Yes, and thank you for that question. We are actually working on a re-design of the website to help with this topic.

At the highest level - you can think of Nurl as your "TTRPG hub". Whether you are a GM or player - it's all the tools you need (and more - like planning tools, etc.) in a single place. If you are in multiple groups that play different games - you can have a single app to manage everything and just switch from group to group when it's time (like how Discord/Slack does with servers). Eventually, we will support translating characters and NPCs into different game formats. For example, you are in a D&D group with a character you really love but joined a new Aliens group and wanted to bring your D&D Barb into the Alien world - Nurl could do that because it's your personal TTRPG hub.

It is important to note that Nurl is first and foremost targeting groups who play IRL/hybrid. We are not a VTT and have no ambition to become another VTT. Foundry and Roll20 have that covered and are great tools if you want a fully virtual experience.

Our vision is to build an app that gives you the high-end tech solution but not become the "star" of the game session. Instead, be the "NPC" hanging around and at your disposal when you need (i.e. the story, players, and game session remain the stars).

I hope that answers your question?

I appreciate that you point this out. You do have to apply and pay a fee for most highly-rated awards (nothing is free today). However, I'm proud to say that we did not apply, rather were nominated (by individuals) and won our category.

We are bootstrapped (indie hackers) who are just trying to build a tool that we have always wanted - and hope others can enjoy as well (along with our victories).

I totally get it (why we are working on a new website). So, think of it more like a "hub" or "operating system" for all your TTRPG games.

A single place to do different things based on which type of player you are in a game:

GM's can...

1. Get help planning for a game session with a streamlined framework we created
2. Manage NPCs via our "Contacts" feature
3. Take private notes that seamlessly connect to the game and features (think Notion had a baby with Google docs)
4. Manage real-time meta updates for the players (i.e. location, weather, time, duration, etc.)
5. Build and run battles in our "combat arena"

Players can...

1. Get help planning for a game session with a player version of the previous #1
2. Manage their character in a much easier way via Nurl simplifying the sheet and rules to be easier to understand
3. See the public "Contacts" the GM has revealed
4. See group level information (health, battles, etc.)
5. Create a personalized dashboard of game-specific widgets to use during game-play

Groups can...

1. Contribute to public notes (like the GM notes, except available to everyone)
2. Have a group chat where they can ask Nurl game specific questions instead of stopping the flow of the game (non-cheating parameters built in)

Users can...

1. Adjust accessibility settings to account for being colorblind, on the spectrum, or having ADHD (probably a later release since this one is more difficult).
2. Have many groups to switch between - say one group plays dnd, the other pathfinder
3. Translate characters from one game to another - say you really love your druid in dnd and want to translate that into pathfinder for you second group

...so much more. We still have a lot of work to do but it is all coming together. I hope you can at least see the vision of where we are headed and give Nurl a shot in the future.

If not, I still appreciate you and have enjoyed the conversation.

• Casey Baggz, Founder & CEO (life-long GM)

It's a TTRPG OS-level app to enhance your IRL/hybrid game sessions (not a VTT). We bring all the tools you need into a single place and simplify the rules/information of the game you are playing. It helps make the game easier for all players (GM & Players - experienced or new) and inclusive (i.e. colorblind, Austism, ADHD, etc.).

We will be launching v1 soon - but today you can join the waitlist on the website - the site is pretty outdated but we will be updating it soon with a new design.

Nurl is also meant to be game agnostic with features that will also create a platform for publishers/writers to add their own systems. v1 will include support for dnd5e (not 2025 yet), Shiver, Thirsty Sword Lesbians, Nightfell, and Shadow scar (RPG day game).

Thanks for the help! I'll ship those updates today.

Thanks for the great feedback. I'll do my best to figure out how to make that part easier to read taking in your idea as a starting point.

This is amazing. ✨

Great question! Games like D&D have a special play type called an "Epic" (we call it "Mutli-group Campaign" in Nurl) that is basically a group of groups. It's really fun to play if you can find one. Some local game shops where we are located host them every so often. Essentially, you have a DM that runs it basically as a narrator who hands off to the group DM's every so often. All the groups play individually but also in a co-op way that creates opportunities where one group's actions may affect another group. It's pretty cool.

Hope that answered your question?

Great question and absolutely. Out of the box, Nurl supports any TTRPG (even Critical Role campaigns). We are just starting promotion focusing on D&D groups since it's the largest audience and easiest to relate too.

Ah, interesting. I feel that like it totally possible in a more "Nurl like" way since our location widget contains a place for you to upload a map - so by nature, our engine should be able to connect all those things and (theoretically) make the pins for you. Basically, with Nurl, you should have the option - but shouldn't have to do the work if that makes sense?

I'm going to take note of that and just keep a pulse to see where that idea goes. Thanks so much for the details and stay tuned. 👀

We won't do exports to begin with, but I do have plans for integrations post release where we can. But, if we get enough feature requests to be able to export - we will 100% be happy to build that out.

Totally forgot to mention one of the extensions is a location tracker (which will update in real time on the player side - see website shot, top left side), and if you create a note that uses a location for the title, then the app will add some bonus features because it will know the party is in X location and you have a note related to that location (I'm personally excited about).

So I'm not sure about what you mean by world building notes with map pins, however, I'm very intrigued and interested in learning more. Would you be open to diving deeper in a 1:1 user testing conversation privately where I can understand and see if we can fit it into the release?

Great question! So, we use our engine to do quite a few things for both DMs and players. As a DM, you can use the dashboard to add a bunch of utility extensions similar to what you see in the website screenshot (except that is for a player). This could include everything from your notes, to player stats, reminders, dice roller, location, etc. The extensions will be an open source library, so anyone should be able to eventually build their own and sell them in the app if they wanted to (or not). For DMs we also provide advanced features for the notes (like automagical player dictionaries which means it creates the character dictionary and context for you), encounters view (initiative tracker/encounter manager on steroids) and just be an overall hub for your group. Basically, it will help to streamline the group and game session in a way that hasn't really been explored yet with the goal of just making playing and understanding the games easier.

Long term we will also create a line of physical smart products that will connect to the app - like GM tiles that create a map for you vs. you doing it or buying it, etc.

Ah, and there is also the raw engine itself in a conversational interface that you can use to help plan and execute your sessions. For example, I used to spend about 3 hours planning my sessions and now it only takes me on average about 15 minutes and we do about 4 hour sessions.

And it does support any TTRPG system. I test it every week and so far there is not a system I've found (outside of indie) that I can't create players and run a game with. It's pretty cool.