Top Adventurer's Codex Alternatives for Your Next TTRPG Campaign
Adventurer's Codex is a fantastic open-source tool designed to streamline tabletop RPGs, offering features for character, campaign, and party management. It aims to bring your paper character sheets into the 21st century with its online and self-hosted versions. However, for various reasons—be it specific feature requirements, platform preferences, or simply a desire to explore other options—many players and Dungeon Masters find themselves searching for an Adventurer's Codex alternative. This guide will help you navigate the rich landscape of virtual tabletops and character management tools to find the perfect fit for your adventuring party.
Best Adventurer's Codex Alternatives
Whether you're looking for a comprehensive virtual tabletop, a dedicated character sheet manager, or a collaborative space for your entire party, there's an Adventurer's Codex alternative out there that's tailored to your needs. Let's dive into some of the best options available.
Roll20
Roll20 is a powerful and widely-used freemium virtual tabletop that excels at expanding pen-and-paper games into the online realm. Available on Web, Android Tablet, and iPad, it offers robust online gaming capabilities, a browser-based interface, and interactive maps, making it a comprehensive alternative to Adventurer's Codex for DMs and players looking for a fully integrated online experience.
D&D Beyond
D&D Beyond is the official digital toolset for Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition, making it an excellent Adventurer's Codex alternative, especially for D&D 5e players. This freemium web-based platform, with Twitch integration, offers clean character sheets and even works offline, providing an extensive online compendium of official characters and rules.
Fantasy Grounds
Fantasy Grounds is a commercial virtual tabletop that facilitates playing tabletop-style role-playing games online. Available on Mac, Windows, Wine, and Steam, it provides a dedicated environment for online play, serving as a robust Adventurer's Codex alternative for those seeking a more dedicated software client for their virtual sessions.
Astral Tabletop
Astral Tabletop is a freemium online platform for hosting and playing TTRPGs, whether online or in person. As a browser-based tool with online gaming and real-time collaboration features, it provides a compelling Adventurer's Codex alternative for groups who want a visually rich and collaborative experience without needing to download dedicated software.
Beyond Tabletop
Beyond Tabletop offers a set of free, subscription-free, and browser-based tools for RPG players, including easy-to-use online character sheets and maps. Designed for all devices, this web-based platform is an excellent simple and accessible Adventurer's Codex alternative, particularly for those prioritizing ease of use and broad device compatibility.
Rolisteam
Rolisteam is a free, open-source tool for managing tabletop RPGs with remote friends. Available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, it provides features for sharing maps and pictures, making it a robust, privacy-focused Adventurer's Codex alternative for groups who prefer a dedicated, installable software for their remote gaming sessions.
Talespire
TaleSpire is a commercial online, digital, graphical way of playing classic P&P Role-playing games with friends. Available on Windows, it allows DMs to build campaigns in-game and invite players, offering a highly immersive and visually stunning Adventurer's Codex alternative for those seeking a more cinematic and interactive virtual tabletop experience, especially for Pathfinder.
PlanarAlly
PlanarAlly is a free, open-source web tool that enhances your D&D toolbox with virtual battlemaps. Available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, and Self-Hosted, it supports offline use, simple layers, and an infinite canvas. This browser-based tool is an excellent self-hosted Adventurer's Codex alternative for DMs who want ultimate control over their battlemaps and data.
Battlegrounds: RPG Edition
Battlegrounds: RPG Edition (BRPG) is commercial virtual tabletop software designed to enhance pen-and-paper roleplaying games, whether players are in the same room or online. Available on Windows, its focus on online gaming makes it a solid Adventurer's Codex alternative for those seeking dedicated software to facilitate virtual play sessions.
Adventure Builder
The Adventure Builder is a commercial tool designed to help Dungeon Masters run Dungeons and Dragons campaigns. Available on Windows, Linux, and Web, it focuses on DM-centric campaign management, making it a valuable Adventurer's Codex alternative for DMs primarily looking for robust organizational tools for their D&D adventures.
Ultimately, the best Adventurer's Codex alternative for you will depend on your specific needs, the platforms you use, and your group's preferences. Whether you prioritize a fully-featured virtual tabletop, a simple character sheet manager, or an open-source solution, this list provides a starting point for finding the perfect tool to enhance your tabletop RPG experience.