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Are you new to playing tabletop roleplaying games online? Is this your first time using a Virtual Table Top (VTT)? Roll20 is a virtual tabletop platform that unites gamers across any distance with easy-to-use tools that run straight from your web browser for free! Roll20 aims to make learning easy so you can start playing quickly.
Our knowledge base contains all basic resources that you need to use Roll20. Links will be included in each section if you want to dive deeper into a particular area.
Whether you are playing Call of Cthulhu, Pathfinder, Dungeons & Dragons or one of our many independent or custom-made systems, Roll20 is flexible enough to handle your TTRPG needs. Do not let our product name fool you. You can plan more than just d20 game systems on Roll20!
Related Resources:
- Learn by Doing: Use our Interactive Tutorial
- Learn by Watching: Check out our Beginner Overview video
- For the New Gamer: Get familiar with the different kinds of tabletop roleplaying games
-
Players Only: A streamlined version of what you need to know about Roll20 as a player
Your Virtual Tabletop
Roll20 has many features to make your online gaming easy and immersive. You can use all or none of these - whatever suits you and your group best.
In the following sections, we include video tutorials relevant to the topic at hand along with a short description of what the video covers. Each section also includes supplemental links for more information.
Click any of the headers in the table of contents to the right to move to a specific section.
Create Your Game
You created a free account on Roll20. This is excellent news! What is your next step? You probably want to create a game to play with current (and future) friends of family. Or even clients if you are a professional GM.
Using a Module
In this tutorial, Carlos shows you how to create a game using a module purchased from the Roll20 Marketplace. Modules are pre-made adventures or settings professionally converted to virtual tabletops, saving you time on game preparation. Carlos describes where the different parts of the module (adventure text, art, maps, etc.) can be found in your game session.
- All About Modules
- Check out some of the free modules on our Marketplace!
Using an Addon
In this tutorial, Carlos shows you how to add free or purchased Addons to your games. Addons are smaller forms of content that are meant to enhance games. This video covers where to find your Addons and the different types you can find on Roll20.
From Scratch
If you log into your account, you will be redirected to the Roll20 Homepage. You can start a new game there by clicking on the Create New Game button. Doing so will bring you to the Start New Game page. From here you can set your game’s name and pick a character sheet from the dropdown menu.
Once you have filled out the fields, click the I’m ready, Create Game! button.
This will bring you to the Game Details Page where you can invite players or schedule a gaming session. The Game Settings Page helps you to customize your campaign including sharing your purchased compendium content and much more. Once you are ready to start prepping your first session, click the Launch Game button from here or from your Roll20 homepage.
Prepare Your Game
You have just launched a brand new game on Roll20. How do you prepare your game for your players? For example you probably want to set up maps, make handouts and character sheets before you gather your party to play.
Maps
In this video, Carlos explains how to set up maps for your players to explore. Topics include creating a new page for your map, changing the page settings, navigating the different Roll20 tabletop layers, and much more.
Maps can be simple or complex, and we provide additional resources for further exploration after the Crash Course.
Maps
Page Settings
Layers
Upgrade Your Game with Dynamic Lighting
Our Plus or Pro subscribers can access additional features like dynamic lighting, larger storage space, and more! Dynamic Lighting is a lighting system that updates players’ lines of sight in real-time, as you play.
- Dynamic Lighting Tutorial Playlist
- New Feature:
Character Sheets, Handouts, and Folders
Most TTRPGs involve characters and character sheets. In the above tutorial, Carlos explains the different ways to set up character sheets in Roll20. He also demonstrates how to create and share handouts with your players and how to create and organize folders to make your preparation work easy.
Once your players join the game, you will likely want them to create characters the first time you meet. Learn more about this in the Gather Your Party section below. If you are playing Dungeons & Dragons 5e, Call of Cthulhu, Pathfinder 1e, or Burn Bryte, the Roll20 Charactermancer can save you a ton of time!
