Why settle for a fantasy video game, whenDungeons & Dragons(D&D) drops players and their characters to a world of their own design? WithD&D 5e, players can create characters of an assortment of backgrounds and Classes. On top of that, they can save the world (or maybe rule it) using diplomacy, combat, and their own mix of wild shenanigans.
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However, for parties that prefer their TTRPG sessions in person, playingD&Donline with today’s physical restrictions can be a challenge. Thankfully, physical restrictions shouldn’t have to derail an exciting campaign. Parties can easily transition to playingD&Donline with the right set of tools.
10Try Dungeons & Dragons Online
Unlike other MMOs – especially games that carry theD&Dname –Dungeons & DragonsOnline(DDO) serves as the closest counterpartto an actualD&Dvideo game. At its core,DDOfunctions and appears as a classic fantasy MMO, with the added bonus of constant dice rolls. And that’s just the beginning.
Lore fans will praiseDDOnot just formeaningful quest design,but evennarration throughout levels.Moreover, the existing Multiclass and Reincarnation Systems actively encourage players to keep replaying from scratch to gain special bonuses. Not to mention, allcore gameplay mechanics are based onD&D. Players who are shy to find a friend group but want to experienceD&Dcan tryDDOto begin their deep dive into the TTRPG.
9Try Neverwinter Online
WhereasDDOprovides players with a digital version of the tabletop experience,NeverwinterOnlinefocuses more on the action. Newcomers andD&Dsavants looking for visual inspiration might want to try this action-oriented MMO. UnlikeDDO,Neverwinterallows players to take a more proactive role in combat.
Players can also preciselycontrol their attacks and aim their skills in real time, giving them a more immersive action experience. Characters can actively run and jump around the map, evading attacks whenever necessary. Granted, this isn’t the typical tabletop experience, but it’s still a great way to feed the imagination with visual ideas for a tabletop campaign.
8Grab All Necessary Data From D&D Beyond
WhileD&D Beyondisn’t exactly a direct way to play the game, it’s perhaps the next best thing to an online information repository in terms ofD&D. Officially created by Wizards of the Coast itself,D&D Beyondis thepremier digital source of information forD&D 5e. The software contains up-to-date information on the latest rules and even monsters for players to look up. Moreover, it supports the means for players to store and create their own characters.
Unfortunately, the best features ofD&D Beyondare blocked behind a paywall. However, players can still get a decent experience with itsfree version. Players can easily useD&D Beyondas their character sheet, regardless of the method they use to facilitate play.
7Boot Up The Conference Call
Holding aconference callvia Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, or even Facebook Messenger can help facilitatea decent roleplaying experience. The occasional video format can accommodate for whenever players have to roll, and the DM can make an effort for screen sharing if they need to facilitate grid-based combat. Not to mention, Dicebot for Facebook Messenger is precisely designed to help with dice rolls!
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However, a recommended approach for the conference call would be playing viaTheater of the Mind.This gameplay format focuses less on the grid and more on storytelling. It’s great for roleplay-heavy experiences; still, being face-to-face with fellow players never hurts.
6Get Discord For Basic Multimedia Needs
Discord’sarchitecture can support multimedia play for any party. At its core, the audio and/or video call feature alone will support active dialogue between DMs and the party. Additionally, cooperative screen sharing can also helpadd a visual component to the experience. Even the various channels in a server can accommodate out-of-character chat, in-character chat, and even a repository for notes and resources.
Discord’s support forvarious third-party systemscan make it the perfect middleman for both small-scale and large-scale campaigns. Itsinternal dice botscan already facilitate casualD&D. Parties can also use Discord for extra support during large endeavors through virtual tabletop systems.
5Get Minimalist With Astral Tabletop
Players who want aless complicated take on a virtual tabletopmight appreciate the minimalist take ofAstral Tabletop. Like its contemporaries, Astral Tabletop is a virtual tabletop tool that parties can access via their browsers. They also have an accessible way of streamlining information management and creating maps that won’t break immersion.
In fact, their minimalist interface makes it much easier for players to “get into the game” without being burdened by a clunky interface. Its unobtrusive way of integrating mechanics in chats and windows can makeD&Da more comfortable experience online.
4Go Developer Friendly With Foundry
Compared to other more robust yet technical virtual tabletops,Foundry Virtual Tabletopmay be an attractive option for the less tech-savvy. Despite its bare-bones system, Foundry is an accessible browser-based software. Its dev-friendly approachallows DMs to upload informationabout their campaign easily, and import maps and tokens much faster. It also has an accessible approach to maps.
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Whereas other virtual tabletops may focus on flashy animations and pretty design, Foundry really focuses on astraightforward presentation. Essentially, Foundry provides a browser-based map and info dump for DMs — the players do the rest.
3Support Other Gadgets With Tableplop
Who says onlineD&Dshould be played through PCs alone? Thanks toTableplop, parties can remove the inconvenience of clunky desktops and laptops, taking their games to their gadgets. At its core, Tableplop functions pretty much like a typical virtual tabletop. However, it allows DMs not only to import maps and tokens, but also store information in a neat, visually-friendly interface. It even has paint tools for crude map drawing!
Moreover, Tableplop can support other gadgets. Players can access Tableplopusing their tablets and mobile platforms, allowing for an extremely immersive experience. This is a great way for players who don’t have access to PCs to enjoy onlineD&D.
2Boot Fantasy Grounds For A Virtual Tabletop
Parties withaccess to Steam can get Fantasy Grounds, boot it up, and play the closest thing there is to physicalD&Din a virtual tabletop. Fantasy Grounds supports playing TTRPGs from the desktop. It features afantasy-friendly interface and intuitive design flow, making it a great fit for parties who want to feel immersed in their onlineD&D(andother TTRPGs).
Unlike aforementioned ways to play, Fantasy Grounds provides a comprehensive way of integrating the PC to the TTRPG experience. Instead of relying solely on software to playD&D, Fantasy Grounds acts more as a repository of information. Players more across maps, while looking into various details in an accessible menu to the right. Fantasy Grounds gives players the feeling of looking down on a map in the real world, while holding onto their notes.
1Use Roll20 For Mainstream Full Virtual Tabletop
Anyone who’s heard of playingD&Donline will likely want to try usingRoll20. Unlike other TTRPG options, Roll20 is specifically designed to accommodatemultiplayer setups. At its core, Roll20 facilitates not just communication across parties, but also character management (for players) and game facilitation (for DMs).
In addition to its iconic virtual board option, Roll20 also boasts afull-blown campaign systemwhere DMs can add various pieces of information to maps, and even integrate their own tokens into the experience. It does take time to learn how to run Roll20 efficiently; however, it’s well worth the learning curve.
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