Tools & Platforms

Stawl is an independent, community-developed web application and digital toolkit designed specifically for Draw Steel, the cinematic fantasy tabletop role-playing game published by MCDM Productions. Developed by an independent creator known as JonStodle, the platform was launched during Draw Steel's early access and playtest period. It functions as a cloud-based companion application intended to assist both Directors and players in managing game mechanics, combat encounters, and character data. Description Stawl serves as a digital command center for preparing and running Draw Steel campaigns. Unlike some alternative community tools that store data locally within a user's web browser, Stawl requires an account and utilizes cloud storage. This architecture allows users to prepare game materials on one device, such as a desktop computer, and seamlessly access them during gameplay on another device, such as a laptop or tablet. While it requires a degree of manual data entry, its comprehensive suite of encounter-tracking tools and its ability to share live information with players have made it a prominent utility within the Draw Steel community. System Overview & Key Features Active Encounter Builder The primary feature of Stawl is its encounter management system. Directors can select monsters and calculate Encounter Values to balance combat difficulty based on the player characters' levels. Once an encounter is initiated, the application provides an active dashboard that tracks initiative groups, monster stamina, villain power, and temporary status conditions. Cross-Device Cloud Syncing Because Stawl utilizes user accounts and cloud servers, all created content—including custom encounters, homebrew data, and digital character sheets—is persistent across devices. This prevents data loss associated with clearing browser caches and allows for remote campaign preparation. Monster Database and Homebrew Creation The application features a fully searchable database of officially published Draw Steel monsters, allowing Directors to filter by type, level, or encounter value. Recent updates have introduced homebrew functionality, enabling users to input and save custom monster stat blocks directly into the tool's ecosystem. Player View and Digital Sheets During an active encounter, Directors can generate a "Player View" link. This shared screen allows players to view the live initiative order and track their Heroic Resources in real time. Additionally, Stawl provides fillable digital character sheets that mimic the layout of the official paper sheets, allowing players to store their character data online. Stawl Supplement Index To support the game's third-party creator community, Stawl hosts a Supplement Index. This is a curated, searchable directory of community-made and third-party content, including custom classes, kits, monsters, and adventures designed for the Draw Steel system. Disdiar Discord Integration In addition to the web application, the developer maintains "Disdiar," a companion bot for the Discord communication platform. The bot is programmed with Draw Steel mechanics, allowing online groups to execute specific power rolls, calculate test results, and quickly query monster statistics or game abilities via chat commands. Additional links stawl.app - Official application portal patreon.com/jonstodle - Developer's official Patreon for patch notes and support

Forge Steel is a community-developed, locally-hosted web application and digital utility designed for Draw Steel, the cinematic fantasy tabletop role-playing game created by MCDM Productions. Developed by independent community members during the game's playtest phase, the application functions as a lightweight encounter builder and combat manager. It is specifically built to assist Directors in organizing game data and tracking real-time combat statistics during a session. Description Forge Steel serves as a digital toolkit for preparing and executing combat encounters in Draw Steel. In contrast to cloud-based alternatives, Forge Steel relies on local browser storage. This means the application does not require users to create an account or rely on external servers to save their data. All created encounters, customized monsters, and campaign notes are stored directly within the cache of the user's web browser. This architecture prioritizes data privacy, offline accessibility, and fast load times, though it requires manual file exporting to transfer data between different devices. System Overview & Key Features Local Storage Architecture The application operates entirely within the user's web browser without communicating with a backend database for everyday use. Because it utilizes local storage, no login credentials are required. This ensures the tool remains highly responsive and can continue to function even if the user loses their internet connection during a game session. Encounter Construction Directors can use the tool to design combat encounters by selecting monsters from an integrated database. The application automatically calculates the total Encounter Value, allowing the Director to balance the difficulty of the fight against the level and size of the player character party. Active Combat Tracking During gameplay, Forge Steel provides a dashboard to manage the flow of combat. It tracks essential Draw Steel mechanics, including monster Stamina, current initiative groups, temporary status effects, and the accumulation of Villain Power. This centralized view reduces the amount of physical bookkeeping required by the Director. Integrated Bestiary The application includes a searchable bestiary containing the official monsters released during the Draw Steel playtest and early access periods. Directors can quickly filter these creatures by role, level, or faction, and view their complete stat blocks, abilities, and passives directly within the app. Import and Export Functionality To mitigate the limitations of local-only storage, Forge Steel includes manual data management tools. Users can export their prepared encounters, custom bestiaries, and campaign data as JSON files. These files can then be saved as backups or imported into Forge Steel on a different computer or browser, allowing for manual cross-device syncing. Homebrew Integration Directors have the ability to manually input and modify monster statistics. This allows users to create custom adversaries or tweak existing official monsters to fit their specific campaign needs. These custom entries are saved locally alongside the official bestiary. Additional links forgesteel.net - Official toolkit website