Tag Archives: dnd

Discover TableTone: The Ultimate Soundboard for Game Masters

March 20, 2026 josechurape Leave a comment

Disclaimer

I was sent full access to the TableTone app to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

What is Tabletone?

TableTone is a helpful tool for any Game Master looking to enhance the quality of their next campaign with a little bit a music, and a few immersive sound effects. TableTone is an app packed with carefully curated music and sounds that makes it easy for Game Masters to make their next adventure a little more epic. The app gives Game Masters access to over 400 unique sounds from epic battle music, mood setting ambiance, and everything in between. Sure you can tinker your own sound board and juggle around YouTube videos, but none of that will be as easy or streamlined as what TableTone has to offer. Go try Tabletone today!

Sounds

TableTone offers over 400 sounds from music to sound effects. Access includes:

Over 80 location themed sounds
30 ambiance sounds
and over 300 action, monster, and other sounds to add a little flavor to your world. (I am a huge fan of the dragon roar and weapon sounds)

Is it Free?

TableTone offers a trial with a few sounds for GMs to try for free. Once users are hooked, TableTone has a $9 subscription that grants access to the app’s growing library of sounds. With new sounds releasing each month, the subscription is an attractive way to test for the sounds you need in your next campaign. Note that the subscription will not be available for apple devices in the future. More importantly, users can out right buy the sounds they like and keep them forever. There is even a package to buy it all at a discounted price.

Review

I’ve tried running campaigns with music and even dabbled in creating my own sound board back when I was an overly ambitious DM, but found the process too distracting. It was something I slowly fazed out because it was too cumbersome and a little distracting. TableTone fixes this issue by giving me everything I need (and sounds I didn’t know I needed) in an easy to use package that I can take everywhere. If you are looking for a soundboard, or just some epic music for your fight scenes, TableTone is a powerful tool that should be at every one of your next campaigns.

Ease of Use

TableTone is the easiest way to run a soundboard or play music during your most pivotal story beats without distracting from the story telling. All you have to do is click through the library of sounds, and the app does the rest. Everything is categorized by worlds, settings, and even mood. There are even sliders that help customize the sounds, ambiance, and music to perfectly fit the tone of your campaign.

Quality

TableTone delivers high quality sounds at a press of a button. I went through as many of the sounds as I could, and while I found some awkward ones that I will never touch, the app had a lot of sounds that will be recurring. The app has a selection of good music, cool sounds, and the ambiance is well created. I really like the background tavern noise or the leaking sounds that echo in the darkness when exploring caves. The problem I have with using YouTube is that I have to do the research and find the high quality sounds to play for my campaign, but TableTone already does that for me. That means I have more time to plan the campaign.

Performance

I used the Windows app during my testing and it worked great. Everything was snappy and worked as intended. I was able to flip through TableTone’s sizable library with ease. Everything played as intended, and I didn’t hit any crashes during my tests. I had no issues running the app through my IOS device either.

Impact

I ran the most random session of D&D using TableTone because I wanted to test as many of the sounds as I could. I was not ready for much better a campaign could be by just adding a little bit of music. The App lets users customize the music by mood. Each location has a relaxed, suspense, and action setting. The first time I transitioned from relaxed to action for that first encounter is a high I will chase for the rest of my life. My players loved that shift and the music. It sort of made them murder hobos because they wanted to keep hearing the combat music, but I am not mad because it was a silly one shot and I got to test a lot more of the sounds.

My only complaint

TableTone is a fantastic app for running inperson games. You can play the music from your phone or your favorite Bluetooth speaker with minimal setup. Unfortunately, I only run online games. The issue was finding a way to use the app over Discord. My solution was to screenshare. I have two monitors. One monitor runs TableTone while the other ran my campaign. It worked very well. My players could hear the music, but they could also see the buttons. I believe they started making choices that would get me push certain buttons, but I think they were just tying to help me test as much as possible.

There is planned Foundry VTT support, and as someone who love Foundry, I am very excited!

Conclusion

I love TableTone, and found it to be a nifty little tool for running tabletop rpgs. It has a wide range of sounds to fit a number of locations and genres. Most importantly, it is very easy to use. I wouldn’t call it a mandatory tool, but it is nice to have when you want to add a little flavor to your campaign. I recommend starting with the trial. While limited, it does give users a proper taste of the apps functionality. I would then graduate into the subscription to test out TableTone’s library, and then slowly buying into packs you like. You can do everything this app does for free, but its nice to support the people who work hard to bring you these sounds.

