The D&D Virtual Table Top That Never Was

D&D 4th Edition's Digital Game Table

Aug 28, 2024

Project Sigil is the codename for the new Virtual Table Top that Wizards of the Coast feels will revolutionize the game. It will go into a closed-beta test this fall, though it remains to be seen when it will be released.

I’ll share my thoughts on this offering a little later, but it got me thinking about the last time Wizards made some promises about a digital gaming table.

When D&D 4e was being rolled out, Wizards shared that they were working on a set of digital tools that would bring the game online. These would include reference material, a character builder, a monster builder, an encounter builder, and a digital game table.

4th edition was revolutionary and it is only fitting that the tools they announced to go with it would be equally groundbreaking. The most intriguing part of this announcement was the digital game table.

Keep in mind that this was 2008. Fantasy Grounds had launched in 2004 and was still in its infancy. Roll20 was still four years from being launched. Wizards was not a slow follower in this regard. They were attempting to be a part of the digital trend right from the beginning. They were taking chances.

But sometimes the dice just are not on your side.

By the end of 2008, D&D insider had launched as a subscription service. It initially only provided access to the rules and some articles. The promised character builder did not arrive until early in 2009. By the time the monster builder arrived in 2011, it was well known that the community was not embracing 4e.

Meanwhile, the digital game table floundered. For much of 2009, it was little more than a rumor. It eventually moved from alpha testing into beta testing in 2010. This was followed by mostly silence.

In early 2012, Wizards announced that a new version of D&D was in the works. In an interview later in the year, Mike Mearls shared that the digital game table had been cancelled. So with little fanfare, the promised VTT went the way of a goblin minion on the receiving end of a fireball. It just disappeared.

Few would dispute that D&D 4e combat is made to be run on a battle map. The inability for Wizards to deliver on their promise of a digital game table was a particularly hard blow for 4th edition. I would argue that if they had the VTT early on, the story of 4e might have unfolded differently.

Today, not a lot can be found on this VTT. You can find a few screenshots of D&D Insider and some of its tools, but since the VTT never made it out of beta, it is now little more than a fading memory.

What Now?

As for Project Sigil, I think it looks great. I love the tools for building the 3D dungeons. I love the animations that bring it all to life. I would have fun just building the environments.

But I have two concerns.

Compute Power

First of all, it looks extremely resource heavy. I can only imagine the type of computer I will need to run it with the graphics they are showing in the previews. I do not want to have to invest a ton of money into hardware upgrades just to play a tabletop roleplaying game.

Overkill

At the risk of sounding like an old grognard, I think it is too much. Roll20 and the other offerings out there are a virtual tabletop. They provide an environment that mimics what you would have if everyone was in the same location playing D&D. A place for maps. A place to roll dice. A place for your character sheet.

Are there enough people clamoring for this fully 3D game space to make it viable? How much will it cost for a monthly subscription and to purchase all the terrain and figures? Are people willing to spend that money?

I do not have the answers. My gut tells me that they went too far with it and will find that the D&D crowd is largely content with the VTT functionality that is already out there and are not willing to pay a premium for what they are offering.

Let me know your thoughts.

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