What has been your overall experience with Pathfinder using a VTT (Virtual Table Top). Did it add to the game? Was the game better or worse? I would like to see what other people think...
I feel that it can become too much like a computer game if the DM allows it.
As a Fantasy Grounds user for the past two-and-a-half years with two permanent groups of friends that I play with, my experience has been as listed below.
Note: My experience is only in combination with VoIP through Skype, and cannot say how it feels like for those who use text only (some say that improves RP, but as I play with good friends I'd much rather talk with them).
- You can actually play with your friends even if you/they move. (biggest pro I guess)
- You don't sit next to the ones you play with.
- You can eat while playing without worrying about making a mess (except on your own computer and do turn your microphone down please;)
- Much easier and cheaper to handle detailed, more and bigger maps.
- No need to spend time traveling
- Able to play over various time zones (though other issues are connected with that)
- Much easier management of character sheets, multiple characters and companions.
- Everyone can see the dice rolls, no room for mistakes or cheating ;)
- You can multi-task if necessary.
- Easier to gather a pick up group, or arrange one-shots (I haven't tried personally, but it seems like it).
- Calculate die rolls instantly (at least if you know which bonuses to apply).
- Superb combat tracker
Cons:
- You don't sit next to the ones you play with.
- Possible connectivity issues.
- You can multi-task too easily which might make some players more distraught than they would during an in-person game.
- time zone issues; One of my groups has players in PST(GMT-7?), GMT, GMT+1 and GMT+2. When I'm in GMT+9 can make it very difficult to find time to play (e.g player on West Coast begins playing at 8am while I at midnight).
Just like in-person play except (some are both pros/cons):
Pros:
As a game-master I definitely prefer online through FG.
As a player I also prefer online, though I wouldn't mind being able to play in-person now and then just to hang out with friends you don't see very often.
Also, I have never felt it being even remotely similar to a computer game.
edit: there might be more things, but these were the ones that first came to mind.
edit2: As bigkilla mentions below, some people don't commit as much to an online session. It sucks trying to wait for someone who doesn't show without saying a word. This lead me to saying to my players, that if you don't show within 30 minutes of scheduled time, we begin play or drop the session (if there are too few players).
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I currently run 2 campaigns using D20pro. The games can defiantly become very mechanical if you let them. But that goes for tabletop games as well.
I have found that with the rules complexity of Pathfinder using a VTT can be very slow and cumbersome in some places. But overall I have enjoyed the games I am running.
The only real downfall I have found in running games online using a VTT is that you get a lot of flakey people.Since there is virtually zero accountability online people feel that they can commit to a game and never show up, or come to a game late or skip a few sessions and come back. To me it is the human element that is the worst part of using a VTT online.
I love maptool. Free and customizable.
We go to elaborate measures to use MapTool for live games now as well (projectors, wiimotes, all sorts of craziness).
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Leonal did an excellent job of summarizing the pros and cons. Beyond those, it's all up to variances in the individual tools.
There are a lot of other posts here about which tools are out there. Check out the BattleGrounds web site because heruca has a page full of links to other VTTs. It even looks like WotC may finally come up with something for 4e! That's great for them. ;)
I only play using MapTool. Like Mr. Lincoln, I have a tendency to use free software (both in $$$ and in liberty) and MapTool fits both.
The Pathfinder Society Online Collective (link) is a group of people who play PFS games using entirely online tools. If you're looking for a pickup game, this is a great way to do it. Your PFS character even gets credit for the game. :)
The primary tools at PFSOC seem to be MapTool, TTopRPG, and d20Pro. FantasyGrounds doesn't get mentioned often. Nor does Kloogewerks or BattleGrounds. I'm not saying they aren't used, only that I don't see them.
Disclaimer: I'm now a contributor to the MapTool project. I wasn't when I first started using it.
I love maptool. Free and customizable.
We go to elaborate measures to use MapTool for live games now as well (projectors, wiimotes, all sorts of craziness).
OK, now you have my attention. You are running MapTools on the Wii? How? I'm using Maptools for my game now, and the only thing lacking is the ability of the players to conveniently move things around...a wiimote would be perfect for this.
