Digital DnD Tools I Wish I Found Earlier

The best Digital D&D tools and how DMs use them!
Check out dScryb: dscryb.com/bon...
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LINKS from video:
Name Generator:
www.fantasynam...
Over All Tools:
roll20.net
foundryvtt.com
www.dndbeyond.com
Maps:
inkarnate.com
watabou.itch.i...
2minutetableto...
Notes:
www.notion.so/
docs.google.com/
obsidian.md/
Other:
www.heroforge.com
www.naturalcri...
startplaying.g...
dscryb.com/bon...
Best known for D&D advice looking at Critical Role, Dimension 20, Matthew Mercer and Brennan Lee Mulligan as well as testing and reviewing D&D gear. Welcome to the channel!

[@techjunkie758]

Don't quit uploading, please!

[@bafi420]

Great video, please don’t stop uploading

[@umberto7641]

GREAT VIDEO! Useful tips: Know your tools before you expect to use them, otherwise they will take more time than not using them. These tools in the videos are great!

[@PierriScot]

I also recommend Let's Role. It's a good VTT for D&D and the free version is very useful. Great video, btw!

[@theotherwoman7314]

Inkarnate is amazing but the learning curve is steep if you've never messed around with that type of program before. Totally worth it for long term.

[@Bernardo-ym5lh]

Watabou's map generators also have a Village option which I think looks cozier than the city one. Also, you can Right-Click on it and select the elements you want for your city/village (river, crossroads, lake, etc.). Great video, please keep uploading if you can!

[@chaosmeisters6781]

Watabou is so good.

[@empedoclescaecilian7663]

@@chaosmeisters6781 You're only saying that because Watabou is __so__ good.

[@cgrant61289]

As a newer DM, this is the most useful channel I’ve found so far.

[@LoneWolffanwriter]

Glad to see you're still uploading, though sorry to hear your full-time job fell by the wayside. Hopefully the D&D KZbinr community can help you make up the difference! Greatly appreciate these videos, as there's always a new tool for me to try (or a use case for a tool I didn't know about)! Keep up the good work!

[@alexvass]

Thanks

[@vincepale]

Ive had great luck connecting openai's APIs to Obsidian (my dm notebook app of choice) and using it to help ask questions about my notes and world build.

[@Juandrez__]

What, that sounds so cool! How did you do this?

[@elijahpark5344]

Hey, here's a tip for names and npcs from my own personal experience: Oftentimes I don't like generated names from the name generator, since they don't fit the vibe of the world I DM for. What I do is make a list of root words or vabulary from other languages that I think are cool or have cool meanings (magic, fire, light, hero, etc.). If you want to make a name, just look through the list and mash the sounds of the syllables together. Then, figure out the meaning of the name based on those syllables. Those name meanings can then be used to describe the NPCs personality. It'll take a moment early on, but the more you practice it, the faster you'll be, until you can make names on the spot :D

[@tombofgnomes]

Commenting so this guy can keep doing KZbin full time❤

[@Lindkvist11]

You missed owlbear rodeo! The best of the best!

[@Suffkeller]

I am checking out stuff for free and i must admit, until now Owlbear is the best freee verion in comparision to the others like roll20 and so on... but i need to test it more...

[@undertheveil1576]

So simple yet it has almost everything!

[@Aurora-fz6sq]

That’s what I like to use too!

[@DrewGlenzer]

Dude, Almost all of this is in Foundry and tracking NPC health alone is worth the price of admission.

[@dane3038]

I'm still learning to unlock all of Foundry's abilities after a year. Insane what it can do for $50 a table.

[@SoraPierce]

Yeah foundry was the best 50 ive ever spent ​@dane3038

[@Jmanr03]

I’ve always DMed using foundry, but I think I need to try DMing over discord with no VTT. It’s a lot of prep and I feel Ike the visuals and videogame-like play can distract from the game itself

[@DrewGlenzer]

@Jmanr03 oh I've never used it for online sessions yet we use it in person so maybe that's different

[@hazzairwin9665]

These are all amazing ideas. I personally use Obsidian to write all my notes and like you said connect the dots.

[@ThatsABallerCookie]

Very cool video. I’m starting to prep for running a game digitally for the first time and feel comfortable with storytelling but less so with tools so this is particularly helpful!

