When I first set out to build Tall Tavern, I had one audience in mind: the Game Master.

The one staying up late, piecing together maps, characters, histories. The one building a world solo, hoping to pull their friends into it on game night.

Tall Tavern's initial features were designed to empower that creator. To give GMs a tool that felt like a trusted assistant—a quiet partner in the prep work that enables you to move from an individual creator to more of a creative director role.

But no matter how good that assistant is, the truth is: a world really comes alive when players step inside.

With Tall Tavern 1.3, we’re starting to open the gates.

From building for your players… to building with them

Up until now, Tall Tavern has functioned like a single-player game. The GM builds everything: NPCs, locations, encounters, items. Every creation lives under the GM’s domain.

But a tabletop game isn’t a solo story. It’s a collaboration. A shared narrative. And a shared narrative needs shared tools.

That’s why 1.3 introduces the first foundational features for players to join you inside Tall Tavern:

✅ Assign Characters to Players. Your players can now log into Tall Tavern and view their own characters (free for players, with a character creation limit).

✅ Link Items and Creations to Characters. Equip them with magic swords, heirlooms, cursed rings—anything you’ve created in Tall Tavern can now be tied to a specific player character.

✅ Permissions that keep you in control. You decide what’s shared and when. While players can now participate in creation, full admin control remains with you, the GM.

In short, your players can finally step into your world—not just as guests at the table, but as participants inside the tool itself.

Why this matters

I know that no two GMs run their tables the same way. Some prefer to prep every detail ahead of time; others create in the moment, improvising as the story unfolds.

1.3 supports both. By assigning creations to players, you can keep track of their evolving story—not just in your own notes, but in a shared space your players can access.

Whether you’re using Tall Tavern for pre-session prep or mid-session reference, this update lays the foundation for smoother collaboration, better organization, and a world that feels more connected for everyone at the table.

And this is just the beginning.

A glimpse ahead

Tall Tavern 1.4 is already underway, focused on improving transcription and summarization—so you can capture the story as it unfolds, remember every twist, and revisit key moments with ease.

With each release, we’re moving closer to the vision of Tall Tavern as not just a tool for GMs, but a platform for shared storytelling—a digital home where GMs and players alike can explore the worlds they’ve built together.

I’d love for you to give 1.3 a spin at your table and tell us:

• How does it feel having your players inside the Tavern?

• How are you using these features during live sessions?

• What would make this even more powerful for you?

Join us in the Discord to share your thoughts, ask questions, or just hang out with fellow GMs.

Until then—may your dice roll high, your worlds stay wild, and your stories keep growing.