- How to Set Up a Character Sheet
- How to Create a Character
- Character Sheet Tips and Tricks
- D&D 5e Charactermancer
- Call of Cthulhu 7E Charactermancer
- Burn Bryte Charactermancer
Tokens
In this tutorial, Carlos explains the different graphical objects you can add to your Roll20 game. This section highlights Tokens. Tokens are small pictures with borders used to represent player characters, NPCs, and monsters). They come in all shapes, sizes, and styles! This video features how to use free and purchased maps, token markers, and even animated weather overlays.
Did you know you can link tokens to character sheets for a more streamlined experience? Learn more about this.
- More on Linking Tokens to Character Sheets
- Token Features
- Token Settings
- Token Vision with Dynamic Lighting
- Troubleshooting Upload Issues
TIP: If you want your players to see the tokens, make sure the tokens are on the Token Layer. If you want tokens to be hidden, place them on the GM Info Layer.
Gather Your Group
It is time to gather your group! Use our Looking For Group tool to find and invite players to your virtual table. In the above tutorial, Carlos explains how to list your game to the Roll20 community.
Do you already know the players you want to invite? In the above video, Carlos demonstrates the easiest way to invite them into your game.
- How to Use Looking for Group
- How to Invite Your Friends
- Community and Safety Features
- Community Code of Conduct
- Guidelines for Paid Games
TIP: Do not forget. You need to grant your players permission to use their character sheets.
Play Your Game
Game on! The remaining essentials for a great Roll20 experience include rolling dice, using the chat, communicating with your players, and setting your group up for easy encounters with the turn tracker.
Roll Dice
In the above tutorial, Carlos explains all the different ways to roll dice on the virtual tabletop. Including how to roll dice which only the Game Master sees, when and how to use exploding dice, and more!
Chat
This tutorial is all about the Roll20 Chat. You can send secret messages, speak as a character, share images, and more. Carlos explains Chat's basic features and advanced tips and tricks.
Voice and Video
If you want to see the faces of your players as you reveal a big plot twist, use Roll20’s Voice and Video. The above tutorial excerpt is for Roll20’s Legacy WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication).
However, we have a brand new option in use. Read about this option below.
- Integrated Voice & Video is now available to all users!
Turn Tracker
As a GM you already have so much to keep track of. Let Roll20 keep track of turn order for you! In this tutorial, Carlos walks through the basics and more advanced features of the Turn Tracker.
Customize Your Game
Now that you know the basics of Roll20, you are ready to play. But perhaps you want to customize your group’s experience using the in-game settings or features like macros, rollable tables, custom token markers, card decks, and music. All of these features are available to users for free.
Game Settings
In this video, Carlos explains the in-game settings you can adjust once you launch your game. Topics include changing your display name, audio and video settings, accessing advanced hotkeys, controlling the master volume, a full breakdown of all those checkboxes, and more!
NOTE: In the audio and video settings in game, you can now select Integrated Voice & Video from the first dropdown menu. We highly recommend you to try it!
Macros
Macros are simply shortcuts for actions that you perform regularly on the virtual tabletop, like rolling for attacks or damage. Macros eliminate steps by combining everything needed into the push of a button. In this tutorial, Carlos demonstrates how to quickly create macros and connect them to character sheets.
Rollable Tables and Tokens
Rollable tables are helpful when you want to add an element of randomness. You can also create rollable tokens to reveal hidden characters easily. In this tutorial, Carlos describes how to use rollable tables and how to use macros with them.
Token Markers
In the above tutorial, Carlos explains Token Markers. Token Markers are the little icons that are available in the pop-up menu when you select a token. Roll20 provides these icons to help you track conditions on your tokens. You can even add custom token markers to your game!
Card Decks
In this tutorial, Carlos explains using Cards and Decks on Roll20. Learn how to customize your decks and play with them on the virtual tabletop.
The Jukebox
The Roll20 Jukebox allows you to upload your own audio tracks and add music and sound effects from the libraries of Tabletop Audio, Incompetech, and BattleBards to your games!
If you really love this feature and want to add more assets, you should consider upgrading your account to the Plus or Pro level to receive additional storage space.