[@monts9115]

Glad you're still uploading after your last video!! Hope you get to keep on going!

[@Brysing]

Me starting to prep a remote OS for the first time as we usually play in person. That's the video I needed ;)

[@A1990MusicMan]

Glad to see more from you!

[@djake_marthall]

Incredible content, as always, mate! 👌🏾

[@BNWilliamGaming]

My first time making a D&D character, I used pencil and paper. Since then, the only time I’ve ever made a character on paper was when I last played 2e with my dad. To be fair, it wasn’t my first dnd character that I did that (for a good year we had one d6 and 1d20, and we just memorized our stats or DM’d the game), but still…

[@imhappy2297]

wonderful video, I will have a distance session soon and this inspired me to solve som problems but i won't necessarily use all the suggestions you mentioned, but thank you for making me think about other recourses and solution to my dnd problems

[@fabioveiga7301]

I think your video is amazing. I also understand now why so many 5e DMs are burning out after a while

[@jellegeerts6489]

Just found your page recently, love the approachable videos. Hope you keep on going even if it's just as an hobby

[@julianb4157]

Love your content. Hope you're able to keep it up!

[@wisdombot]

Great list! You mentioned Discord, but there's an even better webcasting tool built specifically for RPG gameplay-Realms of Shod. It automatically transcribes our sessions and generates detailed summaries, making story tracking effortless. It’s been a game-changer for picking up after holiday scheduling gaps and prepping for new adventures! My group never plays without it, we will never go back to manual note taking. blehhhh

[@aceofhearts832]

fantasytowngenerator was a life saver for my dnd campaign

[@boomcheese8353]

Love this video. I've been thinking of potentially running a campaign of my own at some point and I'll definitely use some of the tools you've suggested

[@hollowmind8]

What are the odds

[@jakeymcman]

Banger transitions

[@east2westfan]

Great video that, like many of yours, has helped me exponentially!!

[@brunoethier896]

Owlbear Rodeo is a simple VTT that works well for me, but while it has maps, effects, tokens and dice rolls, it does not include character sheets. What would you recommend as a free way to share live PC sheets with the DM outside of DnD beyond??

[@gergsmail01]

Thanks for this. I've wanted to use digital tools for a long time. Pencil and pad has always been the only thing that felt easy/fast enough. This helps.

[@ugurcankarakas6554]

Holy cows! Natural Crit looks awesome

[@DungeonsDiceandDaydreams]

Im quite new to DMing thanks that was realy helpful.

[@brankin421]

Would have really liked to see a list of these sites in the description.

[@donwebster9292]

I have not wanted to go through learning curve for dnd beyond, but guess I should.

[@RoninXDarknight]

Used Start Playing to find the 3 online games I'm currently in. Couple things I wish worked better but it works well enough and it's super easy to cancel or add sessions.

[@GabeTetrault]

I prefer to play in-person with dice, minis, maps and/or terrain pieces. But getting some of the work out of the way using digital tools is also a high priority for me. So I'm using Inkarnate, Obsidian, and D&D Beyond for most of those needs.

[@Witman1706]

Heck yeah, keep uploading. Please

[@dranoel9881]

Amazing video! Please do not leave us!!!!

[@gmassistantapp]

Hey, I make a tool that does the automated session notes for you! Working towards being able to ask those exact questions you mention, "what happens when a player falls 30 feet?". I am striving for my tool to be a lore keeper, rules lawyer, and muse all in one.

[@kjeason6508]

I used chat functions in our VTT for my NPCs to cast message to individual characters. That way only the person getting the message could read it like the actual spell. Then it’s their choice to tell the party

[@GeeEmming]

Inkarnate map was a skill issue brother 😂 ❤

[@LordCrisp]

I love how you can do something like 80% of ALL of this, on Foundry alone 😂 Please check that out.... for your own sake. Some of the functionality might need extra modules installed, but that is done super easy through their intuitive module browser and installer.

[@kaneofmars]

I love your videos!

[@phowfd]

lmao i never new you could make 3 kobolds in a trench coat in hero forge

[@Vaerceagoth]

I personally like Alchemy for my VTT. I’ve used Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, and Foundry and heavily prefer Alchemy over all of them.

