After years in development, D&D’s Unreal-powered virtual tabletop still feels off – Polygon

🔍 Summary:

Dungeons & Dragons’ new virtual tabletop app, Sigil, has launched as part of the D&D Beyond Master Tier subscription, but it’s far from a polished product. Despite its visually appealing 3D graphics powered by Unreal Engine 5, Sigil feels unfinished and lacks many essential features, making it difficult to recommend without reservations. The app allows for importing characters and content from D&D sourcebooks, but struggles with incomplete integration and limited customization options, offering only basic character and terrain creation tools.

Sigil competes not only with other established virtual tabletops like Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds but also with another Wizards of the Coast product, Maps, which, despite being in beta, currently offers more functionality. The main appeal of Sigil lies in its aesthetics, with high-quality textures and dynamic lighting enhancing the visual experience. However, the app’s performance in gameplay, particularly in managing character stats and combat mechanics, is unreliable and often frustrating.

The app’s current state suggests it’s more of a visual sandbox for DMs rather than a fully functional VTT, lacking robust tools for seamless game management. Users have reported issues with importing data from D&D Beyond and inconsistencies during gameplay that hinder the overall experience. The development team is active in gathering feedback and addressing bugs, but there’s significant work needed before Sigil can fully support more complex features or third-party content.

In summary, while Sigil offers a visually striking platform for D&D play, its numerous shortcomings and incomplete integration with D&D Beyond make it a challenging choice for players looking for a comprehensive virtual tabletop solution.

📌 Source: https://www.polygon.com/dnd-dungeons-dragons/537899/sigil-vtt-review