OK, now you have my attention. You are running MapTools on the Wii? How? I'm using Maptools for my game now, and the only thing lacking is the ability of the players to conveniently move things around...a wiimote would be perfect for this.I love maptool. Free and customizable.
We go to elaborate measures to use MapTool for live games now as well (projectors, wiimotes, all sorts of craziness).
I don't own a wii, I own a wiimote, because it is an inexpensive and versatile bluetooth controller. I also own a sensor bar, because it is a component in my "poor man's touchscreen" table setup.
Darwiin and RemoteBuddy are two applications on Mac OS that you can use for this kind of setup. Similar programs exist on other OSes.
In general, it isn't too hard to get a remote of some kind working with your computers, and MapTool lets you map function keys to macros so if you're crazy (and I am) you can work out ways for players to do most things from a remote.
I've been looking into a VTT myself. My regular players are starting to spread out. Anyway, I've run across a VTT that I haven't seen mentioned here, to whit:
Gametable. An open source free VTT hosted on Sourceforge. Looks good. Java based and cross platform / OS agnostic. Has links to SKYPE etc. for voice chat as well as Sun for the Java Runtime Environment (for those who do not already have it).
http://gametable.sourceforge.net/Gametable/Home.html
I haven't tried it yet (others may have?) but it adds another choice. And it's free. Just get your friends to DL it and off you go... should anybody try it (or have already done so) I'd like to get your impressions. Interested in the pros / cons of the various programs as well...
I've been looking into a VTT myself. My regular players are starting to spread out. Anyway, I've run across a VTT that I haven't seen mentioned here, to whit:
Gametable. An open source free VTT hosted on Sourceforge. Looks good. Java based and cross platform / OS agnostic. Has links to SKYPE etc. for voice chat as well as Sun for the Java Runtime Environment (for those who do not already have it).
http://gametable.sourceforge.net/Gametable/Home.html
I haven't tried it yet (others may have?) but it adds another choice. And it's free. Just get your friends to DL it and off you go... should anybody try it (or have already done so) I'd like to get your impressions. Interested in the pros / cons of the various programs as well...
There's a thread in the Technology sub-forum further down on how the different VTTs compare for Pathfinder, it could use some more input from users of various VTTs though. Link
As for comparing in-person play with online VTT play, I would think it's generally the same issues regardless of VTT used.
There's a thread in the Technology sub-forum further down on how the different VTTs compare for Pathfinder, it could use some more input from users of various VTTs though. Link
Thanks, I'll check it out.
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I currently run 2 campaigns using D20pro. The games can defiantly become very mechanical if you let them. But that goes for tabletop games as well.
I have found that with the rules complexity of Pathfinder using a VTT can be very slow and cumbersome in some places. But overall I have enjoyed the games I am running.
The only real downfall I have found in running games online using a VTT is that you get a lot of flakey people.Since there is virtually zero accountability online people feel that they can commit to a game and never show up, or come to a game late or skip a few sessions and come back. To me it is the human element that is the worst part of using a VTT online.
D20 Pro has links into and out of Hero Labs and the updates in Hero Labs are on time with not only the core books and their updates, but even the various module series'. That way when we create characters we can get the feats from the particular module and add them right in to the new character and then transport the character and its image over to D20 Pro in a Pathfinder Template.
Without exaggeration this has taken the character creation and deployment process from an hour and a half (for new folks) to 20 minutes for other new folks. In addition they can update their character sheet there at the house during the "dinner period" and I have all of their stats and such up to date - fast - quick and inna hurry. Then they get to take home a very well populated and developed character sheet.
Yeah VTT is handy. I find it best to run it on my i7 Windows 7 (64) and link into that box on the iPad using a screen scraper. You get the fast response of the quad -duo and mobility of the iPad. As for maps - you just drop a 32" flat screen under a lexan tabletop and u never draw out a map again. I build my maps in the Campaign Cartographer and that tool is second to none.
Overall I think that VTT is best used to improve the experience rather than to expand it. Unless you already have a relationship with the people that are going to play the game with you it is likely that you will experience the foolish behavior mentioned above by my learned friend "Bugkilla"
Basically what Leonal said. I will just add that VTT (Maptool in this case) + Skype has been an absolute godsend for my gaming life.