Forked Thread: How do you feel about online gaming?

[Hussar]

1) Do you play online, and if you don't how interested are you?

I've been playing online since about 2002. OpenRPG and now, recently, Maptools.

I really cannot understand anyone who would rather give up gaming than play online. Sure, I love the social aspect too. Don't get me wrong. But, VTT gaming is by no means the red headed stepchild of gaming. It's every bit as rewarding, rich and enjoyable as face to face gaming.

It's different, I grant that of course. But it is by no means inferior. If your experience has led you to think this way, I would place that squarely in the lap of the game master and not the tools.

2) How satisfied are you with the current tools (are they great, just good enough, or don't meet your minimum needs to play online)?

Good enough. My biggest problem with current tools, either OpenRPG or Maptools, is that they are opensource. That's great in that they get worked on by lots of people, but, its also bad because they get designed by commitee. They tend to lack focus in other words.

However, as they improve, functionality keeps getting added. There are things that are a LOT easier to do on a VTT. Mapping being the biggest one. I have individual minis for every single encounter the PC's face. There's no such thing as the Skittles orc in my game. I also use liberal use of sound files - either as soundtracks, or sound effects. The fact that I have the entire Internet at my fingertips during play is a huge tool to be used.

3) Would you be more interested in tools from WotC, less interested, or indifferent.

I think a WOTC tabletop would be great in that it will build a solid community from which you will be able to get into a game that fits both your playstyle and schedule. For those out there who have stable groups that have been together for years, that's great. But there are lots of gamers out there who struggle to find groups of like minded gamers to enjoy games with. A large VTT community will provide a place for everyone to find a game that they enjoy.

 

[catsclaw227]

And I have absolutely no faith in WotC's competence with digital gaming stuff.

I felt this way as well, but then the current DDI tools have changed this perception. The Compendium is good and the CharBuilder is the best RPG character creation tool that's ever been made for tabletop gaming (in my opinion).

I know you don't play 4e, so it's really no help to you, but to your point about WOTC's past digital gaming failures, they really have improved dramatically.

 

[MrGrenadine]

1) Do you play online, and if you don't how interested are you?
2) How satisfied are you with the current tools (are they great, just good enough, or don't meet your minimum needs to play online)?
3) Would you be more interested in tools from WotC, less interested, or indifferent.

1) Yes! I play in a weekly 3.5 game on OpenRPG, a weekly Pathfinder game on Maptool/Ventrilo, and a weekly 4e game on Klooge/Ventrilo.

2) My least favorite software is OpenRPG. I actually had to stop playing for months last year, because the software just stopped working on my Mac. I basically scoured the internet for advice, and finally got it working again, but I don't want to do that much work with the software I use. Maptool is great--like OpenRPG its open source, and free, the interface is easy to use, and overall, its fairly robust. My only quibbles with it are minor--I can't seem to get macros to work, and it crashes much too often, (sometimes 3 or 4 times a session). That being said, I really like it. Klooge.werks is fantastic--its incredibly robust, handles a lion's share of the math for you, and even handles the fiddly +1, +2 bonuses elegantly. I really don't have anything negative to say about it, except the learning curve is a little steep, but the folks who develop and use the software are extremely helpful should you need assistance. Also, unless the DM has purchased a license you can use, you need to purchase one yourself--its very inexpensive, and I gladly bought one, but thats will be a negative for some people I'm sure.

3) As for WotC, I'm not interested in their tools unless they start supporting Macs. (I know I can run DDi using Parallels, or something, but thats an added expense I won't consider).


As for why: No local friends who game, and a young baby at home make online play my only option for now. I like not having to drive anywhere to play though!

 

[Lanefan]

1) Do you play online, and if you don't how interested are you?

No, and not really. Much of the fun of the game comes from the at-table experience; not yet replicable online.

2) How satisfied are you with the current tools (are they great, just good enough, or don't meet your minimum needs to play online)?
3) Would you be more interested in tools from WotC, less interested, or indifferent.

No answer for 2. For 3, I'd rather see WotC put their resources into tools for table gaming - everything from adventures to character sheets to props to etc. - than online.

Lan-"what is this online of which you speak?"-efan