Has anyone tried gaming via webcam?

[broghammerj]

After having moved away from my two previous groups, starting a new job, and an expanding family, I really don't have time to go out and find a new group. Given the DDI game table release is about as eminent as the apocalypse I have to find an alternative to itch where I scratch.

I had the idea of sitting in with the old group via the webcam. Their end could focus on the battlemat during combat or on the DM during roleplaying. I was just wondering if anyone had given it a go.

 

[primarchone]

After having moved away from my two previous groups, starting a new job, and an expanding family, I really don't have time to go out and find a new group. Given the DDI game table release is about as eminent as the apocalypse I have to find an alternative to itch where I scratch.

I had the idea of sitting in with the old group via the webcam. Their end could focus on the battlemat during combat or on the DM during roleplaying. I was just wondering if anyone had given it a go.

Hi!

I'm about to attempt the same thing... with a twist.

I have 3 players physically where I live and two more whom live far away.

We are going to start to play adding the two remote players via webcams.

It would be nice to see if anyone has recommendations as to what webcams to use.

Primarchone

 

[Irda Ranger]

Sure, PBVC - Play By Videoconference.

My group includes a player who has somewhat of a longish drive. When he doesn't feel like making the trip we use Skype. We have a MacBook set up in his normal seat at the end of the table. He see everyone using the built in webcam and we can all just look downtable to see him.

But it only works with two locations. I think if more than two locations were on webcam it would fall apart. That's been my experience with videoconferencing at work.

 

[Emirikol]

SKYPE works really well when playing D&D Living Forgotten Realms with MAPTOOLS.
www.rptools.net

jh

 

[lrsach01]

Our group has had a person playing online for 10 years now. The best system for us is Skype. It has been rock solid although the preview camera image is really small and makes it a bit more difficult for us to adjust the camera for him so he can see our game board. The biggest problem he has is keeping track of the conversation when lots of people talk at once.

In the past, we have had others try to play online at the same time (including myself). Skype doesn't support more than one camera at a time in the same chat. For these times, we've had to go to Yahoo Messenger. The image isn't as good, but sound still works great and more than one person can play from afar. The problem with Yahoo is that it suffers in times of high usage (Mother's Day is ALWAYS a killer).

One other tip, get as small a tripod as possible so the camera can get really close to the board.

 

[broghammerj]

Has anyone used Windows Messenger Live? I use this to communicate with my out of town parents and in laws. I am familiar with skype because my au pair used to call home to Poland but I have never actually tried skype. Mostly because it would take to long to explain to my parents how to install the program onto the computer.

 

[Gilladian]

Another vote for skype and a good set of web tools. We used skrbl (a shared whiteboard at skrbl: easy to share online whiteboard) to very good effect last week. We don't bother with cameras, just voice. And one player was doing typed chat only because his girlfriend was sleeping a few feet away.

Our players for that game are scattered all over (Texas, Vermont, Canada), so the online solution was a necessity. We haven't tried any of the "real" online game toolsets.

 

[thedungeondelver]

After having moved away from my two previous groups, starting a new job, and an expanding family, I really don't have time to go out and find a new group. Given the DDI game table release is about as eminent as the apocalypse I have to find an alternative to itch where I scratch.

I had the idea of sitting in with the old group via the webcam. Their end could focus on the battlemat during combat or on the DM during roleplaying. I was just wondering if anyone had given it a go.

Our remote gamer has tried to use the webcam to game with us. We have had little success with it. Skype spikes our systems to 100% of CPU load (Skype, after 30 minutes, uses your system to help route calls...), audio on other apps is choppy... we just haven't had much success at all, really.

 

[Nebulous]

Our remote gamer has tried to use the webcam to game with us. We have had little success with it. Skype spikes our systems to 100% of CPU load (Skype, after 30 minutes, uses your system to help route calls...), audio on other apps is choppy... we just haven't had much success at all, really.

That's disappointing to hear. My brother lives out of state and we'd like to get him back into the game. We play a pretty regular table top game, and i'm not too keen on the interactive web stuff, although i do hear good things about them. (map tools, fantasy grounds, VTT. etc, well, not VTT yet)

Does anyone else have severe audio problems with hearing the remote player? How well can that player hear everyone else? And is there an easy way to pick up the camera to give that player a close up of the board? We play a pretty combat heavy campaign, so a good view of the battle board would be important.

Lastly, does an expensive camera give you much over a cheaper one?

 

[Prism]

Hi

We have one of our remote players using a webcam based setup from his house and the rest of us are at another location. We have used both Skype and Windows live messenger which both work well. I have to say at the moment we are using Skpe as the voice quality sounds a little better (It pains me to say that with my job requiring me to be a MS fanboy!)

We use a pretty decent webcam on a stand at the side where most of us are, inc board and figures. We move the webcam a bit closer to the action during combat and back out for general stuff. Ideally having two webcams - one on the board and another the room would be ideal but neither of these pieces of software support dual cams. We may investigate conferencing software in the future such as GoToMeeting or Live Meeting.

