Learn ArcForge. Stay in the story.
Everything you need to forge adventures, run the table, and move from first session to live play without fighting the toolset.
Start Here
Learn the flow, choices, rolls, combat, and how solo adventures carry forward into bigger stories.
Go from prompt to ready-to-run one-shot with the same guided path used on the home screen.
Use the Combat Manager, battle map, reader, and GM tools without juggling tabs.
Learn every session, prep, generator, and reference tool, including what players can see and control.
Getting Started
The Forge (Adventure Wizard)
Running Your Adventure
Session Tool Tutorials
Prep & Reference Tool TutorialsSolo Play
Characters & Party
Account & Subscription
Getting Started
Everything you need to go from sign-up to your first adventure.
1Create Your Account
Sign up with Google or email and password. You'll land on the Dashboard, your home base for everything.
2The Dashboard
Your dashboard shows all your saved projects and the main creation paths: Write Your Own (free, no limits), The Forge (ArcForge writes it for you), Character Manager, and more.
3Choose a Game System
ArcForge supports D&D 5e, Pathfinder 2e, and a Custom system where you define your own rules. Select your system when creating an adventure and all content will follow those rules.
4Install the App
ArcForge is a Progressive Web App. On mobile, tap "Add to Home Screen" in your browser menu. On desktop, look for the install icon in your address bar.
The Forge (Adventure Wizard)
Create complete, ready-to-run adventures with The Forge or templates.
1Single Adventure (Free)
Create a complete one-shot in minutes. Fill in party details, choose a setting and tone, and ArcForge builds full scenes, NPCs, loot tables, and read-aloud text.
2Campaign Arc (Champion & up)
Create multi-session campaigns with 2-20 connected sessions. Choose an arc type (mystery, war, heist, etc.) and get narrative continuity, recurring villains, cliffhangers, and level progression.
3Classic Templates (Free)
Pick from 6 pre-built adventure archetypes: The Dungeon Crawl, The Mystery in Town, The Wilderness Trek, The Heist, The Siege, or The Festival Gone Wrong. No wait time - instant 5-scene adventures ready to run.
4Customization
Set party level, number of players, player names and backstories, session length, tone, themes, and constraints. The more detail you give, the more tailored your adventure.
Running Your Adventure
Use the session reader and GM toolkit to run games at your table.
1The Session Reader
Open any project to see your scenes laid out with read-aloud text, GM notes, skill checks, and NPC details. Navigate scenes with the sidebar or keyboard shortcuts.
2GM Toolkit
The sidebar has 25+ tools: Combat Manager, Dice Roller, NPC Tracker, Loot Manager, Spell Reference, Battle Map VTT, Random Encounters, Name Generator, Shop Manager, and more.
3Editing Content
Everything is editable. Click the Edit button in the toolbar to modify any scene, NPC, or detail. Your changes save automatically.
4Player Hub
Invite your players with a join code. Each player gets their own hub with a character sheet, HP tracking, and spell management, and can join your live session and the shared battle map.
5Exporting
Export your adventure as a PDF, or use VTT export for FoundryVTT and Roll20. Share adventures with other users via link.
Session Tool Tutorials
Step-by-step guidance for the tools used while preparing and running a session.
1Campaign Manager
Open Tools, then Campaign Manager, to organize the campaign's shared cast, continuity, and long-running details. Add or update records as the story changes so future sessions stay consistent. Players experience the resulting continuity, while the GM controls the campaign records.
2Combat Manager
Open Combat Manager, add the player characters and creatures in the encounter, then roll or set initiative. Advance turns, update hit points and conditions, and end the encounter when combat is resolved. Players follow the current turn and battlefield state through the shared session.
3Character Manager
Open Character Manager to create a character or select one from the library, then fill in abilities, defenses, hit points, equipment, and spells. Assign characters to the campaign so they are available during play. Players can maintain their own assigned character from the Player Hub.
4Loot Manager
Open Loot Manager to record treasure found during the session. Add the item, quantity, value, and notes, then assign it to a character or keep it unclaimed. Players can use the Party Loot Pool when the group has not decided who carries an item.
5NPC Tracker
Open NPC Tracker to add recurring characters, their role, location, disposition, and private GM notes. Update an NPC after each important interaction so their relationship with the party remains current. Share only details the characters have actually learned.
6Dice Roller
Open Dice Roller from Tools or press Ctrl+Shift+D. Choose the dice, enter a modifier when needed, and roll; use advantage or disadvantage for the applicable game system. Players can roll from their own play surfaces while the GM handles hidden or table-wide rolls.
7Spell Reference
Open Spell Reference or press Ctrl+Shift+S, then search by spell name or browse the filters. Open a result to review casting time, range, components, duration, and rules text. Players should use their character sheet for prepared spells and the reference for quick rules checks.
8Session Journal
Open Session Journal or press Ctrl+Shift+J. Create an entry for the session, record important events, decisions, clues, and follow-up tasks, then save it with the correct date. Keep secret plans in GM notes and share a player-safe recap separately.
9Battle Map VTT
Open Battle Map VTT, choose or upload a map, set the grid, and place character and creature tokens. Start the shared session, then move tokens and reveal areas as the party explores. Players join through the Player Hub to control permitted tokens and view the same live battlefield.
10Timer & Clock
Open Timer & Clock to start a countdown for real-time pressure or track elapsed time during exploration. Set the duration, start or pause it, and reset it between scenes. Tell players what the clock represents when their characters would understand the urgency.
