Now, when a DM shares a combat map, each player can move their own tokens, while virtual dice, rulers (for measuring range) and dynamic lighting are fantastic ‘quality of life’ tools.

But as we got a little more used to hanging out online, we started using the Roll20 virtual tabletop software and our games have greatly benefited from doing so. We learned that you can play a perfectly fine game like this. Most of these online groups started very LoFi, by simply using video conference software like Skype, Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams, in tandem with screen sharing by the DM if they wanted to introduce a combat map. My Totem of the Snow Leopard barbarian on It seemed like I was playing D&D virtually every night! Indeed, the speed and ease of logging in and out of a session meant I was able to join a third group. Being 1km or 1500kms away stopped making a difference, as valuable travel time was eradicated and the whole RPG experience was streamlined into efficient 2-3 hour gaming sessions (with less time spent on social interaction, eating, drinking etc….

Digital toolsets like D&D Beyond are far more efficient than pen and paper at tracking hit points, gear and level progression, Discord servers can be used to neatly file campaign information, while the world’s first virtual tabletop, Fantasy Grounds, launched in 2004, challenging the possibilities of in person play.ĭuring various lockdowns I played D&D more than ever, as not only did my regular Barcelona-based in person group switch to Zoom, but – having made the jump to online play – it suddenly didn’t make sense not to roll dice with my London friends either. Long before the pandemic began, D&D was already heading online.

Tabletop simulator dungeons and dragons