Using TTRPG Terminal Simulator with Roll20

Roll20 lets GMs embed external content inside Handout entries using an <iframe> tag. TTRPG Terminal Simulator supports this natively, so players in your Roll20 campaign can view a live, interactive terminal session without leaving the VTT.

This option works on all Roll20 subscription tiers, including free accounts. Players need to be logged into TTRPG Terminal Simulator (or have your shared-access link) for the terminal to load inside Roll20.

Steps

1. 1. In your TTRPG Terminal Simulator dashboard, open the terminal session you want to embed. Copy the URL. The session ID is the segment after /terminal/ .
2. 2. In Roll20, open your campaign and go to Journal → + Add → Handout . Give it a name like "Ship Terminal" or "Access Panel."
3. 3. In the Handout's GM Notes field, click the source / HTML button and paste the iframe code below, replacing YOUR_SESSION_ID with your actual session ID.
4. 4.Save the handout. During your session, open it and share it with players.

<iframe
  src="https://terminal.tiesthatbindgaming.com/terminal/YOUR_SESSION_ID?embed=true"
  width="100%"
  height="600"
  frameborder="0"
  allowfullscreen>
</iframe>

If you have a Roll20 Pro subscription, you can install a small API mod script that adds a !terminal chat command to your campaign. Typing !terminal in the chat sends you a private whisper with a clickable link that opens the terminal in a Roll20 popout window, for fast access mid-session without leaving the VTT.

Steps

1. 1. In Roll20, open your campaign settings and go to API Scripting → New Script .
2. 2. Paste the script below into the editor. Replace YOUR_SESSION_ID with your TTRPG Terminal Simulator session ID.
3. 3. Click Save Script .
4. 4. During a session, type !terminal in the Roll20 chat. You'll receive a private whisper with a link that opens the terminal in a popout window. You can also pass a session ID directly: !terminal abc123 .

// TTRPG Terminal Simulator: Roll20 API Mod
// Requires Roll20 Pro (API Scripting access)
// Usage: !terminal          - opens the configured default session
//        !terminal abc123   - opens a specific session by ID

const TERMINAL_URL = 'https://terminal.tiesthatbindgaming.com/terminal/YOUR_SESSION_ID';

on('chat:message', function (msg) {
  if (msg.type !== 'api') return;
  const args = msg.content.split(/\s+/);
  if (args[0].toLowerCase() !== '!terminal') return;

  const sessionId = args[1];
  const url = sessionId
    ? 'https://terminal.tiesthatbindgaming.com/terminal/' + sessionId + '?embed=true'
    : TERMINAL_URL + '?embed=true';

  sendChat('Terminal', '/w gm [Open Terminal](' + url + ')', null, { noarchive: true });
});

If you're running Roll20 alongside a video call (Discord, Zoom, Google Meet), you can display the terminal to players by capturing it as an OBS Browser Source and sharing your OBS output via screen share. No Roll20 subscription upgrade is required, and this works with any video setup.

The tradeoff: this is one-way display. Players see the terminal through your video feed, but they can't interact with it themselves. Use this option when you want the terminal visible as ambient atmosphere rather than as an interactive prop.

Steps

1. 1. In OBS, click the + button under Sources and select Browser Source .
2. 2. Set the URL to your terminal session: https://terminal.tiesthatbindgaming.com/terminal/YOUR_SESSION_ID
3. 3. Set width and height to match your capture region (1280×720 or 1920×1080). Check Use custom frame rate and set it to 30 fps.
4. 4. Share your OBS output via your video call or stream. Players will see the terminal update in real time as you operate it.