Here we present links to other useful tools and resources to use with Battlegrounds: RPG Edition and/or Battlegrounds Gaming Engine.

While we think you might find the information useful, the fact that a product or site is listed here does not necessarily mean that we endorse them or their products.

If you would like to be listed here, or wish to suggest that we list a particular site or product, please visit our Forums and post your suggestion there.

Links that are not hyperlinks are known to be defunct websites, and are recorded here for historical purposes only.

MAPPING SOFTWARE

Dundjinni

Produces beautiful maps (especially battlemaps). Recommended.

Note: This software cannot currently be purchased, due to the DJ Store being offline.

http://www.dundjinni.com/

ProFantasy

The makers of Campaign Cartographer 2, CC3, CC3+, and other mapping programs.

http://www.profantasy.com/

GM Friend

Free. Runs in browser.

http://rhysmakesthings.com/gm_friend

AutoREALM

http://sourceforge.net/projects/autorealm/

RPGMapMaker

Mac-only

http://fmteau.perso.neuf.fr/rpgmapmaker/rpgmapmaker.htm

MapCrafter

Note: The link below is now defunct.

http://www.empowergames.com/

DungeonForge

http://www.dungeonmapping.com/df/public_html/

MapMaker

http://www.demonspawn.net/games/map/default.htm

zMapper

http://www.zuggsoft.com/zmapper/zmapperinfo.htm

Benny’s Dungeon Map Maker

Note: The link below is now defunct.

http://www.sev.org/members/bmazur/dndminis/dmm.html

StoneSword.com

Free mapping software that works right in your browser.

http://www.stonesword.com/

Azgaar’s Fantasy Map Generator

Free and runs in your browser. A downloadable version is also available.

https://azgaar.github.io/Fantasy-Map-Generator/



Dungeon Tile Mapper

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20061121t

Dungeon Crafter 3

http://www.freenew.net/windows/dungeon-crafter-iii-silver-edition-3033/19872.htm

Inkarnate

Browser-based mapping site, currently in beta.

http://inkarnate.com/

Hexmapper

Registration to the Yahoo Group is required to download the program.

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Hexmapper_Haven/

HexDraw

http://www.hexdraw.com/

Hexographer

Free and commercial versions available.

http://www.hexographer.com/

Dungeon Demon

Previously commercial, free version now available. Windows-only.

http://www.rustyaxe.com/apps/dd/index.php

Grumble Mapper

Donation-ware. Cross-platform (Adobe AIR).

http://evanjacover.com/grumblemapper

Grid Mapper

Donation-ware. Windows-only.

http://www.superdan.net/gridmapper/

Dungeonographer

From the developer of Hexographer.

Free and commercial versions available.

http://www.dungeonographer.com/

Dungeon Painter

Free; runs in a browser.

http://pyromancers.com/dungeon-painter-online

Ortelius

Professional cartography/mapping software.

Mac OS X only.

http://www.mapdiva.com/ortelius/

BG MapEditor

Free; WIP

http://109.123.73.99/hosting/bgmapeditor/#avertissements

Ye Olde Map Maker

http://yeoldemapmaker.com/

Explorations

http://www.explore-rpg.com/

Lior’s Map Creator

Free, Windows-only

http://liors.net/software/map_creator/help/index.html

Worldspinner

Currently in beta. May require a subscription.

http://worldspinner.com/

Fantasy Map Builder

Currently in beta. Browser-based, with Fog of War feature.

http://www.fantasymapbuilder.com/

Map Maker

Free. Browser-based.

http://mapmaker.dwarvenforge.com/

Dungeon Painter Studio

Currently on Steam Greenlight.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=772020449

MapForge

Commercial app for Windows and Mac that also offers free use level (limited to low-resolution output).