[@whiskeySe7en]

COMMENTING FOR THE ALL MIGHTY ALGORITHM

[@tamarauriki4685]

Commenting for the algorithm 👌

[@salat12k]

Great Video! Would it be possible for this video and future ones to include links to tsites that you mentioning?

[@Detrivance]

Rollrota is great for scheduling through discord.

[@RottenRogerDM]

My master tier is great for my casual players at the FLGS. I can create a campaign and let them access my account. IF they update their pc.

[@zacharyaltman1816]

Inkarnate is fiirrreeee🔥

[@D_RockBottoms]

I wish looking for maps will take me so little. It so hard for me to find something I like that I can waste my entire prep time looking at maps online.

[@CallumMacdonald-u8m]

You should start making your own maps it saved me time and made my combat better

[@D_RockBottoms]

@@CallumMacdonald-u8m Do you have a recommended workflow?

[@chen-gongfu]

@D_RockBottoms not the one you asked, but I usually go like this: - think about primary / secondary objectives apart from kill and stay alive - think about environment (cave, temple, ruins, streets etc) - think about interactive points of interest (barricades, means of elevation, traps, props that can be used as improvised weapons or otherwise interacted with) - imagine the scene, maybe draw a rough pencil sketch for dimensions - use a digital tool like inkarnate or print out dungeon tiles (e.g. from printable heroes) if you play in person and put all your ideas together :)

[@nickkaplony8408]

Fab stuff!

[@Guitartube25]

Call fake. All players responding within a couple of minutes? Unheard of. Complete and utter lie. Never happens. Hubris. (cries in DM)

[@Athanasia8818]

I love this

[@terryem05]

Instead of DND BEYOND Maps you should try Above VTT since it works just like that but they do it better.

[@thomaspedersen3652]

Came to say the same. Can't recommend AboveVTT enough. ❤

[@whatabast]

I am just curious. I think you mentioned you worked as an animator, is there any reason you didn't go with animated KZbin videos?

[@BonusAction]

Oh was an editor. I can not animate to save my life haha!

Paid version of Inkarnate is saving my ass lol

[@kquixotic]

This was a fantastic breakdown and showcase. Thank you for making the content you do.

[@Take2Theology]

I track encounter ms on maps but it doesn’t have the same functionality as the actual encounter tracker. So I find that I have to choose between being able to easily see map/distance relationships or have all the niceties of the encounter tracker. Or switch back and forth. I’m managing a DMPC as well, so switching is too much.

[@RufusEggers]

What gear do you use? Maybe put some aff. links in the describtion (and make a how to/ tutortial video about using the gear)

[@bomberooski]

Another great video! Thank you! Here’s hoping for at LEAST another year of full time content from you.

[@CharleswoodSpudzyofficial]

Awesome!

[@High-Tech-Geek]

11:10 What industry were you in that "fell apart"?

[@BonusAction]

The VFX industry

[@IIIWITHOUTaNAMEIII]

Really cool. Especially Natural Crit looks awesome. I'm using Chat GPT for inspiration a lot already. You give it prompts on what happened in the campaign and what you would like to do, where you want to go and it gives you suggestions that you can alter or run as written. It's really good when I have no inspiration, or when I'm too tired to do prep after work.

[@Demelian]

Nice

[@diegomizaelcalderongonzale4425]

You might as well just have made a dnd beyond focused video.

[@thegamer-rp3oy]

I am starting to get into dnd but I have no one to play with any tips?

[@axelz4316]

If you have a few buddies and are willing to try something new, I’d recommend offering to DM for them and getting one of the DnD starter boxes.

[@SashaChirico-b3i]

what’s the final 3D combat software/app are they using to move the miniatures in a 3D world?

[@mattwithoutfear]

Love that poster

[@akb8323]

I think I just enjoy hand drawing maps. However I think making my Notes digital could be a good step for me.

[@ThaisFontes]

you could "hand draw" them online :D it helps with the loading screen, like my players used to call it when I was pausing the session to draw the next map

[@StefanEnslin]

I tried using the miriad of tools but eventually stuck with Fantasy Grounds, it takes a lot of these tools and puts them in one place, I have ADHD and this switching around causes me to get distracted.

