Heartforge

Create everything you need for your Daggerheart experience in one place. From custom adversaries to full collections — and share it with a growing community. Start Creating Today Whether you're building a single encounter or an entire world, this platform gives you the tools to bring your ideas to life and share them with others.

Roll20 is the most widely used browser based virtual tabletop in the world, launched in 2012 following a successful Kickstarter campaign. Developed by Riley Miller, Nolan T. Jones, and Richard Zayas, it was designed to break down the barriers to tabletop gaming by requiring zero installation and offering a robust free to play tier. It remains the industry leader in total user base, hosting millions of games across nearly every imaginable tabletop system. Description Roll20 is the "everyman" of virtual tabletops, prioritizing accessibility and ease of use. Because it runs entirely in the cloud, players and Game Masters can start a session in seconds from any modern web browser. It features an integrated marketplace where users can purchase official rulebooks, adventures, and art packs that integrate directly into their campaigns. While it offers advanced features like dynamic lighting, its primary appeal is its massive community and the simplicity of its "pick up and play" nature. System Overview & Key Features No Installation Required Unlike many of its competitors, Roll20 requires no software downloads or server configuration. The Game Master simply creates a room on the website and shares a link. This makes it the ideal choice for groups with varying levels of technical expertise. Integrated Character Sheets Roll20 features thousands of community and official character sheets that handle the math for you. Clicking an attribute or a weapon on your sheet automatically sends the roll to the chat window, applying modifiers and calculating critical hits instantly. The Roll20 Marketplace The platform boasts the largest digital storefront in the industry. You can buy modules for D&D, Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu, and more, which come pre loaded with maps, tokens, and journals, drastically reducing a Game Master's preparation time. Dynamic Lighting and Layering Subscribers gain access to a powerful lighting system that restricts what players can see based on their character's line of sight. The Game Master can easily manage different layers for maps, tokens, and hidden notes that only they can see. Built in Video and Voice Roll20 includes its own integrated WebRTC video and voice chat system, allowing groups to see and hear each other without needing to run third party software like Discord alongside their game window. Jumpgate Technology Introduced in 2024 and 2025, the "Jumpgate" update overhauled the core engine to provide a much smoother, high performance experience. It improved frame rates, reduced loading times, and modernized the interface to compete with newer, hardware accelerated platforms. Additional links roll20.net - Official Roll20 website and Virtual Tabletop marketplace.roll20.net - Official Roll20 Marketplace for assets and modules

D&D Beyond is the official digital toolset for Dungeons & Dragons, originally launched in 2017 and acquired by Wizards of the Coast in 2022. It serves as the primary ecosystem for the 5th Edition ruleset and the updated 2024 "5.5e" core rules. In 2026, the platform is undergoing a massive "Game Platform" rebuild, moving away from its original hard-coded architecture to a data-driven engine. This allows the platform to support more complex customization and the new "Season" based content release model introduced this year. Description D&D Beyond is the definitive "companion app" for D&D. It combines a high-speed character builder, a digital library of all official sourcebooks, and a native 2D virtual tabletop called Maps. The platform is designed to be the easiest way to play the game, handling all calculations, spell slots, and inventory management automatically. With the 2026 "Season of Horror" and "Season of Magic" updates, it has become a living platform that delivers monthly content drops and themed community events directly to player character sheets. System Overview & Key Features The 2026 Game Engine Rebuild Wizards of the Coast is currently rebuilding the backend of D&D Beyond from the ground up. This move allows the site to finally support highly requested features like custom classes, complex homebrew non-magical equipment, and more responsive rules validation that doesn't rely on legacy code from 2017. The Maps VTT The integrated 2D virtual tabletop is now free for all users to host games as of late 2025. It features "Quickplay Maps" for all official adventures, allowing GMs to launch a session with pre-placed tokens and fog of war. New "Reveals" functionality lets GMs share high-resolution gallery art and monster lore directly to players' screens during play. New "Quickbuilder" Flow To improve onboarding, the 2026 character builder features an "art-forward" Quickbuilder mode. It guides players through the most impactful decisions—like subclass and background—while using optimized defaults for smaller details, allowing a new hero to be ready for play in under five minutes. Content Sharing (Master Tier) The Master Tier subscription remains the most popular for groups. It allows a single user to share their entire digital library—including the new 2026 Ravenloft: The Horror Within and Arcana Unleashed books—with up to 12 players across five different campaigns. Legacy vs Core Toggles Following community feedback, the platform now features robust toggles to enable or disable "Legacy" (2014) content. This ensures that groups can choose to stick strictly to the 2024 rules or mix in older subclasses and spells without the interface becoming cluttered or confusing. Digital/Physical Integration Most new 2026 book releases now feature a "Physical + Digital" bundle. When you buy a hardcover from the official store, you receive an instant unlock code for D&D Beyond, ensuring your character builder and digital library are updated before the physical book even arrives in the mail. Additional links dndbeyond.com : Official D&D Beyond website dndbeyond.com/roadmap : The 2026 Development Roadmap Hub Maps - D&D Beyond's VTT

