Mixing tabletop and remote players in a game

[Greenfield]

My game table is eight feet long and three feet wide. The pair of absent players normally sit at one end. I'm thinking that I set up the laptop down at that end, screen facing the table. We get to see their faces, they get pretty much the same point of view they usually have.

I have a decent assortment of low walls (resin cast) that I occasionally use to mark corridors and walls in a dungeon. I'm thinking they're substantial enough to be clearly visible over the camera, when tactical layout is crucial.

My concern is as much about verbal participation as anything else. Ours can be a very noisy table, and I'm not sure how well they can hold up their end.

 

[Greenfield]

Well, we the pilot project ran well. I think I need to add some speakers to the PC, so they can be heard over the background noise (meaning some of the players provide constant backchatter).

I used some low, resin cast walls to lay out the structures, instead of simple drawn lines. While I knew they could see the lines, the walls made visibility easier. With that thought in mind, I think I need to get some more of those. They work well.

Other scenery props seemed to help. Green lichen, bought from a model train shop, is easily spread for quick and easy overland scenery. They show up well over the camera.

I'm tempted to try using my Samsung tablet. It might have a better camera.

 

[Grogg of the North]

Glad to hear everything worked out okay.