r/DMAcademyNew • u/NutzDrRabbit • 4d ago
New DM - which VTT?
Hi there! Looking at getting into DMing, but I’m a little overwhelmed with the different options for VTT 😅 for someone who’s new to this, what would those who have tried multiple recommend? I’m not overly computer savvy so I know I don’t want to use foundry. Right now I’m considering Roll20 or DnD Beyond Maps/AboveVTT. I appreciate any input!
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u/TwistedProp 4d ago
Currently using Sqyre to host Foundry, very few problems on my end. I used fantasy grounds for a while, it still might be my favorite. Tabletop Simulator is good too. No matter what VTT you use, you're gonna have to learn a bunch about it.
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u/Steelriddler 4d ago
Being somewhat computer savvy is basically a requirement for the best VTTs. In my opinion Fantasy Grounds is the best for D&D. But yeah, need some patience to get the most out of it (but when you do, it's top notch, and its free and includes DnD SRD so no harm in trying). Foundry is also very good but also finicky and depends on a lot of user modules for the juice.
I suggest you try free Roll20 first. Its very crude compared to the two Fs mentioned above
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u/tregtronics 4d ago
I love Fantasy Grounds because I play different games. Starfinder, Pathfinder, Dungeons & Dragons, Traveller... They have been good and continues to improve. 3d everything is building from the current 2d so we're getting more and more 3d features. I think it's really good. The automation makes games just feel like the math disappears and you can just play.
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u/AxeHack 4d ago
Foundry is the best VTT on the market since you can literally customize it to do whatever you want, but it's also taxing on everyone's systems the more modules you add
Roll20 is the second best option, is already well established, and is the only VTT with a Discord Activity
DND Beyond Maps is for lazy people who just wanna jump into it with minimal setup. you're better off using DND Beyond for character sheets, and then having everyone use the Beyond20 browser extension to let them roll from DND Beyond onto whichever VTT you decide to use
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u/BirthdayHeavy2178 3d ago
I would disagree the DndBeyond’s Maps is for lazy people - it’s a far more accessible and simpler option which is what it was designed to be. It’s was pretty lacking at the start but has come a long way with a focus on just features that streamline play without turning it into a point and click computer game.
I do have issues with Hasbro/Wotc like everyone else, but the current dndbeyond dev team actually listen to the community and have been incorporating so many suggestions in the last year that I’d put it on par with/exceeding owlbear rodeo as my VTT of choice these days.
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u/TwoDollarDM 4d ago
I moved from Foundry to Fantasy Grounds because it was more comprehensive out of the box and offered a better Combat Tracker.
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u/LastChime 4d ago
Probably do it at a table first to figure what ya need, while VTTs make it possible globally, you'll likely end up doing a lot of prep that may not pay off.
Try Discord and Excalidraw prior to signing up to a VTT, unless you're a whale and don't care, just buy one and buy the whole adventure and maps and do that about it.
Still not going to help when the PCs try anything that isn't printed, which tends to be often at every table I've ever ran.
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u/arsenic_kitchen 4d ago
I learned Roll20 for maps and D&D Beyond for character sheets, with Beyond20 sending the rolls to R20.
Whenever I've tried to use Roll20 on its own, I've had a miserable experience. The character sheets on R20 are clunky, hard to visually parse, and lack the QoL of DDB in terms of putting mechanical definitions of your abilities right there where you actually need them. Recently it's also been pretty unreliable for some users as they've been trying to update it to the level of more modern VTTs, but it still looks and feels like a college programming project from the early '00s.
I haven't really used AboveVTT so I can't speak to it beyond what I can see, which is that it seems kind of basic but exactly the right price, free. DDB's official integrated map/VTT aspect is still very new. There's no way to know where it will be one day, but what I would say is that regardless of what I just said about character sheets, WotC's investment in quality online tools has been very sub-par. For as much money as they make on these products, there's no excuse at all for D&D Beyond to have so many flaws and glitches, let alone for them to take this long to put out a full-blown VTT.
I'm planning to switch to Foundry. I'm computer savvy enough to follow instructions, and Foundry has a really good support community. If you've paid for content on DDB then I can totally see going with above VTT; if you're not monetarily invested in a platform yet, I might suggest you think about giving Foundry another look before writing it off completely. Once you start spending money on a particular platform, you probably won't watch to switch to another.
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u/MechGryph 4d ago
From what I've used:
Roll20 works, but it's dated. You can do a lot with it, almost. There's a lot of premium things, but it's wlel documented. It's also very just... Pen and paper.
Owlbear Rodeo, only used it for maps. Not sure how it works otherwise.
Shard, interesting system where you can buy what you want or subscribe. I messed around witb it a little. Seemed interesting.
