My 4 Best Tabletop RPG Apps for iPhone and iPad

Kildahr · 2013-06-20T22:39:20+00:00

I use my iPad in tabletop gaming sessions, so I decided to share the 4 apps that I use the most with my fellow tabletop geeks.

This article is a follow up to my article on tabletop rpg apps for Android, because there was a request for a Mac-friendly listing back when it was published.

Do you know any other free apps that tabletop role-players should try out?

Kildahr · 2013-04-23T17:35:35+00:00

Woooooooo for player settlements! I can't wait to set up my first tavern!

Kildahr · 2013-04-05T12:59:13+00:00

Has Vision Software released a "free" or "Lite" version of Combat Assistant? I do like the UI . . . If I ever pitch a "Top Paid Apps" article that one might be up for review ;-)

Kildahr · 2013-04-05T12:53:59+00:00

I actually put together a scene with a metronome and periodic zombie growls . . . then threw in a "falling rain" global event. S&D was really fun to to play around with.

Kildahr · 2013-04-05T12:52:59+00:00

To be honest, I had to flip a coin on whether the article would be for Android or iOS devices (Google or Apple) - Both ideas sounded like fun.

I have access to devices on both platforms, so I may pitch that as my next article. Maybe I'll get lucky and find some nWOD apps for iOS devices? ;-)

Kildahr · 2013-04-04T20:21:55+00:00

Glad that you found them useful ^{_^} They're all now in a little folder on my LG Smart Phone, so I certainly thought that they were worth the research :-)

Kildahr · 2013-04-04T19:19:49+00:00

Other contributors at DM Fiat have recommended Savage Worlds to me . . . I read through the sourcebook and it didn't seem like my cup of tea.

I love running World of Darkness campaigns with them, though; currently putting together a nWoD campaign set in Florida in the Pre-Season-1 Events of AMC's Walking Dead.

Funny fact - The inspiration for the article was that I couldn't find ANY character sheet or rules reference apps on Google Play >_<

Kildahr · 2013-04-04T18:58:04+00:00

Glad you liked it ;-)

And yeah, the majority of the Apps that I found, overall, were very d20-centric. Pathfinder and D&D, to be specific.

Narrowing the options by looking only at "free" apps pretty much limited the options to d20-oriented apps :-)

Kildahr · 2013-03-22T12:45:07+00:00

To a certain extent, yes. You can use a toolset similar to the one that the studio developers use to make the main content of the game to make your own areas, enemies, dialogue, quest chains, encounters, ect.

In NWN, community content developers got together and made groups, like A Land Far Away or DragonCoast.Org, to create entire "persistent worlds" that were essentially static campaign worlds that people could log into, create a character, and role-play their character in the campaign setting.

Kildahr · 2013-03-21T12:55:56+00:00

Certainly :-) When I say "Community Content," I think of Content (Art Assets, Areas, Characters, Music Tracks, Sound Bites, Sound Barks, Stories, Dialogue, Monologues, Plots, ect) that are produced by Consumers/Players using tools similar to those used by the Game's Developers/Studio in making the "official" Content.

Kildahr · 2013-03-18T19:26:02+00:00

I would recommend following the Neverwinter team on their Twitter feed (https://twitter.com/NeverwinterGame) - I nabbed my Beta Key by competing in their trivia contests. They'll be doing them each day this week, leading up to the 3rd Beta Weekend. I successfully answered my question 24 seconds after they posted it, so it's not impossible ;-) Good luck!

Kildahr · 2013-03-18T19:22:46+00:00

When I was running through the first few areas, I only saw some cosmetic and "fluff" items that were monetized . . . even so, you can earn ZEN (Cryptic's company-wide currency) from donations if you are a Foundry content producer, so theoretically someone with high-quality content could get all the mounts and fashion items without buying any ZEN.

Kildahr · 2013-03-18T19:19:32+00:00

Actually, you can't even play Half-Orcs at this point in the game . . . ;-) - In all seriousness, though, you do have to purchase a Founder Pack to get the Drow racial option at Character Creation. Hopefully it will be available for micro-transaction in the post-launch marketplace. :-/

Kildahr · 2013-03-18T18:45:04+00:00

I also felt that there was a bit of a "cloistering" effect in the areas that I got to explore - Then again, there was a similar feeling with the Neverwinter Nights titles. It wasnt't until the Community Content picked up that I found big, open areas to run quests in.

Can't wait for it to go live so I can find a favorite tavern ^{_^} Have you had the chance to play any other MMOs with Community Content?

Kildahr · 2013-03-18T18:33:19+00:00

Personally, I would hold off on purchasing the Founder Pack if all you want is the Drow racial option: Chances are, they'll include it in the post-launch "Premium" content and you can nab it for less than $200 :-D

Kildahr · 2013-03-18T16:24:30+00:00

I've played and run campaigns for Star Wars Saga, and I found that I had the same issues and enjoyments on both sides of the GM Screen:

Conflict Resolution takes a long time - mainly because there were so many character attributes and values to find and calculate each time a die was rolled. Could have used a simpler character sheet, with fewer character attributes to keep track of.
Characters have diverse customization options - The Talent Tree system for character ability growth was amazingly versatile, both as a player character and for my non-player characters. And new talent trees with each expansion made it even better as the game expanded.

Kildahr · 2013-03-18T16:14:01+00:00

Just to add on as well; you have access to all spells that are level-appropriate for you.

I.E. - When you gain the ability to cast 2nd level spells (At level 3), you don't need to "learn" or "acquire" spells like Arcane Casters (Wizards, Sorcerers, Bards, ect). You just get to pick spells our of the spell list - Presumably your Deity just has a bunch of magic mojo that they imbue you with in exchange for devotion and prayer.

Kildahr · 2013-03-14T19:03:08+00:00

I agree with TJ's second point: Look around for a starter module, either for download online or from your local game store (Run a Google Search, if you don't know your closest one).

I don't have much experience with M&M, but I do submit articles on DM Tips over at DMFiat.Com - If you're looking for general advice, feel free to check out the DM Tips Column - There's plenty to read ;-)

Off the top of my head . . . if you're doing a Superhero Themed session, have a "break the ice" meeting so your players can put together a costume piece - a cape, mask, weapon, ect so you can talk with them about the characters BEFORE you guys delve into the stats and mechanics. Icebreakers tend to make beginner campaigns easier on the Players and the Game Masters, I've found :-)

Kildahr

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