Play Fallout: The Roleplaying Game Online

Learn all about Fallout: The Roleplaying Game with our brief guide designed to help new players navigate the world of tabletop gaming.

Learn How To Play Fallout: The Roleplaying Game

Crack open a Nuka Cola, and join us as we journey into the Wasteland to learn all about how to play Fallout: The Roleplaying Game!

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What is Fallout: The Roleplaying Game?

Fallout: The Roleplaying Game is a tabletop roleplaying game, or TTRPG, in which players create characters who will venture into the nuclear war-ravaged wastelands, vaults, and ruins of the Fallout video game series—with a few major differences! Firstly, it’s not a video game at all; tabletop RPGs are games of imagination and collaboration, played in groups. Rather than the single-player campaign of the video game, players will band together and work as a team to survive in the post-apocalypse. Their party might include a seasoned wastelander, an experimental super mutant, a reprogrammed Mister Handy robot, a vault-dweller seeing the surface for the first time, or nearly anything else the players can come up with!

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 One player, the Game Master (GM), plays as the rest of the world those characters explore. The GM presents encounters with memorable characters, mysterious locales, terrifying irradiated monsters, and myriad other challenges to overcome. The players decide on a course of action using their characters’ S.P.E.C.I.A.L. skills, perks, and equipment—the only limit on what they can attempt is their imagination! Often, they’ll need to roll dice to find out whether they succeed or fail. But no matter what, the players’ choices result in a unique story of which they are both author and audience. For this reason, TTRPGs are often considered games of collaborative storytelling.

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How Do You Play Fallout: The Roleplaying Game?

After players create characters, the GM will introduce a scenario those characters find themselves in. The game provides a great deal of support for playing in the Commonwealth setting of Fallout 4, but a game of Fallout: The RPG could take place almost anywhere in post-Great War America. Players then describe or play out what their characters say and do, and the GM tells them how the world responds. In moments of drama, action, or uncertainty, the GM may require them to roll dice to test their skills to see whether they succeed, fail, or something in between. 

In Fallout, players roll a fistful of 20-sided dice and spend Action Points to overcome the dangers of the wasteland. They’ll fight off monsters, mutants, and ghouls; test their survival skills in irradiated deserts; investigate the mysteries of vaults and laboratories; and barter, scavenge, and steal supplies and precious bottle caps to craft and modify their weapons, armor and tools.

How to Play Fallout: The Roleplaying Game Online

Despite the name, you don’t actually need a table to play tabletop roleplaying games! Digital tools allow players to play games like Fallout anytime, anywhere. Voice and video communication platforms like Zoom and Discord let groups play face-to-face, even remotely. And even though most TTRPGs can be played wholly in players’ imaginations (a style called “theater of the mind”), many use virtual tabletops, or VTTs, to provide visual aids. Maps, character artwork, and battlefields for strategic combat encounters can all enhance the experience of a roleplaying game, and there are dozens of VTTs to choose from to suit any group’s individual needs. Fallout: The Roleplaying Game has digital play aids on several VTTs, including Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, and Foundry, to make learning the rules and playing the game as smooth and intuitive as possible!

How to Find a Fallout: The Roleplaying Game Group

Finding a group of people to play with, especially as a beginner, can feel like a daunting task. Don’t worry! The hobby is growing faster than ever, and with plenty of gaming groups who eagerly welcome new players. You might start by visiting your local game store, which may have an active community of players you can join, a place to advertise open seats for games, or even a scheduled night of organized play you can drop into. Online communities focused on RPGs frequently have “Looking for Group” (LFG) forums or channels dedicated to helping players find the right game for them. Reddit and Discord are common places to look, as are the community forums for digital tools like Roll20, and Modiphius, the game’s publisher. Not to mention here at StartPlaying, where we’ve created a powerful, user-friendly tool for browsing open games on your schedule and simply signing up to play! Finally, if you have a group of friends who are interested and willing to learn, it’s completely feasible to jump in feet first, learning the game as you go. Of course, someone will need to take on the mantle of the Game Master.

Why Hire A Professional Game Master for Fallout: The Roleplaying Game?

The easiest way to learn Fallout: The Roleplaying Game is by playing, and the easiest way to play is by finding a Game Master to teach you. Professional GMs can call upon years of expertise to not only introduce players to the hobby and make them feel welcomed, but also give immersive and incredible experiences to players old and new. This isn’t easy; creating scenarios that present real challenges, invite creative solutions, include an ensemble cast of compelling characters, and result in a satisfying narrative for any choice the players make is a substantial craft to master! Not to mention most TTRPGs have no pre-planned plot or storyline to follow, and often requires a Game Master to skillfully improvise and weave their players’ actions into a constantly evolving narrative. Nevertheless, professional GMs dedicate themselves to offering the one-of-a-kind experience that only RPGs can: being the hero of a story where your choices really matter. These pro GMs are the fastest and easiest way to jump directly into the fun of roleplaying games; they can teach you the rules, create an amazing adventure, and guide you into the endless possibilities of the TTRPG hobby.

Why hire a professional Game Master?

Convenience and Flexibility:

StartPlaying allows you to easily find and book sessions with professional Dungeon Masters and Game Masters that work for your schedule. You can focus on enjoying the game without worrying about the logistics of organizing sessions. Playing online provides flexibility, as you can join games from anywhere with an internet connection.

Tailored Play Experience:

Player reviews on StartPlaying make it easy to find a Dungeon Master whose style aligns with your preferences. With reviews from other players, you can gauge whether a DM is the right fit for how you want to play, whether it’s combat, role-playing, storytelling, or a specific genre.

Quality and Consistency:

Professional Dungeon Masters on StartPlaying are committed to running the best game ever. When a Dungeon Master is focused on running the best game every and are doing so professionally, games are less likely to get cancelled. Players who play in professionally run games are also incredibly invested, and not likely to flake on sessions.

How to StartPlaying

StartPlaying gives you the opportunity to join fellow tabletop games players across the world. Use the filters to refine your search to Dungeons & Dragons to see who's looking to add a new player to their party.

Once you've found a group you're interested in, head to their game description page to learn more about the adventure they're embarking on. When you're ready to jump in, just hit Join Game and start your quest with your new party.

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Actual Play

Actual Play (or AP) podcasts and streams are a common entry point for thousands of new players. They offer an entertaining way to watch or listen to the way games like Fallout: The Roleplaying Game work—and the stories and shenanigans that result! Check out this playlist for a few shining examples of Actual Play.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get started with TTRPGs?
What supplies do I need to play TTRPGs?
Do I need to be good at math to play TTRPGs?
Are there different play styles or approaches to TTRPGs?
What resources are available to help me improve my TTRPG experience?
Do I need to be good at acting or improvisation to play TTRPGs?
What if I'm not comfortable with certain themes or content in a TTRPG?
What is a Tabletop Role-Playing Game (TTRPG)?
Do I need to know all the rules before I can play TTRPGs?
How do I know if I found a good or bad GM?
Is it normal to pay for a Game Master?
Do people mostly play D&D and other TTRPGs online?
What is the difference between a one-shot and a campaign?

Find a Fallout: The Roleplaying Game Group and Start Playing Today!

If you can’t wait to brave the wasteland and plumb the secrets of the vaults in the world of Fallout, there’s no better way to start playing than StartPlaying.Games! With thousands of professional GMs offering games, it’s incredibly easy to find one that’s right for you. GM profiles and reviews help you get exactly the kind of game you want to play, at a time that fits in your schedule, from the best Game Masters in the world. So what are you waiting for? Start Playing!

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