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Message: <blockquote data-quote="robconley" data-source="post: 7647860" data-attributes="member: 5636">I see what you mean. I agree that VTTs are not going to revitalize tabletop roleplaying by themselves. I would add that I feel that no one thing is going to revitalize tabletop RPGs. Instead it is going to take a multiprong approach to grow the hobby however slowly. The main reason is that the ways are multiplying in how the social network connects the individual members. Anything that wants to have a broad appeal need to incorporate many of them. VTTs will be an important part of tabletop's future, but so will tablets, surface computing, print on demand and host of other technologies.To me the big unknown is whether large display surfaces will take off. If they don't then I see a long period of time where things are pretty much the way they are now. The main difference will be that the new methods of distributing products will have settled and as well as the use of internet based social networking. Technology we have now will mature.One area of new development is increased connectivity between tabletop rpg apps. Everybody has a tablet and it very easy for everybody sitting around the table (or using the internet) to connect. Much like Fantasy Grounds the referee will be able to see everybody's character sheet, and do other VTT like actitives (fog of war, etc). The difference in the future will be just easy to setup. The game changer comes if surface computing takes off. Imagine a entire dining room table as computer screen. Already we seen developers created a automated D&D 4e surface where miniatures use barcodes to communicate to the underlying software. It will be a game changer because one "board" can play a huge variety of traditional games. The technology allows the use of physical pieces which many gamers like. It will allow the complexity of a rule system to be hidden. This aspect is similar to MMORPG and CRPGs. And it will work with people sitting physically around the table. If they can make flexible portable large surfaces then things will get real crazy.</blockquote>

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