Online Gaming <-- Need Help

[aurin777]

Hey there, not so recently, my gaming group and I were scattered to the wind (jobs + college = no more gaming) so I decided recently that I would try a hand at getting everyone together on IRC or somesuch so we can pseudo gaming. Okay, so the roleplaying works great, but we are very dependent on our battle map. We arn't a combat oriented group, but when we do do combat we are very locked into the rules. Is there a program that basically gives me a battlemap online? that people can watch? I only need a gridded picture and counters I can move around that snap to fit into the squares? It may not be the same as seeing the minis, but it is better than no battlemap. Anyone have any ideas?

~~Brandon

 

[Murrdox]

Well, here's an idea...

If you already HAVE battlemaps and minis, try using a webcam.

While chatting in IRC, all the party members can connect to the webcam, which you can focus on the battlemap. The players can then say "Okay, my fighter moves up 30 feet to the orc" and you can change his position on the battle mat.

Webcams are pretty freaking cheap... I think you can get a really good one for like $50-70... and there's probably freeware to do the net broadcasting.... although honestly I don't own a webcam and I've never done any online gaming before... this is just an idea.

I dunno, personally, I think viewing a battlemap board with all the minis on it would be cooler than using a clunky movement grid program.

 

[aliberator]

Try Klooge

Go over to www.kloogeinc.com/werks and check out Klooge werks. It is a battlemat with minis that you use to play online with. Sounds like just what you need. The makers of it are very friendly and helpful and Klooge is constantly being upgraded. The only downside is it costs money (if I recall $25 for DM and $15 for players). But believe me the one time fee is worth every penny.

 

[drquestion]

A free alternative is OpenRPG. It's essentially a chat program with a battlemap tacked on to it. It's freeware, of course, so you can expect the usual array of minor problems with it. The python that it runs under can be a problem to install, and the program itself sometimes has problems with freezing, slowdown, etc. It's certainly a workable solution, though, and it has the advantage of being free.

A suggestion regarding online play and combat: Combat tends to run very slowly in online play. YMMV, but what I find works best is to only have a major combat once every 3 or 4 sessions, with nothing bigger than minor skirmishes during the other sessions, and with the expectation that a major combat will take up most, if not all, of a session.

drquestion

 

[aurin777]

I looked into the whole Klooge thing, and for my players and I all to play it is around $70... for that I could drive up on weekends and save money, not to mention the amount of work it takes me to make all of those sceneries and whatnot. I'm going to pass on that one. The battlemap idea with webcam isn't a bad one, but the pictures will turn out grainy and I'd rather have just an overhead grid with numbered figures that moved. As for OpenRPG.net, I couldn't find it. When I went to the page under downloads, there is only one software download, and it wasn't it. Perhaps someone is less blind than I am? Any other ideas from you guys?
~~Brandon

 

[mikey6990]

You might look at Screen Monkey . It costs about $30.00 for the server for the GM, but players just need a web browser. It is a basic battlemap with counters, etc and chat session. It is VERY easy to use and what I have begun using.

Mike

 

[drquestion]

Sorry, should be www.openrpg.com, not .net. My faut.

 

[aurin777]

Hey guys!
I downloaded all of the things that you all recommended, and I even tried setting up the webcam to work like that, but the best thing I found was openrpg. I recommend anyone who is looking for the tabletop feel but is gaming online to get it. Its a simple grid you can zoom in and out of, draw on, and you can load in backgrounds you made yourself (I've got a train drawn up and ready to go even) and it is just a text chat and everything. I give it two thumbs up!
~~Brandon

 

[Kyramus]

check this out.
http://rpg.echostation.com/wav/wav.html

it's a script to be used with irc.