[@Keymonster21]

Comment for the algorithm

[@noah-mac]

EVERYONE LIKE AND COMMENT TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT THIS MAY BE OUR LAST CHANCE. Also great video! I'm a fairly analogue DM, but there are some great tips here I'll try out soon

[@antmeredith5117]

Some great stuff in there as usual.

[@fivoasia64]

I'd rather never play a TTRPG again than give WOTC a dime of my money. My entire group quit dndbeyond and are developing our own instead of ever supporting WOTC ever again. I separate you from your opinions, however. Please keep uploading your content and I hope to see future content you post! P.S. I program AI systems for a living so I'd bet you're going to see some of those AI tools coming from my team.

[@jeffstanley8210]

Definitely some online tools I’ve never heard of, thanks!

[@Jakoubus]

Recently found this channel and I love your content

[@Dmasterd20]

Kenji magic item generator

[@brankin421]

Generative AI is such a huge tool for d&d prep! Lists of names, random facts about a town, an original magic spell, brainstorming... Theres no end to its usefulness! It's just worth remembering that its only a brainstorming tool. It doesnt create final drafts.

[@bradthebreadstick]

Its either generating ideas or organizing my lore/plan into a readable list (which I still may need to edit). You can't let it be alone in the metaphorical kitchen

[@brankin421]

@@bradthebreadstick Exactly. I love giving it all my logs and asking a question about what happened. Way easier than sifting through weeks and weeks of notes.

[@bradthebreadstick]

@brankin421 yeah I gotta figure out a way to do that, my session reports are such a hassle. I usually just use the search feature in docs cause if I logged everything into gpt it'll get confused

[@animespic9]

👍👍👍

[@kipblewis]

This was a nice overview of some tools and your process. I wouldn't mind a deep dive into some specifics steps, like how you approach encounter balancing. Also, I play in an online game that uses Foundry. It's very impressive on the player side and my DM is very adept with it. But I don't know how steep a learning curve it was for him.

[@sbmasonator]

I can understand your concern about AI, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s scary.

[@RufusEggers]

great vid man!

[@Lugoil]

I started playing last year and I like to limit tech at my table in person. However, I can see myself trying out these tools

[@nikakvanchakhadze1590]

I might not be well know dm but I started using obsidian for notes and it works wonders. You can connect everything with primitive commands and even visualize campaign plot points with canvas and it's free

[@jjhill001]

I think AI is going to create a lot of games that are all exactly the same.

[@Facedians]

I actually made the overal map of my homebrew island with Inkarnate. Good thing about Inkarnate is that you can import icons for your map. For more detailed maps I wouldnt go for inkarnate. I tend to go for dungeon alchemist (3d mapmaker) which is A-Ma-ZING

[@Sir_Mudging]

The 3d VTT thing is cool, I'll be interested to see if any of the big campaigns on KZbin use it to help visualise fights a bit more for videos

[@riddhidivecha6196]

cat!

[@Dmasterd20]

5ETools

[@Piqipeg]

I refuse to use ai, not only do you come away dumber from using it (there are studies), you don’t really retain what you generated either which will slow down the actual game.

[@chrisr3570]

What annoys me with dndbeyond is the app, bad functionality compared to website. If only the encounter builder was in the app

[@7_cats_at_sea_studios]

this is genuinely the first time i have been horrified by the thought of ai entering my hobbies i would never use ai in my campaign

[@seancornish8990]

AI is the absence of creativity and seeing someone who is part of this hobby use it or endorse the "exciting" uses of it is just sad. I hope you continue the channel and meet your financial goals, but you lost me with this one.

[@phookaziz3]

Continue to play and upload ttrpg info if you like but get away from Hasbro-WOTC. They have proven multiple times in recent history that they do not care about players, creators, or even making quality products. The entire point of the game is cooperative story telling with other people, telling stories around the campfire. Hasbro-WOTC isn’t interested in that. They’re in for tell our hasbros story with WOTC products that has nothing to do with the Gygax’s game. If we wanted to play video games we’ve got that covered already.

[@rebelforce14]

1 minute ago, here HELLLLLA early

[@tauanecohen9250]

15 seconds

[@IddoKraOz]

Damm