Online gaming
- Thread starter Vikarr
- Start date
Michael Silverbane
Adventurer
There are a couple of ways that you can do it...
One involves a VTT (Virtual Table Top) program like maptool or openrpg to handle all of your tactical battlemapping / visual aid needs, along with skype for voice / video chat capabilities. This option is usually best for when the entire group is playing remotely (i.e. each player is at a separate location) and when the game has a high degree of positional tactics (such as later editions of D&D).
A slightly simpler method is to just use skype's video chat capability to game via a video conference. This simpler option can be used when only one person is gaming from a remote location (i.e. most of the group is gathered around a table, as normal, but Jim has moved across the state and con no longer be present at the games) or when gaining tactical position is less important.
In either case, you need to either already have an established group, or find one using other methods (such as EnWorld's Gaming Seeking Gamers area)...
One involves a VTT (Virtual Table Top) program like maptool or openrpg to handle all of your tactical battlemapping / visual aid needs, along with skype for voice / video chat capabilities. This option is usually best for when the entire group is playing remotely (i.e. each player is at a separate location) and when the game has a high degree of positional tactics (such as later editions of D&D).
A slightly simpler method is to just use skype's video chat capability to game via a video conference. This simpler option can be used when only one person is gaming from a remote location (i.e. most of the group is gathered around a table, as normal, but Jim has moved across the state and con no longer be present at the games) or when gaining tactical position is less important.
In either case, you need to either already have an established group, or find one using other methods (such as EnWorld's Gaming Seeking Gamers area)...
Treebore
First Post
The best way to find out how to do everything is to just find and jump into a game. Only openings I have right now are for the Thursday group I am in. We use SKYPE and Maptools, and we play a rotation of RPG's on a 6 week rotating basis. Right now I am running Starblazer (Fate based) for us. Not sure what is next, maybe Eclipse Phase.
I can give you a bit of my perspective on this one. I'm currently playing in a game that I used to attend face-to-face prior to moving about 6 hours away. These days, I'm participating in the game via Skype and d20Pro (previously, we used MapTools).
From my side of things, the single biggest help has been the addition of the webcam showing the other players. When it was voice only, I frequently had issues of wandering attention and such due to getting left out of conversations. There were also times when too many people speaking at once on their end came across as a garbled mess.
Since they added the webcam on their side, I've felt much more involved because I can see them once more. I can see when the gnome sorcerer is nodding off after a long day of work. I can see when the human ranger is pulling out the extra bag of dice before combat to get ready for rapid shot.
Since we use d20Pro to present the maps to the players and Skype runs on a different system that only the DM sees, they don't view my webcam. It just means they don't see me sitting at the table. Sometimes, I wonder if it might work a bit better if they had a dedicated netbook or system running just skype with a monitor positioned where I normally would have sat to help create that illusion of my being there, but it's a topic I haven't broached with the others.
In general, though, I would say that if you are the DM, most everyone will already be focused on you. If you are connecting as a player, do what you can to contribute to conversations and discusions as that will be the best way to remain involved and invested in continuing in the game.
Beyond that, I second what Treebore says. Jump into a game. That will be the best way for you to learn how gaming online works.
Happy gaming.
From my side of things, the single biggest help has been the addition of the webcam showing the other players. When it was voice only, I frequently had issues of wandering attention and such due to getting left out of conversations. There were also times when too many people speaking at once on their end came across as a garbled mess.
Since they added the webcam on their side, I've felt much more involved because I can see them once more. I can see when the gnome sorcerer is nodding off after a long day of work. I can see when the human ranger is pulling out the extra bag of dice before combat to get ready for rapid shot.
Since we use d20Pro to present the maps to the players and Skype runs on a different system that only the DM sees, they don't view my webcam. It just means they don't see me sitting at the table. Sometimes, I wonder if it might work a bit better if they had a dedicated netbook or system running just skype with a monitor positioned where I normally would have sat to help create that illusion of my being there, but it's a topic I haven't broached with the others.
In general, though, I would say that if you are the DM, most everyone will already be focused on you. If you are connecting as a player, do what you can to contribute to conversations and discusions as that will be the best way to remain involved and invested in continuing in the game.
Beyond that, I second what Treebore says. Jump into a game. That will be the best way for you to learn how gaming online works.
Happy gaming.
heruca
Explorer
We use Skype with MapTools. We are satisfied, mostly, with it. My campaign is in Paragon Tier, so MapTools is great just for the condition tracking. In fact, we were able to play in person a month ago and we all sorta agreed we liked combat better virtually, though the roleplaying was better face-to-face.
Dannager
First Post
I don't know what game you play, but WotC has a new virtual tabletop currently in subscriber beta as part of their D&D Insider suite of tools. It has voice chat built in, so no real need to run a separate voice chat program. The voice chat also comes with a selection of voice fonts, if you want to modify the sound of your voice when playing certain NPCs.
The virtual tabletop will be most useful to 4e players, since it integrates with the online character builder and monster database, but if you don't need those features you can use it for any game that benefits from a map, dice roller and voice chat.
The virtual tabletop will be most useful to 4e players, since it integrates with the online character builder and monster database, but if you don't need those features you can use it for any game that benefits from a map, dice roller and voice chat.
