Playing in Person Is Just Better (for me)

[Corinnguard]

I agree with the feelings of that thrill, but isnt that the same for virtual and real dice?

I tend to think there is more of a thrill with the virtual dice than the real dice because the latter has too many variables tied to it if you are looking for some really good rolls for each of your ability scores.

• The surface you roll the real dice against.
• How long you hold and shake up the dice with one or both hands before releasing them.
• Rolling the dice one at a time or all at once.
• Whether or not you're that kind of person who wants the roll to be near perfect. "I want my character to be above average in his ability scores!"

I know that the virtual dice relies on some algorithm to determine the end result of a roll, but there is also that cool slot machine-like factor that makes it thrilling and entertaining.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Yes these are questions you clear with a talk between DM and players.

Edit: On further thought, I don't see anything served by either providing you more opportunities to misinterpret what I'm saying or potentially returning the favor. Suffice that I do not find it easy (or in some cases, possible) to run most games without at least some kind of map, nor do the majority of my players and leave it at that. If you do, that's fine for you.

 

[cbwjm]

I much prefer in-person than online. I found online to be great for lockdown, and it's excellent for one shots, but for an ongoing campaign I much prefer in-person. I quit my friend's online campaign because it was only online (had to be, players were from different areas in NZ and aome were in Aus), I think I prefer the interaction in a physical space and I'm enjoying the games I play with my friends every fortnight more than the online game.

 

[Velderan]

To each, his own. I like watching virtual dice roll across the top of my D&D Beyond character sheet. It's kind of liking watching one of those casino slot machines as the numbers roll right past you and then slow down to reveal the final result. Then you get to be either get very excited ("I rolled a Natural 20!!!!") or seriously bummed out ("I rolled a 1 again?!?!") or somewhere in between.

Or the time someone at my table tossed a 20 sider up high on an important roll and it landed and bounced into someone's drink. The resulting roll?

 

[Corinnguard]

Or the time someone at my table tossed a 20 sider up high on an important roll and it landed and bounced into someone's drink. The resulting roll?

View attachment 386676

Did the DM allow the player to make a reroll? Or did it count towards whatever check they were making?

 

[Velderan]

Did the DM allow the player to make a reroll? Or did it count towards whatever check they were making?

I was the DM and I counted it as a crit fail which was his first death save. He got healed the next turn so it wasn't a big deal, but we still laugh about it almost 5 years later.

 

[aramis erak]

I tend to think there is more of a thrill with the virtual dice than the real dice because the latter has too many variables tied to it if you are looking for some really good rolls for each of your ability scores.

• The surface you roll the real dice against.
• How long you hold and shake up the dice with one or both hands before releasing them.
• Rolling the dice one at a time or all at once.
• Whether or not you're that kind of person who wants the roll to be near perfect. "I want my character to be above average in his ability scores!"

I know that the virtual dice relies on some algorithm to determine the end result of a roll, but there is also that cool slot machine-like factor that makes it thrilling and entertaining.

Note that almost any PRNG on a computer is more fair than just about any die on the market. If it's fairness you want, Virtual dice are better.

 

[Reynard]

Note that almost any PRNG on a computer is more fair than just about any die on the market. If it's fairness you want, Virtual dice are better.

Virtual dice don't get chipped.

 

[aramis erak]

Virtual dice don't get chipped.

that's true, too... but I may have to introduce some chip artefacting in a die-roller just for shiggles...

 

[Starfox]

I find VTTs are addictive and hard to get out of. I'd prefer to get my games back to face-to-face, but once the players taste the convenience of virtual gaming, its darned hard to get them back in my living room.