Tale of the Manticore

Fantasy Grounds Unity is a high-power virtual tabletop originally released in 2004 and completely rebuilt on the Unity engine in 2020. Developed by SmiteWorks, it is the industry pioneer of "automated play," where the software handles complex rules, modifiers, and combat math natively. In a massive industry shift in late 2025, the platform moved to a completely free-to-play model, removing the traditional $50 license fee to compete directly with modern browser-based rivals. Description Fantasy Grounds is often described as a "Digital Dungeon Master’s Assistant." It is a standalone application (not a browser site) that provides the most stable and deep automation available. While it has a more traditional, window-based interface that can feel daunting to new users, it rewards the "Power GM" with unparalleled control over combat and data. Since becoming free in late 2025, it has positioned itself as the premier "zero-cost" entry point for groups who want professional-grade automation without a subscription. System Overview & Key Features Native Ruleset Automation Unlike other VTTs that rely on community plug-ins, Fantasy Grounds features "Hard-Coded" automation for its primary systems. When a player drags an attack onto a target, the software automatically checks for cover, calculates the hit against Armor Class, applies damage, and tracks temporary hit points or resistances without any manual input. V5.1 Visual Intelligence The 2026 update introduced "Aggregated Notifications." Instead of scrolling through a wall of text in a chat box, combat results like damage, saving throws, and status effects now appear as elegant visual icons and pop-ups directly over the tokens on the map. 2.5D Tactical Mapping While it supports traditional 2D top-down maps, FGU includes a unique 2.5D camera mode. This provides a sense of depth and perspective to battlemaps, making the digital table feel more like a physical diorama with "placeable" 3D-like objects like trees and furniture. Total Offline Capability Because it is a localized application, you can prepare your entire campaign, build NPCs, and write story entries without an internet connection. Your data is stored on your hard drive, giving you total ownership of your campaign files. The Fantasy Grounds Forge FGU features an integrated marketplace and community portal called "The Forge." This allows GMs to browse and auto-install thousands of community-made extensions and themes that update automatically whenever the main software is launched. Cross-Platform Unity Engine Built on the Unity 6 engine (as of 2026), the software offers smooth performance on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It uses hardware acceleration to handle complex dynamic lighting, weather effects, and large-scale vision blocking for massive dungeon crawls. Additional links fantasygrounds.com : Official Fantasy Grounds website fantasygroundsacademy.com : Community-led training and free classes forge.fantasygrounds.com : Official community content and extension portal

The Analog Dungeon is a podcast exploration of the weird, punishing, and hilarious world of old school Dungeons & Dragons. In each episode, host Russell Jones or Jeramy Pappas presents a dungeon module or adventure from the storied history of D&D and they make jokes about it. Links analogdungeon.com - Official website and episode archive youtube.com - Youtube channel patreon.com - Patreon page

Haunted Holyoke is an actual play storytelling podcast created by teens from across Western Massachusetts through Valley Playwright Mentoring, an after-school program based at Holyoke Media. Each season follows a group of young people playing Kids on Bikes, a tabletop roleplaying game about ordinary kids confronting the strange, the supernatural, and the unseen forces shaping their town. Together, they build a shared story set in Holyoke, Massachusetts, where forgotten places hold memories, the past doesn’t stay buried, and every mystery comes with a cost. This project is part of Valley Playwright Mentoring, a program of Piti Theatre Company, and is made possible with support from MassHumanities, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, The Community Foundation of Western Mass, The Scarlet Socks Foundation, and other public and private funders. Blending improvisation, character-driven storytelling, and collaborative worldbuilding, Haunted Holyoke explores themes of memory, belonging, and what it means to face the unknown together. Links spotify.com - Spotify feed podcasts.apple.com - Apple Podcasts Feed