Hero Lab vs GM Forge

Struggling to choose between Hero Lab and GM Forge? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Hero Lab is a Gaming Software solution with tags like tabletop, rpg, pathfinder, dd, character-creation, character-management.

It boasts features such as Character creation and management, Automated calculations for stats, skills, abilities, Inventory management, Customizable character sheets, Rules enforcement and validation, Support for multiple game systems like D&D and Pathfinder, Shared character libraries and content and pros including Saves time with automation and calculations, Reduces errors in character creation, Easy to build complex characters, Customizable and extensible, Helps new players learn the rules, Reduces bookkeeping during play.

On the other hand, GM Forge is a Games product tagged with rpg, board-games, card-games, game-design.

Its standout features include Drag-and-drop interface for building games, Tools for creating cards, boards, tokens, characters, etc, Dice, random number generators, and other mechanics, Multiplayer support, Publishing and sharing games, Customizable themes and assets, Code integration for advanced logic, Import/export to common formats like JSON, and it shines with pros like Free and easy to use, No coding required, Active community support, Frequent updates, Allows rapid prototyping.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Hero Lab

Hero Lab

Hero Lab is character creation and management software for tabletop roleplaying games like Pathfinder and D&D. It helps players build characters, track abilities, manage inventory, calculate modifiers, and more.

Categories:
tabletop rpg pathfinder dd character-creation character-management

Hero Lab Features

  1. Character creation and management
  2. Automated calculations for stats, skills, abilities
  3. Inventory management
  4. Customizable character sheets
  5. Rules enforcement and validation
  6. Support for multiple game systems like D&D and Pathfinder
  7. Shared character libraries and content

Pricing

  • One-time Purchase
  • Subscription-Based

Pros

Saves time with automation and calculations

Reduces errors in character creation

Easy to build complex characters

Customizable and extensible

Helps new players learn the rules

Reduces bookkeeping during play

Cons

Can be expensive compared to pen and paper

Requires learning curve

Limited flexibility compared to paper character sheets

Requires constant updates as rules change

Can slow down gameplay


GM Forge

GM Forge

GM Forge is a free, online tool for creating digital tabletop games such as RPGs, board games, and card games. It provides an easy drag-and-drop interface to build games without coding.

Categories:
rpg board-games card-games game-design

GM Forge Features

  1. Drag-and-drop interface for building games
  2. Tools for creating cards, boards, tokens, characters, etc
  3. Dice, random number generators, and other mechanics
  4. Multiplayer support
  5. Publishing and sharing games
  6. Customizable themes and assets
  7. Code integration for advanced logic
  8. Import/export to common formats like JSON

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

Pros

Free and easy to use

No coding required

Active community support

Frequent updates

Allows rapid prototyping

Cons

Limited compared to full game engines

Less control over final product

Must publish games publicly

Limited customization options

Can be slow at times