Beyond 20: Supercharge Your Online RPG Experience with this Chrome Extension

Introduction

The digital realm has revolutionized countless aspects of our lives, and tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) are no exception. The accessibility and convenience of online platforms have made it easier than ever to gather with friends from across the globe and embark on epic adventures. However, the transition to virtual tabletops (VTTs) can sometimes be clunky. Manually transferring character information, dice rolls, and modifiers between character sheets and the VTT can be tedious and prone to errors, interrupting the flow of gameplay and diminishing the immersive experience. If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated by the constant switching between D&D Beyond and Roll20, or spending precious gaming time wrestling with calculations, you’re not alone.

Enter the Beyond 20 Chrome Extension, a remarkable tool designed to bridge the gap between your character sheets and your favorite VTTs. This extension allows you to seamlessly integrate your character data from D&D Beyond, and other supported sites, directly into platforms like Roll20, Foundry VTT, and Fantasy Grounds. Imagine clicking an attack roll on your D&D Beyond character sheet and watching the result instantly appear in your Roll20 chat window, modifiers and everything!

The Beyond 20 Chrome Extension significantly improves the online RPG experience by seamlessly integrating character information with popular VTT platforms, ultimately saving time, reducing errors, and allowing players to focus on the story. It’s a game-changer, literally.

What is Beyond 20 and How Does it Work?

At its core, the Beyond 20 Chrome Extension acts as a translator, allowing your character sheet on D&D Beyond (or another supported website) to communicate directly with your chosen VTT. The extension monitors your activity on the character sheet and, when you click on a rollable element (such as an attack, skill check, or saving throw), it captures the relevant information, including any modifiers and bonuses, and sends it to the VTT.

The magic lies in its simplicity. Instead of manually calculating and entering numbers into the VTT, you simply click on the action you want to perform on your character sheet. The Beyond 20 Chrome Extension takes care of the rest, automatically transferring the data to the VTT in a format that’s easily readable and understandable. This streamlines the entire process, reducing the risk of errors and allowing players to focus on the narrative and their interactions with other players.

One of the greatest strengths of the Beyond 20 Chrome Extension is its wide range of supported platforms. While primarily known for its integration with D&D Beyond, it also works seamlessly with popular VTTs such as Roll20, Foundry VTT, Fantasy Grounds, and even Discord via specialized bots. This versatility makes it a valuable tool for any online RPG player, regardless of their preferred platform. Moreover, it supports various RPG systems beyond Dungeons and Dragons. Pathfinder, Starfinder, Call of Cthulhu, and many more can all be integrated to make the most out of playing online.

Getting started with the Beyond 20 Chrome Extension is incredibly easy. First, you’ll need to install the extension from the Chrome Web Store. Simply search for “Beyond 20” and click the “Add to Chrome” button. Once installed, you’ll see the Beyond 20 icon appear in your Chrome toolbar.

Next, you’ll need to connect the extension to your D&D Beyond account (or other supported site). To do this, simply navigate to your character sheet on D&D Beyond and click on the Beyond 20 icon in your browser toolbar. The extension will guide you through the process of authorizing access to your account.

Finally, you’ll need to configure the extension for your chosen VTT. This usually involves selecting the appropriate VTT from the extension’s settings and potentially installing a companion script or module within the VTT itself. Detailed instructions for each VTT can be found on the Beyond 20 website and community forums.

The best part? The core functionality of the Beyond 20 Chrome Extension is completely free. This makes it accessible to all players, regardless of their budget. While there may be optional donation-based features or premium tiers available, the essential features that streamline gameplay and reduce errors are available to everyone. The ease of use and accessibility are two main reasons this has become a must-have tool for players.

Key Benefits and Features

The benefits of using the Beyond 20 Chrome Extension are numerous and far-reaching. Perhaps the most significant advantage is its ability to streamline gameplay. By automating the process of transferring information between character sheets and VTTs, the extension significantly reduces the amount of time spent on manual tasks.

In a typical online RPG session, players often spend a considerable amount of time manually rolling dice, calculating modifiers, and entering results into the VTT. This can be particularly time-consuming during combat, where multiple attack rolls, damage calculations, and saving throws are required. The Beyond 20 Chrome Extension eliminates much of this tedium, allowing players to focus on the strategic and narrative aspects of the game.

