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Online Tabletop Roleplaying Game

Welcome to Fabletop

What is Fabletop?

Virtual Tabletop RPG. Fabletop is a tabletop roleplaying game that is played in your web browser.

Built-in Ruleset. Unlike other roleplaying apps, Fabletop has a built-in universal rules system. This has the following benefits:

  • It's easy for everyone in the community to join any other table. There's no need to learn new rules each time.
  • The character sheets, dice, and chat window are all integrated.
  • The rules are streamlined for use with a chat-based interface.

Freeform Gameplay. The Fabletop rules system enables a freeform style of gameplay. It puts the emphasis on storytelling and cinematic action, instead of rules and stats. This means:

  • Virtually any genre or character type is possible.
  • Players and GMs have more creative freedom.
  • Less game time is taken up with rules discussion.

What is Roleplaying?

Computer RPGs. In a game like World of Warcraft, every player interacts with the same storyline, enemies, and quests as everyone else. It tries to create an illusion of freedom, but your actions are really limited to what the game is programmed to allow. There is usually only one solution for any given quest. Dialogue is conveyed via cut scenes or in a menu with limited choices.

Tabletop RPGs. In tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons, one of the players at the table is the Game Master (GM). They design the quests, moderate the actions of the player characters (PCs), and play the role of non-player characters (NPCs). It is the GM who ultimately decides what happens in the game world based on what the players say and do.

The presence of a GM is what gives the players freedom to solve problems and interact with the world in ways that are not possible in a computer game. It's a kind of cooperative storytelling where you are limited only by your imagination!

Roleplaying with Fabletop. Fabletop merges these two ideas. It takes the freedom of tabletop roleplaying and provides an easy-to-use app for playing online.

Chat-Based Roleplaying

In-Character Chat. The chat window is where you roleplay all of your character's actions and dialogue. Here are some of the shortcuts you can use:

Emote -- slowly draws dagger from cloak
Emote w/ Chat Well met, friend!   -- Smiles --
Whisper ( hmm, we'll see about that )
Think Bubble oo Where the heck are we?

Out-of-Character (OOC) Chat. You will sometimes need to ask questions about the game itself (e.g. "What traits should I use here?"). But once the game begins, try to limit OOC chat as much as possible to keep everyone immersed in the story.

Use Your Imagination. The best Fabletop sessions have chatlogs that are fun to read long after the game ends. Seek to entertain the other players with your dialogue and descriptions -- they are your audience!

Example Gameplay.

pete123:I'm going to try and distract the guard.
Salius:-- walks confidently up to the guard --
Salius:Hey mate, the captain says he needs to see you right away.
Guard:-- scowls -- I don't recognize you...
Salius:Remember what happened last time you disobeyed the captain?
GM:Roll to see if you can persuade him
Salius:Wisdom →

GM:He's not that smart, so 1 Star is enough...
Guard:-- rushes away -- Alright, alright, I'm on my way!