Bonus Reaction is a dedicated TTRPG resource channel focused on the art of Game Mastering and the mechanics of storytelling. Rather than traditional long-form actual play, the channel specializes in deep-dive analysis, DM tips, and commentary on the tabletop industry. It is designed for those who want to level up their own home games and understand the "why" behind the rules. The channel provides high-energy, insightful breakdowns of both popular systems like Dungeons & Dragons and rising alternatives like Vampire: The Masquerade and Daggerheart. Through a lens of critical world-building and player engagement, the content explores how professional GMs—from Brennan Lee Mulligan to Matt Mercer—shape their narratives, offering viewers actionable advice to apply to their own tables. Links youtube.com - Youtube channel patreon.com - Patreon page discord.gg - Discord server twitch.tv - Twitch channel

Hey everyone! I run a D&D community called Session Zero. We’ve had incredible growth over the last few days with so many amazing new faces joining us, and we are looking to expand our tables! Our main goal is simple: create a relaxed, welcoming space where people from all over can get together and just enjoy playing D&D. What to expect Players Welcome: We have campaigns spinning up all the time. We have games spanning multiple timezones, so if you want to play, there is a seat waiting for you! No more scrolling through Forums for a table! We don't charge anything. Everything is free. Always. Calling DMs: Our demand for games is growing more and more. You won't have an issue finding players to fill them seats! Want to run a game? Then you're more than welcome to host here! With everything in house, no more hunting for players. We make you dedicated campaign channels, DMs sharing tons of resources they've built up and we can help anyway we can! While we are thrilled with our active player base, we are on the hunt for EU based DMs to help run some games. We have a few EU campaigns starting up, but getting more rolling is our top priority! (And of course, we are still welcoming DMs from outside the EU as well!) DM Perks: I have a large DnDBeyond book selection I share with DMs running games in here. Fully free! The Vibe: Whether you're a longstanding DM looking to find a new group of players to take on a magical adventure, or perhaps wanting to get into the DM chair for the first time but need some support, you will be more than welcome. Our player base is a mix from never playing a game before to years of experience. If you're a player who's only just picking up your first quest or have been on many adventures, come grab a stool in our laid-back 18+ community. It's not just 5e! We're happy to host pretty much any VTTRPG! Patherfinder, Daggerheart, 5E, 5.5 etc!

