Does anyone else use google docs as a VTT?

[Tayne]

I'm curious to see how widespread the practice is. My buddies and I looked for a VTT for a long time and were never satisfied, but we're really enjoying Google Docs for all our simulated tabletop needs. It helps that we trust each other not to cheat.

A spreadsheet can work as a map, and there are character sheet spreadsheets out there too with formulas. I haven't played any other VTTs in depth, but you can't beat the convenience of google docs for being something almost everyone has access to already.

Here's a sample combat map

and here's a google doc pathfinder character sheet. Variants likely exist for different games. I only wish it calculated armor check penalties better.
https://docs.google.com/previewtemplate?id=0AjfaolOnvs6gdEZNenNDdVBTSDBPME04S1JranRSSEE&mode=public

I hope I've been helpful rather than redundant.

Oh, also, there's a nice dice roller on the chrome store called "diced" which saves various rolls and whatnot.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/dggicnohpfnnnidofeemifbhjlpkbiel

 

[Mark CMG]

I don't recall hearing that anyone has done this before. Thanks for the info.


Anyone else tried this method? Any ideas on ways to make it even more effective?

 

[Tayne]

Glad people like the idea, it has been working out great as a very simple way for me to reconnect and play with old friends that I haven't played with in YEARS.

We also use the "presentation" doc for character notes - it's like giving every character a facebook profile. We put the backgound up there, normal miscellaneous stuff, pictures, even theme music.

The nice part about all of this is that you can choose who can edit what. You can keep your own character sheet private or allow other players to make notes, if you trust them.

 

[MatthewJHanson]

My long distance group uses google hangouts to communicate and a google drawing within that as our virtual table top. It works quite well. The DM has some tile images, and we each have a token that we drag around the map.

 

[Tayne]

Thanks for that extra tip, I'm trying to convince my buddies to all get on G+ now

 

[Stoat]

We don't use googledocs as our VTT, but my group uses the spreadsheet to keep track of treasure and skills, and I use the presentation software to distribute maps, pictures, handouts, etc.

It's a great resource.

 

[smetzger]

You should also check out Google Sites. Their is a template for Pathfinder that is a good starting point for any FRPG.

 

[possum]

No, the online group that I was in did use Google Docs, but only as a place to store our character sheets, not as the VTT itself.

 

[vernicus]

We used Google Docs as a VTT for some OSR DnD we played earlier in the year.

simple map

create the grid in a drawing program and import the image into a Google Docs drawing . . .draw your map with the line and shape tools

I think we were able to create 'tokens' for each player monster by creating one character text fields and moving them around the grid. ..

worked very slick for a down and dirty solution, IMHO

 

[Tayne]

self-edited for content

suffice to say i enjoy the drawing program in google docs as a game board