Top 10 Time-Saving Tools for D&D Dungeon Masters

Being a Dungeon Master (DM) is one of the most satisfying aspects of tabletop games, but as we all know, it comes with a huge chunk of preparation. Designing a world, designing adventures, keeping track of your players and then running the game at the table etc. That's why saving time (while still being able to run awesome games) is so important for DMs in Dungeons & Dragons.

But the good news is you do not need to do it on your own. The tools out there are amazing, as they can help DMs save time, stay organized, and focus on what really matters: giving people a memorable story. Whether you're a new Dungeon Master or a seasoned veteran, these tools can help lighten the load.

And here are the Top 10 Time-Saving Tools for D&D Dungeon Masters in 2025 that will make your games flow more smoothly and save lots of your time.

1. Master of Realms (Map Making Tool)

Creating battle maps can be one of the most time-consuming parts of prepping for a session. That’s where Master of Realms comes in. This tool allows you to make professional 2D and 3D maps in just a few minutes, which will be at an excellent level, both in virtual and face-to-face games.

And the best part is you do not have to be an artist or spend much time on the learning of complex software. It's an easy to use highly powerful tool for mapmaking with export options for Virtual Tabletops (VTTs) or printing.

Master of Realms is also planning to offer print-on-demand map services in the future (work in progress), so you can get your custom-made maps delivered right to your doorstep.

It’s all about saving your time so you can focus less on prep, and more on crafting those unforgettable adventures.

2. D&D Beyond (D&D Dungeon Master Tool)

It is an online site that provides a combination of scroll-downable tools in the form of character creators, encounter generators, monster libraries, and campaign tools absolutely at your fingertips. It works just like a digital DM screen, rulebook, and a notebook in one.

The key part in why D&D Beyond is such a time-saver is that it manages to keep all the things in order in one place. There is no more having to flip through books to find a spell or stat on a monster now, everything is searchable and takes a few seconds to find. You are even able to disseminate campaign notes as well as homebrew materials to your players immediately.

3. DonJon (Generators for Everything)

Feeling stuck with names, dungeons, or loot? DonJon has your back. This site can provide you with an extensive collection of random generation tools: to D&D and other games in general, to hastily generate encounters, PCs, loot, dungeons, and so forth.

It’s perfect for those moments when players go off the rails or you simply didn’t have time to prepare every detail. DonJon’s tools let you improvise with confidence and keep the game flowing smoothly, even when the unexpected happens.

4. Obsidian (DM Note-Taking Tool)

Being organized is the best key that every dungeon master should have in case they want to have a successful campaign. Obsidian is an open-source and free and powerful note-taking app that lets you track the world, characters, plot points, and lore. Having a special "linking" feature, you can easily associate NPCs with locations, quests or other significant data.

No more flipping through hundreds of notes or losing track of your world, it is all nicely organized and searchable. It is as though you had your personal digital campaign wiki that keeps extending with your narrative.

5. Kobold Fight Club (Encounter Balancer)

Setting up combats is challenging especially when you want to test your players but not too much that they are frustrated. Kobold Fight Club to the rescue. This utilisation assists you to easily create adventures according to your party’s level, size, and difficulty preferences.

With just a few clicks, you can ensure that your fights are exciting, fair, and tailored to your group. It’s a major time-saver, particularly for newer DMs who want to avoid common encounter pitfalls.

6. Virtual Tabletops (Roll20, Foundry, etc.)

For online games, a good Virtual Tabletop (VTT) can save you countless hours of preparation and management during the actual game. Online tools such as Roll20, Foundry VTT and others enable you to play your game entirely online - including maps, tokens, dynamic lighting, and battle tracking.

These are particularly convenient tools in keeping everything in one place. Rather than having to organize physical maps, character sheets, and the rolls of the dice, a tabletop system has everything available on-screen and thus can control more encounters and further expand your game world around your players.

7. Sly Flourish’s (Lazy DM Tools)

DM prep doesn't have to be overwhelming. As a matter of fact, the entire Lazy DM philosophy developed by Sly Flourish is centered towards the idea of spending less time on the preparation but still producing incredible sessions. His tools, checklists, and books revolve around making sure you have what you need prepared; important NPCs, locations, and encounters, without becoming overwhelmed by the amount of notes you have to take.

Many experienced DMs swear by this approach for its flexibility and time-saving benefits. It wants you to concentrate on what is truly important: player decisions, unforgettable events, a wonderful narrative.

8. Tabletop Audio (Background Music & Sounds)

Tabletop Audio has hundreds of no-cost ambient soundtracks created specifically with tabletop games in mind. Between creepy dungeon audio backgrounds and crowded tavern music, there is an opportunity to set a mood in an instant on your table.

Keeping music that is ready to play will help you avoid wasting time trying to figure out how to play music or moments of awkward silences. It also allows you to draw your players into the world, keeping everyone locked onto that world.

9. Index Cards, Tokens, and Initiative Trackers

There are moments when the old fashioned tools can still be the best choice. Some index cards, an easy initiative tracker and a few monster tokens will make your face-to-face games flow just like the clock. Index cards will work perfectly as a place to write the names of NPCs, monster parameters, or short notes in the middle of the game.

You can use tokens to aid map positioning and do not have to afford miniatures which makes it easier to handle and the initiative tracks are useful to keep track of the fights and help them go smoothly. They are not hi-tech but save a lot of time and leave your table in order.

10. NPC and Encounter Generators (Various Online Tools)

Even the best-prepared DM can get caught off guard when players ask for details about a random merchant or wander into an unplanned encounter. That is why it is a life saving to have NPC and adventure generators bookmarked.

There are countless free tools online that let you generate fleshed-out NPCs, encounters, tavern names, and more in seconds. These devices assist you to be in command, act with ease, and avoid wasting time struggling to think of things to say during a session.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

To be a Dungeon Master is a wonderful act of creativity, and it does not imply spending all the time in preparation. The right tools mean you could make your preparation time go down by factors and still be able to lead a successful, very enjoyable session your players will enjoy.

No matter what kind of Dungeon Masters you are, whether it be the digital platforms or the old-fashioned tools or even something like the map generators, there should be a little something to fit your sense. What matters is to get what suits you and that you can rely on and create an easier job with these kinds of resources.

Keep in mind that the most fantastic sessions are not about an excellent polished note or a perfectly executed map but are reactions of having fun, making crazy decisions, and memorable events at the table. 

These tools should do all the hard work so all you have to do is enjoy the process and share an epic tale with your friends.