Introduction
I have been running my recent campaign with Alchemy RPG, and I have a few opinions that might prove helpful if you are in the market for a new TTRPG. I have run a DND module and am currently running Mutant RPG. I also bought both modules I’ve used to run my games, but the books were given to me by the publisher to review for my blog. That said, this will be my honest review of the virtual table top.
What is Alchemy RPG
Alchemy RPG is a VTT that aims to enhance games played through theater of the mind. It provides players with not just the rules they need to run their games, but modules with striking visuals and powerful soundscapes to set the mood. The platform has an expanding library of sounds, visuals, and systems to explore, but players have the freedom to run their games with their own media. If you only run your games online, Alchemy does have voice, text, and video chat function. This is great for those who don’t want to have another program open. There are also some nifty features for content creators who like to stream their games online.
Running a game on Alchemy RPG is free. A GM can host up to three games for free, and players can create/import up to three characters. There is a paid subscription service. $8 a month or $88 a year gets you unlimited characters, campaigns and universes. Games can be run from the many available modules that can be purchased in the shop, but there is nothing stopping a game master from programing everything by hand. While GMs can make due without modules, they grant access to resource books, pre-programmed functions and items, and tailored visuals and sounds. It also saves a lot of time.
Review
Alchemy RPG has interesting functions and unique offerings that should be considered when choosing a VTT, especially when running games through theater of the mind. While the game does offer options for battle maps and quick combat, other VTT’s handle combat and battle maps better.
It took me a couple of sessions to start enjoying Alchemy, but it was mostly because I was set in my ways. I have used a few different VTTs trying to find the right home for our games. I look for something that is easy to use, even easier to teach, and has cool features for combat. At least it was at first. As we’ve grown together, combat on a map became less and less important. I enjoy the story telling part of the hobby, and my campaigns saw the shift to theater of the mind.
I made my shift to Alchemy because I wanted a VTT that let me focus on the story telling, gave me access to the rules, but was easy for my players to learn. Alchemy does all of that, and I have the option of running combat on a map if I really want to.
Setting up a campaign in Alchemy is incredibly easy. If you use the modules, you just need the funds to do so. If you have the time, inputting all the rules, creatures, items, and visuals is easy but time consuming.
Onboarding players is incredibly easy. Not everyone at my table is tech savvy, so I always try to find solutions that is the least work. The last thing I want to do is frustrate my players before the game even starts. Character creation is both systems was very easy, especially for my less savvy players. I do like that I can edit character sheets from my end if they ever gets stuck tho.
Running the actual game is great. The moving visuals create a striking backdrop, and the UI is clean and easy to navigate. Clicking through the different menues, switching between characters, and most importantly, rolling is all easy to do. The audio is a little hard to hear, but you can always add your own and at least it isn’t distracting. Most importantly, I love how easy things are to set up, like on the fly encounters, or creating new units or items.
My only complaint is that you still need a rulebook even if you buy the module. I found some of the bock of texts hard to read and navigate, especially when running a prewritten adventure. This might be the font and my dyslexia, but it is a problem I have. It is not undoable, but searching a PDF or flipping through a book is a better experience.
Overall, I love Alchemy because it doesn’t distract from the narrative. Being easy to learns means we can start quickly. Everything being preprogrammed and working properly not only cuts my prep time, it means we spend more time playing the game. If you play tabletop RPGs to create a collective story with your friends, I don’t think there is anything better than Alchemy RPG.