Now GMs who have been running games for a long time will have their curated playlists, and won’t find the app as useful. This is meant for a the GM who doesn’t want the added task of finding the perfect sound or song, or the newer GM who is starting with nothing. Like I’ve said before, TableTone isn’t something you need to get, but it something that is nice to have when you need it. It is worth trying out once, but you might have trouble stopping after. Go check out TableTone today.

Quickstart Guide

Board Games and TCGs, Uncategorized

Ruins of Sybaroum 5e: Adventure Compendium – Complete Review

March 19, 2025 josechurape Leave a comment

Introduction

I ran the Ruins of Sybaroum 5e recently at my table. It’s been a while since I’ve ran 5e and we wanted to make our return. Ruins of Symbaroum offered a different enough setting and flavor that we made our plunge and start with the Adventure Compendium. I did buy this book with my own money, and ran it using the official Alchemy RPG module (also purchased with my own money). This review will be on both the game and the module. You can pick up a copy of the Adventure Compendium on the official Free League Publishing site or your favorite game store. You can also pick it up through my Amazon Affiliate link. It really helps me out. I’ll be leaving affiliate links where I can.

What is Ruins of Sybaroum 5e: Adventure Compendium?

The adventure compendium is a 5e compatible adventure that takes players from levels 1-8. If you’re planning to run any of the other pre-written adventures in this series, or are a new DM, this is the place to start.

The Adventure Compendium is a collection of adventures that lets players not only explore the world of Symbaroum, but get a taste of the different types of adventures. There are witch hunts, murder mysteries, escort missions, and a few other neat surprises. You will need access to at least the OGL ruleset, but it doesn’t hurt to have a Gamemaster’s Guide. Things like the Ruins of Symbaroum Core Setting Book, Player’s Guide, and Beastiary are nice to have, but you can run this game with just the OGL.

The Module

Alchemy RPG is a VTT that focuses on enhancing Theater of the Mind campaigns. It can be used to run combat and it has tools to run battle maps, but the modules main job is to set the mood with its cool visuals and atmospheric soundscape.

The Adventure Compendium Module is fine, but it is incomplete. Buying other modules will make prep easier, but hombrewing what you need isn’t hard, just time consuming. If this is your first VTT, buying into it isn’t going to be a problem. It is reasonably priced with a clean UI that is simple and easy to use. As far as substance goes, the visuals for the module are cool, but not the real reason you’re buying the game. You can always supplement the module with your own content for free. I found the font too small to read, and I don’t like that you can’t move or resize any of the windows. It be nice to be able to move the notes around to move characters.

Combat in this module works fine. If you like to use maps, the experience feels a bit lacking. Resizing maps feels a bit clunky (but better than Roll20) and the maps included with the module aren’t very optimized. They work well enough if you ever need to run something quick, but Foundry VTT does it better. If you don’t care about maps, it’s great. Setting up the encounter is easy, and every chapter is neatly divided so you only get the stat blocks you need. I don’t think the included visuals and sounds did much to enhance combat, but setting up your own scenes with music and visuals is easy and quick.

Alchemy is a solid VTT for those who want to focus on the story and don’t care much about combat. It is free to try (with a few limitations), but you can start with the module if you want to support the publisher and want the convenience the module provides. You can run the game without the module, but it is a little time consuming.

The Book

If you’re a new Gamemaster with new players looking for a darker grittier adventure, the Adventure Compendium is a great place to start. The book has solid pacing and a good variety of actives to get things started.

The world of Symbaroum is very unforgiving and will wipe a careless party. GMs can always tweek and change an adventure to fit their table, but the adventure is supposed to be harsh. Monsters are supposed to be strong, resources are supposed to be scarce, and the danger is supposed to be feel real. Games like these seem to have more meaningful moments of epic heroism, but the table needs to be in the mood for it. Changing survival mechanics and re-balancing combat is always fine, but it takes away a bit of the spirit of the campaign. As it turns out, we weren’t really in the mood for a more serious campaign and we couldn’t form that connection. Lowering the difficulty to allow room for shenanigans made it not as good.

