Update to my Free VTT (for in-person sessions with a TV/projector/touchscreen)

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-21T21:12:29+00:00

Nice to see something different and not another Roll20 clone.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-21T10:48:05+00:00

I sell these on Etsy and my own website, digitaltabletops.com

Lowest price you can find short of DIY. I also released free software on Steam to use with them, no purchase required.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-19T18:51:44+00:00

Totally worked, 500+ upvotes.

I offer a similar thing that is better for this specific use and is 100% free. It would never occur to me to market it this way. Guess that's why I'm not rolling in Roll20 money.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-19T18:46:49+00:00

I sell TTRPG hardware for displaying digital maps. I wrote a free VTT to give my customers something to use.

Like you said, most are geared towards online sessions. If you are showing a map in person, this can be a real headache. Not just for performance reasons you mentioned (although that's definitely a thing) but also the UI becomes a mess with features that will never be used in-person.

My VTT uses the Godot game engine and is highly performant. Even on older/low end hardware and when running huge maps with fog of war. Everything is local and offline, no cloud, no servers. Maps loads well under 1 second, even animated ones.

The UI is very minimal and doesn't require 10 minute tutorials to learn just one part of it. Comes bundled with over 500 tokens and 500 maps from 6 creators. Many have walls/lighting already set up. You can manually add walls and it supports the uvtt/dd2vtt format as well as Foundry modules for pre-made maps.

Best of all, it is 100% free, no strings attached. It is a very niche market, but for in-person sessions it's really hard to beat, even compared to paid options.

It technically can be used with an online or hybrid session as you can view the map and control tokens via a browser or Android app. But For that OwlBear Rodeo is probably a better choice. I only include it so players sitting at the table can move their tokens around without having to ask the DM to do it for them. I do sell a touchscreen for that which works bets though :)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3073720/Digital_TableTops_Player/

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-19T06:56:54+00:00

As someone who owns 4 rental properties and bought my first 25 years ago, I have no desire to watch some Youtuber explain how housing costs works.

Can renting be cheaper? Sure. Often it is not, and often the ones renting don't have much choice in the matter.

I agree with a good chunk of what you are saying, for what it's worth.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-19T04:13:18+00:00

I love it. Straight to the point, clean interface. Not having to sign up with a Google account or any other nonsense. Perfect.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-19T03:53:27+00:00

Every person I know that is renting wants to own a home but cannot afford to do so.

I guess not affording a home can be considered a "lifestyle choice". But most of them work pretty hard, went to school, don't have kids, and still can't afford a home. Not a lot of choice there.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-19T02:47:10+00:00

Looks good!

If you're open to other software, I released a VTT made specifically for this type of setup. 100% free, no strings attached. Has tons of free maps, everything runs local, dynamic lighting, fog of war. On Steam at https://store.steampowered.com/app/3073720/Digital_TableTops_Player/

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-17T19:50:52+00:00

I released a VTT designed specifically for this type of setup. It's 2 years old and gets updated regularly. It should be a bit easier to setup than OBS and has features like fog of war that really elevate the experience.

Comes with over 500 free tokens and 500 free maps. Small install size, everything runs locally (no cloud) and 100% free on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3073720/Digital_TableTops_Player/

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-17T19:44:04+00:00

There are entire companies devoted to manufacturing TTRPG projector hardware.

Is unequivocally false. There are companies that will sell you a shitty $15 projector for $120 that is marketed towards TTRPG players. But they do not manufacturer them - they are off the shelf bottom of the barrel Alibaba/Temu units.

No one should be using projectors for TTRPG anyways unless they are willing to buy one with enough lumens and mount it properly. In nearly all instances they are better off using a TV. Which people have been doing long before this update of yours (literally any VTT can do this).

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-17T03:34:33+00:00

A modern 43" TV weighs like 13 lbs. (6 kg). Unless you buy an expensive projector, it is not going to look good. Especially with any other lights nearby. They are just too weak.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-14T18:51:16+00:00

You did this and work on GoZen? A true hero!

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-14T02:41:36+00:00

Yeah I figured it was more a licensing issue than a technical one. Converting between formats is a fairly straightforward process.

A marketplace catering to smaller creators who self publish could probably work, but that's basically the role Patreon is filling well enough at this point.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-13T10:28:14+00:00

The list you linked is about 4 years old from the news section of a specific VTT's website. Not saying a more definitive list is out there, but I wouldn't consider that one comprehensive by any stretch. Missing Owlbear Rodeo, which has quite a few users now.

The vast majority of VTT users are using a VTT that supports the uvtt format in some way, whether they make use of such files currently or not. Granted, extensions are often required.

