Whether you're just starting to explore the world of tabletop RPGs and board games, or even if you've been doing it for years, additional apps and software can enhance your experience and make it a lot more fun. /P>
These apps can help you through almost every stage of your campaign, from designing characters to setting up the scene, and even keeping track of who's who and where they've been.
In this article, we cover everything from light-hearted avatar generators to ultra-nerdy inventory tools. There is something for every type of player! If you prefer, jump to a specific section:
A good Game Master (GM) will set the scene, raise the tension, and keep others on their toes, but the hum of their dishwasher and air conditioner hardly provides the right environment for dungeon crawling or out-of-world exploration. Which is where Syrinscape comes in.
Syrinscape is a cross-platform software package for GMs who want to add believable, immersive sound to their games. The app is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, and uses a subscription or downloadable content (DLC) model to provide users with access to a rich set of fantasy and sci-fi soundscapes.
This is not your typical soundboard app Make a noise with Soundboard Apps for Windows 8 Make a noise with Soundboard App for Windows 8 Play a strange noise, popular quote or any audio customized at the click of a button. Choose from a library of audio files or create your own custom soundboard. Read More “encounter” Music that can transform even the most bland missions. The GM is able to mix and match various elements to create your own “SoundSets” completely free of obvious loops or repetitive patterns.
You can pay $10.99/month (charged every other month) for a subscription that gives you access to board, fantasy, and sci-fi game packs. There's also a $7.15/month tier if you just want a specific set of fantasy or sci-fi sounds. You can also buy these packs directly, at an individual price in the store.
Download: Syrinscape for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS
A free resource for players and GMs that provides access to a wide selection of free sounds to use in your campaigns. Using the web-based interface, it is possible to trigger a looping ambience and sound effects in one go from a varied library.
Sound packs can be downloaded and used in your choice of sound mixer, or you can create an environment using nothing more than a laptop and a web browser. Themes include steampunk, film noir, wasteland, future city (cyberpunk), and dark woods, among others.
It's even possible to create your own custom sound pads using samples from the mesa audio library. You can donate to the Tabletop Audio project through the website, or throw in a few gold pieces each month through Patreon.
Visit: Table Audio
Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a complete newbie, creating a character can mean hours of deliberation over strengths, weaknesses, and those all-important stats. Once you've finally created your image, you need to keep track of what you've learned, your level, and all the pertinent information the game world has to offer.
HeroLab is a digital assistant for RPG enthusiasts who take their characters seriously. The software helps you calculate relevant bonuses, penalties and modifiers based on the chosen game. The character creation system guides you through the required fields and attributes, with an interface that is tailored to your class.
You can then attach portraits, add backstory, and provide the GM with all of your information digitally using the Tactical Console.
HeroLab is available for Windows and Mac for $34.99 with everything you need to get started with a gaming system. The free iPad app offers a superior interface and easy-to-use way to get started with Pathfinder Fifth Edition and Dungeons and Dragons. You can also use any of your characters from the Mac or PC version with the iOS version.
Download: HeroLab for Windows and macOS | iOS
PCGen is a cross-platform RPG character generator for Windows, Mac, Linux and FreeBSD. It uses Java to accomplish this, so make sure you install Java 8 or newer. Why Java is now a minor security risk on Windows, Mac, and Linux Why Java is now a minor security risk on Windows, Mac, and Linux Most people know that Java is insecure, but it's still the go-to software most dangerous desktop? Can it still cause problems on Windows, macOS, and Linux? Let's take a look and find out. Read More It is currently compatible with Dungeons and Dragons 3.5e, d20 Modern, and Pathfinder, but you can add support for other systems if you wish.
The software knows the rules, so it allows you to create legitimate characters and avoid mistakes. For GMs, it is possible to keep track of creatures and NPCs, as well as track backstories and history. It'll also work out the math, including complex stacking bonuses, equipment cost, and carrying capacity.
Best of all, it's completely free and customizable. You can learn how to modify the main data files of the game (all text based), with an established community of homebrewers who are already playing.
Download: PCGen for Windows
If you're looking for something a little more mobile, Fight Club 5th Edition is a free iPhone app that will help you go paperless with your character sheets and manuals. The app is available exclusively for iOS and is specifically targeted at Dungeons and Dragons 5E.
Through a pretty slick interface, you can keep track of your numbers and stay on top of your characters' defenses, skills, abilities, and more. The app also tracks equipped items like armor and weapons, and doubles as a handy dice roller for common checks, damage taken, and attacks.
The free app allows you to create and maintain just one character, with a $2.99 in-app purchase to upgrade to the full version that unlocks more character slots and removes ads.
