A text RPG for online game night: how to run one on a call
Online game nights tend to cycle through the same few party games. A shared story is a good change of pace: everyone plays at once, nobody waits for their turn on the controller, and the best moments become in-jokes for weeks.
Why a story game works on a call
Everyone plays at the same time. In Rollcall each round, all players type their move together, then read the Game Master's answer together, so the conversation on the call becomes part of the game: planning, bargaining, blaming each other.
It also suits mixed groups. People who've never played a tabletop RPG can type what they'd do in plain English, while experienced players can scheme as much as they like.
Setting it up in five minutes
One person opens a room, picks a world and drops the six-letter code in the chat. Everyone joins in their browser, writes a one-line character, and taps ready. The host starts the game and the Game Master writes the opening scene.
Screen-sharing isn't needed: everyone has the story on their own screen. Keep the call for talking.
Pick a world that suits the group
For a chaotic, funny night: a heist or a superhero school. For a spooky Halloween session: Hollow Pines. For a group that loves drama: Miami Nights or ATL Rising. Or write your own premise, like "we're all contestants on a cursed cooking show".
House rules that help
Agree a pace. The round timer is two minutes, which keeps things moving; if someone's away, the story carries on without them.
Turn on the comic strips for big moments. Each round can be painted as a comic strip that follows every character's part of the scene, and they're perfect for screenshotting into the group chat afterwards.
Pick up next week. The game saves where you left off, and the Game Master remembers everything, so one story can run across a whole season of game nights.
Try it now
Start a solo game in a few seconds with no account, or open a room and invite your friends.
