Which VTT do you use?

[Alby87]

I'm always interested in Dungeon Revealer: it's free and open source, it's really simple because it has everything it needs to play: map with manual fog of war, token support, dice roller and chat. It's a self hosted web app, so no client to install. The only problem for me it's my ISP will not give me a public IP, and my players got used to the automation of Roll20 character sheet (although 5e it's easier than competitors like Pathfinder or older D&D).

 

[Thomas Shey]

At work ive been in a group for several years now. When covid hit, we went to Zoom. I have a powerpoint that I use as a journal and excel sheet for combat tracking (theater of mind). This is for Traveller. Works juts fine. I am also using Foundry to run a Traveller game and its a bit cooler with custom maps and music.

Well, the band system is inevitably going to make it easier to work off a basic map and notation that games that have a more precise/fussy movement and range system.

 

[aramis erak]

Well, the band system is inevitably going to make it easier to work off a basic map and notation that games that have a more precise/fussy movement and range system.

Just remember, CT has 4 different personal combat systems... Bk 1, Snapshot, AHL, and Striker, Bk1 is also actually also two separate range systems... the 25m per move measure in meters based upon the ranges table top of ('81) p. 32, or the range bands abstraction just below it, which is worded as "suggested" within the text.
Snapshot and AHL are both 1.5m grid based.
Striker is tabletop distance of 1cm=10m... but figures at 15mm = 1.6 to 1.85m (eyes through top of hat of normal 1.72m tall human - the different vagaries of minis scales...)

The greatest feature and greatest flaw of CT is the range of alternative yet official rules... as two GMs can be running it rules as written, and be almost completely different in mechanics... just by picking which optional overlap is in place, let alone houseruling it.

 

[HaroldTheHobbit]

AboveVTT for D&D, Foundry for WFRP4e and everything else.

Edit: And will get a subscription for tryouts when Owlbear Rodeo 2.0 releases.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Just remember, CT has 4 different personal combat systems... Bk 1, Snapshot, AHL, and Striker, Bk1 is also actually also two separate range systems... the 25m per move measure in meters based upon the ranges table top of ('81) p. 32, or the range bands abstraction just below it, which is worded as "suggested" within the text.
Snapshot and AHL are both 1.5m grid based.
Striker is tabletop distance of 1cm=10m... but figures at 15mm = 1.6 to 1.85m (eyes through top of hat of normal 1.72m tall human - the different vagaries of minis scales...)

The greatest feature and greatest flaw of CT is the range of alternative yet official rules... as two GMs can be running it rules as written, and be almost completely different in mechanics... just by picking which optional overlap is in place, let alone houseruling it.

Yeah, I was just assuming Book 1 combat. Honestly, some of the others I never even saw.

 

[Bedrockgames]

For remote gaming I do everything theater of the mind and I find that works great. It isn't for everyone, but some advantages are you aren't as reliant on technology working (beyond whatever meeting platform you are using: Skype, discord, etc). The other advantage is I find people often have less endurance for online than in person games. I don't know why, but three to four hours is about the most people seem comfortable with (in person that line seems less of an issue). So I like not having to take up time messing with tactical miniatures, etc. Again, some people prefer miniatures, so if you do, theater of the mind can be a tall order. But for me, theater of the mind online, is almost the same as playing in person. I find when I have used VTT stuff, it pops me out a little and there is more of a lag and less connection to the game (just for me personally, I know plenty of people who feel the opposite way).

 

[Thomas Shey]

Though I should note even with attempting TotM I'd need some way to display maps, because my spatial imagination and memory is, honestly, kind of pants, and my description of it is even worse. About the only game I was ever able to run that way was Scion 1e because distance and position was so close to irrelevant.

 

[GrahamWills]

I used to use roll 20 for pathfinder, but switched to foundry and am now also running 13th Age in it (very nice fan created content!) and it’s just much nicer. Very easy to add modules and customize it just the way you want and it has a far more engaging and good-looking interface.

Even when I run more TotM games like Fate, I generally use a VTT. I like to show people a terrain map of where their characters are and once you have 3+ opponents it becomes tiresome to keep track of what everyone is doing in your mind. A visual representation is nice.

 

[nyvinter]

As someone who used Roll20 for a lot previously, I'm kinda glad that they didn't like my credit card and made me go get Foundry. The learning curve from R20 isn't that steep, and I don't have to modify the character sheets for usability standpoint as much.

R20 has more systems still though.

 

[beancounter]

AboveVTT