MapForge Software

FREE ART

RPGMapShare.com

A highly recommended repository of maps and artwork for RPGs. Be sure to set the Usage Rights for any artwork that you upload here, or it will be promptly deleted.

http://rpgmapshare.com/

Dundjinni Forums

An extremely friendly and helpful community that posts new artwork daily. You might even be able to request a specific prop that you need, and have it a few days later. All the artwork posted on these forums is free to download for personal use, and much of it can even be used commercially.

http://www.dundjinni.com/forums/default.asp

Dundjinni’s Free Download of the Week

Discontinued.

http://www.dundjinni.com/art/dotw.asp

ROLEPLAYING AIDS

CSUAC

The current home of the CSUAC art archives (a treasure-trove of free artwork originally compiled from the Dundjinni forums, but perfect for use with MapForge and/or BRPG).

https://www.vintyri.org/CSUAC/

CrystalBall3

Mac-only.

http://www.crystalballsoft.com/crystalball.html

PCGen

RPG character generator & maintenance program

Java-based (multi-platform).

http://pcgen.sourceforge.net/01_overview.php

RPG Patsy

A replacement for your pencil and paper character sheet

Java-based (multi-platform).

http://www.rpgpatsy.com/

Roleplaying Tips

A weekly newsletter/e-zine.

http://www.roleplayingtips.com/index.php

DA: The Roleplayer’s Digital Assistant

A game-independent software toolset (Windows-only).

http://www.mjhkstudios.com/DA/Frameset.htm

Map Mage

Lots of different software tools (some free, most for sale, Windows-only).

http://www.mapmage.com/

Turn Watcher

An initiative tracker for GMs (Windows and Linux only)

http://www.turnwatcher.com/

On-Screen DM Screen

A handy online reference tool for d20 System.

http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/resources/systems/pennpaper/dnd35/soveliorsage/toolsScreen.html

Arr-Kelaan Software’s RPG Tools

Lots of different software tools (free, for Windows 95 only).

http://www.rmcomics.com/ak/tools.htm

Treasure Tables

Advice, tips, ideas, and resources for GMs.

http://www.treasuretables.org/

MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS

The RPG SoundMixer

A tool specifically designed to create music and effect backgrounds for “Pen&Paper” RPG sessions.

http://www.rpgsoundmixer.com/

SoundDogs

The largest sound effects library on the internet.

http://sounddogs.com/

FindSounds

http://www.findsounds.com/

SoundBible

http://soundbible.com/

FreeSFX

http://www.freesfx.co.uk/

Tabletop Audio

http://tabletopaudio.com/

VOICE CHAT APPLICATIONS

Using these can significantly speed up play of online game sessions, but all users will probably need to have a broadband internet connection. Most of these are available in both Windows and Mac versions.

Skype

Also supports video conferencing (which is not free)

http://www.skype.com/

Ventrilo

Great push-to-talk feature

http://www.ventrilo.com/

Gizmo

http://www.filehippo.com/download_gizmoproject/

Ineen

http://www.ineen.com/

TeamSpeak

(Note: the unofficial and unrelated “TeamSpeex” Mac client is still in beta)

http://www.goteamspeak.com/

Dolby Axon

Supports surround sound (but not in the free client, which is good for up to 5 users)

https://axon.dolby.com/

Discord

Free, supports browsers, Friends list, multiple channels, direct messaging

https://discordapp.com/

VIRTUAL TABLETOP (VT) PROGRAMS FOR RPGs

Below are links to every virtual tabletop program I could find, both free and commercial, so you can judge for yourself which tool best fits your needs. Note that if there is no hyperlink, it’s on purpose. The site is known to no longer exist, and I’ve simply posted the last known link that used to work, in case someone wants to track it down on Wayback Machine.

