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Message: <blockquote data-quote="LordEntrails" data-source="post: 7787208" data-attributes="member: 6804070">Online play means I use more maps. And though not directly related to online play, I do less world building preparation than I used to. Not because of time, but because of player engagement. Players don;t engage with detailed historical mythologies or intricate NPC backstories. They engage with visuals, interesting items, plots and challenges. So that's where I put my prep time.I get this. But I also see the downside of it. Basically you're asking people to write a bunch of stuff that will never be used other than as a screening tool. It takes you time, it takes them time, and you only get to use it for screening.I'm totally for screening players, I do it myself. But what I do is run one-shots during online cons and take notes about the players. Those that show up on time, are engaged, etc, those are the ones I take notes on and when I start a campaign I seek out and ask if they want to play. Not only is doing it this way fun for me, because we are playing a one-shot rather than reading and sifting through applications, it also serves the community because it helps support a con or event. And about half of these players are new or returning to RPGs, so it helps them get back into it as well.I use more handouts online, they just aren't physical. It's easy to make a parchment type look and use it as a handout. For example;[ATTACH]113110[/ATTACH]Sure, the players can't feel it, but they can see it and understand what they need (the map, the material it is made on, that it's burnt, worn, and hand drawn, etc). Not the same, but works well enough.Its really easy to do, their is a tutorial I put together on the Cartographer's Guild on making that map and ones like it.Yep, agree. Over the years (not really related to online play) I too have come to the same conclusion. The elaborate world history, the myths and legends I created for my world, all of that the players never really cared about.Agreed on this. Online using maps are so easy and so valuable that I get annoyed at TotM play (as a player). There are millions of great maps out their, their are several free mapping tools that do just fine, and their are others if you want to get a near professional look that are quick (I use Campaign Cartographer).</blockquote>

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