Download: Fight Club for iOS
Not iPhone? No problem. Fifth Edition Character Sheet is the Android app to take your Dungeons and Dragons 5E habit into the paperless era (also available for iPhone) The app offers a customizable five-page character sheet that allows you to create, save, and review multiple characters for multiple campaigns.
The app brings the functionality of Fight Club (above) to Android, albeit with a slightly messier interface. Calculate skill modifiers, skill bonuses; track attacks, damage received, and health benefits; and perform calculations for multiple weapons and skill abilities in battle.
Fifth Edition is also customizable, allowing you to hide things you don't need and rearrange things the way that makes the most sense to you. The app is ad supported, with a small in-app purchase available if you get nervous.
Download: Fifth edition for Android | iOS
Like PCGen, Beyond Tabletop is also free to play, but for a single one-time payment of $10, you'll get access to all the features, unlimited character sheets, and ad-free gameplay for a gaming system. The Beyond Tabletop stream is compatible with Pathfinder and Dungeons and Dragons 5E.
The system is designed to provide digital tabletop battle maps and character sheets on any device. The platform is based on Google Drive, which means it retains the helpful sharing nature of Google's cloud platform when gaming.
You can use Beyond Tabletop on almost any laptop, tablet, or smartphone as long as it can render a website. To move your gaming habit beyond pen and paper, try Beyond Tabletop for free today.
Visit: Beyond the table
If you're using an app like HeroLab to track your character's progression, you can also use the ability to attach an image of your hero's image. Even if you're not using HeroLab, you can design, save, and print your character's profile picture to add an extra visual element to your game.
There are several different versions of Hero Machine to choose from, but they are all based on Adobe Flash (which won't be around much longer. Adobe is finally killing Flash...in 2020 Adobe is finally killing Flash...in 2020 Adobe has announced is killing Flash. This is it, with Flash gone forever. No respawns, no last-minute rebukes, gone but not forgotten. Read More). There is also a desktop version of Hero Machine 2 available ad-free for $9.95.
Hero Machine 2.5 (above) is the easiest to use, though it contains a lot of customization including clothing, hats, wings, tails, and even different backgrounds. Everything has an assignable color and the art style isn't too different from what you'd find on a trading card or in a fantasy novel.
Hero Machine 3 (above) takes things to the next level, offering an almost flawless level of detail to play. The art style is of a higher quality, you can apply multiple attributes (two necklaces, instead of one per category like in HM2), and you can zoom in on your character's face to see things better.
Visit: HeroMachine
Fuse is something a little different. It is a 3D character creator available via Steam for Mac and Windows users that includes over 70 body parts, 150 clothing meshes, 42 dynamic textures, and free automatic rigging and animations that valid Adobe customers can activate within of the application.
He's been around or for a while and not a lot of work has been done recently, but Steam reviews are overwhelmingly positive and the entire suite is yours to download completely free of charge..
Download: Fuse for Windows and macOS
Dollmakers, as they are known, are essentially avatar creators that have been made in Adobe Flash. One of the best examples of this type for fantasy RPGs is Mega Fantasy Avatar (above), which includes a large number of fantasy-themed customizations.
Simply create your character, fine-tune the look, and then take a screenshot to use in your campaign. There are doll makers for just about any campaign you can find, from fantasy to steampunk, sci-fi to dystopia...
Visit: The Azalea Dolls | Divine Doll
From the creators of HeroLab comes Realm Works, a campaign management tool designed specifically for GMs looking to leverage software to enhance their RPG experience. It's a digital aid to help GMs keep track of their campaigns, diagrams, locations, and the smallest details, but it's also a tool for players who in turn receive dribbling information from the GM as the story unfolds. develops in the game.
Realm Works includes access to the Realm Work Content Marketplace, which provides pre-created content from publishers and enthusiasts alike. Deploy locations, NPCs, dungeons, and more directly from the cloud and integrate them into your game with just a few clicks. You can then use the software to individually reveal various aspects of your world, from partially hidden maps, portraits, relationships, etc.
It's also designed to take much of the agony out of the DJ's prep work. It can take hours to gather the various relevant materials, character sheets, notes on what happened the last time he played, and an overview of the story so far. Realm Works hace esto mucho más fácil al generar resúmenes automáticamente para ti.
Actualmente, Realm Works solo está disponible para Windows. La edición completa de GM cuesta $ 49.99 y viene con seis meses de acceso a Realm Works Cloud Services (con un costo de $ 24.99 por seis meses a partir de entonces). Los servicios en la nube le permiten mantener sus campañas sincronizadas y enviar información a cada uno de sus jugadores, entre otras cosas. Los jugadores estándar pueden comprar Player Edition (también solo para Windows) por $ 9.99 / usuario.
