Kenku FM

Overview

Kenku FM is a specialized high fidelity audio sharing application designed specifically for tabletop gaming over
Discord https://groupfinder.eu/library/discord
. Created by the developers of
Owlbear Rodeo https://groupfinder.eu/library/owlbear-rodeo
, it was released in 2022 to provide a reliable, high quality alternative to traditional Discord music bots. It functions as a standalone virtual browser and media player that acts as a bridge, streaming audio directly from a user's computer into a Discord voice channel with minimal latency and superior sound quality. Description Kenku FM solves the common problem of sharing immersive music and sound effects during online TTRPG sessions. Instead of relying on buggy cloud bots that often face copyright shutdowns, Kenku FM runs locally on the Game Master's computer. It allows the GM to log in as a "Bot" on their own Discord server, giving them total control over the audio stream. It is a lightweight, open source tool that treats audio as a vital part of the storytelling toolkit rather than an afterthought. System Overview & Key Features
Integrated Web Browser Kenku FM features a built in browser designed specifically for audio. You can open tabs for YouTube, Spotify, Tabletop Audio, or Syrinscape and stream the audio directly into your Discord call without needing to share your screen or lose audio quality.
Local File Playback The app acts as a robust media player for your personal sound library. You can create playlists from your own MP3 and WAV files, allowing for instant playback of specific combat themes or environmental ambiance stored on your hard drive.
Soundboard Functionality Users can set up a custom soundboard within the interface. This allows a Game Master to trigger one shot sound effects like sword clashing, explosions, or monster growls at the perfect narrative moment with a single click.
Stream Deck Integration For power users, Kenku FM offers a dedicated plugin for the Elgato Stream Deck. This allows the GM to control volume, skip tracks, and trigger soundboard effects using physical buttons, keeping their hands free to manage the game and maps.
High Quality Audio Engine By using a dedicated bot connection rather than standard screen sharing, Kenku FM maintains high bitrate stereo audio. This ensures that orchestral scores and subtle environmental textures sound exactly as intended for every player in the voice channel.
Open Source and Privacy The software is open source and runs locally, meaning it does not track your data or rely on external servers that can be shut down. You own the software and have total control over the bot account you create to facilitate the stream.
Additional links kenku.fm https://kenku.fm - Official Kenku FM website github.com/owlbear-rodeo https://github.com/owlbear-rodeo - Official Open Source Repository

Other entries

FreeVTT
Tools & Platforms

FreeVTT

Virtual tabletop (VTT)
English
Free
FreeVTT is a browser-based virtual tabletop (VTT) application designed to facilitate the play of tabletop role-playing games. Positioned as an accessible alternative to subscription-based platforms, FreeVTT operates entirely free of charge and requires no user registration. The platform is built with a focus on user privacy and local data management, utilizing the user's device for storage rather than centralized cloud servers. It provides a suite of essential digital tabletop utilities, including map rendering, token manipulation, and combat tracking, without implementing premium feature tiers. Description FreeVTT functions as a digital tabletop environment intended for both remote and in-person game sessions. In contrast to many prominent VTT platforms that mandate account creation and rely on external servers to host campaigns, FreeVTT functions entirely within the local cache of the user's web browser. This architectural choice ensures that no user data is collected or transmitted, enabling immediate gameplay without a login process. Furthermore, the application integrates open-license rule systems directly into its interface, providing accessible compendiums for the 2014 and 2024 editions of Dungeons & Dragons 5e, alongside Pathfinder Second Edition. System Overview & Key Features Local Storage Architecture The platform is engineered on a strict "privacy-first" framework. All campaign data—including imported maps, custom tokens, and character statistics—is saved locally to the user's specific device. This design eliminates the necessity for cloud storage, user accounts, or persistent internet connections to access previously prepared game materials. Map and Grid Management Game Masters possess the ability to upload custom image files to serve as digital battleground maps. The application includes integrated tools to overlay and align customizable grids onto these images, facilitating precise distance measurement and token movement during tactical combat encounters. Dynamic Lighting FreeVTT incorporates dynamic lighting capabilities, a feature frequently restricted to paid premium tiers on competing virtual tabletops. This mechanic allows Game Masters to establish line-of-sight restrictions and simulate realistic environmental lighting based on token positioning and physical barriers on the map. Integrated Combat Tracking The software provides built-in utilities for the management of combat sequences. This includes a digital dice roller, an automated initiative tracker to govern turn order, and individual token overlays that allow users to monitor essential character statistics such as Hit Points (HP) and Armor Class (AC) in real time. Open License Compendiums To expedite game preparation, FreeVTT natively integrates System Reference Document (SRD) content for prominent role-playing systems. Users can directly reference rules, bestiaries, and items from the Dungeons & Dragons 5e Creative Commons SRDs (both 2014 and 2024 iterations), as well as content published under the Pathfinder 2E Open RPG Creative (ORC) License. Campaign Export and Import Because the application strictly utilizes local browser storage, campaigns do not automatically synchronize across multiple devices. To address this, FreeVTT includes robust export and import functions. Users can package their entire campaign database into a single downloadable file, which can then be manually transferred and uploaded to a different device or web browser. Additional links freevtt.com - Official application portal