Imagine a scenario where a player wants to cast a spell. Instead of having to manually calculate the spell attack bonus and damage, they simply click the spell on their D&D Beyond character sheet. The Beyond 20 Chrome Extension automatically sends the attack roll, including all relevant bonuses, to the VTT chat, and if the attack hits, the damage is also automatically calculated and sent. This saves valuable time and allows the game to flow much more smoothly.

Another key benefit of the Beyond 20 Chrome Extension is its ability to reduce errors. Manually transferring information is prone to mistakes, especially when dealing with complex modifiers and bonuses. The extension eliminates this risk by automatically calculating and applying all relevant modifiers, ensuring that the results are accurate and consistent.

For example, when making a skill check, the Beyond 20 Chrome Extension automatically adds the character’s proficiency bonus, ability modifier, and any other relevant bonuses to the roll. This eliminates the need for players to manually calculate these values, reducing the chance of errors and ensuring that the roll is accurate.

By streamlining gameplay and reducing errors, the Beyond 20 Chrome Extension enhances the overall immersion of the online RPG experience. When players are not constantly interrupted by manual tasks, they can focus more on the narrative, their characters, and their interactions with other players.

The extension also offers a degree of customization, allowing users to tailor the experience to their specific preferences. Players can change the appearance of the roll messages in the VTT, configure specific settings for different VTTs, and customize how rolls are displayed. This level of customization allows players to create a truly personalized and immersive online RPG experience.

Use Cases and Examples

Let’s delve deeper into specific scenarios to illustrate the power of the Beyond 20 Chrome Extension. Consider a typical combat encounter. A player wants to attack an enemy. Instead of manually rolling a dice and adding their attack bonus, they simply click the attack action on their D&D Beyond character sheet. The extension immediately sends the attack roll to the VTT, complete with all relevant modifiers. If the attack hits, the damage is automatically calculated and sent as well. This eliminates the need for manual calculations and reduces the chance of errors, allowing the player to focus on their character’s actions and the overall combat strategy.

Another example is a skill check. A player needs to make a Stealth check to sneak past a guard. They simply click the Stealth skill on their D&D Beyond character sheet, and the Beyond 20 Chrome Extension automatically sends the roll, including their Stealth bonus, directly to the VTT. The DM can then quickly determine whether the player succeeds or fails, without having to wait for the player to manually calculate their roll.

While inventory management is system-dependent, if your VTT and character sheet support it, Beyond 20 can integrate usage of items, adding damage or effects on the fly without having to manually update values within the VTT.

Tips and Tricks for Using Beyond 20

While the Beyond 20 Chrome Extension is generally easy to use, there are a few tips and tricks that can help you get the most out of it. First, it’s important to troubleshoot any common issues that may arise. If you’re experiencing connectivity problems, make sure that the extension is properly installed and configured, and that your D&D Beyond account is properly linked. If you’re encountering incorrect roll calculations, double-check your character sheet for any errors and make sure that the extension is properly configured for your chosen VTT. The Beyond 20 website and community forums are excellent resources for troubleshooting common issues.

Exploring advanced features can also be beneficial. The extension may offer features such as macros or custom roll templates that can further streamline gameplay. Experiment with these features to find ways to optimize your online RPG experience.

Finally, consider optimizing performance. If you’re experiencing lag or other performance issues, try disabling any unnecessary Chrome extensions and closing any other resource-intensive applications. This can help to improve the performance of the Beyond 20 Chrome Extension and ensure a smoother gameplay experience.

Conclusion

The Beyond 20 Chrome Extension is an invaluable tool for any online RPG player. By streamlining gameplay, reducing errors, and enhancing immersion, it significantly improves the overall online RPG experience. It allows players to focus on what matters most: the story, their characters, and their interactions with other players. If you’re looking to take your online RPG sessions to the next level, I encourage you to try the Beyond 20 Chrome Extension today.

Install the Beyond 20 Chrome Extension and experience the benefits for yourself! The link is readily available on the Chrome Web Store.

In conclusion, the Beyond 20 Chrome Extension is more than just a tool; it’s a game-changer. It’s a testament to the power of technology to enhance the human experience, fostering a more engaging and enjoyable game for everyone involved. Level up your game with the Beyond 20 Chrome Extension and rediscover the joy of online role-playing.