Commercial Programs:

Battlegrounds: RPG Edition

That’s what the rest of this site is about. I’m just including BRPG to make the list complete.

http://www.battlegroundsgames.com/nutshell.html

Fantasy Grounds

Windows-only. Many people like the look and feel of this app, and the 3D dice rolling.

http://www.fantasygrounds.com/

D20Pro

Java-based, 2-week free trial license.

http://www.d20pro.com/

ScreenMonkey

Only the GM must pay. Players play free, using their web browser. The GM app is Windows-only. A Lite version is available for free.

http://www.nbos.com/products/screenmonkey



iTabletop Pandoren (v2)

Browser-based (requires MS Silverlight, Adobe Flash, and 1 GB RAM) Windows or Mac OS X. Features built-in voice chat, and streaming video/webcam support.

http://www.itabletop.com/



EpicTable

Windows-only.

http://www.epictable.com/

RPG Table

Mac OS X-only (v10.5.8 or greater). No online play in v1.0.

http://www.codechemistry.com/

3DVT

In beta.

No system requirements publicly available.

http://myvirtualtable.com/



3D Virtual Tabletop

Free for solo play, subscription-based for online play.

iOS and Android

http://www.3dvtt.com/



Roll20

Browser-based.

Free, or monthly subscription for extra features.

http://roll20.net/

Tabletop Connect

Windows and Mac OS X.

http://www.tabletopconnect.com/



Psi-DiCE VTT – Dice Roller 1.0

Windows, Mac and Linux.

VTT is currrently in development, but Dice Roller 1.0 has been released.

https://www.psifire.com/products.html

Beyond Tabletop

Browser-based (web app), one time fee (no subscriptions)

http://www.beyondtabletop.com/

Battlemat Miniatures Battle System

Windows, Mac, Linux

http://store.steampowered.com/sub/54333/



Revolution: Virtual Playspace

Windows, Mac, Linux

http://www.revolutionvirtualplayspace.com/



Skirmish! VT

Windows only, currently seeking funding on Kickstarter

http://www.skirmish-vt.com/



Infinitas DM

Android and iOS

http://www.infinitasdm.com/



GM Forge

Local app for GM (Windows only); players join for free using a browser.

https://www.gmforge.io/

Also on Steam.

Role Gate

Play asynchronously on mobile or browser. Patreon-supported.

https://rolegate.com



Astral

Browser-based app. Free or subscription-based (monthly or yearly). Formerly known as PowerVTT.

https://www.astraltabletop.com/



Arkenforge

Windows and macOS

https://arkenforge.com/

Free Programs:

OpenRPG

Once had the biggest user base of any VTT app.

http://www.rpgobjects.com/index.php?c=orpg



OpenRPG+

This site hosts the development version of OpenRPG.

http://rpg.wikia.com/wiki/Installing_OpenRPG

MapTool

Java-based. Developers are actively enhancing this program regularly.

http://www.rptools.net/index.php?page=maptool

VTable (formerly known as Gametable)

Java-based.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/gametableproj/

Interactive Dungeon

Windows-only

http://www.big12inch.com/id/

Dave’s Flash Mapper

Possibly still in development.

http://www.csgmedia.com/files/david/fm/

RPG Manager

Windows-only. v2.0 is in development, and screenshots for it are now available.

http://www.rpgmanager.net/Home.htm

Playing Fields

Java-based.

http://gdiac.cis.cornell.edu/Projects/2006sp/PlayingFields/index.html

Dices

Windows-only.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/dices/files/dices/

Dungeon Helper

Windows-only.

http://dh.abomb.info/index.php



Avalomhilly

Windows-only.

http://www.avalomhilly.20m.com/



TTopRPG 2.0

Windows-only.

http://www.gamemodel.com/TTopRPG/index.htm



Rolistik

Windows & Mac OS X. In French.

http://rolistik.free.fr/



Virtual Tabletop

Windows-only. Note that the link below is a download link, not a website.

http://64digits.com/users/brighteyes/Virtual_Tabletop_v0.6_.zip



Virtual Game Table (VGT)

Windows-only.

http://www.siliconstorm.net/vgt/vgt.html



Irony Games’ MapMagical Encounter Editor

Java-based, runs in a web browser.

http://pages.infinit.net/pdclarke/mmee/index.html



Map Maker (beta)

MS Silverlight app, runs in a web browser.

http://dnd.gudjonhrafn.com/mm/



Qex

Windows-only.

http://qex.skyfire.ca/



Masterplan

Windows-only. No online component

http://www.habitualindolence.net/masterplan/



Taulukko

Donation-ware.

http://www.taulukko.com.br/



Infrno

Unclear whether this is free for good, or free while-in-beta.

