Gaming has come a far way. Normally, when people make that claim it’s usually accompanied by a side-by-side graphical comparison or reference to map size. What I’m talking about, however, involves the good old-fashioned pen and paper RPG. It’s strange to think of innovation with a type of game that relies on something so basic: pen, paper, math, dice, and whatever props you and your table deem necessary. The only innovations that came to mind were updates in rules/gameplay through the release of new games or editions. Then I realized, the internet is a thing! I’ve made a lot of like-minded nerd friends who’ve enjoyed tabletop gaming and as life goes on we find ourselves scattered across the country, but thanks to the previously mentioned internet we’ve been able to still find ways to play our favorite tabletop RPG’s no matter where we are. I’ve used a few different programs and applications and have learned some of the pros and cons of each. To use a cliché that we’re all tired of; this year has been different and some people are still a little uncomfortable with interacting face to face with a group of people. Others may not want to wear a mask during their weekly table sessions (which is understandable unless you’re role-playing a character that wears a mask I suppose) and some people might just be too far away from their friends to keep playing. If you’re trying to get into the world of online tabletop RPGs, here are a few ways to do it and some information to help you determine which one is right for you.
Tabletop Simulator
My first foray into online DM’ing. Tabletop Simulator, available on Steam, is a virtual space for you and your friends to do any kind of table gaming you can think of. From chess to poker to monopoly, Tabletop Sim has you covered. A friend and I have even used it to play games of Warhammer 40,000 remotely which is an absolute dream come true for me, not only because I get to stay in touch with my friend, but also because it saves me thousands of dollars on little plastic figurines.
The great thing about TTS is its versatility and depth. The game (though game might be a bit of a stretch as it’s more of an application) offers a lot of components built right into the file such as dice and little figurines but it’s the modding community that gives you all the tools you could want. There are thousands of assets, for free, in the steam workshop that any DM would die to have in their house. From mats and maps to character tokens and special dice Tabletop Sim gives you the chance to build your game exactly how you want to do it; a lot of bang for your buck at $20.00 as of this writing. IF you’re fortunate enough to have a VR headset and compatible system, TTS also gives you the option to slap that bad boy on and get even more immersed with the table, literally navigating yourself through virtual space. Though there are some assets for character sheets, one of the issues I’ve had comes from keeping and maintaining the character and stat sheets in-game. We used physical ones that we kept on our person as a workaround for that but it can be a touch frustrating to not be able to see and interact with each other’s stats.
Why you should get Tabletop Simulator: You’re someone who wants a lot of depth and a lot of variety. You appreciate the 3D playing field and the freedom to run your game however you see fit. You enjoy mods and all the craziness people can come up with and want to see it in your campaign. You and your group all have working PCs, a steam account, and $20.00.
Roll20
One of the more popular TTRPG sites out there, Roll20 is often the go-to for remote gaming. With tons of built-in assets and features, there’s a lot you can utilize to make your game work. From dice to character sheets for a huge variety of games, Roll20 has earned its reputation as a solid and reliable platform to launch your adventures from. One of the bigger draws is that it can be played for free, with optional premium subscriptions available monthly for $4.16/month or the super-premium version for $8.33/month unlocking more features and tools for DM’s and players alike. If you’ve ever watched a DnD video on YouTube, or any other related game, there’s a very good chance that the people were using Roll20.
Another feature that Roll20 boasts is its large community of players. Always wanted to play DnD but can’t find a group? Maybe there’s that new TTRPG that you’ve always been curious about but are wary to spend the money on the books? Roll20 has you covered with huge lists of players with games open to the public. Just check the prerequisites, request to join the game, and hopefully next thing you know you’ll be in a brand new game with a group of new friends!
A hiccup I’ve run into trying to utilize this site is it can be a bit daunting. It’s not the most user-friendly site to use and if you’re anything like me you’re probably going to be watching a few YouTube videos that break it down, which is helpful if you’re having a hard time making heads or tails of the included tutorial. Like Tabletop Simulator, Roll20 gives you a plethora of options for customization, including many built-in assets such as maps or character tokens to help build your world; though if you want to really flesh out your campaign you’re probably going to have to hand over a little bit of that hard-earned money for the premium subscription.
Why you should use Roll20: You want a free website that you can get you and all your friends on to start gaming. You have the time to figure out how it works and enjoy the built-in communication settings instead of having to rely on third-party programs like discord or Teamspeak. Perhaps you’re unable to find a group to play your fantasy games and want to meet up with new people and make different connections as well as broadening your horizons.
Fantasy Grounds
First things first: if you are going to get this program don’t make the mistake I did. You want fantasy grounds unity, not just fantasy grounds. Thank God for steam refunds. That being said let’s move on. Fantasy Grounds is the only entry on this list that can boast its official status as being partnered with Dungeons and Dragons and when you look at the program it shows. Just because it’s official for one game doesn’t mean it’s restricted to that, however, and exists with the same idea of being a virtual space for any tabletop game. It comes preloaded with a huge amount of content for specific games that are meant to make prepping much more of a breeze than in the conventional way.
Fantasy Grounds also works as a “DM hub”, so even if you’re still able to meet in person it’s still useful as a way to compile all your information and keep the game running seamlessly instead of having to shuffle through a mess of papers and disjointed files while your party eagerly awaits to find out whether or not the room was booby-trapped. I can’t help but feel like the interface is a little dated, however. Some of the files and the way things are constructed come off as rudimentary and just give me the feeling that this is an older type of program that really should have a new coat of polish on it by now. To be fair, the unity version did address a lot of these concerns and it looks much better now but it still comes off as confusing and awkward at times. The other issue is the price.
You’re getting what you pay for with the preloaded assets and sheets but at a whopping $40.00 it’s going to be difficult to convince everyone in your party to grab it unless you’re playing with some serious gamers. At that price point, it seems like it would work better as a DM’s assistant for in-person games, and although that’s not the point of this list it’s worth noting that we won’t be separated forever.
Why you should use Fantasy Grounds: You love Dungeons and Dragons and have the coin and time to understand the interface. You want to flesh out a campaign and go deep into all the features that are available in TTRPG. You like to run the games and want to have a competent and organized way of keeping the game running and you plan on playing games in person.
Whatever program you use, just make sure you’re having fun using it! Things kind of suck right now, but if we look on the bright side we’ll see that we have all these awesome ways to stay in touch with our friends and keep the fun alive. There’s a huge community for support with virtual tabletop gaming and whatever issue you may run into there are probably a hundred youtube videos or articles explaining how to work around it, so don’t get discouraged! So give your friends a text, throw them the information on where/how/when to play, and go on an adventure already!