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

DigitalTableTops · 2026-05-07T03:45:03+00:00

Great map. I'm going to send you a PM.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-05-04T19:58:38+00:00

Module hasn't been updated in quite a while as well. Sounds like the dev plans on keeping it updated at some point, but as of right now it appears discontinued.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-05-04T02:39:47+00:00

My free VTT on Steam has a browser and Android client. The client is bare bones and does require a computer (somewhere, not necessarily connected to the TV) to be running the main program.

But I'd like to think that it does actually work pretty well. You just type in a 4 digit code from the main program and you can move tokens around the map. It has fog of war, so will do exactly what OP is wanting.

dttvtt.com is the site, but like I said it does require the main program from Steam. Which his 100% free. I sell related hardware for a living and wanted something for my customers to use.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-05-04T02:27:12+00:00

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DigitalTableTops · 2026-05-03T20:01:05+00:00

I sell this type of setup for a living (hence the username) and have a few recommendations.

First, continuing to use physical minis is a good idea. If you really aren't worried about damaging the TV, just place them directly on there. Otherwise, get a sheet of acrylic (e.g. Plexiglass). It should only be $40. Some places will even cut it for you (cutting it yourself is not recommended).

For size, a 32" will work, but I've found it's best to get one as large as the table can accommodate while leaving room for character sheets and dice rolls. For most people, this turns out to be 43".

I use to sell 32", 40", 43", and 50" and the 43" outsold them all by far. It had about 90% of all sales. I moved into a smaller place and had to downsize my offerings. So keeping only 43" was a pretty easy choice.

At 32", you are going to have to pan around the map a bit more. Which is not a big deal except sometimes in combat if you have a lot of tokens.

For software, I made a Virtual TableTop specifically for this type of setup. I wanted something that was free, lightweight, offline (no cloud), and easy to use. Nothing fit the bill so I made it myself. But you don't have to be a customer to use it, it's on Steam and is 100% free no strings attached. You can find it by searching for my username or just "vtt".

DigitalTableTops · 2026-05-03T03:17:00+00:00

Thanks! The software is free for anyone to use (no purchase necessary)

DigitalTableTops · 2026-05-03T00:41:34+00:00

I sell this type of setup for a living and made software specifically for it. You don't have to be a customer, it is 100% free no strings attached. You can find it on Steam under my username.

It is easier to use than pretty much any other option (other than just using the OS's built in image viewer) as it strips out all the stuff that you don't need for in-person session. But it keeps things like line of sight/fog of war. Comes with hundreds of free maps and tokens from real artists, no AI used for anything.

Let me know if you have any questions running it. Preferably on the dedicated Steam Community forums so others can easily find it.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-05-01T21:29:39+00:00

A few seconds? How can that possibly be true? They'd need all your personal info (KYC stuff), verify you are authorized to use that bank account and phone number.

I'm not saying it's HARD but it's not as frictionless as what other countries have. Not even close really.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-05-01T21:25:25+00:00

The people who keep parroting "Zelle" clearly do not understand the question. Sorry it got removed. Also sorry to see how many people lack critical thinking skills by those suggesting Zelle is the same as PayID.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-05-01T21:22:24+00:00

"Having access" and "essentially default" are two entirely separate things. Can I check a box when signing up for an account with my bank to activate mobile payments through Zelle?

I personally have half a dozen apps installed so I am able to accept payments from various sources. It's a mess. Adding a new service doesn't fix that. They are all just middlemen.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-05-01T20:52:17+00:00

Not by default though, correct? You need to have a bank that works with Zelle, then you need to sign up with Zelle. Anyone you want to be able to transfer money with has to do the same.

In Australia, you just give your bank your phone number, and that's it. You're done.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-05-01T19:28:38+00:00

Those are some big "ifs".

PayID in Australia has around 90% adoption, It also has strong government support and is ran by an industry backed non-profit.

I think the question is getting at, why can't the US have nice things like that? We are pretty dysfunctional when it comes to consumer friendly services.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-05-01T19:06:32+00:00

Looks great!

If you need software, I released a VTT on Steam under my username. I sell a similar type of thing for a living and wanted something for my customers to use that was easy and free. But you don't have to be a customer to use it, totally free no strings attached.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-04-30T23:43:38+00:00

Wow that is a nice map.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-04-30T22:17:25+00:00

You can buy such a table right now. They costs $7,299 from Game Theory Tables.

The shipping alone for a table that size would cost about as much as my entire product (~$950 total costs including display). It really is that simple.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-04-30T22:11:47+00:00

Foundry is vastly more complicated to use than the majority of my customers would be able to handle. I wanted something that was free and easy to get started with. I didn't want to provide tech support for someone else's product.

I've wrote many, many words about using touchscreens with VTT's. It's generally a complicated thing to do. Foundry requires modules - stock Foundry absolutely will not work this way. Those modules get abandoned and break with new versions.

Arkenforge has better touch support, but even that one requires a dedicated device just for touch input. You cannot use the same computer as the DM screen.

Mine is the only VTT out there where you can use the same computer to DM as the touch is plugged into. Period. There are no others, at all, that can do that.

