Top 43 RPG Tools Every Game Master Needs for Dungeons & Dragons and Beyond

Equip yourself with the ultimate list of 43 must-have tools for Game Masters, enhancing your D&D, Pathfinder 2, and other tabletop RPG sessions.

Introduction

Being a Game Master (GM) requires creativity, organization, and the right set of tools to bring your adventures to life. Whether you’re running a classic Dungeons & Dragons campaign or exploring other tabletop RPGs like Pathfinder 2, the best tools for DMs can significantly enhance your storytelling and gameplay experience. This comprehensive guide covers 43 essential tools and resources every GM should consider to elevate their sessions.

Essential Advice Books

Books offer invaluable insights and strategies for managing and enhancing your RPG sessions. Here are some top recommendations:

1. The Secret Art of Game Mastery
   A three-book collection by the DM Lair team, offering practical advice, preparation techniques, and notetaking strategies to streamline your game mastering process.

2. Arbiter of Worlds: A Primer for Gamemasters by Alexander Macris
   A concise guide packed with worldbuilding tips and game mastering techniques, perfect for both beginners and seasoned GMs.

3. So You Want to be a Game Master by Justin Alexander
   Focuses on system-agnostic mechanics, helping GMs run diverse scenarios like heists and mysteries across different RPG systems.

4. The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones
   An essential resource for understanding fantasy tropes and building immersive worlds, avoiding common cliches.

Top Guides for Game Masters

Guides provide structured approaches to various aspects of game mastering. Consider these top picks:

1. The Dungeon Master’s Design Kit by Aaron Allston and Harold Johnson
   A premier resource for adventure design, offering templates and advice on story structure and fantasy tropes.

2. The Game Master’s Book of Series
   A collection of 11 books covering topics like non-player characters, villains, traps, puzzles, and dungeon design.

3. The Monsters Know What They’re Doing by Keith Ammann
   Detailed strategies for understanding and utilizing monsters in combat, enhancing enemy encounters.

4. DMGR5 Creative Campaigning for 2nd Edition AD&D
   An official resource for creating and managing campaigns, adaptable to any RPG system.

5. The Kobold Guide to Worldbuilding by Kobold Press
   Comprehensive strategies for building detailed and engaging game worlds, complemented by roleplaying tips.

Best Map-Making Tools

Visual aids like maps are crucial for setting the scene and guiding players through adventures. Here are some top map-making tools:

1. The Medieval Fantasy City Generator
   A free online tool for creating customizable city maps, ideal for crafting vibrant urban settings.

2. Inkarnate
   Offers both free and paid versions for creating large-scale fantasy maps or detailed dungeon layouts with ease.

3. Dungeon Scrawl
   Simple and effective for generating “Dyson-style” maps, available in free and premium versions.

4. Wonderdraft
   A paid tool perfect for building expansive fantasy worlds with rich detail.

5. Dungeondraft
   Specializes in creating intricate dungeons and battle maps, enhancing tactical gameplay.

Virtual Tabletops (VTTs)

Virtual tabletops facilitate online gameplay, offering tools for managing sessions remotely. Top VTT options include:

1. Foundry VTT
   Highly customizable with thousands of modules, supporting a wide range of RPG systems like D&D 5e and Pathfinder 2.

2. Roll20
   A popular choice for beginners, offering basic functionality for virtual tabletop gameplay.

3. Fantasy Grounds
   Feature-rich but with a steeper learning curve, suitable for GMs seeking advanced tools.

4. Owlbear Rodeo
   A lightweight and user-friendly VTT option, ideal for quick and straightforward sessions.

5. Talespire
   Focuses on visual storytelling with impressive graphics, perfect for immersive campaigns.

General RPG Tools

These tools provide broad support for various aspects of game mastering:

1. Donjon
   Offers a plethora of resources, including generators for dungeons, characters, and quests, primarily geared towards D&D 5e.

2. Demiplane
   A versatile tool supporting multiple game systems, allowing for extensive customization.

3. Archives of Nethys
   An essential resource for Pathfinder players, offering comprehensive information on game mechanics and lore.

4. PF2 Tools
   Specialized tools for Pathfinder 2, including character builders, encounter planners, and monster generators.

5. dScryb
   Provides narrative descriptions, maps, sound effects, and ambient music to enhance storytelling.

6. World Anvil
   A powerful world-building software for tracking campaigns and developing detailed game worlds.

7. Obsidian Portal
   Acts as an online GM notebook, helping you organize and manage your campaign effectively.

Encounter Builders

Creating balanced and engaging encounters is crucial for maintaining game flow. These builders simplify the process:

1. Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition Encounter Calculator
   A straightforward tool for quickly determining encounter difficulty and balancing combat scenarios.

2. Kobold Plus Fight Club
   An updated version of the popular Kobold Fight Club, offering enhanced features for encounter planning.

3. Pathfinder 2e Encounter Builder
   Allows efficient searching and adding of monsters to encounters, automatically calculating difficulty levels.

4. Encounter Builder
   A no-frills option perfect for integrating custom monsters and adjusting encounter parameters on the fly.

Helpful Blogs

Staying updated with the latest tips and trends is essential for any GM. Check out these informative blogs:

1. EN World
   The largest independent RPG news website, offering the latest updates and insights in the RPG community.

2. Tribality
   A comprehensive blog featuring advice, news, and product reviews for tabletop RPG enthusiasts.

3. Bell of Lost Souls
   A rich resource for RPGs, providing expert advice, news, and in-depth product reviews.

4. The DM Lair
   Regularly updated with GM advice, free resources, and downloadable content for various RPG systems.

YouTube Channels

Visual learners can benefit from these YouTube channels, offering tutorials and tips for game mastering:

1. Seth Skorkowsky
   Provides expert advice on running horror, heists, and mystery campaigns with decades of experience.

2. Bob Worldbuilder
   Focuses on modern RPGs and the Old School Revival (OSR), emphasizing fun and engaging gameplay.

3. Dungeon Craft
   Shares general GM tips, helps integrate old-school mechanics into new systems, and covers RPG news.

4. Dungeon Coach
   Specializes in homebrewing and introduces unique RPG systems like DC20 for a heroic gameplay experience.

5. How It’s Played
   Offers tutorials on multiple game systems, Pathfinder product reviews, and quick rules reminders.

6. Mythkeeper
   Explores the lore of the Pathfinder world of Golarion, akin to a fictional historical channel.

7. Dicebreaker
   Features game reviews, introduces various RPG systems, and explores different playstyles.

Music and Sound Effects

Enhancing the auditory experience can greatly immerse your players. These tools offer excellent soundscapes:

1. Tabletop Audio
   Features a vast library of RPG music and sound effects, perfect for both in-person and virtual sessions.

2. Syrinscape
   Offers a comprehensive engine for music and sound effects, with an extensive library to choose from.

3. Battlebards
   Provides short musical riffs and sound effects to enhance specific moments in your game.

4. Incompetech
   Hosts a massive collection of free public-domain cinematic music, ideal for various gaming scenarios.

Conclusion

Equipping yourself with the best tools for DMs can transform your role-playing sessions, making them more engaging and memorable for your players. From essential books and comprehensive guides to innovative virtual tabletops and immersive soundscapes, these 43 tools cover every aspect of game mastering. Embrace these resources to streamline your preparation, enhance your storytelling, and create unforgettable adventures.

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