But, just because the game didn’t fit the flavor of our campaign, it doesn’t mean it won’t fit yours. The Adventure Compendium does a fantastic job at being an intro product, and with a good amount of difficulty to keep things grim. It does feel like it is geared towards newer GMs and players (it could be a lot harder) and that is perfectly fine. The stories it tells are also fine, but not a real reason to buy this book. If you want to explore the world of Symbaroum and don’t need the crutch, you can try starting with the setting book instead. I’ll be doing a full review at some point so stay tuned.

Board Games and TCGs

Build your miniature collection with Skinny Minis’ Black Friday sale

November 23, 2023 josechurape Leave a comment

Black Friday is creeping up on us, so let’s keep looking at more RPG deals to get us ready for the new year. If you need minis for your next campaign, now is the best time to pick up your collection of Skinny Minis. Skinny Minis are acrylic miniatures that not only look cool but store easily. I don’t play IRL, but I’ve been looking longingly at Skini Minis for a while. I don’t have much space to store 3D minis, so Skini Mini offers a solid solution to a problem I wish to have one day.

If you want to elevate your game or build your collection of miniatures, adventures, and maps, you need to get on this Year End Bundle. The bundle is normally $609.10, but for only $180 you get 14 adventures, 24 battle maps, 296 Skinny Minis, and more!

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. I am not affiliated with Skini Minis, I just think the deal was too good to pass up.

14 Adventures

24 Encounter Maps

296 Skinny Minis

Other Notable Deals:

Year End Bundle Group A $105 (Normally $354.45)

Year End Bundle Group B $75 (Normally $254.65)

Game Master’s Starter Bundle $84 (Normally 111.95)

Dungeon Terrain 2 $19.95 (Normally 23.95)

Lovecraftian Horrors $19.95 (Normally $23.95)

Giants $19.95 (Normally $23.95)

Spell Effects 1 $19.95 (Normally $23.95)

Board Games and TCGs

Why you should use Foundry VTT for your next campaign

November 19, 2023 josechurape Leave a comment

I’ve started prepping to run my first campaign of Dragonbane and am very excited to try a new system. My group is scattered across the U.S., so we play online through a virtual tabletop. We’ve done theater of the mind and used Roll20, but nothing has scratched the itch for running a game like FoundryVTT. I am not affiliated with Foundry, but I wanted to share my experience with the product in hopes of helping those of you who are still shopping around for something better.

I started with Roll20, and it’s not a bad option, but it left a lot to be desired. I haven’t used it in a while, but when I did, the setup was slow, the client was clunky, and a lot of the cool features were behind a subscription. I did some digging, and the alternatives at the time were Tabletop Simulator, Owlbear Rodeo, Fantasy Grounds, and FoundryVTT.

Tabletop Simulator

Tabletop Simulator is fantastic if you play board games. While it is a little clunky, you’ll have access to just about any tabletop you can think of. I’ve used it for card games and Warhammer, but it felt a little too clunky for D&D. I didn’t want to make people buy anything a new program, and some people in my group didn’t have the hardware to run it.

Owlbear Rodeo

Owlbear Rodeo is free, and a solid choice. It has everything you’ll need to run a campaign, but you’ll be limited in how much you can upload unless you pay the subscription. When I first looked at Owlbear Rodeo, the client was a lot more basic. It looks like they’ve made improvements and added features since, and it looks good. I recommend you check it out for a free alternative.

Fantasy Grounds

Fantasy Grounds was the VTT I was considering the most at the time. It had official integration of D&D, some cool automation, and a very cool UI. The problem I had with Fantasy Grounds was the price. The license is $149 for the Game Master license, and you have to buy all the books. I already own a few, and I didn’t want to buy them again. You only need the Game Master license to run a game. Players can join for free. You can split the cost with your group, and this option becomes a bit more manageable. This is a solid option if you and your group are playing together for a long time, and want a VTT that isn’t much of a hassle. There is a demo available that you should try before you spend any money. My group was relatively new, and I didn’t want to ask for money.

Foundry VTT

The only option I had left was FoundryVTT, which was new and up-and-coming. FoundryVTT seemed to have everything I needed. I could add walls on my maps for vision, roll in the client, and run it through a browser. With a few modules, I could achieve the automation and customization I wanted for a more manageable cost. FoundryVTT is $50 for a lifetime license. Only one person needs this license to run the game. There is a demo available I recommend you try.

