Internet RPG Play

[Thakkar]

I am looking for a good way to play rpgs via the internet, D&D 4e specifically. At present we are doing a group game of 4 players at my house with one that will need to play via the internet. We are considering using Yahoo Messenger and video chat for this player. The only concern I have is him being able to see the battle mat while we are gaming. We can tell him whats happening but he will not be able to see the mat. Any suggestions of differnet ways to do things would be greatly apprecaited. Thanks! Thakkar

 

[Nikosandros]

My 4e group is exactly in the same situation as yours: me and three players meet face to face and a fourth player connects through the Internet.

We purchased an external Webcam that we point towards the battlemat; it works very well for us, as the resolution is high enoug for the remote player to distinguish the miniatures and the terrain features. We use Skype for the connection.

 

[Mark]

It's in its infancy, but I think it is worth keeping up with what is happening with Google Wave -

EN World D&D / RPG News - EN World "Google Wave" Users

 

[Janx]

Skype, MSN Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger all have video conferencing built-in.

Just have both sides get an account (free) and friend each other.

Hook up the cameras, and launch a video chat (usually by right clicking the friend in the friendlist, there's an option).

Most modern USB cameras have a mic built-in as well.

yuo might also look into MapTool for the battlemat. goto RPTools.com to learn more (it's free).

 

[Hand of Evil]

See FANTASY GROUNDS

There are also some others.

 

[renau1g]

You could use the Virtual Tabletop...oh wait...hasn't been released yet. Man that'd be cool if it was.

Anyways, I've tried Maptools/Ventrillo and it worked pretty good the 1 session we played before the GM quit.

 

[Festivus]

We use a combination of Skype (with video) and Maptool (www.rptools.net) for a Pathfinder game bi-weekly. One player is in Idaho, the rest in the room. Our DM has a projector so he projects the maps onto the tabletop, and one player is responsible for moving the tokens around the battlefield (so that the remote player can see what is happening).

 

[Pour]

We play using mIRC (for chat rp and rolls), Mythweaver/Tangledweb for character sheets, Maptool for maps, and a blog for resources, session summaries, and the like.

Personally, I am a much better typer than I am a live DM. I also find it's easier to run side-rps and solo moments than if I were at a table. And I think, having played for nearly 10 years online, I feel most comfortable acting via the chat client versus any sort of video or audio.

 

[Krensky]

My 4e group is exactly in the same situation as yours: me and three players meet face to face and a fourth player connects through the Internet.

We purchased an external Webcam that we point towards the battlemat; it works very well for us, as the resolution is high enoug for the remote player to distinguish the miniatures and the terrain features. We use Skype for the connection.

This is what I do for a game I'm in with a player on the other side of the state.

 

[Prism]

We have the same setup with one player remote. We use Skype or Live Messenger with webcams either end. We used to point our webcam at a battlemat (which worked fine) however over the last year we have dropped the mat and now use Maptools. We have a couple of netbooks in the room we use to move the minis but the main PC/media centre uses the TV. It helps that its a 56" LCD

If you get in a situation where multiple people are remote there is other software that allows multi person A/V meetings but this tends to have a cost relating to it