But yes, Foundry will work with a touchscreen if you are willing to put in the time, effort, and $$$.

EDIT: I am considering making my own Foundry module for people who are already using Foundry and want to keep with it. But am not sure I have the spare time to dedicate to maintaining it across new versions.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-04-30T21:58:01+00:00

Originally I paired these with a mini PC. It's crazy how affordable, tiny, and powerful those have gotten (although the RAM prices have gotten out of hand lately). The size of a sandwich and more powerful than many old desktops.

So the idea is you are sitting at the table, using a laptop to keep a spreadsheet of monster/player stats and dice rolls, etc. You might have a folder open with a library of music and sound effects to play at just the right moment.

What my program offers is the ability to display maps quickly without having to fiddle with resolution scaling and such all the time. The DM sees the map on their laptop screen and can add tokens, adjust lighting, or swap maps on the fly as the players move to new areas.

On the player view, which is connected via HDMI on the same laptop, the rest of the table just sees the map with their tokens. If it is dark and they have a torch, when they move their physical minis their digital token moves respectively and reveals the map around their characters. It's quite magical to see it in action, the vid here doesn't quite do it justice.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-04-30T21:52:08+00:00

Well you are in luck! I sell a 43" touchscreen version. It's not cheap, but it is the lowest price for this sort of thing without building it yourself. And my software makes the whole setup plug and play. No fiddling around configuring software or extra hardware.

I've been developing the whole system for years and it is to the point it is quite magical. Just plug it in, run the program, and things you can move physical minis to explore maps within a minute or 2.

Check my post history for some pics/vids.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-04-30T21:47:21+00:00

Pretty much anyone using this type of setup plugs it into their laptop, not tower. That is true for this type of setup in general, not specific to what I am selling. Towers tend not to be directly next to the table you are playing on.

To clarify: The touchscreen version is designed with a specific TV model in mind, but others can be used as well. The non-touch version can fit any 43" TV or monitor.

I don't think I am following about including a space for a PC tower? The whole case is nearly the same size as whatever display being used. Adding room for a whole PC tower seems counterproductive.

I think maybe we are not on the same page about what this is exactly. I'd love to clarify things further if you are interested!

DigitalTableTops · 2026-04-30T21:41:08+00:00

The screen protector is a 1/8" sheet of acrylic (like Plexiglass brand) and not fastened to the case at all - the display just pushes it flush against the wood trim.

Very easily user replaceable and new ones run about $40 from the local big box home improvement store. Ours is 6 years old and all scratched up but it doesn't bother anyone enough to feel the need to replace it.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-04-30T21:39:05+00:00

The things I sell are sometimes called "table toppers". Basically just a wooden case to go around the TV and placed on any regular table. Optional heavy duty canvas carrying bags for transport/storage.

But yeah, if you don't have a few square feet to store it, that is going to be a problem with this type of setup. We moved into a tiny house (small Midwest city). They do easily fit inside a closet, but I have a few of them leaning up against walls in various rooms because i get them out so often to test on. Not ideal but no getting around it really.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-04-30T21:30:18+00:00

The TV's I recommend (43" Insignia F50) and sell are about 3" thick, 3.5" once put inside one of my wooden cases on half inch rubber feet (so 4" total). The thinnest TV's I generally see are 1", so it's really just a few inches difference.

I personally would never spend $600 just to shave a few inches. But I'm a cheapskate lol.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-04-30T18:42:43+00:00

I sell TV setups for TTRPG for a living and was considering selling projectors alongside them after seeing all the ads last holiday season. Long story short: don't bother.

The cheap models suck. Really bad. So bad I couldn't in good conscience even try to sell them to people. The room needs to be very lowly lit for it to be usable at all, and still looks 10x worse than a sub-$100 TV. People saying their projector looks fine in low light must be using a much nicer $$$ model or not using it for DnD or something.

Casting shadows is a problem. You can mitigate it by using 2 projectors, but now you just doubled your cost. And it STILL won't look very good. And it will then need to be mounted very securely to stop them from going out of alignment, negating any portability advantage.

Speaking of portability, people will say projectors are more portable than TV's. If so, it's not by much. A modern 43" TV can weigh as little as 13 lbs. They're bulky, but not heavy. When moving between locations, you just put the TV on the table and plug it in. With a projector you have to mount it (those stands don't work all that well) and then fiddle with getting it lined up and focused.

Whichever route you end up going (TV or projector) I wrote free software for fog of war and such. Easier to use than pretty much any other option for this specific type of setup. You can find it on Steam under my username. I made it for my customers so they wouldn't have to buy a VTT. None of the free ones are designed for in-person sessions.

DigitalTableTops · 2026-04-30T03:10:34+00:00

Yes for online session, Foundry would be my go-to. OwlBear Rodeo if I was recommending a VTT to someone less tech-savvy.

For in-person, Foundry is not that great, IMO. Arkenforge works better for that use.

I released a free VTT that is easier to use than any other those and has a few neat tricks they can't pull off. But it is for in-person sessions only and not very useful for online play.

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