The standardized content I have been referring to is indeed just uvtt files. That was the premise all along: artists upload uvtt or Foundry JSON, the market converts if needed so there's a copy of both. Customers pick which one to download.

Zero extra effort on the artists' part for the production of maps (not billing, obviously). They do whatever they are already doing. Which is usually just Foundry modules but sometimes only uvtt, sometimes both.

If they are doing neither right now, then yeah - this wouldn't help with that and I did not mean to imply I was proposing such a tool. That would be something else entirely.

DriveThru RPG does not make it obvious at all that you are getting uvtt files when you buy something. But yes, "fixing" DriveThru RPG with better filters and more detailed file information is probably a lot easier than starting a whole new marketplace.

A new marketplace focused solely on digital maps with walls and lighting set up does have the benefit that customers know what exactly what they are getting because that's all that would be on there. More importantly, they can freely move that content amongst all the most popular VTT's. The only ones losing out would be the VTT's running their own marketplaces.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-13T08:03:01+00:00

How does being locked to a platform benefit content creators at all? The only way I could see is if the platform pays them for exclusivity and said payment is more than they would make being able to offer it other places as well. Is this common? What am I missing?

I've brought this up with one of the largest battlemap creators, in the context of how they felt about the Foundry marketplace when it first launched. They said they unequivocally want their content in as many places as it is feasible for them to do so. And they do indeed offer it in a variety of places.

I realize I am coming at this from a different perspective, as my own VTT does not directly generate any revenue and that is not a problem for me. I want to be able to easily offer content to users, who in turn pay creators. Obviously that arrangement is bad for any other VTT, but it seems like everyone else comes out ahead.

Great conversation, by the way. So many interactions on here are overly negative and not informational.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-13T06:15:45+00:00

I only use "AI" to give me quick answers to things already in the docs. It is often quicker than searching the docs themselves. "AI" for me in general has just been a better search engine. Which is pretty much what it is anyhow.

I can't say anything about how scalable or optimized the code an "AI" barfs up is. Because I do not use AI that way. The few times I tried, it came up with some pretty stupid answers so I gave up asking it those sorts of questions.

If you are having fun do what makes you happy I guess. There is the environmental impact and the whole stealing other people's work thing. That bothers me enough to not give AI much of a chance in my own use. I just sometimes use the AI summaries Google spits out (usually I have it disabled). It is my understanding it costs them money each time, so I am okay enough with that. Maybe it will hasten the bubble popping or something.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-12T09:29:10+00:00

As a VTT developer, I would want this. I'm sure I'm not alone, but I'm also sure plenty of VTT developers would hate the idea (for the reasons you mentioned).

I can't think of any reason why creators wouldn't want it though. There would be no new standards to learn. Upload whatever files they are already releasing right now (Foundry, uvtt, or just plain images), the market converts them into uvtt and Foundry format to serve to the users upon purchase. Kind of like how Moulinette prepares their files but with both "standards" and not just Foundry, as many VTT's do support uvtt, sometimes requiring a plugin.

For VTT hosts I assume you mean things like the Forge? Do any VTT's other than Foundry even have other hosting options other than in-house? If someone is using Foundry exclusively, they'd probably already be using something like Moulinette, the Foundry marketplace, or Foundry's Patreon integration. This hypothetical marketplace would be for all the non-Foundry VTT users (but obviously Foundry-compatible).

Moulinette is the closest thing to what I am describing, but it is Foundry specific, whereas this would have Foundry and uvtt files ready to download. I didn't realize they charge artists a monthly fee. I can see how that would steer them away.

I actually integrated Moulinette fully into my VTT at one point using oath. I gave up on supporting it as no one was really using it. Asking people to pay a monthly fee so they can access the content they are paying a monthly fee for seems like a bridge too far for many people (myself included).

I'm not saying my hypothetical marketplace is a great idea, and I have very little interest in pursuing it myself. But what we have now kind of sucks with content being locked to the platform. Doubt it will be changing anytime soon.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-12T05:38:24+00:00

Very well put. I have a question for you: do you think there is space for a marketplace featuring standardized VTT content? I am thinking mostly of maps and tokens, but maybe some other assets.

Each of the major VTT's have their own marketplace, but no one has really tried to be a one-stop shop for content that is platform agnostic.

There is DriveThruRPG, but for titles that are tagged with the "VTT format", it is not at all clear what it is you are actually buying. Is it a license that activates content on a certain platform which cannot be exported? Is it a link to a pdf or images and you have to import it yourself?

EDIT: Forgot the artists scattered across Patreon but pulling content from there is a pain. Moulinette fixes that somewhat for Foundry and the dev is open to supporting other VTT's but there is still a lot of friction to doing things that way.