11Music & Ambience
Open Music & Ambience, select audio that matches the current location or mood, and adjust playback before bringing it into the session. Change tracks when the scene shifts and keep volume below spoken dialogue. Confirm everyone at the table is comfortable with shared audio.
12Party Loot Pool
Open Party Loot Pool to keep unassigned coins and items in one shared inventory. Add discoveries as the group earns them, then transfer items when a player claims or equips them. Players can use the pool as the agreed record of what the party carries together.
Prep & Reference Tool Tutorials
Practical walkthroughs for building locations, encounters, rewards, and campaign reference material.
1Shop Manager
Open Shop Manager or press Ctrl+Shift+O. Create a shop, choose its type and proprietor, then add inventory, prices, and notes before the party arrives. During play, present the available stock and record purchases in the characters' or party inventory.
2Quest Manager
Open Quest Manager to create a quest, define its objective, status, rewards, and related notes, then update it as the party makes progress. Keep hidden outcomes in GM-only notes. Players should see only the objective and information their characters have discovered.
3Monster Manager
Open Monster Manager to search the creature library or create a custom creature. Review its defenses, hit points, abilities, and actions, then add it to a scene or combat encounter. Players encounter the creature through the scene and battle map rather than seeing its private statistics.
4Name Generator
Open Name Generator, choose the culture or name style, and generate a list. Select a fitting result and copy it into an NPC, settlement, shop, or scene. Save important names immediately so improvised characters remain consistent later.
5Traps & Puzzle Generator
Open Traps & Puzzle Generator, choose the challenge type and difficulty, then create a result. Review the clues, solution, checks, consequences, and bypasses before adding it to a scene. Give players clues gradually and keep the solution in GM notes.
6Mounts & Familiars
Open Mounts & Familiars and choose the type of companion needed for the adventure. Review its movement, traits, personality, and care details, then save or add it to the relevant scene. Give the controlling player the information their character would know.
7Random Encounters
Open Random Encounters, select the environment and difficulty, then generate or roll an encounter. Review the result before using it and adjust creatures or stakes for the party. Add useful results to the current scene so they are ready if travel or exploration triggers them.
8Handout Generator
Open Handout Generator, choose the handout type, and enter the facts or clues it must communicate. Review and edit the result before sharing it. Remove GM-only information, then present the finished letter, notice, clue, or document to the players.
9Magic Items
Open Magic Items to search the reference library or prepare an item for the adventure. Review rarity, attunement, rules, and description, then add it to loot or a scene. Reveal properties to players only when their characters identify or learn them.
10Faction System
Open Faction System to create organizations, record goals and resources, and track their relationship with the party. Update influence and attitude after meaningful events. Keep secret agendas private while sharing names, reputations, and known alliances with players.
11World Reference
Open World Reference from Tools or Ctrl+K, then choose Places or Lore. Add a title, category, summary, details, tags, and links to related scenes, factions, quests, or references; pin frequently used entries. Mark an entry Player Safe only when its contents can be shown in Player Mode - GM Only is the default.
12Treasure Generator
Open Treasure Generator, set the party tier and treasure context, then generate a reward. Review coins, valuables, and items for balance before adding them to a scene or loot record. Players receive the finalized treasure through the normal loot workflow.
13Crafting System
Open Crafting System to define a recipe, required materials, cost, time, and checks. Track gathered materials and crafting progress between sessions, then apply the result when the requirements are met. Players can make the decisions and rolls while the GM resolves the recipe and consequences.
14Downtime & Odd Jobs
Open Downtime & Odd Jobs, choose an activity, and set the available time and stakes. Record the participating character, resolve required checks, and apply earnings, complications, or progress. Players choose their activities and describe their approach while the GM records the outcome.
Solo Play
Play a solo RPG adventure with interactive storytelling and full mechanics.
1How It Works
Create a character (name, class, race) and jump into an interactive adventure. You make choices, roll skill checks, fight enemies, and progress through a living story.
2Character Progression
Earn XP, level up, gain gold, find loot, and equip items. Your character sheet tracks HP, ability scores, inventory, and experience.
3Combat & Skill Checks
Combat uses initiative-based turns with real enemies, loot drops, and death saves. Skill checks show DCs, advantage/disadvantage, and stakes before you roll.
4Continue as Campaign
When your solo adventure ends, convert it into a full campaign. Your character, story, inventory, and progress carry over into a multi-session Campaign Arc.
Characters & Party
Manage your characters across adventures and campaigns.
1Character Manager
Access the Character Manager from the dashboard to create, edit, and track characters. Characters can be reused across multiple projects.
2Character Library
When creating an adventure, pick from your saved characters in the party setup step. Their backstory and details get woven into the adventure.
3PDF Import
Import existing character sheets from PDF, images, DOCX, or JSON, and import whole campaigns from Word documents. ArcForge reformats them so your existing material is ready to run.
Account & Subscription
Manage your plan, usage, and account settings.
1Free Tier (Squire)
2 ArcForge adventures per month, 2 battle maps per month, and up to 10 saved projects, plus unlimited Write Your Own adventures. Full access to Classic Templates and Solo Play.
2Upgrading
Visit the Pricing page to upgrade. Ranger raises your monthly adventures and battle maps and adds a larger library and version history. Champion unlocks Campaign Mode, NPC and loot persistence, the ArcForge NPC Builder and Game Master Advisor, commercial use rights, and watermark-free PDF exports. Archmage raises every limit to the maximum.
3Account Settings
Change your password, enable two-factor authentication, manage theme preferences, and view your usage from the account settings page.
Still Need Help?
Can't find what you're looking for? Reach out and we'll help.