Does anybody use VTTs in person?

[doctorbadwolf]

We use Maps on DDB in ny fully in person game, and everyone has it open on their phone or tablet while i have my laptop. It ends up being just like using a physical map and minis tbh

 

[Thomas Shey]

Honestly, my feeling is that if you're going to use battlemaps at all, using VTT software is usually easier than doing manual usage of maps and miniatures (though I can see it being less satisfying for those willing to do the lifting to get a lot of model work and decent miniatures), at least once you get comfortable with the specific software you use. Most of the problems playing remote I've had usually have been either connection issues (because no matter how good a connect you theoretically have, it'll still manage to spit up sometime) or the fact people just seem intrinsically prone to talking over each other remotely (and my groups just don't have the kind of discipline you develop in business meetings). The VTT has rarely been an issue, and often been a benefit.

(Notice the qualification at the front though; I have no idea how playing remote works out for those in the primarily TotM camp).

 

[bsss]

(Notice the qualification at the front though; I have no idea how playing remote works out for those in the primarily TotM camp).

Personally, I still use Foundry and the map area for a scene-setting illustration rather than a battlemap. Caring about the fidelity of fancy maps when I'd rather just TotM it is frustrating. I just bought a cheap Wacom tablet to see if I can get better at drawing an ad hoc space when I need one.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Personally, I still use Foundry and the map area for a scene-setting illustration rather than a battlemap. Caring about the fidelity of fancy maps when I'd rather just TotM it is frustrating. I just bought a cheap Wacom tablet to see if I can get better at drawing an ad hoc space when I need one.

Its one of the conversations I have periodically on here, because my fairly severe aphantasia mixed with bad spatial memory normally makes TotM a nonstarter even if I wanted to do it.

 

[bsss]

Its one of the conversations I have periodically on here, because my fairly severe aphantasia mixed with bad spatial memory normally makes TotM a nonstarter even if I wanted to do it.

Yeah, I'm not a TotM absolutist. Some visual hints help, I don't know how much in your case, but it's gotta be better than nothing. I like "here's an area map", or art of a creepy house because you're in a creepy house, or so on, to have something there to at least have something invoking something. Also, VTT or physical, I find it helpful to have a spatial hint of what's going on in combat, even if I just doodle the area and put the pieces in their relative position. That was my sweet spot in ye olden days, a mat and markers. I am hoping the tablet helps me realize that in Foundry.

I respect the people with the patience to make bespoke maps with detail for their games. I wish I had that much time. Even finding existing ones and adapting them is too much sometimes.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Yeah, I'm not a TotM absolutist. Some visual hints help, I don't know how much in your case, but it's gotta be better than nothing. I like "here's an area map", or art of a creepy house because you're in a creepy house, or so on, to have something there to at least have something invoking something. Also, VTT or physical, I find it helpful to have a spatial hint of what's going on in combat, even if I just doodle the area and put the pieces in their relative position. That was my sweet spot in ye olden days, a mat and markers. I am hoping the tablet helps me realize that in Foundry.

I respect the people with the patience to make bespoke maps with detail for their games. I wish I had that much time. Even finding existing ones and adapting them is too much sometimes.

It depends whether I'm a GM or a player, and as a player how tolerant my GM would be about me probably asking the same ruddy question multiple times a combat. Like you said, even a basic map is better than nothing, but its really easy for me to lose track of positioning. I've used something as basic as a sketch on a chalkboard and numbers and letters to represent enemy and friendly positioning, but let's just say that's at the top end of "clumsy" as far as I'm concerned; just having a ruddy digital map with moveable tokens is so light years ahead of that I can't describe it.