Tools & Platforms
Stawl
Stawl is an independent, community-developed web application and digital toolkit designed specifically for Draw Steel, the cinematic fantasy tabletop role-playing game published by MCDM Productions. Developed by an independent creator known as JonStodle, the platform was launched during Draw Steel's early access and playtest period. It functions as a cloud-based companion application intended to assist both Directors and players in managing game mechanics, combat encounters, and character data.
Description
Stawl serves as a digital command center for preparing and running Draw Steel campaigns. Unlike some alternative community tools that store data locally within a user's web browser, Stawl requires an account and utilizes cloud storage. This architecture allows users to prepare game materials on one device, such as a desktop computer, and seamlessly access them during gameplay on another device, such as a laptop or tablet. While it requires a degree of manual data entry, its comprehensive suite of encounter-tracking tools and its ability to share live information with players have made it a prominent utility within the Draw Steel community.
System Overview & Key Features
Active Encounter Builder
The primary feature of Stawl is its encounter management system. Directors can select monsters and calculate Encounter Values to balance combat difficulty based on the player characters' levels. Once an encounter is initiated, the application provides an active dashboard that tracks initiative groups, monster stamina, villain power, and temporary status conditions.
Cross-Device Cloud Syncing
Because Stawl utilizes user accounts and cloud servers, all created content—including custom encounters, homebrew data, and digital character sheets—is persistent across devices. This prevents data loss associated with clearing browser caches and allows for remote campaign preparation.
Monster Database and Homebrew Creation
The application features a fully searchable database of officially published Draw Steel monsters, allowing Directors to filter by type, level, or encounter value. Recent updates have introduced homebrew functionality, enabling users to input and save custom monster stat blocks directly into the tool's ecosystem.
Player View and Digital Sheets
During an active encounter, Directors can generate a "Player View" link. This shared screen allows players to view the live initiative order and track their Heroic Resources in real time. Additionally, Stawl provides fillable digital character sheets that mimic the layout of the official paper sheets, allowing players to store their character data online.
Stawl Supplement Index
To support the game's third-party creator community, Stawl hosts a Supplement Index. This is a curated, searchable directory of community-made and third-party content, including custom classes, kits, monsters, and adventures designed for the Draw Steel system.
Disdiar Discord Integration
In addition to the web application, the developer maintains "Disdiar," a companion bot for the Discord communication platform. The bot is programmed with Draw Steel mechanics, allowing online groups to execute specific power rolls, calculate test results, and quickly query monster statistics or game abilities via chat commands.
Additional links
stawl.app - Official application portal
patreon.com/jonstodle - Developer's official Patreon for patch notes and support