AD&D Toolkit

Codex Cryptica is an AI-assisted worldbuilding and campaign management tool built around a living knowledge graph instead of a folder of loose documents. Every character, faction, location, and event you create becomes a linked entity, so your world stays connected and explorable as it grows. Genre-agnostic across fantasy, sci-fi, cyberpunk, horror, post-apocalyptic, western, steampunk, and more.

GhoulApp is a free digital companion for Vampire: The Masquerade that helps players and Storytellers create characters, manage chronicles and run live sessions. Supporting V5, V20 and Dark Ages, it includes character creation, interactive character sheets, complete chronicle management, maps and relationship boards, integrated wiki and timeline tools, edition-specific dice rolling and community sharing features. Designed specifically for the World of Darkness, GhoulApp brings every part of a chronicle together in a single platform used by thousands of players worldwide. Links ghoulapp.com - Official website discord.gg - Discord server patreon.com - Support the project

A portable, offline-first DM and worldbuilding tool. Build worlds, run sessions, share with others and play together, all in one app. License: CC BY-NC 4.0 · Free to use Everything core works **without an account**. You only need one to play online, publish to the marketplace, or download other users' content. /images/general-media/1791564204_7DEx9r3t.webp Worldbuilding - Era Timeline: Split your world's history into eras on a timeline bar and move between them. Each era keeps its own map, pins, nested location maps and day-by-day timeline pins linked to cards and sessions. You can show the same city before the war and after it. - Templates & Packages: Every world is built on a template (D&D 5e is built in) and pulls content from packages. A package is a bundle of cards you can install into any world, link to other packages, or share on the marketplace. Custom templates are coming. - Codex: Schema-driven cards for NPCs, monsters, spells, items, locations and more. Every reference is a tappable link. Pin cards to the top, preview any card with a long press, and search by name, tag, category or text. - World Map: Pins, grid and scale, drawing, fog of war, and nested maps you can walk into (districts, dungeons, taverns). - Mind Map: An infinite canvas with linked nodes, workspaces, freehand drawing and undo/redo. /images/general-media/1791564252_TB7zwrCp.webp Running the Session - Second Screen: Give the table its own view. Pop out a window onto a second monitor, cast to a TV or projector, or project into every connected player's app. You choose how battle maps, images, cards and PDFs go out. Fog of war and hidden tokens stay hidden. - Battle Map: The session screen *is* the map, with the encounter panel and event log on top. It has layers, fog of war, AoE templates, 5e diagonal rules, creature-sized tokens, shapes and text, a DM-only layer, hidden tokens, movement trails for the round, and two maps joined into one. - Combat Tracker: Initiative, HP (with hit-dice rolls), conditions, turn order and an event log. - 3D Dice: Dice roll across the screen with named styles. Skills and saving throws roll from the character sheet with one tap. - Soundpad: Layered ambience with gapless loops, fades and ready-made soundpacks. - PDF Library: PDFs kept inside the world, opened in tabs and shareable with players. /images/general-media/1791564292_BnuuXJTS.webp Characters - Full 5e rules: Species, class, subclass, background and feats fold into one sheet. Each sense, resistance, proficiency, trait and always-prepared spell shows where it came from. Also covers multiclassing, spell slots, class resources (Rage, Bardic Inspiration, sorcery points…), weapon mastery, and short and long rests. - Character Builder: Pick species, class, subclass, background, ability scores, skills, starting equipment and feats from the SRD and any installed pack. - Level-Up: HP, proficiency bonus and hit dice update automatically. ASIs, feats, subclass and spell picks wait as pending choices. /images/general-media/1791564330_JBRRDNZ4.webp Playing Online - Online worlds: Put a world, package or character online and it stays the same on every device you sign in on. Players see the pictures even when the DM is offline. - Players: Join with an invite code, claim a character, move your own token on your turn, and send dice rolls to the DM's log. Shared cards update when the DM edits them. - .dmtz files: Export a world, package or character to one file and import it anywhere. No account or network needed. Content - SRD 5.2.1: Built in and works offline. - 19 one-tap packs: Tome of Beasts (1–3, 2023), Creature Codex, Monstrous Menagerie, Black Flag SRD, Deep Magic, Tome of Heroes, Vault of Magic, Tal'Dorei and more. - Ready-made worlds: 99 Devils of Uzrah's Palace (Shadowdark), Army of the Damned, The Cold Bounty, and soon our own campaign Aegis Act . - Marketplace: Publish worlds, templates, packages and characters as versioned snapshots with content previews. - Social: Profiles, follows, an activity feed, direct and group chats, and game listings with applications.

Old-School Essentials is a Dungeons & Dragons B/X retroclone designed by Gavin Norman and published by his own studio, Necrotic Gnome, first released in 2019. It doesn't reinvent the 1981 Basic/Expert D&D rules so much as reorganize them: rather than hunting across four different chapters just to build an elf character, every rule on a given topic now lives on a single two-page spread, with modern layout and clarity layered over mechanics that are otherwise untouched. Since launch it's become something close to the flagship rulebook of the Old School Renaissance - clean enough to hand a brand-new player, and 100% compatible with four decades of B/X-era modules and third-party adventures.

ChaosWood: Forsaken Tombs is a tabletop role-playing game that consists of a set of core rules, two starting adventures, and all the tools needed to create your own adventure. A fast-paced, perilous experience, set in an immersive dark fantasy world brought to life through rich art and evocative components awaits you!

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.