the Silver Thrum Eight strangers board a cargo ship bound for the Northrealm. Divergent quests, monsters, and cursed cargo quickly become the least of their worries as they reach the Sunken Bulwark and prepare for the ominous Ritual of Last Light at the infamous Sunken Temple… As waters rise, and foul weather approaches, they find themselves irresistibly drawn toward the source of a terrible sound. Fear the strangers in your midst. Never play games with fate. Links darkdice.com - Official website youtube.com - Youtube playlist spotify.com - Spotify feed patreon.com - Patreon page

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.