Feeling like D&D, but comfortably at the PC with friends? A tool on Steam makes it easier than ever to run sessions online.
Tabletop role-playing games are among the most enjoyable experiences one can have with a group of friends – at least around the shared kitchen table. While there are various tools to translate games like D&D into the virtual world, they all come with minor or major quirks.
If you want to try a variation of these programs that is receiving a lot of positive attention, you should check out the Game Master Engine – it’s free for players, only the Dungeon Master (or Game Master) needs to purchase it.
What kind of program is this? The Game Master Engine allows you to create your own maps for D&D adventures (or other RPGs) within minutes. With just a few clicks, you can arrange trees, roads, and cover boxes, or take your time building extensive landscapes or the interior of a tavern. If you’re not interested in that, you can also use the countless maps that already exist from the community and simply utilize them for your own adventure.
Afterward, you can place tokens to represent the positions of your heroes and enemy troops. The effects of spells can be displayed with precise measurements down to a few centimeters, so you know exactly how many party members will be affected by a “well-meaning fireball” (hopefully all, as it should be).
Free for players, only the Dungeon Master has to buy
What does the software cost? If you want to try the “Game Master Engine” yourself, the barrier to entry is quite low. Because only your game master needs to purchase the program in the “GM Edition” on Steam, at a currently reduced price of €16.79, 60% off – but only for a few hours, after which the software will cost €41.99 again.
However, the price only applies to the Game Master. Players can use Game Master Engine for free. This makes it easy for groups to scrape together the money or even gift the game master a new tool as a small thank you (or as a sneaky obligation to serve as GM for many more years).
Will you take a look at it? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
Why is the Game Master Engine from 2021? The Game Master Engine has been developed by a single developer for almost 6 years and is still in Early Access. A full release is planned for 2027. Thanks to the workshop integration on Steam, there is already a huge amount of community content available, so you can choose from a wide variety of ready-made maps if you want to represent your own battles.
How wonderful Dungeons & Dragons can be not only with friends but also with your family is shown by the story of a father who recounts how he brought his 8-year-old daughter to tears multiple times, but it still ended with a happy ending.
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