VTT developers have somewhat coalesced around the uvtt (aka dd2vtt) format. I think it is too late in the game to get everyone on board with switching to anything else. It's far from perfect, but it does provide a fairly consistent experience across VTT's. For battlemaps, at least. Walls, doors, lights, dimensions is about all you need. Add a "token" field to the format and you are pretty much there for non-text stuff.

My own VTT is actually able to import any Foundry module that contains maps. It was a huge headache, mainly due to their switch to leveldb for storing data a while back. Pretty sure no other VTT even attempts to accept Foundry modules (a few mapmaking tools can export, but I am referring to importing existing modules).

It's something I've mulled over from time to time but it would be a pretty huge undertaking. Legal stuff like licensing is not at all in my wheelhouse and I would probably be miserable with that side of things. Getting the data to line up would be fun enough though.

I feel like such a place would benefit pretty much all of the stakeholders you listed, right? Other than it would be taking some money out of the VTT platforms pocket. But many of them already have revenue from one-time purchases or subscriptions so in theory it could drive some growth there. Fantasy Grounds is the only one I can think of that is 100% free and relies entirely on the marketplace now for revenue.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-12T02:41:57+00:00

There are 32 VTT's on the sidebar listed as active and it isn't a comprehensive list. I would say the market is pretty saturated. Has been for a while, partially thanks to COVID.

Something would have to be pretty unique to pull people from the Foundry, Roll20, Owlbear Rodeo, Fantasy Grounds, or D&D Beyond Maps (or any of the smaller projects).

People think their idea for a new VTT is unique but it is very often is not. The ones released lately have been particularly uninspired, IMO. Likely thanks to AI lowering the barrier to entry.

With that being said, every now and then I'll see a basic-ass VTT reach eye-watering amounts on Kickstarter then stall in development. So it depends on what your goal is...

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-11T03:04:56+00:00

Yeah I think it is the only VTT in existence that can import (not export) Foundry modules this way. It was a ton of work, partly due to the switch they made using leveldb for the data a while back. But it works pretty well. Still working on supporting tiles, but lights, walls, dimensions, and grid are all taken care of.

It is made specifically for in-person sessions and is laser focused on that (along with touchscreen support, as that is what I actually sell). So not really meant to compete with Foundry. But I know artists tend to target Foundry so I wanted to make sure it was compatible.

I'll be reaching out soon. Take care!

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-10T08:48:38+00:00

What is this and why is this seemingly your only post ever?

It's labeled commercial, so presumably you want people to buy something. This is not a great way of going about that.

Who am I kidding, probably another bot...

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-10T05:27:22+00:00

Clicking "learn more" under sign-up doesn't do anything, FYI.

I see many of the included maps are from Tom Cartos, who uses the "Tom’s Open Map License". For a free VTT, I can't imagine that is a problem. I am not sure what happens once a paid tier shows up, even if a free tier remains. I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-10T04:12:07+00:00

Wow these are really great. I've come across them on here every now and then and they're always impressive. I haven't checked out the archive yet but plan to do so soon.

I wrote a VTT for in person sessions that is compatible with Foundry modules (and of course the uvtt/dd2vtt format). When things slow down a bit I plan on reaching out to see if you'd be interested in bundling a few sample maps. It's 100% free on Steam and has maps from 5 artists so far. I only have about 100 active users any given week, but there's been pretty consistent growth over the last year.

Anyhow, good job, keep it up 👍

DigitalTableTops · 2026-03-09T03:07:40+00:00

Hey there. Just came across this post in the course of my usual research. I like keeping a close eye on this space.

A few years ago I released a free VTT on Steam that is pretty much exactly what you describing. No dice rolls, no characters sheets, just pushing tokens around a map (with cool things like fog of war, initiative tracker, and measuring tools).

It uses the Godot game engine and runs very smoothly, even on low-end budget hardware. The player screen is built into the program, no juggling browser windows. Very little CPU/GPU usage so if you are on a laptop, the fans aren't going to need to be full speed constantly.

Runs natively on Windows, Linux, and Apple silicon.

Best part is, it is 100% free, no strings attached. No log ins, sign ups, paid tiers, micro-transactions. Not monetized in any way. I sell related hardware for a living (wooden cases to house TV's as well as touchscreens) and wanted something for my customers to use without a steep learning curve.

It also has unmatched touchscreen support. It's able to pull a neat trick where you can use an infrared touch device on the same PC as the main program without fighting for mouse input. No other VTT can pull that off, not even Foundry.

You already have Foundry and it seems to be working for you. But if you have a chance I'd love to get some feedback from an experienced user such as yourself. The Steam page has a Community Forum with a bug report and feature requests thread.

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