Considering an bi-weekly AD&D 2e game with Skype and d20pro

[ghaladen]

Hey everyone, I know this isn't everyone's first choice of systems, but I'm yearning to play the edition I grew up on, so I have every other Thursday or Friday evening off from other games, and I'm considering running an AD&D 2e campaign, most likely Forgotten Realms. Skype would be for the video/voice, and if I use d20pro, it'll probably just be for handouts, character stats, large maps, marching order and dice rolls for those who don't have actual dice on them. And maybe large encounters, but the usual skirmishes will take place in your head. Anyway, let me know if you're interested. Only thing I ask is that you have a webcam and a decent enough connection to run Skype group video. Trying to make this as much like a tabletop game as I can .

 

[PolterGhost]

I'm totally in if you are. I'm not much a fan of Forgotten Realms, though.

 

[Tharian]

...to run Skype group video.

Doesn't Skype charge for that service? Have they started providing it free for home users and I missed the announcement?

 

[PolterGhost]

I thought group video chat was free. If not, there's websites that allow it.

Not that I mind just voices.

 

[ghaladen]

We've run several hybrid online/offline games in the past (a room full of offline people, and one person online). We tried flash based chat sites, and the lag was always awful. Skype, despite it's iniquities, is the closest thing to real time video we can get.

And I already have a subscription because we have that setup for my 4e game (one player in Florida). I use WebcamXP to stream the gameboard to a local server, and I use Skype group video to stream both the camera on me as a DM View, and another camera viewing the room. It's an insane setup I know, but it works quite well.

 

[PolterGhost]

The question here is if everyone needs a subscription.

If the answer is "yes", then we may want to look into something like Stickam instead.

Have you considered using something like OpenRPG instead of having a gamecam? Not that you really need much of a game table to play AD&D, but still...

 

[ghaladen]

Oh, no just one person needs the sub, so that's taken care of.

No, I do prefer the webcam to help facilitate the roleplaying side. One of my grievances with online play is the feeling of disconnect of audio only. If you don't have a webcam at the start of the game it's not a huge deal, just I'd prefer you to get one eventually.

I have tried OpenRPG, GameTable, and MapTool, I just prefer d20pro because I use it in my Tuesday in-person Kingmaker. It streams handouts, maps, can do dice rolls & Prep and status tracking is very easy with it, and I have 6 player licenses already paid for, so no cost once again.

 

[PolterGhost]

Geez man, you must be freaking loaded.

As it is, I'm still interested. Find the rest of the group and tell me what needs to be done. I don't fudge my rolls, so if I end up rolling a 5 STR character, I'm keeping it.

 

[ghaladen]

Loaded? No. Spending issues when it comes to D&D? Possibly. Anyway, you're the first. I have another person contemplating at the moment, but whatever you'd like to play is up for grabs.

I do 4d6 drop lowest, assign where you want, bump up any prerequisites if you don't meet them.

 

[PolterGhost]

Oh lord, I might have to complain that I'm high powered or something. I have an addiction with 3d6 in order.

Did you want me to automate the stats so that there's no fudging, or can I use my own dice that will find ways to roll 3s for me?