What Features Does Roll20 Offer for Online Tabletop Gaming?

Roll20 is a browser-based virtual tabletop (VTT) for pen-and-paper RPGs and board games. If you want to run or play games like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, or Call of Cthulhu without installing software or hosting a server, Roll20 provides the core tools in one place: integrated dice rolling, character sheets, automation, dynamic lighting, fog of war, and a free map-making tool. You can start with a free account (no credit card required), and advanced API customization is available to Pro subscribers.

Core gameplay tools

These are the features you'll use in nearly every session:

• Integrated dice rolling — Roll dice directly in the interface, with results visible to the table.
• Character sheets — Built-in sheet support for 250+ game systems, including D&D and Pathfinder, plus the option to build custom sheets.
• Automation and macros — Automate rolls, spell effects, and character actions. Macros let you trigger complex dice rolls or actions with a single click, and they work across any game system.
• Character tracking — Track stats and state alongside the dice and sheet tools.

The practical effect: routine bookkeeping (rolling, looking up a modifier, applying a spell result) is handled by the platform instead of by hand.

Map, lighting, and immersion

For exploration-heavy games, Roll20's map tools do the work that a physical table can't:

• Dynamic lighting — Light sources reveal only what a character can see.
• Fog of war — The map is revealed progressively as players explore.
• Dungeon Scrawl — A free integrated map-making tool. You can create maps in minutes without drawing skills.

Together, these let you run a dungeon crawl where players genuinely don't know what's around the corner.

Campaign organization

Roll20 includes built-in structure for managing a campaign:

• Pages and folders for organizing handouts, maps, and scenes
• Asset management for tokens and uploaded files

This matters once a campaign runs past a few sessions — you're not hunting through chat history for a map you shared weeks ago.

Game systems and content

• 1,200+ game systems supported, including D&D, Pathfinder, and Call of Cthulhu.
• Hundreds of free adventures available.
• The largest library of licensed adventure modules, according to Roll20.

If your group plays a less common system, it's worth checking the system list before committing — 1,200+ is broad, but not universal.

Finding a group

You don't need an existing group to play:

• Invite friends via a link.
• Use the built-in Looking For Group (LFG) tool.
• Join the official Discord (100,000+ members), forums, or the r/Roll20 subreddit.
• Solo play options are also available.

Roll20 states that over 15 million players use the platform.

Advanced customization (optional)

For advanced users, a full API lets you extend Roll20's functionality — adding features, automating campaign flow, and similar applications. This requires a Pro subscription.

What you need to get started

The workflow is: create a free account → choose your game system → invite players or find a group → play. No downloads, no server hosting, no configuration.

Where to go next

If you're new to tabletop RPGs entirely, Roll20 offers onboarding material: a guide on whether D&D is right for you, a guide to finding your first game group (covering LFG, Discord, and forums), and a Masterclass series on GM techniques, player techniques, and feature tutorials.