Its certainly worth a try and although its not as good as having our mate in the room with us its the next best thing

 

[Nightchilde-2]

We currently use MapTools and Teamspeak. Haven't tried the webcam thing yet. Too scared someone's going to forget to put on clothes.

 

[Troll Wizard]

After having moved away from my two previous groups, starting a new job, and an expanding family, I really don't have time to go out and find a new group. Given the DDI game table release is about as eminent as the apocalypse I have to find an alternative to itch where I scratch.

I had the idea of sitting in with the old group via the webcam. Their end could focus on the battlemat during combat or on the DM during roleplaying. I was just wondering if anyone had given it a go.

For us it works great, we got one player right now in Japan for a 1 year as a english teacher. We play at my house in Leesburg, Virginia

We use Skype for the video and audio.

The video cam (logitech - USB) is setup to capture the battlemap, he has no problem seeing the minis and squares to provide detailed move orders for his character.

I use a $14.88 large mic I bought at Best Buy so everyone at the table (4'x8') can speak, and a set of 20W speakers - both are connected to my ASUS laptop.

My connection is Verizon FIOS with 8 Meg speed, so there is no lag in video or voice. Actually everyone was surprised how sharp and clear the voice was and voice lag was barely a second. Just have to be careful not too many people speak at the same time.

Also I have no CPU issues with Skype, I simultaneous run IE, MS Word, MS Excel since my adventures, combat charts, etc. are all run on the laptop and "wirelessly" (about 20’ from the router).

 

[lrsach01]

Our remote gamer has tried to use the webcam to game with us. We have had little success with it. Skype spikes our systems to 100% of CPU load (Skype, after 30 minutes, uses your system to help route calls...), audio on other apps is choppy... we just haven't had much success at all, really.

We've been using Skype for about 2 years now with out problems... EXCEPT for the time we tried to use the laptop running WinXP and only having 256 megs of RAM.

 

[lrsach01]

We currently use MapTools and Teamspeak. Haven't tried the webcam thing yet. Too scared someone's going to forget to put on clothes.

Keep it pointed at the board AT ALL TIMES!!!!

 

[Ranger REG]

After having moved away from my two previous groups, starting a new job, and an expanding family, I really don't have time to go out and find a new group. Given the DDI game table release is about as eminent as the apocalypse I have to find an alternative to itch where I scratch.

I had the idea of sitting in with the old group via the webcam. Their end could focus on the battlemat during combat or on the DM during roleplaying. I was just wondering if anyone had given it a go.

Isn't that like taking LARP to a whole 'nother level?

I've been thinking about this. Let me know how you pulled it off.

 

[Mistwell]

I really do not understand why more people do not use KLOOGE WERKS.

It's a great piece of software. It's relatively cheap for the DM and free for the players. Combined with Skype, it works quite well.

 

[Ranger REG]

I really do not understand why more people do not use KLOOGE WERKS.

They don't get advertised enough.

Maybe if they follow all the companies that make their products iPod-compatible or -ready (from boomboxes to car stereo ... oy vey ), make Klooge Werks D&D-ready.

 

[SuperGnome]

I really do not understand why more people do not use KLOOGE WERKS.

It's a great piece of software. It's relatively cheap for the DM and free for the players. Combined with Skype, it works quite well.

Klooge isn't free for the players unless the DM buys licenses, just to clarify. I actually do use Klooge (currently to play, but i have run games in the past) and find it fantastic.

I found this thread because I too am thinking about working in a webcam to my tabletop game. I don't want everyone at the table looking at screens, I want them just playing D&D old school. Paper, books, dice, etc... That rules out klooge in this case for me at least. The webcam would fit in for an avatar of sorts of those who can't make the drive for whatever reason. It would result in a near transparent remote player. We all talk, look at the battlemap, and play. Heck, the remote dude(s) can point a cam at their dice when they roll!

As for cams:
I have a couple cheap cams that work... well, cheaply I guess. Some other options are Logitech Quickcam Orbit AF or Creative Live! Motion. You can actually remotely control these via the web (the Logi requires 3rd party software like the free eyespyfx). The Logi is apparently far superior for image quality, and works great in low light. The Creative is subpar for the price, but apparently includes remote control software. You then could have the remote player looking around the table, zooming in, etc... I love that idea, but the price of admission is rather high.

 

[Zaruthustran]

Yes

Gabe's tried it with great success. He posted about his experience here, including pics.

 

[elion]

would like to join a group

Hi guys,

Im actully a swedish guy but I ould liek to join one of your group and play by webcam, I have played so many RPG since I was a kid and now it is hard to find a group here so Im trying my luck overseas. So, Im open to any kind of Rpg game with a fun group, please send me an email.

elielilemasabachtani@hotmail.com

if I may join a group,
kind regards
THeo