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Monster of the Week (2012)
Tabletop Roleplaying Games

Monster of the Week (2012)

TTRPG
English
Rules-light
Monster of the Week (MOTW) is an urban fantasy-horror tabletop role-playing game developed by Michael Sands. It was first published in 2012, and a revised edition was published by Evil Hat Productions in 2015. The entire theme of the game is heavily inspired by TV shows like Buffy, Supernatural, X-Files, Fringe and many others. The system it directly evolved from is Apocalypse World (2010) Description Players in the MOTW system take on the role of monster hunters. Capable of dealing with most creatures that might get in their way. Using skills to solve mysteries, track monsters and eventually defeat them.  System Overview & Key Features Powered by the Apocalypse Engine (2d6) Players roll two six-sided dice (2d6) when performing actions, adding relevant character modifiers to the result. Rolling a 10 or higher is considered a success. 7-9 is a partial success, which will also carry some added consequences. Getting a 6 or lower means failure - you have not succeeded in whatever you attempted and dire consequences are soon to follow. Basic and Playbook Moves Game mechanics are categorized into discrete actions called "Moves." Basic Moves are universally available to all characters and cover common actions such as "Investigate a Mystery," "Kick Some Ass," or "Act Under Pressure." Playbook Moves are exclusive, specialized abilities granted by a character's chosen Playbook, allowing them to manipulate the narrative or game mechanics in unique ways. Finite Luck Points Each character possesses a limited track of Luck points. A player may permanently expend a point of Luck to retroactively alter a dice roll to a 12 (a complete success) or to entirely negate a single instance of sustained damage. Luck is a resource the players have to keep an eye on. Using too much can get you out of trouble, but if you don't have it when you need it most - trouble awaits. Harm and Exploiting Weaknesses Physical trauma is tracked using a short monitor called "Harm." Player characters and adversaries possess low thresholds for sustaining Harm, making direct combat inherently dangerous. To successfully defeat a primary antagonist, players are mechanically required to investigate and utilize the creature's specific weakness, as standard physical attacks are often insufficient to achieve a permanent victory. The Mystery Countdown To structure a gameplay session, the Keeper utilizes a tool called the Countdown. This is a chronological timeline detailing the sequence of events that will occur if the player characters fail to intervene. The Countdown is divided into escalating phases, ending with a catastrophic event. It serves to govern the pacing of the investigation and provide a sense of urgency. Additional links evilhat.com - Official Evil Hat Productions website genericgames.co.nz - Official home of Michael Sands and the original game files

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The World of RPGs
Actual Play & Podcasts

The World of RPGs

TTRPG
English
Interviews
This podcast is about tabletop role-playing games around the world. In every episode, I interview RPG enthusiasts and professionals from a non-English speaking country about what games they play, what unique RPGs exist in their country, and how new people get into the hobby. Interviewees include regular gamers, club organizers, game shop owners, creators of actual play videos, RPG authors, and gaming studios.  While some places are known for their large role-playing scene and have a lot of local RPG systems, other regions of the world have smaller scenes and might not even have a single RPG in the local language. Every regular episode ends with a teaser for the next country – an excerpt from an actual play recording in that country’s language. The aim of this podcast is to broaden our horizon and find out about RPGs from all over the world. Enjoy! Links letscast.fm - Feed and show notes spotify.com - Spotify feed podcasts.apple.com - Apple Podcasts feed

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