Links & Resources

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

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.

MAPPING SOFTWARE

Dundjinni
Produces beautiful maps. Highly recommended.
http://www.dundjinni.com/

ProFantasy
The makers of Campaign Cartographer 2 & 3, and other mapping programs.
http://www.profantasy.com/

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

RPGMapMaker
Mac-only
http://fmteau.club.fr/rpgmapmaker/rpgmapmaker.htm

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

StoneSword.com
Free mapping software that works right in your browser.
http://www.stonesword.com/

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

Dungeon Crafter 3
http://www.dungeoncrafter3.com/product.php

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
http://inkwellideas.com/?page_id=160

FREE ART

RPGMapShare.com
A highly recommended repository of maps and artwork for RPGs. This is Steel Rat's new site, which replaces his old image gallery.
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
http://www.dundjinni.com/art/dotw.asp

ROLEPLAYING AIDS

GM's Apprentice
The new home of the CSUAC art archives (a treasure-trove of free artwork originally compiled from the Dundjinni forums, but perfect for use wih BRPG).
http://www.gmsapprentice.com/
Note: You must be registred and logged in to access the CSUAC files.

Four Ugly Monsters
A site that caters to all VTT users. The site offers lots of free token sets, maps, and other items that can be used in BRPG. The site also hosts FUMcon, a VTT game convention, a couple of times a year.
http://www.fouruglymonsters.com/

Gaming Army
Another site that might be of interest to VTT users.
http://www.gamingarmy.com/

CrystalBall3
Mac-only.
http://homepage.mac.com/crystalballmac/

PCGen
RPG character generator & maintenance program
Java-based (multi-platform).
http://pcgen.sourceforge.net/02_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/35/sovelior_sage/toolsScreen.html

Arr-Kelaan Software's RPG Tools
Lots of different software tools (free, for Windows 95 only).
http://home.paonline.com/zaikoski/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/

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. All of these are available in both Windows and Mac versions.

Skype
http://www.skype.com/

Ventrilo
http://www.ventrilo.com/

Gizmo
http://www.gizmoproject.com/

Ineen
http://www.ineen.com/

YakForFree
http://www.yak.com/

TeamSpeak
(Note: the unofficial and unrelated "TeamSpeex" Mac client is still in beta)
http://www.goteamspeak.com/

OTHER VIRTUAL TABLETOP PROGRAMS

We want you to make an informed decision before purchasing our products. Below are links to every virtual tabletop program we could find, both free and commercial, so you can judge for yourself which tool best fits your needs.

Battlegrounds: RPG Edition
That's what the rest of this site is about. I'm just including it to make the list complete.
http://www.battlegroundsgames.com/

Fantasy Grounds
Windows-only. Many people like the look and feel of this app, and the 3D dice rolling.
http://www.fantasygrounds.com/

KloogeWerks
Java-based. Steep learning curve, but powerful.
http://www.kloogeinc.com/

ViewingDale
Windows-only.
http://www.viewing.ltd.uk/viewingdale/index.htm

D20Pro
Java-based, 2-week free trial license.
http://www.d20pro.com/d20/index.php

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/screenmonkey.htm

RolePlayingMaster
Windows-only.
http://www.enworld.org/RolePlayingMaster/

GRiP
No longer developed, but a number of people still use it and there seems to be a user community that supports it.
http://www.travellerrpg.com/Catalog/software.html

iTabletop
Windows-only. Features built-in voice chat, and streaming video/webcam support.
http://www.itabletop.com/

EpicTable
Windows-only. Not yet released.
http://www.epictable.com/

D&D Game Table
Windows-only. Subscription-based. Not yet released.
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/insider/gametable

RPG Table
Mac OS X-only (v10.5.8 or greater). No online play in v1.0.
http://www.codechemistry.com/

weRole
Subsciption-based. Features built-in webcam and voice chat.
http://www.werole.com/

OpenRPG
Probably has the biggest user base of any VT app.
http://www.openrpg.com/

OpenRPG+
This site hosts the development version of OpenRPG.
http://openrpg.digitalxero.net/wiki/index.php?page=Welcome

MapTool
Java-based. Developers are actively enhancing this program regularly.
http://www.rptools.net/index.php?page=maptool

Gametable
Java-based.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/gametable

Online Pen & Paper World
Windows-only.
http://www.opnpw.com/

Tri Axe Dungeons & Dragons Chat
Windows-only.
http://www.triaxe.co.uk/dnd/index.php?page=Online%20Chat

D20Map
Windows-only.
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/d20map/

Dave's Flash Mapper
Possibly still in development.
http://r4nge.com/fm/index.cfm

YumiChat
Windows-only server, Windows and Mac clients.
http://www.rabidcomics.com/yumichat/index.html

BYOND Tabletop Gaming
Presumably still in development, but no updates since August 2005.
http://shadowdarke.byondhome.com/tt/intro.html

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://dices.sourceforge.net/en/index.html

RPGui
Windows-only.
http://www.togamario.com/

TRIS
Text-based only.
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#

Battle Map v2.0
Flash-based, runs in your browser.
http://www.incend.net/dnd/battlemap_v2.html

RPG Tonight
Runs in your browser.
http://www.rpgtonight.com

Tabletop Mapper
Windows-only.
http://www.tabletopmapper.hpg.ig.com.br

GlitterComm
Windows-only.
http://glittercomm.com

Dungeon Helper
Windows-only.
http://dh.abomb.info/

Avalomhilly
Windows-only.
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/AvalomandMud/

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.
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/314023

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/

RPGWorkbench
Runs in a web browser.
http://rpgworkbench.blogspot.com/2007/08/content.html

Virtual Battlemat
Runs in a web browser.
http://virtualbattlemat.com/

Qex
Windows-only.
http://www.skyfire.ca/qex/

Masterplan
Windows-only. No online component
http://www.habitualindolence.net/masterplan/

BattlePawn
http://www.battlepawn.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.

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/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/

It's taken a lot of Google searches over many months to come up with this comprehensive list of virtual tabletop software. I compiled it so that anyone interested in VTs could use it to easily compare the various products, and it is now the most comprehensive VT list on the internet. I also hoped that by providing such a useful collection of links, that it would draw people to this site and they might have a look around while they're here.

However, more and more I am seeing my list reposted on various forums. I would rather people not do that, of course, but if you do, at least give credit where credit is due, and don't try to pass of the information as your own. Thanks.

Virtual Tabletop Software Comparison Charts:

FUMcon VT Comparison Chart
Link

OpenRPG Wiki VT Comparison Chart
(Very outdated info, but includes VTs not shown on on the FUMcon chart)
Link

Sites that cater to Virtual Tabletop Software users:

RPG Virtual Tabletop
http://www.rpgvirtualtabletop.com/

Four Ugly Monsters
http://www.fouruglymonsters.com/

FUMcon (formerly known as iCon)
A virtual tabletop game convention, held once a year
Visit the site