The New Player's Guide to Roll20

Learn more about Roll20 and how to make the most of it for your adventure with your friends.

Roll20

Roll20 is the most popular platform for playing tabletop roleplaying games online, with an expansive suite of helpful tools for players and game masters alike.

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What is Roll20?

Roll20 is a website that roleplaying game players can use to host their games, allowing people from all over the world to play at the same virtual tabletop. With millions of users and over a thousand supported game systems, it is the largest platform of its kind. A free account on Roll20 provides users with everything they need to play RPGs online: customizable character sheets, tools to create or upload maps and tokens, voice and video tech, and of course, digital dice!

What Features Does Roll20 Have?

Roll20’s features are extremely robust, even with a free account. A gaming group can create a private virtual tabletop with storage space for digital assets for almost any RPG system they can think of; only one person needs to own the rules to share them with the table. Roll20 can simultaneously serve as their voice and video communication platform, allowing the group to see the game state and their friends’ faces at the same time.

It can organize character information and notes for both players and game masters with user-friendly character sheets and an organized journal of folders and handouts. A text chat feature lets players share information publicly or secretly to a specific person. You can toss digital dice (3D rolling animation optional) out in the open, hidden “behind the screen” or directly through your character sheet simply by clicking what you want to roll. Ambitious rollers can create their own shortcuts to automate common or complex rolls.

Roll20 can even set the mood with a built-in audio player with access to a full library of ambient music and evocative soundscapes!

And all of that is before you get to the features unlocked with a Roll20 subscription, including dynamic lighting for character line-of-sight, video effects and animations, and the ability to share purchased content with even more players and games!

How to use Roll20

Check out this video to see a great introduction to getting started with Roll20.

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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.

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Quality and Consistency:

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.

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I roll dice in Roll20?
How do I create a game on Roll20?
What is Roll20 and how does it work?
How do I use maps and tokens in Roll20?
What are dice rolls and how do they affect the game?
What is a Tabletop Role-Playing Game (TTRPG)?
Do people mostly play D&D and other TTRPGs online?
What is a VTT?
What is the difference between a one-shot and a campaign?
How do I know if I found a good or bad GM?
Is it normal to pay for a Game Master?

Ready to start playing?

Join the community of TTRPG fans and go on an epic adventure.

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