Like most Powered by the Apocalypse (also known as PbtA) games, MASKS: A New Generation puts a lot of stock in your creative discussion that unfolds as the game is shaped by dice rolls and narrative choices. With a far lower emphasis on direct combat mechanics such as movement speeds, gridded combats, or discrete action costs, games in this family often don’t require much more than your imagination – and everyone at the table to be on the same page. To that end, VTTs can still play a role in your MASKS games, and when shopping for a game that suits your style, it helps to know what you’re looking for!

Here is a quick list of potential tools to facilitate your MASKS games online, feel free to pick and choose what works for you. Some basics are assumed amongst all the options, such as a text or voice connection and ability to share playbooks and rules easily between the group. Barring your VTT of choice providing a method, form fillable PDFs of playbooks are available, or google spreadsheets to connect character documents.

Theatre of the Mind

MASKS is a perfect candidate for a Theatre of the Mind game, in fact almost any TTRPG you might be playing is likely to default to at least some Theatre of the Mind play at times. We are playing make believe after all. But where some games eschew the theatre in favor of dynamic battlefields or intricate rules interactions, MASKS embraces some of the most over the top action imaginable. Fighting a giant robotic dinosaur that is twelve stories tall, breathes radioactive lightning, and can take flight if it looks down while doing so? It’s doubtful anything short of watching Godzilla himself on screen could evoke this in a game better than words.

It’s also worth noting that Theatre of the Mind doesn’t require eschewing all modes of communication besides language. In person games, we all doodle on a battle map or white board to help explain a situation, and similar tools can help online. Discord Apps to doodle together, posting images of quick MSPaint drawings, or any shared drawing can help enhance the game. Bonus points for groups with any number of artists, who often love doodling while they play, depicting their favorite moments in real time.

Just make sure everyone has access to their favored method of rolling 2d6 and have characters’ playbooks filled out and at the ready.

Roll20

Easily my go-to choice alongside theatre of the mind, Roll20 offers full support for Masks games and plenty of utility. Everything you need to create character sheets, a canvas to doodle the situation or import background art, and handouts to keep track of NPCs and important information, all for the convenient price of free. While a subscription can help if you have plenty of art to show off, it’s not required for play. Be sure to keep a copy of your rule book handy though, since Roll20 doesn’t have an official module with rules compendium like so many other games.

For players, Roll20 is always free to hold an account, and it’s an easy choice for a new group with little commitment beyond learning the basic UI and how to roll dice.

Foundry

If you already have a license for foundry and find its functionality to your liking, it can make a great home for a game of Masks. There are a handful of unofficial modules for character sheets, and Foundry’s default canvas and tools are all great. Arguably overkill for a game as simple as Masks, however powerful enough for the ambitious GMs who fancy making short animations with the advanced modules available. If you already have it and are most comfortable running games on it, a fantastic choice, but not one I’d recommend a new GM seeking to buy exclusively for Masks.

Player side, I wouldn’t shy away from a game hosted on foundry, as only the GM needs to pay for their account. It might be unneeded power, but as long as the hosting GM operates a smooth game it should provide you with much the same experience as other popular VTTs.

Role

Also known by their site name of Play.Role, is another simple and free option for aspiring groups looking to jump into Masks. Role offers an easy to customize set of sheets you can design to hold the information you find yourself needing at your fingertips most. While you can use your PDFs or physical books and design sheets if you have the time, Masks is fully supported on Role with the ability to purchase the rulebooks for content look up on Role and providing premade sheets already designed specifically for your favorite Playbooks. As an added draw, Role has an exclusive adventure you can only purchase on their marketplace: Cataclysm at the Metajunction.

While accessible as a free option, Role does also have a Patreon that unlocks a handful of features including webcam, voice, and Owlbear Rodeo functions. Worth checking out for players and GMs alike, and easy enough to use alongside Discord if you want to maintain a free account.

Alchemy

Last up on our quick list, Alchemy is a VTT & chat solution in one, with a number of fully supported games including Masks. Alchemy’s VTT offers immersion of a game with a lot of beautiful “enhanced” backgrounds and music sets, which are easy to configure and swap between as a GM. Unfortunately, like most premade media, Superhero content or specific art you might want to set the scene may need to be sourced yourself, but the presentation is still quite nice. An account can operate on a free basis, with purchasable in-app references for the game available, however it can take some time getting used to the workflow for creating new characters, scenes, or NPCs.

Comic panel of an archer gearing up

With any luck, you should be ready to suit up, find your perfect game, and kick some bad-guy buttock. Most options are purely preferential, and if you’re GMing Masks, just stick to whatever tools you’re most comfortable with! A well run game will always trump any fancy tool someone isn’t sure how to use. Hopefully at least one of the listed VTTs holds the secret to your best game yet.

Posted 
Apr 30, 2025
 in 
Running the Game
 category