Do you guys have any advice to make things easier? Map programs so visualize space in lieu of not being near enough to each other to just gesture, good dice rollers, anything like that?
Hi Zombie_Dog. There are a number of useful gaming tools that can help you. I started GMing a Pathfinder Campaign just over 2 months ago using D20pro for the mapping and gaming side (it supports Pathfinder) along with using skype. D20pro is what is known as a VTT (virtual table top) gaming tool. Make sure you get one of your players to host the conference in skype while the GM hosts D20pro. This helps stop bandwidth lag when playing. See link for D20pro here: http://www.d20pro.com/
There are other good VTT gaming tools besides D20pro including Fantasy Grounds 2 and Maptool. D20pro and Fantasy Grounds 2 are probably considered the best of these VTTG's but they also have an initial upfront cost (both have free demos I think for you to download). The good thing about them is there are no ongoing costs and you get free updates. Maptool I think is free and well rated by many players though it might lack some of the finish or features of the 2 you pay for. I can only say that D20pro is a pretty good product and is working well for my game. It is probably worth browsing the web on all 3 of these for other people's opinions.
Hope this helps.
Do you guys have any advice to make things easier? Map programs so visualize space in lieu of not being near enough to each other to just gesture, good dice rollers, anything like that?Hi Zombie_Dog. There are a number of useful gaming tools that can help you. I started GMing a Pathfinder Campaign just over 2 months ago using D20pro for the mapping and gaming side (it supports Pathfinder) along with using skype. D20pro is what is known as a VTT (virtual table top) gaming tool. Make sure you get one of your players to host the conference in skype while the GM hosts D20pro. This helps stop bandwidth lag when playing. See link for D20pro here: d20pro
There are other good VTT gaming tools besides D20pro including Fantasy Grounds 2 and Maptool. D20pro and Fantasy Grounds 2 are probably considered the best of these VTTG's but they also have an initial upfront cost (both have free demos I think for you to download). The good thing about them is there are no ongoing costs and you get free updates. Maptool I think is free and well rated by many players though it might lack some of the finish or features of the 2 you pay for. I can only say that D20pro is a pretty good product and is working well for my game. It is probably worth browsing the web on all 3 of these for other people's opinions.
Hope this helps.
I linked the link for you.
For what it's worth guys, I myself happen to have a group that plays over Windows Live(MSN) messenger using a dice-rolling script you can download and install.
Pure roleplay and mental visualization for spatial aspects. Think of it like faster play by post.
~gasp~ pbp can be fast? ~faints~
Maptool is free. And runs on anything with java (mac, windows, whatever).
It is feature rich, and can do just about anything you could possibly want out of a virtual tabletop. The catch is, you need to be willing to code your own rules.
It has more than enough features to make it worthwhile even if you don't write your own code: health bars, store ratings on tokens, manage images for tokens, text chat with a dice roller (that can tap into the ratings on tokens), the ability to point at things on the map so others can see it, an VISION AND LIGHTING tools. All that comes without a single line of code.
Anyway, I use maptool+skype every week (since my group is over 3 time zones now). Not only has it worked, gaming is faster, more fun, and more consistent than it ever was before. When we occasionally play face-to-face games now, we still bust out maptool.
It is an open-source program, which means the documentation is written after the features are included. However, there are some great tutorial videos available, and a wiki.
Maptool is free. And runs on anything with java (mac, windows, whatever).
We game every week using maptools and skype. We only really use maptools for initiative tracking, miniatures and maps. The vision and light tools are fantastic, making it much easier to track what players and critters can and cannot see. We use actual dice for all the rolls. Nobody's taking away our dice.
If you've got some graphic arts or photoshop skills, you can make pretty ripping maps, from or inspired by the ones in published pieces. Or, if you're not, you can at least match or exceed the markerboard maps you're used to.
When I play (as opposed to DM), the rest of the group uses a webcam and miniatures. It's a little less fine-toothed, but still doable. I use the maptools when I DM because I got tired of people complaining 'I didn't know my character was there.' When I play, I usually just let the other players guide my mini (but I'm playing a frenzied berserker, so fine tactics aren't super-important).
But it is very doable. I like being able to hang out once a week with my buddies, even though they're 300 miles away. Now, if only they'd order me pizza.
Let me know if you have any questions about it. I've learned from a few mistakes.
I will add that it can be a little awkward at first. It's harder to read other people's reactions and awareness, and folks can take things out of context very easily. Just try to be patient, and if you do use a VTT, give it a chance to be learned.
My group wanted me to roll where they could hear it (not necessarily see it) because it made them feel better about what sounded like 'arbitrary' decisions. So now, I roll in the clattery wooden tray. Make sure to talk about the experience as much as the game, in order to catch problems before they grow (believe me).
Anyways, just my 2cp.
