Thoughts on online play (roll20, for example)

[der_kluge]

I'd like to run a game again, and while having folks come to my house occasionally in order to do that would be ideal, I know how super challenging that can be. So, I'd like to hear others' thoughts on roll20 (and alternatives). I'm a total noob with regards to that software (again, or alternatives) and would like to hear about the experiences of others that have done something like that.

 

[Grogg of the North]

I've been using Roll20 for a while now, since my D&D group has moved/graduated. It's ... better than nothing. I still miss having people sitting around the table. But it has allowed me to keep playing with people that I truly enjoy gaming with.

There is a lot of coding you can do, if you want to, to save time when playing. But there's nothing stopping you from just having everyone roll their dice and announce their results into their headset.

The biggest complaint I have against roll20 is that if the party rejects the idea of an adventure, it's much harder to improvise. Drawing a map takes a while I know there have been incidents in the games I've been in where the party has thought "Ugh, why would we agree to meet [at this obvious trap]?" But it's what the DM had prepared and it's not like he can grab a marker and quickly make something new. So we begrudgingly went with it.

 

[dd.stevenson]

But it's what the DM had prepared and it's not like he can grab a marker and quickly make something new. So we begrudgingly went with it.

Sure he can--there's a pretty usable set of drawing tools right there on your left hand toolbar. Not brilliant by any means, but more or less as functional as any whiteboard.

 

[dd.stevenson]

Overall, my biggest consideration with online play has been not the venue but the voice technology--in real life, subsets of players can have conversations without preventing others from talking. But when skyping, or whatever, really only one person can talk at a time, because doing so ties up the line.

Obviously there are workarounds (chat, etc.) but IME they've been more trouble then they're worth.

 

[Grogg of the North]

Sure he can--there's a pretty usable set of drawing tools right there on your left hand toolbar. Not brilliant by any means, but more or less as functional as any whiteboard.

While that's true, it felt like it took an exorbitant amount of time to set up some block houses and street. IIRC we all commented, the DM included, that using wet erase markers on a battle map would have been much faster.

 

[dd.stevenson]

While that's true, it felt like it took an exorbitant amount of time to set up some block houses and street. IIRC we all commented, the DM included, that using wet erase markers on a battle map would have been much faster.

I dunno-were there any whiteboard-style features you felt were missing? I use freehand draw to jot down maps every week, and barring a touchscreen, I can't think of anything in that category that's not there that should be.

A mouse isn't as handy as a marker IMO, but I haven't felt it was any more than, say, twice as slow as a marker.

 

[cmad1977]

Overall, my biggest consideration with online play has been not the venue but the voice technology--in real life, subsets of players can have conversations without preventing others from talking. But when skyping, or whatever, really only one person can talk at a time, because doing so ties up the line.

Obviously there are workarounds (chat, etc.) but IME they've been more trouble then they're worth.

I understand this problem. It requires a bit of 'microphone etiquette' from everyone involved. Totally workable, but if people can't manage themselves chaos can ensue. I remind everyone of that issue before play and I won't play with someone who can't tactically mute themselves.

 

[Grogg of the North]

A mouse isn't as handy as a marker IMO, but I haven't felt it was any more than, say, twice as slow as a marker.

This right here. Trying to use the mouse to draw just took a long time. I recall he wasn't trying to do free hand stuff but use the rectangles and other shapes. Things weren't lining up and it took several delete/retries. I imagine that it would be something that would get easier with practice.