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Nerdarchy on Zero Prep D&D

In this 15-minute video on Nerdarchy the YouTube channel Nerdarchists Dave and Ted explore a new TTRPG tool for Dungeon Master and Game Master alike. Check out Hex Roll from Pen, Dice, and Paper with us.

The conversation begins with Dave and Ted sharing the inspiration for this video, another creator who brought to their attention the really terrific Hexroll app from Pen, Dice and Paper. This free resource packs a ton of power into a single click of a button and the whole Nerdarchy crew had a blast exploring the results. Essentially Hexroll creates an entire sandbox region in an instant, but that’s just scratching the surface.

In the video Dave and Ted create their own sandbox to illustrate what Hexroll can do. A map fittingly divided into hexes generates almost instantly. All of the hexes are interactive and display everything adventurers might find there. This of course includes exciting monster encounters and incredible discoveries to explore but also towns, roadside inns and plenty of NPCs to make the world feel persistent and immersive.

And everything is connected! An NPC passerby on the road might have a story to tell. Lo and behold it’s connected to a dungeon in another hex. A treasure found in ruins the adventurers stumble upon in one hex might be an object connected to some other person or place. It’s all really very impressive how complex the sandbox is and how quickly it’s generated while also really smooth to navigate and make useful in your games. The sandbox even includes elements like special mechanics and regional lore!

Hexroll is basically system agnostic, so things like monsters and magic item might require some adjustment for your particular game. Depending on the level of precision you prefer this could be a lot of work but at the very least you’ve got a pretty nifty sandbox to get your campaigns going.

You can download your creations as a ZIP file as well as save permalinks so there’s flexibility for users built into Hexroll. There’s also a variety of ways to customize the generator to your taste, like adjusting the kind of terrain or the types of inhabitants in the region. Once you’ve got your settings looking the way you like them, or if you just want to roll the dice and see what happens, you click a button and out comes a fantasy adventure sandbox.

In the video Dave and Ted use The Lands of Ashadar created by Hexroll to show how it works. If you’re starting a new campaign give it a look and maybe it’s just the thing to get your imagination cooking. Here’s a link. You’ll see there’s all sorts of legends and lore, intriguing adventure hooks and interesting locales to discover. There’s even different factions, along with rumors and secrets to keep the adventures rolling for a long time.

If you love using random generators as a resource for your RPG experiences check out this post from here at Nerdarchy the Website on how to Improve Your RPG Experiences with Random Generators.

OUT OF THE BOX picks up where the adventure takes off and puts 55 dynamic scenarios in your hands, ready at any moment to engage and challenge players and their characters. In worlds of adventure across the multiverse, magic, mysteries and monsters await bold explorers. When heroes step into the unknown, you’ll have everything you need to reward curiosity with clever puzzles, compelling antagonists, design insights and guidance for introducing each encounter — plus what to do when players think out of the box and intriguing encounter elements become the whole campaign! Check it out here!