Stormonu
NeoGrognard
The main one I've had experience with is Fantasy Grounds (II). For me, the dice part of the app was enough to hook me. The version of Maptools I got a hold of didn't impress me, and I never really got to get in-depth with d20Pro. With that note, these are my experiences:
I've most just run the DM client for my face-to-face games, but I have on at least a couple of occasions used it with others plugging in with the player client (I bought a DM host + 4 player licenses for my LAN network, with the player clients ended up getting put onto my gamer's laptops instead).
Main problem I had was with the initial connection. Firewalls have to be properly tuned or turned off. Also, there's always at least one person's computer that's gotta be a problem, so whatever solution you go with, do at least a 45-minute test session just to make sure everyone is up, running and connected before you settle into a real game session.
And it can be a little more difficult to do off-the-cuff gaming through a VTT. With all the nice display and prep options VTT's have, when players go off the rails, it can be painfully evident.
On the good side, a VTT can be a great help in organizing a game and presenting great visual cues. Combat trackers, the built-in battlemats and electronic character sheets (in some VTT's) make it a pleasure to use and can make fiddly systems (such as 3E & 4E) work effortlessly.
I've most just run the DM client for my face-to-face games, but I have on at least a couple of occasions used it with others plugging in with the player client (I bought a DM host + 4 player licenses for my LAN network, with the player clients ended up getting put onto my gamer's laptops instead).
Main problem I had was with the initial connection. Firewalls have to be properly tuned or turned off. Also, there's always at least one person's computer that's gotta be a problem, so whatever solution you go with, do at least a 45-minute test session just to make sure everyone is up, running and connected before you settle into a real game session.
And it can be a little more difficult to do off-the-cuff gaming through a VTT. With all the nice display and prep options VTT's have, when players go off the rails, it can be painfully evident.
On the good side, a VTT can be a great help in organizing a game and presenting great visual cues. Combat trackers, the built-in battlemats and electronic character sheets (in some VTT's) make it a pleasure to use and can make fiddly systems (such as 3E & 4E) work effortlessly.
