Beyond Tabletop Alternatives: Enhance Your RPG Sessions with These Top Tools
Beyond Tabletop offers a fantastic suite of tools for RPG enthusiasts, providing subscription-free, web-based character sheets and battle maps, especially tailored for in-person Pathfinder games. However, the world of virtual tabletops and RPG aids is vast and diverse. If you're looking for different features, broader system compatibility, or just want to explore other options, numerous Beyond Tabletop alternatives can elevate your game nights.
Top Beyond Tabletop Alternatives
Whether you're a Dungeon Master seeking robust mapping tools, a player craving intuitive character management, or a group looking for seamless online play, these alternatives offer unique strengths to complement or replace Beyond Tabletop for your role-playing adventures.
Roll20
Roll20 is a powerful Freemium web-based platform that expands pen-and-paper tabletop games and allows for online play with friends. It's a strong Beyond Tabletop alternative due to its comprehensive online-gaming features, browser-based accessibility (including Android Tablet and iPad), and interactive map capabilities, making it ideal for groups playing remotely.
MapTool
MapTool is a free, Open Source, and highly programmable virtual tabletop available for Mac, Windows, Linux, and iPad. As a Beyond Tabletop alternative, it excels with its multiuser, networked environment, offering features like custom repos and view blocking, perfect for GMs who desire deep customization and control over their maps.
D&D Beyond
D&D Beyond is the official digital toolset for Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition, making it a highly specialized Beyond Tabletop alternative for D&D 5e players. It's a Freemium web-based platform with Twitch integration, offering clean character sheets and the significant advantage of working offline for consistent access to your characters and compendium.
Fantasy Grounds
Fantasy Grounds is a commercial virtual tabletop available on Mac, Windows, Wine, and Steam. It serves as a robust Beyond Tabletop alternative for facilitating online tabletop-style role-playing games, offering a dedicated environment for groups to play together remotely with various game system support.
Astral Tabletop
Astral Tabletop is a Freemium web-based platform designed for hosting and playing games either online or in person. As a Beyond Tabletop alternative, its strength lies in its browser-based access, online-gaming capabilities, and real-time collaboration features, allowing players to communicate and interact seamlessly during sessions.
Adventurer's Codex
Adventurer's Codex is a free, Open Source, and web-based gaming system specifically designed for in-person D&D 5e games, managing characters, campaigns, and parties. It's a great Beyond Tabletop alternative for D&D 5e players who prefer a streamlined, browser-based tool with online collaboration for their local sessions.
Mipui
Mipui is a free, Open Source, and web-based grid-based map editor focused on simplicity and collaboration. For those who primarily use Beyond Tabletop for its battle map, Mipui offers a powerful alternative with real-time editing, mapping, and tile-map editing features, making it excellent for collaborative map creation.
Rolisteam
Rolisteam is a free, Open Source application available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, designed to manage tabletop role-playing games with remote friends. It stands out as a Beyond Tabletop alternative by offering extensive features to share maps, pictures, and various tools to enhance remote gaming sessions.
GM Forge
GM Forge is a commercial standalone Virtual Tabletop for Windows (available on Steam) that acts as a sandbox for GMs, allowing friends to join via web browsers for free. If you're a GM seeking a powerful mapping tool and a robust, dedicated VTT experience beyond Beyond Tabletop, GM Forge provides a compelling option.
Standard Action
Standard Action is a free, web-based tabletop gaming application designed for simplicity and high customizability. As a Beyond Tabletop alternative, it offers an interactive game board and live features, making it a solid choice for groups looking for a straightforward, web-accessible tool to manage their games.
The best Beyond Tabletop alternative for your group will depend on your specific needs: whether you prioritize system compatibility, robust mapping tools, online play features, or a particular pricing model. Explore these options to find the perfect fit for your next epic role-playing adventure!