We’ve had our third session of Dragonbane, and have been enjoying every minute. It was a rough start as we learned and adjusted to the new rules, but things are running more smoothly.
What has made the transition easier has been playing on Foundry VTT using the official module. You don’t need the module to play Dragonbane. All you need is the quick start guide and some dice. You don’t even need the official module if you’re using Foundry, but it makes things so easy that you’re doing yourself a disservice by not using it.
I’ve written about why you should use Foundry VTT as your virtual tabletop, so make sure you read that post if you haven’t done so already. Foundry VTT is easy to use, it has tremendous community and dev support, and it has a lot of the features you want from a VTT for only $50. There is also a demo you can try if you need more convincing.
The Dragonbane module costs $27.22 with everything you need to play the game. You get:
- 144 Actors.
- 28 Journal Entries.
- 370 Items.
- 164 Rolltables.
- 20 Scenes.
- 5 Macros.
- 6 Card Stacks.
Starting a game has never been so simple. The module splits up everything you need into easy-to-search journal entries and chapters. You can choose to play one of the ready-to-play pre-generated characters. But if you want to make your own, the module walks you through the simple process of character creation where you can roll your stats, and drag and drop everything you need.
Running the prewritten adventure is even easier because you have everything you need at your fingertips. It splits up the adventure into manageable sections with quick links to help you navigate decisions. You have tables to roll from, monster stats you can easily drag onto maps, and you can roll for the monster abilities. Maps come with all the lighting effects, walls, doors, and hidden areas which is sure to impress your table. I’ve never had an easier time prepping running a game. Now this will change if you want to run your own adventure, but if you want to start with the prewritten content, the module is a boon!
The only issue I’ve been having is getting used to the system. While the system is easy to learn, my table is full of busy dads who somehow manage to make time for our weekly games. It’s been fun, and getting better as we grow more comfortable with the system.
If you’re playing Dragonbane, or thinking about running your first game online, I recommend you get this module. You’ll get more than your money’s worth, especially if it ends up being your tables main RPG.
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Hi! Reading this review from the point of view of someone learning the system is what I was looking for. Would you say that the module has everything you need to learn the system? Are all the rules in the module, and are they organised similarly to the book? I see in DTRPG there’s a bundle for Roll20 and the PDF for the Core Set, but no such bundle for Foundry…
I think it’s a great tool for learning the system because it has everything you need integrated into the module, but it isn’t necessary. My group did a mix of theater of the mind and Foundry, but I liked the convenience of having everything ready to go.
It is a little finicky, and you’ll need to do some tinkering, but it never got as bad as Roll 20. The modules on Roll 20 were solid from what I remember, but you get a lot of the subscription features (like lighting, walls, and doors) included with the one-time purchase of Foundry. The module has all the maps sized, lit, and ready to go.
Everything in the module is organized like the book with hyperlinks for easy navigation. You can easily drag in whatever you need from the book into the game, or show your players pages, pictures, or items with a click of a button which is always nice. You’ll need to give your players access to all the journals if you want them to be able to look up rules, items, and anything else they need to play the game.
I got my copies from the publisher, so I don’t know how it works as a consumer. I don’t think it is a bundle, but I don’t know for sure. The module has everything from the core book, but you’ll need to have Foundry running to access it. The module is searchable, but I found that if you aren’t in the right chapter or section, it’s easier to search through the pdf. I only really needed to search to look up a rule on the fly. Following through the adventures has everything you need from roll tables to treasure.
Dragonbane is an easy system to learn. All you need is a pencil and some dice. The Foundry module did help players understand character creation, leveling, checks, and initiative quickly, and I appreciated the convenience it brings to the table. I hope that was helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thank you for the reply, it does make it clear.
I do use Foundry as my VTT of choice, I was just wondering if there might be a bundle choice in the future because, as you confirmed, the PDF might be more convenient to read and learn, outside of the game server.
Cheers!