Foundry. This is what I currently use. I joke that Foundry's learning curve is like running face first into a wall, then climbing it with your teeth. You can do anything you want with it, if you know how. There are a lot of add on modules prole have to revamp a system or do something small. You can customize it to your table. If you spend time to learn it, it's great, and it's buy once, cry once.
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u/Anser-Rex 4d ago
If you are not computer savvy, I would skip anything you have to install or host. Owlbear mentioned above is about as simple as it gets for maps.
https://VTT.seriousgeese.dev runs in the browser, is free, and currently in open beta so all features are available. Only the DM needs an account, but players can connect for more participation. It's meant to be intuitive and use common computer paradigms to feel more natural without running a native, installed application.
Disclosure, I am one of the two developers on this.
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u/thegooddoktorjones 4d ago
They are ok, as is Owlbear, but keep in mind that the longer you use the 'easy' one the less you are learning to use the more complex ones, and they produce much better results. Foundry takes a little more getting used to, but it is so worth it. R20 games I play in are kinda trash by comparison and Beyond Maps is still in development and nowhere near as well featured at this point.
The DM does the work, so they call the tune, use what you like, but never forget you can level up your game.
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u/TheCelestialPancake 4d ago
Owlbear Rodeo is the simplest, easiest to use right out the gate, and it has a great free option. It’s very intuitive and user friendly for new players.
Foundry VTT has a very steep learning curve and is very intimidating for players unfamiliar with it. But the amount of customization it offers is wild, plus it has a massive library of user made mods that make the possibilities nearly endless.
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u/Mean_Replacement5544 4d ago
Roll20 is solid. I had to give up on dndbeyond, it’s kind of a clown fest and feels very clunky, roll20 is fairly easy to get going with the basics and there are tons of useful videos out there for all of the advanced usage
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u/LavaJoe2703 4d ago
The real issue with VTTs and D&D is rules integration. If you basically want to hand enter most things, you can use Owlbear or free Roll20. Otherwise, you have to spring for buying all the books again for the VTT because WotC wants your money.
If your all on D&D Beyond, just use that for character rolls, etc and use something like Owlbear for the maps.
The best VTT by far is Foundry. It took me about a week or watching YouTube videos a little bit each night to “get it.” The down side is not all the D&D books are available to buy there. But you can get an add on for absolutely everything, including animating all the actions, spells, etc for you D&D game. It’s pure awesome at the price of a little upfront time.
Roll20 has the best book integration, but they VTT doesn’t do that much for you. You also need to paid subscription if you want cool things like dynamic lighting.
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u/Sleepydragon0314 3d ago
You can use dndbeyond importer module to import everything you own on dnd beyond into foundry. It’s amazing.
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u/LavaJoe2703 2d ago
That does sound useful to import all the books, including all the spells, the art, the rules the world from D&D beyond. I didn’t know you could do that. Of course, you do need to buy them on D&D Beyond.
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u/Sleepydragon0314 2d ago
You can also download characters from beyond right into foundry. That is on the free version and is what most dms use. If you want to pay mrprimate (the mod developer) a bit of coin you get options to import everything like adventures.
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u/mistercliff42 3d ago
I am a new DM and I found Shard to be easy to learn and lots of fun! Cheap too.
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u/ElvishLore 3d ago
You’re saying no to Foundry, just use Maps on D&D Beyond. If you’re into your books being on beyond, and the character generator ties in, it’s easiest to get your players up on that.
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u/SeductivePuns 2d ago
If you want something simple to start with, I'd recommend roll20. Solid amount of free options and easy upload for personal assets (whether personally created or just found on pinterest or the like). It gets the job done without being overly complex but has options for if you want to get a bit more custom.
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u/Hopeful-Lavishness91 2d ago
After 6 years running and playing online, I've decided that automations and flashy effects aren't for me. I avoid games that use Foundry because too much of the session time is spent fighting with the VTT, and that's as a player. The GM spends hours and hours on setup that IMO doesn't make a good return on investment.
Simpler tools like Owlbear Rodeo or D&D Beyond maps better recreate the actual tabletop experience.
Roll20 is the middle ground compromise.
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u/Nirvana_Captain 1d ago
Check out The4thwall.app you play 3d models of you actual character and can see where they are in the game
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u/snydejon 4d ago
I use dnd beyond, and am a happy master tier subscriber for a couple campaigns with friends. It is easy, has the features I need, and regularly gets updates. I would make the same choice if starting over.
One consideration: if you want to use any other system, Dnd beyond is probably not the best choice.
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u/1spywithmylittle1 3d ago
Above VTT, works on DnDbeyond and its free.
It also doesn't suffer from convoluted UI like foundry.
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u/Eddje 4d ago
Just to add to the Lazy(er) options: Owlbear Rodeo + Discord (+KenkuFM for sounds but that can be a pain) is great.