Windows & Mac OS; has video-conferencing feature. Closing down in June 2018

http://infrno.net/base/welcome

RPGrounds

Unclear whether this will free when released, or just while-in-beta.

Will supposedly be a 3D VTT.

http://www.rpgrounds.com/

Live-Tabletop

Not even alpha yet.

Will support RPGs and boardgames

http://code.google.com/p/live-tabletop/

Fabletop (formerly known as Tabletop Quest)

Browser-based. Open beta.

Unclear whether this will free when released, or just while-in-beta.

http://fabletop.com/

MyRPG

Browser-based.

Unclear whether this will free when released, or just while-in-beta.

http://myrpg.ca/

Mote

Java-based. Based on the MapTool codebase.

https://front.idleideas.biz/

Rolisteam

Windows, Mac OS X, Linux. Based on Rolistik (see above), with some improvements.

http://www.rolisteam.org/



Skwyre

Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android (iOS eventually), commercial app, but free while in beta

http://www.nbos.com/products/skwyre



DM Tools & Virtual Table

Android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.konrad.dungeonanddragons.dmtools

Dodontof

Strictly for Japanese users, Browser-based, requires Flash Player.

http://www.dodontof.com/



Discontinued, Abandoned, or Unsupported Programs:

WebRPG

http://www.webrpg.com/gamesystem/

Note: The link above seems to be dead, which to me indicates that this is a discontinued product, but I’ve found a mirror site here, in case you still want to check this out.

KloogeWerks

Java-based. Steep learning curve, but powerful.

http://www.kloogeinc.com/

Tabletop Mapper

Windows-only.

http://www.tabletopmapper.hpg.ig.com.br/

Interactive Adventures

Wizard of the Coast pulled the plug on this when they revoked their D&D license, so these are no longer available as of November 30, 2006.

http://www.codemonkeypublishing.com/

GhostOrb

There was never an official announcement that this was cancelled, but the website homepage hadn’t been updated since December 2005, and now the site is gone entirely.

http://www.ghostorb.com/

Vellum

An abandoned project that looked promising.

http://vellum.berlios.de/

Battle Aide

Free. Windows-only.

http://www.drakevision.com/projects/battle_aide/index.html



DNDMapper

Theoretically in development, but no updates since December 2005.

http://www.eeconsulting.net/tmp/

Online RPG Battle Tool

Presumed to be an abandoned project. Probably Windows-only.

http://home.comcast.net/~r.soult/

V-FORT

Windows-only. The site is no longer available.

http://v-fort.org/

BattlePawn

The site is no longer available.

http://www.battlepawn.com/

RolePlayingMaster

Windows-only.

http://www.enworld.org/RolePlayingMaster/

YumiChat

Windows-only server, Windows and Mac clients.

http://www.rabidcomics.com/yumichat/index.html

TRIS

Text-based only.

Note: This site seems to no longer be available.

http://trisrpg.bronzeforge.com/index.htm



AjaxVTT

Linux-only. Not for the technically-challenged.

http://linux.softpedia.com/get/GAMES-ENTERTAINMENT/RPG/AjaxVTT-18260.shtml#

Tabletop Mapper

Windows-only.

Note: This site is no longer available.

http://www.tabletopmapper.hpg.ig.com.br



GlitterComm

Windows-only.

http://glittercomm.com



RPGWorkbench

Runs in a web browser.

http://rpgworkbench.blogspot.com/2007/08/content.html



Virtual Battlemat

Runs in a web browser.

