Playing online is how many people play now: no travel, friends in different cities at the same table, and games that fit around work and family. You need surprisingly little to start.
What you need
- Voice: a headset or earbuds with a microphone. Most groups use Discord; video is optional.
- Character sheets and dice: a sheet that rolls for you saves a lot of time. Roleplayer’s character sheets roll every attack, save and skill with a click and can share big rolls with your party.
- Maps (optional): some groups play “theater of the mind” with no maps at all; others use a virtual tabletop for battle maps and tokens.
- A shared place for notes: session recaps, handouts and the next session time. A Roleplayer campaign page keeps these in one spot and sends reminders.
Finding a group
Post on a looking-for-group board with your time zone and the days you can play, or join a one-shot to meet people first. Browse Find a Group and upcoming events, or read our guide on finding a D&D group online.
Online table etiquette
- Mute when you aren’t talking if there is background noise.
- Say your name before you act in a busy scene — voices can blur together.
- Keep side chat in a separate text channel so the main channel stays readable.
- Tell the group early if you can’t make it; most online games fall apart from silent no-shows.
- Agree on safety tools in a session zero — it matters even more when you can’t see faces.
Running an online game
Keep sessions a little shorter than in person (two to three hours is plenty), start on time, and post a quick recap afterwards. Roleplayer campaigns handle attendance, reminders, recaps, handouts and a live initiative view so you can focus on the story.