Download: RealmWorks para Windows ($ 49.99)
Del mismo desarrollador que te trajo Fight Club (arriba) viene Game Master 5th Edition, que hace exactamente lo que dice en la lata. La aplicación proporciona un conjunto de herramientas que facilitan la gestión de un juego Dungeons and Dragons 5E de principio a fin..
Los aspectos básicos están cubiertos, desde los encuentros hasta el rodar para los ataques. Puedes hacer un seguimiento de las estadísticas de los personajes de los jugadores y tus propios NPC, así como tirar de las habilidades, salvaciones y ataques en la batalla. Hay un editor de monstruos para crear nuevas bestias, y un registro de campaña para seguir para seguir los movimientos del partido..
Comprueba las reglas, calcula las tiradas de dados e incluso activa un modo fácil que le da a la parte la ventaja. Es una descarga gratuita, pero tendrás que pagar $ 2.99 por encuentros que involucren a más de seis combatientes.
Download: Game Master 5th Edition para iOS
Para los usuarios de Android, Fifth Edition DM Tools ayuda a simplificar la tarea de ejecutar una campaña de Dungeons and Dragons 5E. Crea encuentros y monstruos, crea mazmorras, rastrea a jugadores y sus estadísticas asociadas, y gestiona el botín que encontrarán en el camino.
Hay un conjunto sofisticado de calculadoras para la experiencia, puntuaciones de desafío, así como tiradas de dados para ataques de monstruos, daños, salvaciones y controles de habilidades. La aplicación incluso incluye soporte para múltiples campañas..
Download: Quinta edición de DM Tools para Android
Un sandbox de física y una experiencia de realidad virtual en una sola, el Simulador de mesa te permite crear tus propios juegos y jugarlos como quieras. No se limita a los juegos de guerra de mesa, y puedes jugar a clásicos como el ajedrez, las damas e incluso los rompecabezas solo, localmente o en línea con tus amigos..
El juego básico cuesta $ 19.99 y se ejecuta en Windows, Mac y SteamOS con soporte para el HTC Vive y Oculus Rift en VR. Una vez que tengas el juego base, puedes comprar experiencias de mesa individuales desde $ 4.99 a $ 14.99.
La verdadera magia radica en la capacidad de Tabletop Simulator de permitirte crear tus propios juegos, usar recursos personalizados, escribir tus propios scripts, manipular la física y disfrutar de la experiencia a tu manera. Incluso puedes voltear la mesa y enviar todo volando si las cosas no van a tu manera.!
Oh y Steam Workshop está lleno de activos personalizados pre-construidos, como esta colección completa de Warhammer 40K.
Download: Simulador de mesa para Windows
Otro producto de Lone Wolf (Hero Lab, Realm Works), Army Builder está diseñado específicamente para su uso con juegos de mesa en miniatura como Warhammer 40,000, Lord of the Rings, Warmachine y muchos más. El software está disponible tanto para Windows como para Mac, con una aplicación de visor de listas gratuita también disponible en dispositivos iOS.
El software está diseñado para agregar “simplicidad de apuntar y hacer clic” a la compleja tarea de crear listas de ejércitos. El software compara la lista que has elegido según las reglas de tu juego en particular, eliminando errores y eliminando la necesidad de que compruebes constantemente el reglamento. No hay cálculos para que realices manualmente ya que el software hace las sumas por ti, dejando mucho tiempo para experimentar con diferentes listas y tácticas..
Cuando esté listo, puede imprimir una hoja de referencia rápida para consultar durante el juego, o simplemente usar la aplicación iOS gratuita. Puede comprar Army Builder por $ 39.99, que proporciona acceso a todos los juegos compatibles (no es necesario comprar licencias por separado para sistemas de juegos por separado).
Visitar: Constructor de ejércitos
Visitar: AB40k (archivos de Warhammer 40K actualizados)
Un creador gratuito, rápido y poderoso de listas de ejércitos para varios juegos de mesa. Se ejecuta en iOS, Android, Windows y macOS, aunque los dos últimos requieren Java 8 o mejor para ejecutarse. La aplicación valida sus selecciones de ejército contra los límites de puntos para que sepa si su lista es legal o no, sin tener que hacer las sumas usted mismo..
La aplicación es gratuita, pero se requiere una suscripción de $ 2.99 / año para eliminar la publicidad. Deberá pagar esta tarifa por cada plataforma en la que desee utilizar BattleScribe, así que elija sabiamente.
Download: BattleScribe para Windows, macOS, Android y iOS
Mientras que los puristas argumentarán que no hay nada como la sensación de un dado perfectamente ponderado, otros prefieren la simplicidad de una aplicación. La calculadora d20 es una aplicación que permite a los jugadores lanzar cualquier tipo de dados y realizar cálculos complejos en unos pocos toques..
Download: Calculadora d20 para iOS, Android
