This week brings exciting news for both Dungeons & Dragons enthusiasts and indie game developers. Wizards of the Coast has officially launched Sigil, its 3D virtual tabletop (VTT) experience for PC, and Universal Foundry is offering cloud infrastructure grants to small indie game teams. Let's dive in!
Sigil: D&D Goes Digital
For D&D players who sometimes can't gather around a physical table, Wizards of the Coast has unveiled Sigil. This 3D VTT aims to recreate the classic tabletop experience with a digital twist. Imagine a virtual game board, miniatures, dice, and character sheets, all brought to life on your computer screen.
Sigil isn't a full-fledged video game like Baldur's Gate. Instead, it focuses on replicating the feel of tabletop D&D, with static miniatures that you move around the virtual board. However, it adds digital enhancements like animated spell effects and dynamic lighting to enhance the immersion. The goal is to provide a top-tier D&D experience that you can share with anyone, anywhere.
While Sigil is free to try and join others' games, hosting multiplayer sessions and unlocking extra features like builder kits and mini customization options requires a D&D Beyond Master Tier subscription ($6 monthly or $55 annually). A notable alternative is BouncyRock Entertainment's TaleSpire, a popular 3D VTT in early access, available for a one-time purchase of $25.
One of Sigil's key advantages is its seamless integration with D&D Beyond's character sheets. If you already use D&D Beyond to manage your characters, equipment, and abilities, transitioning to Sigil should be relatively straightforward.
Sigil also provides a wide range of assets, brushes, and lighting effects to customize your maps and miniatures. As the company describes, "These customizable tools let you bring your world to life, whether you're exploring fantastical landscapes, towering fortresses or dangerous dungeons."
The platform runs on Unreal Engine 5, so you'll need a reasonably powerful gaming PC. D&D Beyond recommends at least an Nvidia RTX 2080, AMD R9 380, or Intel UHD GPU, along with 16GB of RAM. Currently, Sigil is only available for Windows, but the company plans to expand to consoles, mobile devices, and maybe even your fridge in the future.
Universal Foundry Supports Indie Devs
In other news, Universal Foundry, a startup specializing in cloud infrastructure for Unreal Engine 5 game developers, has announced a grant program to support small indie game development teams. This initiative aims to provide these teams with the resources they need to create innovative and engaging games.
By offering access to their cloud infrastructure, Universal Foundry hopes to alleviate some of the technical challenges faced by indie developers, allowing them to focus on the creative aspects of game development.
"We believe that small teams with big ideas deserve the chance to bring their visions to life," says a Universal Foundry spokesperson. "Our cloud infrastructure grants are designed to empower these developers and help them create the next generation of amazing games."
Whether you're a D&D player looking for a new way to experience the game or an indie game developer seeking cloud infrastructure support, this week offers exciting opportunities.