Telegaming- 5 Locals and a guy from Arizona

[DonTadow]

We got a new player for our game last month and she has asked us if her friend can join the game. Her friend lives in Arizona.

I told her no, but I'd think about it, I am not even sure how plausible it would be, so I am curious if anyone else has a setup like this or tried this.

She brought up the subject to me because I use maptools for my game, tracking all character info, handout distribution and secret player chat. Most players (but not all) bring a laptop and connect to the game. I have a camera on my laptop and am sure i can figure out some remote video software so he can visually be apart of the game. My concerns are

1. What other types of tech do I need. I am really concerned about audio. My players love to chat and role play in game.

2. How will player interaction be. Will the other player feel like hte odd man out

 

[IronWolf]

Definitely possible. How successful depends a lot on the group, but with you using MapTool already, you have the hard part figured out for the most part.

You would need to allow a hole through your firewall to your MapTool server. This can be tricky if you aren't familiar with how to do so or someone in your group isn't. It isn't that hard, but could be for someone that doesn't like to play with forwarding ports on their router.

The remote person would then connect to your MapTool server and they would be able to see your battlemat, get the handouts and use the text chat.

Next up you need a voice (and optionally video) solution. These days you could use Google Hangouts with Google Plus, Google Video Chat or Skype with Video Chat. That would handle voice and video so the person could talk to the others.

Our group will do similar things if someone can't make it. Usually people will gather at our host's house and the person that can't make it Skypes or Google Video Chat's in from home. It works well.

I would think you could at least try it on a trial basis for the person if wanted to. Just let them know up front it is a 3 session trial or something like that. And if it doesn't work out or "feel" right you have an easy option out.

Lots of people gaming online these days though, so it is technically possible.

 

[falcarrion]

My group is all locals. So My group hasn't tried it yet. But I say give it a try.
The only way to truely learn what will work and what will not is try it. The knowleage you will gain is worth the effort alone.
There will be ups and downs why trying this but you will be glad you tried.
Besides the freindship of another gamer.

 

[OnlineDM]

It's worth a shot, but even as a MapTool evangelist I'm a little dubious. I worry that despite everyone's best efforts, the one person who's not at the table will feel like they're missing out.

I use MapTool for a regular online game where all of my players are spread out around the world, and I also use MapTool for in-person games where I project the map onto the table and the players move minis around the map.

I also use MapTool for a game where my wife is in the same house as I am, connected from her computer to mine, and our other players are in other states. For that game, my wife and I go into different rooms so that the audio isn't problematic (we use Skype) - it gets weird if we can hear each other talk in the room before the audio catches up on Skype.

It sounds like your game will be like the last game I described, except with lots of people in one room. If you only have one instance of Skype (or Google Hangouts or whatever) running, then the audio should be okay, but I still worry that the social dynamic will be off.

Give it a shot, though, and let us know how it goes!

 

[IronWolf]

It's worth a shot, but even as a MapTool evangelist I'm a little dubious. I worry that despite everyone's best efforts, the one person who's not at the table will feel like they're missing out.

We've done it often enough in my group that it really isn't that bad. Is it as good as everyone being in the same room? Nope. But is it way better than not gaming? Yep.

Also - [MENTION=20741]Steel_Wind[/MENTION] has a pretty slick setup for gaming remotely with others in the same room. Maybe this summon will work and he can comment as well.

 

[nedjer]

Live in cities usually, so telegaming hasn't been necessary. However, I have to do online tutorials with groups of about twenty and some of this might be useful:

1. have an agreed routine for when things go pear-shaped, e.g. restart and bail options.
2. accept it will take two or three tries to get it down. The social dynamic will pick-up.
3. have a backup audio channel available if possible.
4. upload or send maps, handouts and any images in advance. If you want to reveal stuff live a Facebook gallery or via Amazon's S3 if you've a Wordpress (there's a plugin). It's so much easier to send in advance and trust the player.
5. buff your machines in advance like you're paladins off for a dinner date with Orcus (I take zero responsibility if anyone somehow jiggers their system here ):

• remove unnecessary startups and tidy with Piriform's CCleaner
• use an accelerated browser like Chrome
• remove unnecessary toolbars from the browser
• have as few icons on your desktop as possible
• lower settings on your graphics card if you have one
• use a fast USB stick to accelerate Windows or a solid state HD
• defragment

HTH

 

[prosfilaes]

A DM I know tried for a campaign, and refused to do it for a second one. He wasn't using Maptools or anything like that, just microphone and webcam. He felt everything had to repeated, and everything that happened on the board was impossible for the guy to see.

 

[Nebten]

Seeing that it is a new experince with a gamer you don't know let a lone play with before, I wouldn't go out of your way to get it set up. I discuss it with the other players at the table as well before hand probably away from the new girl to get the players honest opinion. I would make sure that they are comfortable before continuing on.

I have been in the situation before as a player and I didn't like it. There was too much disconnection with vitural player, fuzzy communication, repeating things and really just became an NPC in combat. It also slows down the pace of the game. I left that group because it was no longer fun for me.

 

[jcayer]

I have one player who travels a lot. So we've been working through this for a while. You're already doing the hardest part, using maptools.

We ran through a bunch of audio options at the start. I now have a star phone for gaming and it is far better than any other option, and we tried many.

I think he does feel somewhat disconnected from time to time, but we try to be aware of him and I specifically will ask him if he has any thoughts during an event.

I will also send him emails(with pictures of monsters, etc) throughout the game, or even envelopes before he leaves. This way he gets pictures, in addition to the maps, and the props, whenever possible. He does appreciate that.

For the record, we started with a web cam pointed at a whiteboard. It didn't work. Maptools was by far the best solution and we don't even use the vid cam anymore. There is only so much room for tech at the table.