Recommend A Virtual Tabletop (VTT)

[UngainlyTitan]

I'm getting more used to Roll20 but have only used it 4 times. I have FG too but have found the learning curve steeper than I like. It is not clicking with me, I need a damn tutor. I've been looking at the The Foundry which has a few perks that beat the pants off both Roll20 and FG but it's not integrated as smoothly with 5e yet, although in time I think it will be. By the end of the year quarantine I assume

What are you having issues with? let me know maybe I can answer.

I have done videos on the topic. Mostly for my own players and when I barely know more than they did . I hesitate to recommend them as I did not know much about creating that type of content and they have more dislikes than likes. A lot of people dislike the length of the intros.

 

[aramis erak]

I'd like to know what virtual tabletop you would use, and why...you know, one that you might recommend to a newcomer to virtual gaming. (See my first post for specifics.)

Because I'm currently making do with a webcam and Hangouts, and...well, it's not passing muster.

If you can do "Theater of the Mind", don't bother with a VTT. Just use a voice-over-IP solution wich can also push files and/or text.

 

[Eric V]

The customization in Map Tool has made it a winner for our group. The different frameworks one can make for different games is great; we've done frameworks for 4e, 5e, and 13th age. Macros for all the powers and spells, tokens with almost all the information on them...it's been great. I really recommend it.

 

[LordEntrails]

I'd like to know what virtual tabletop you would use, and why...you know, one that you might recommend to a newcomer to virtual gaming. (See my first post for specifics.)

Because I'm currently making do with a webcam and Hangouts, and...well, it's not passing muster.

I use Fantasy Grounds. There are lots of reasons but for me the top reasons are;
1) Architecture. I do not like my creations to be hosted by someone else. I don't want a browser based solution where I'm dependent upon someone else server or terms of service. I want all the content on my server and where I have complete control over it.
2) The company and the community. SmiteWorks is very customer focused and the community is exceedingly friendly and helpful. Check out the forums and checkout www.fantasygroundscollege.net for a totally free volunteer group that put together classes for people who want to learn more about FG.
3) Custom content and homebrew support. FG is very easy to create tons of homebrew in. Whether it is adding maps, stories, custom races, classes, monsters, etc it is very easy. And you can share and sell it if you want too (assuming you observe relevant licensing). I expect to pass my stuff onto my son, and I expect he'll be able to use it for another 40 years. I would not expect to be able to do that on a hosted solution.

 

[Reynard]

If you can do "Theater of the Mind", don't bother with a VTT. Just use a voice-over-IP solution wich can also push files and/or text.

There are lots of dice rolling solutions in Discord to help with that. I normally use FG for D&D because most of the people I play with like to use the grid, but we have used Discord and TotM to try out games like Genysys and Mutant Year Zero, both of which have good dice bots.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

There is definitely a surge in interest in FantasyGrounds. I have a small YouTube channel under a different name. Less than 80 subs and I get about 30's view in 48 hours. In the last 48 I have in excess of 190 view and mostly focused on FantasyGrounds. Most of them are viewing the troubleshooting connection issues video.

If you have connection issues in Roll20 it is probably an issue on Eoll20s side but with FG All the data is uploaded from the DMs system. The DM need a reasonable connection and to know how to set port forwarding on their router.

Trouble shooting connection issues can be a real pain.

 

[LordEntrails]

There is definitely a surge in interest in FantasyGrounds. I have a small YouTube channel under a different name. Less than 80 subs and I get about 30's view in 48 hours. In the last 48 I have in excess of 190 view and mostly focused on FantasyGrounds. Most of them are viewing the troubleshooting connection issues video.

If you have connection issues in Roll20 it is probably an issue on Eoll20s side but with FG All the data is uploaded from the DMs system. The DM need a reasonable connection and to know how to set port forwarding on their router.

Trouble shooting connection issues can be a real pain.

Yep, fortunately there are videos like yours and a very helpful community with folks who will walk anyone through the process if they have trouble.

 

[aramis erak]

There are lots of dice rolling solutions in Discord to help with that. I normally use FG for D&D because most of the people I play with like to use the grid, but we have used Discord and TotM to try out games like Genysys and Mutant Year Zero, both of which have good dice bots.

D1-C3 is optimized for FFG SW, FFG L5R 5E, and (because Genesys and SW are essentially the same system). It's pretty nice.
Sidekick is better for a number of standard dice with a few dice tricks games, including success counting systems and open ending.
I've not seen the MYZ one. Link? (my sat Alien is moving to discord and uses YZE)

 

[Reynard]

I've not seen the MYZ one. Link? (my sat Alien is moving to discord and uses YZE)

I don't recall. One of the players found it. I'll see if I can dig it up later.

 

[Blue]

One group (5e, battlemap but hex instead of grid outdoors) was looking between Roll20 and Astral. I have precious little info about Astral myself. I've been a player for FG and MapTools.

Another group (FATE) is using Zoom. Being able to see each other and read body language is heavily important, and FATE doesn't have the battlemap baggage. It is a conferencing tool so it doesn't have dice rollers, but we trust each other. And it's really good at the conferencing part - mic levels, removing echo, etc. It does have a whiteboard, chat, and the ability to share files.