Are you just getting into D&D? You most likely already know the hardest part of playing Dungeons & Dragons isn't defeating a Red Dragon or figuring out what kind of bonuses should apply when picking a lock. The actual "Big Bad Evil Guy" of any tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) is scheduling and finding a reliable group. Whether you are brand new to the hobby, having just either discovered Critical Role or finished the last season of Stranger Things, or you are well-versed in the tabletop gaming scene, you are most likely aware that finding a group or other players is not as easy as you might’ve thought initially. Even though Dungeons & Dragons is more popular than ever, it still can feel like you are the only one interested in trying it out. We have compiled this article to try and help you find your way to your next D&D game. Quick Steps to Find a Group: 1. Create a Groupfinder player profile. 2. Define your schedule and timezone. 3. Browse open games or wait for a DM to find you. The traditional methods: forums and LFG subreddits The internet works. It works in the sense that there are others like you looking for a game to join. But navigating through all the different mediums is going to most likely feel like a chore. Reddit (r/lfg and r/LFG_Europe) The standard answer to "where to find D&D players" has historically been Reddit. The Pros: A massive volume of players. If you post a compelling game pitch as a DM, you will get dozens of applications within hours. The Cons: Because of the sheer volume, it is incredibly easy for your post to get buried. Players often find themselves filling out dozens of Google Forms without ever hearing back. Plus, formatting restrictions make it difficult to filter for specific needs like exact timezones (a massive headache for EU/Global players), Virtual Tabletop (VTT) preferences, or safety tools. Discord LFG channels Many TTRPG YouTubers, podcasters, bloggers, game systems, and communities have their own dedicated Discord servers with LFG channels to allow players to advertise their interest. The Pros: Discord is great for instant communication. You can start a chat with potential party members quickly and in real-time to see if your personalities fit before committing to an actual game night. The Cons: Discord LFG channels are essentially endless scrolling text feeds. Searching through thousands of chat messages to find a oneshot or campaign that fits your specific schedule is exhausting. The "paid vs. free" game debate Over the last few years, there has been a massive rise in "Pro DMs" hosting games on platforms where players pay per session (often $15 to $30+). If you have the budget, paid games practically guarantee that a session will actually happen, as players are financially invested. However, for many, the soul of D&D is about gathering around a virtual table as friends playing a game for free. While we are in no way trying to negatively portray paid games, they will most likely not have that “organic” feel to it that regular games do. For many players, it might be the perfect fit. Games happen when they are scheduled, the DM is prepared for the session and will most likely have figured out all the technical aspects beforehand. The modern solution: dedicated LFG platforms If you want to stop scrolling through forums and social media posts, you need a tool actually built for the job. If you are looking to join a D&D campaign online (or even find a local game), Groupfinder is the best dedicated tool available today. Built specifically to solve the age-old problem of TTRPG matchmaking, it completely streamlines the process. Why a dedicated platform beats a forum post Timezone & schedule filtering: No more guessing timezone conversions. On Groupfinder, you can filter game and player posts by timezones. That way you will know that what you are seeing will match your preferences and your real-life schedule. Detailed player profiles: Instead of pitching yourself to new DMs, you can create your permanent player profile (How to write a great player profile that helps you find a DnD group). You can introduce yourself, mark down any specific preferences, or even describe your previous experiences if you have any. You can also list your preferred systems (D&D 5E, D&D 5.5E, or if you are open to trying out other systems, those too can be listed), and let groups search for you. Advanced game tags: You can filter groups and players by various tags. Whether it is for themes, topics, inclusivity, or experience level, such as "Beginner friendly," "Roleplay focused," or "LGBTQ+ friendly." How to make your player profile stand out Whether you are posting on a forum or filling out your profile on Groupfinder, what you write matters. DMs sift through a lot of profiles; here is how to make yours stand out: Be Honest About Your Experience: DMs do not mind beginners! For many, it might be exactly who they are looking for. New DMs are more likely to feel more comfortable playing with other newbies. Their mistakes are less obvious and you will all learn together. Define Your "Pillars of Play": Do you prefer emotional roleplay and character voices, or are you more interested in tactical, grid-based combat? Be detailed about what you like and dislike about the game. List Your dealbreakers: If you are not comfortable with certain topics, mark them down. Being open about those will give the reader a good overview of whether you would fit their group or not. The age-old saying “No D&D is better than bad D&D” holds true. Red flags to watch out for Once you find a group that seems to be a good fit on paper, you still need to ensure whether the game style and dynamic between players is for you. If the game has a “Session zero”, you can get a better understanding of who the people involved are, what they are looking for, and whether your preferences align. Watch out for these red flags: The "Main character syndrome": If a player is constantly talking over others during introductions or insists their homebrew character concept overrides the DM's worldbuilding, it is a sign of bad table etiquette to come. This might be something that, when addressed, can be resolved - but don’t let those instances go by without taking note. Poor Communication: If the group doesn’t seem to be able to respond to important messages within a reasonable time, it might indicate that the group members are not that interested or have the time required to manage an ongoing game. Prioritizing safety: The "Session 0" essentials Finding a group is only half the battle; ensuring the group is a safe and comfortable environment for everyone is what makes a campaign last. Modern TTRPG matchmaking relies heavily on **Safety Tools** to set boundaries before the first die is rolled. Commonly used safety tools If you are joining a new group, look for these terms in the game description. If they aren't there, don't be afraid to ask the DM which ones they use: Lines and Veils: "Lines" are hard limits (topics that will never be in the game). "Veils" are topics that can happen but "fade to black" without graphic detail. The X-Card: A tool that allows any player (or the DM) to edit out content in real-time if it becomes uncomfortable. Monte Cook Games RPG Consent Checklist: A physical or digital form where players check off their comfort levels with various horror or social themes. Why this matters for online play When playing with strangers online, communication can sometimes be misinterpreted. Using these tools isn't about being "sensitive"—it's about professionalism and clear communication. Groups that use safety tools have a significantly lower "ghosting" rate because expectations are set early. On Groupfinder, we encourage all DMs to list their preferred safety tools in their group descriptions. This helps players find the right "vibe" and ensures a long-lasting adventure. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Can I play D&D online for free? Yes. The basic rules for Dungeons & Dragons are available for free online (view the Basic Rules here). You do not need any books to get your first few sessions going. You can use free Virtual Tabletops like Roll20 or Owlbear Rodeo, talk over Discord, and find your group for free using Groupfinder. Will I need a webcam to play D&D? Not necessarily! While some groups prefer playing with cameras on to read facial expressions during roleplay, many groups play "audio-only" using just a microphone. Play by post is also a very viable approach. What if I haven’t played D&D or any other TTRPG before? Not to worry - everyone has to start somewhere, just like you. If you have found a beginner-friendly group, feel free to ask any question, no matter how simple it might seem. You can also find a multitude of resources online. But be aware that you will never know everything about the game. That is not how it goes - knowing where to find information is how you get by. Stop searching and find your group Finding an online D&D group might seem like a daunting task. But in reality, you just need to put yourself out there and start your search. It might take weeks before you get contacted by a group. Remember to keep your post “bumped”. That will move your profile in front of all the other listings, refreshing it to the top. You can bump your post every day. Your profile also doesn’t have to be perfect from the start. Whenever you think of something to add, just return and edit your post. Feel free to share your profile link in other channels, you no longer have to spam individual messages - you now have a player profile that introduces you and your preferences. Create your free player profile on Groupfinder today, browse open games, and let the perfect campaign find you.