Your game is hosted locally, so the only limitation is your hardware. If you have a slow connection or computer, you can create your own server through something like a Rasberry PI, or throw it up on one of the many paid server options. I’ve been running it off my computer without issue, but it is something to consider.

After a lot of research and demos, I took the plunge and bought my FoundryVTT license. I have no regrets. It has everything I need, and it’s only gotten better since. FoundryVTT continues to receive support from its developers and its amazing community. They work tirelessly to add new features and systems to the client. Although D&D seems to be receiving the most love, support for other systems is getting better by the day. There is even official support from a growing list of publishers. With enough modules, you can customize FoundryVTT to be exactly what you need. We use D&D Beyond, and some modules let me import characters and let my players roll from D&D Beyond into the client.

If you are looking for a new virtual tabletop, I recommend Foundry VTT. The client is easy to use, learn, and teach. Games are easy to set up, and sessions run great. I know there are more options for VTTs now than when I first started. There are some very flashy cool ones out there that deserve some attention, and an official D&D Beyond one that I still need to try, but for my needs, Foundry has been very good to me. I’ll continue to recommend it.

Now that I am getting ready to run my first game of Dragonbane, I turned to FoundryVTT to make the transition as easy as possible for my players. I am very fortunate and was sent the official module for review, so stay tuned for that. You can pick up the official Dragonbane module for $24.41 from the Free League Publishing website. You don’t need the module to play Dragonbane. Importing everything you need is a simple task, but the module makes it much simpler. The module gives you access to all the core rules. These can be shared and referenced easily through the client. You also get access to the prewritten adventure and everything you need to run it, such as the maps, pre-generated characters, monsters, and loot. When you are ready to run your own campaign, you’ll have access to all the classes, spells, traits, etc. so you won’t have to create them yourself. If you know you’re going to play Dragonbane for a while, you’re going to need to pick up this module.

I’ll be running my first game of Dragonbane in a few weeks and will be posting my impressions. Stay tuned for that. I’ll be covering a bunch of systems on my blog, so make sure you show me some love by leaving a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can always buy me coffee.

Movie Reviews

Movie Review: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

April 2, 2023 josechurape Leave a comment

If you have been enjoying my content and want to support what I do, please consider buying me a coffee

I know we were supposed to boycott Honor Among Thieves because of how greedy Hasbro is, but my wife wanted to watch it. I couldn’t miss out on the rare opportunity to nerd out with her. She doesn’t care much for my love for D&D, so I was hopeful that this would be my chance to bring her into the hobby. I am still working on convincing her, but at least she enjoyed the movie.

Chris pine is a charismatic bard who turns to a life of crime when his wife is brutally murdered. On his last job, he gets captured and sentenced to jail. On his release, he discovers that the man he trusted his daughter to has taken her. It is now up to him and a band of misfits he has gathered to go on an epic adventure and get her back. Do they have what it takes to overcome the evils this world has to offer?

I had a ton of fun with this movie. The characters are charismatic, the D&D references are fantastic, and the balance between comedy and action is perfect. There was a fear going into this movie that it would sacrifice tension and suspense for one-liners and dumb gags, but I was surprised by how well this movie did. Honor Among Thieves knows when to break the tension with a joke, but it also knows when to be serious to build its suspense. The fight scenes are tense and epic, and I dare you to sit through this whole movie without laughing.

The actors are great. The chemistry between the characters is fantastic, and they play off each other so well. I think this movie works so well because of how well the actors play their characters. If nothing else, they look like they are having fun with this movie. Instead of a generic comedic action or fantasy movie, it felt like a D&D campaign adapted into a film.

If you know nothing about Dungeons and Dragons, you don’t need to. I enjoyed all the references to spells, monsters, and rules, but I didn’t find it necessary to understand what is going on. My wife doesn’t know anything about the game but enjoyed it tremendously. The movie is just a fun adventure with magic and maybe a dragon or two. My only complaint is that the movie is a bit predictable, but it is fine for what it is.

If you are thinking of watching Honor Among Thieves, watch it in theaters. This movie is at least worth a discounted ticket, but I understand the need to boycott it.