Note: This site is no longer available.

http://virtualbattlemat.com/



BYOND Tabletop Gaming

Presumably still in development, but no updates since August 2005.

http://shadowdarke.byondhome.com/tt/intro.html

D&D Game Table

Windows and Mac OS X. Cancelled. Again.

http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/26286405/The_Dungeons__Dragons_Virtual_Table

Scene Grinder

Runs in browser. Subscription-based.

http://www.scenegrinder.com/

weRole

Subscription-based. Features built-in webcam and voice chat.

http://www.werole.com/

Online Pen & Paper World

Windows-only.

http://www.opnpw.com/ Tri Axe Dungeons & Dragons Chat

Windows-only.

http://www.triaxe.co.uk/ D20Map

Windows-only.

http://bd20map.runboard.com/ RPGui

Windows-only. The site is no longer available.

http://www.togamario.com/ Battle Map v2.0

Flash-based, runs in your browser.

http://www.incend.net/treasure_trove/index.htm

Diavida VTT

Runs in a web browser.

http://diavida.com/

GRiP

No longer developed.

Update: The site is no longer available.

http://www.rpgrealms.com/grip tabledice

Runs in a web browser (Firefox or Chrome).

http://tabledice.com/

RPG Tonight

Runs in your browser.

http://www.rpgtonight.com

ViewingDale

Windows-only. Great zoom feature. No longer sold.

http://www.viewing.ltd.uk/cgi-bin/viewingdale.pl?category=main&sx=1280 SyncRPG

Based on a MapTool fork.

https://www.syncrpg.com/ Epical Online – 3D RPG Virtual Tabletop

Runs in your browser.

http://www.epicalonline.com

https://www.facebook.com/EpicalOnline/info?tab=page_info SimpleBM (short for Battle Map)

Browser-based.

http://sbm.elagplus.com/ You might wonder why a commercial VTT site such as this one has links to every “competing” VTT (both commercial and free). Many people have said (or at least thought) that I am nuts for doing this, but I want you to make an informed decision before purchasing my products (or choosing another VT), and while I believe Battlegrounds holds up very well when evaluated against other VTs, I also realize that no one program is going to appeal to everyone. Fortunately, gamers have lots of options when it comes to choosing which VTT is right for them.

VIRTUAL TABLETOP PROGRAMS FOR WARGAMES, BOARDGAMES & CARD GAMES Battlegrounds: RPG Edition (BRPG) and Battlegrounds Gaming Engine (BGE)

That’s what the rest of this site is about. I’m just including the Battlegrounds software here to make the list complete.

http://www.battlegroundsgames.com/nutshell.html Vassal

Free. Cross-platform (Java-based).

The most popular VTT for wargaming, with a huge library of game modules available.

http://www.vassalengine.org/community/index.php CyberBoard

PBEM-only. Windows-only.

http://cyberboard.brainiac.com/ ZunTzu

Free. Windows-only. Built-in voice chat.

http://www.zuntzu.com/ Aide de Camp 2 (aka ADC2)

Commercial app. Windows-only.

http://www.hpssims.com/pages/products/adc2/ADC2-Main.html

ACTS

Free. PBEM.

http://acts.warhorsesim.com/

OCTGN

Free. Windows-only.

http://www.octgn.net/

Taebl

MS Silverlight-based.

http://taebl.com/



Ditzie

Still in beta.

http://ditzie.com/



FlexibleRules

Windows-only.

http://diuf.unifr.ch/pai/flexiblerules/index.php



Sleep Is Death (Geisterfahrer)

Cross-platform

http://sleepisdeath.net/

Wildcard (alpha)

Mac OS X only.

http://www.blacktree.com/

Board Games Online (beta)

Windows-only.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/boardgames/