We game every week using maptools and skype. We only really use maptools for initiative tracking, miniatures and maps. The vision and light tools are fantastic, making it much easier to track what players and critters can and cannot see. We use actual dice for all the rolls. Nobody's taking away our dice.
:D You could put a webcam on the die!
I'm also considering rigging a framework so that all the math is automated (like my normal framework) but you enter the result showing on the rolled die. That way you'd have the best of both worlds: blazing fast automation and good old-fashioned polyhedral plastic on the table!
I'll let you know if that goes anywhere.
:D You could put a webcam on the die!
Naw, if I were there, I'd be rolling behind a screen anyways. Though I did nearly hook it up to show the double twenties that I rolled on a PC during a surprise round...
Anyway, I use maptool+skype every week (since my group is over 3 time zones now). Not only has it worked, gaming is faster, more fun, and more consistent than it ever was before. When we occasionally play face-to-face games now, we still bust out maptool.
I have the same experience with my group since using a D20pro. We play far more regularly now than we ever did. I'd be interested to find out how popular VTT's are with the gaming community in general.
It would also be interesting to see any sort of recent comparisons between the different VTT products from someone who has sampled several or conducted some sort of survery.
I'm glad there are several VTT gaming products out there as competition is a healthy thing. :)
Our group uses Oovoo (a free download) to add two remotely-located players into our game, rather than being limited to one with Skype. We use Oovoo for video and Skype for audio because Oovoo allows the extra video signal while Skype's audio quality is superior. We have no performance problems running both programs simultaneously on one laptop, although one must mute Oovoo's microphone input to avoid feedback echos while running Skype.
Being able to use these programs to bring in long-distance gamers is excellent! Our game takes place in Pennsylvania (with anywhere from 3 to 6 players) and we add one player from New York and another from California. We don't use Maptool or any other VTT, but instead just move around a detachable webcam to show the maps/minis/players. Technology is wonderful and in this case, it works very well.
Hurm
We don't use Maptool or any other VTT, but instead just move around a detachable webcam to show the maps/minis/players. Technology is wonderful and in this case, it works very well.
Hurm
Actually, before we started using maptools (which I chose because it was free and had the features I was looking for), we did the webcam thing. Since I live alone, I was able to build incredibly elaborate maps during the week ahead of time (such as a fortress for the pcs to storm) complete with terrain and elevations (boredom can be a good thing for DMs). My group applauded once when I swooped the camera over the map, and being able to move the camera around (on the level of the minis, for example, can provide some cool effects).
I also bleached out the saturation on the camera for night time scenes, etc. You can do some fun stuff.
One of the cool side-effects of maptools is that the party can actually engage with a range other than point blank!
Download the free Demo of Battlegrounds (a virtual tabletop program) and give it a try. I recommend using it with Skype, Ventrilo, or some other VOIP program running in the background.
And if you'd like to compare all the VTs to see for yourself which one best fit your particular gaming needs, here is a comprehensive list of over 50 VTs.
I have played around with map tools and it surprisingly easy - It doesn’t look it at first but once you go through the demo's it’s a snap.
I have tried to sell my group on using Skype and map tools but they don’t seem that enthusiastic about it.
The benefit of even just using Skype is that people that have RL commitments can still join the game, all they need to do is set up the laptop and web cam at the end of the game table.
Do you have a full group or is anyone else running something like this?Let me know if you have any questions about it. I've learned from a few mistakes.
We have four people on one end and me on the other end, so it's really only a two-way call (but a full group). Both ways have worked well for us (though we just discovered we don't have a USB 2.0 socket on the game room PC, so we're having a hard time upgrading the web cam down there).
The only snag is that it can be hard to make out multiple voices, and people farther away from the mic/camera can be difficult to hear, but it just takes a little understanding.
For all who find this concept intriguing, I'm getting ready to do this. Either this Wednesday or next. I actually need another player or two.
Info can be found here.
(though we just discovered we don't have a USB 2.0 socket on the game room PC, so we're having a hard time upgrading the web cam down there)
You might be able to install an USB expansion card. As just a sample, this is what I mean. Someone will need to verify there is an open expansion slot, and what type it it is. (PCI, most likely, but might be PCIe or even ISA if there is no 2.0 ports.)
(though we just discovered we don't have a USB 2.0 socket on the game room PC, so we're having a hard time upgrading the web cam down there)You might be able to install an USB expansion card. As just a sample, this is what I mean. Someone will need to verify there is an open expansion slot, and what type it it is. (PCI, most likely, but might be PCIe or even ISA if there is no 2.0 ports.)
I thought of that. Unfortunately, I'm the most technically adept of our little group, and the computer is 300 miles away. It shouldn't be too hard, and I know there's an empty slot (it's my old PC down there).
Didn't realize they were quite that cheap. I'll have to check it out.