What do I need to play online
- Thread starter Gundark
- Start date
Absolutely true. I game online, and its great when it works, but setting everything up is/was more than a little tedious. You basically have to get whatever VTT you're using up and running on each player's computer, which can be more trouble than you think. (So and so has a Mac, and the program really isn't built to run on a Mac, So and so has a dinosaur Pentium III, So and so has an unreliable dialup connection, etc.).
The process of connecting can be a hassle too. Wiser folks than I can explain it better, but the DM will usually need to configure his computer to accept the players. Be prepared to learn your way around terms like "firewall", "DMZ" and "port forwarding".
Finally, IME, VTT's have really crappy documentation. Most have little in the way of helpful tutorials or complete manuals. You should be prepared to experiment and learn as you go.
That said, online gaming is a LOT of fun once you get into it. Just don't expect to get up and playing the first time you sit down at your computers.
FWIW, I use d20 Pro, Virtual Tabletop Gaming with d20Pro, and Ventrillo for VOIP. I've used Skype and Teamspeak in the past, and they're fine too.
d20Pro was built to be as 3.5 combatible as possible, and it handles a lot of the 3.5 math that drives folks nuts. It works fine for 4E, but you have to ignore a big chunk of the program to use it that way.
Merkuri
Explorer
Just to make this clear in case anybody misunderstood, the image tool MrGrenadine is talking about is made by the same people that did MapTools, but it'll work with any application that can take image files as minis - it does not require MapTools. All it does, really, is take an image you give it and lets you pick what part of that image to put in a nice border. Then you take the resulting image and use it wherever you want.
I play in the same game as Hussar, and we use TokenTool generated minis all the time. (We use OpenRPG.)
My company makes us use Skype at work to save money on international phone calls (we have offices in Europe and Asia). I think that Skype is very easy to use, but I've been using computers for almost as long as I can remember, so it's hard for me to say how easy it is for non-tech-savvy users.
If you've ever used any sort of internet-based chat client (like AIM, Yahoo chat, MSN Messenger) you'll probably find Skype very easy to use. It's basically the same sort of thing, except it's specialty is voice chat instead of text chat (but it can do both).
You download and install the client, make an account, add people's accounts to your contacts list, then double-click their name to make a voice connection. Once you're connected to one person you can go back to the contact list, right-click on somebody else, and choose "add to conference" to add them to the call as well. Repeat until you have everybody.
You will need some sort of microphone and speakers for Skype, but you'll need those to do any sort of voice chat with your computer, regardless of what program you use. A headset will probably work best, but any combination of mic and speakers will do.
Skype is free, but if you really like it you can sign up for their paid features to be able to do things like call real-world phones and cell phones. Calling from one computer to another is always free, though.
Personally, I find it easier to roleplay and not be self-conscious about it if we play the game all text-based. If you're used to playing in person then you'll probably want to stick with speaking, but don't discount purely text roleplaying. It's very possible and enjoyable to do all your roleplaying with a keyboard, and it's my preferred method for computer roleplaying.
Also, expect it to go very slow, even when you've got things moving.
Whether it's in VTT and a map interface, or fully text, a game just goes slower. Communication is slower, the inevitable technical problems, and the speed of typing/people responding/people unexplicably AFKing or distracted by the TV/Computer/porn while playing. This goes doubly so for combat.
One of the real strengths of the text medium is that 1) you can get real into detail, 2) acting on the fly is easier, because you can sit back and think about your response, and 3) with preparation, you are a master. You can have pre-written text to drop into the chat interface, and have everything ready, without taking time to type.
Right now, I'm playing in a Pyramid of Shadows game on Maptools, and the DM has everything prepped; every room has the map done, the features of the area on a little thing we can click on and check, etc.
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IME, things aren't significantly slower once you get going. Getting started does take longer, particularly if some technical glitch pops up (which it seems to every 3-4 sessions for us). But for my group, after everything is up and running, we make pretty good time.
I think there are two factors at work here for us:
1) We use VOIP, not text, so we don't have a lot of typing delays;
2) Even when we play IRL, people get distracted by the TV/Computer/porn, or wander away to smoke or, occasionally, become incoherent from too much beer. So we I'm used to stuff like that.
I think there are two factors at work here for us:
1) We use VOIP, not text, so we don't have a lot of typing delays;
2) Even when we play IRL, people get distracted by the TV/Computer/porn, or wander away to smoke or, occasionally, become incoherent from too much beer. So we I'm used to stuff like that.
Treebore
First Post
I actually think we are far more "focused" in our on line games than we are in face to face games. Plus if your not paying attention, its much more obvious.
Plus on line gaming is why I love buying PDF's. With Goodmans $2.00 PDF sale I have tons and tons of maps/adventures to use on Maptools. Plus I have a lot of Necromancer Games modules on PDF.
As for tokens, buy Fiery Dragons Digital Tokens. Import those into your Maptools folder and you have hundreds of tokens premade, especially for monsters. Go to Claudio's website and he has a couple of dozen PC type tokens done up there.
Plus maptools has a "size" menu from tiny to gargantuan for any token you use. Plus light sources for pretty much any system, etc...
So yes, Maptools has a bit of a learning curve, but its definitely worth learning.
Plus you can do macros for individual tokens. You can also do a general "world" set of macros, all for a variety of attacks, checks, damage rolls, anything and everything. Even hit point loss and HP healing macros. Those get rather complex, but you can find templates for them on their website.
However basic macros are easy. d20 roll= [1d20]
d20 roll with a modifier= [1d20 + 10]
etc...
Plus on line gaming is why I love buying PDF's. With Goodmans $2.00 PDF sale I have tons and tons of maps/adventures to use on Maptools. Plus I have a lot of Necromancer Games modules on PDF.
As for tokens, buy Fiery Dragons Digital Tokens. Import those into your Maptools folder and you have hundreds of tokens premade, especially for monsters. Go to Claudio's website and he has a couple of dozen PC type tokens done up there.
Plus maptools has a "size" menu from tiny to gargantuan for any token you use. Plus light sources for pretty much any system, etc...
So yes, Maptools has a bit of a learning curve, but its definitely worth learning.
Plus you can do macros for individual tokens. You can also do a general "world" set of macros, all for a variety of attacks, checks, damage rolls, anything and everything. Even hit point loss and HP healing macros. Those get rather complex, but you can find templates for them on their website.
However basic macros are easy. d20 roll= [1d20]
d20 roll with a modifier= [1d20 + 10]
etc...
Yes.
I know they at least have the various burst and blast templates. I don't know how much the rest of the support are individual macros and such.
Haffrung Helleyes
First Post
Maptools
Treebore,
I am a new Maptools DM and I love it so far. I have two questions:
1) Do the fiery dragon tokens have maptool macros built in for the monster attacks? Do they have AC/HP specified? That would be really cool!
2) how important do you think it is to use voice for a smooth game? I am the DM, and I am trying to keep things simple for now.
Thanks!
Ken
Treebore,
I am a new Maptools DM and I love it so far. I have two questions:
1) Do the fiery dragon tokens have maptool macros built in for the monster attacks? Do they have AC/HP specified? That would be really cool!
2) how important do you think it is to use voice for a smooth game? I am the DM, and I am trying to keep things simple for now.
Thanks!
Ken
Treebore
First Post
You have to input such data for each token. Fiery Dragon doesn't actively support Maptools. It just so happens their digital counter collections are perfect for us to use on line.
I am to the point where I prefer talking over chat. However SKYPE combines both within the same program, so it works well to allow use of both.
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