PFS Online: Thoughts on using apps like Game Table and VOIP to run PFS games

[Wolfrick]

I'm going to run a monthly online PFS game using Gametable. Has anyone else tried this yet? If so what issues have you faced? How was the over all gaming experience? I'm interested to see how many other people have tried this approach and other thoughts on the subject.

[Palyodoom]

Mortran wrote:

I'm going to run a monthly online PFS game using Gametable. Has anyone else tried this yet? If so what issues have you faced? How was the overall gaming experience? I'm interested to see how many other people have tried this approach and other thoughts on the subject.

I have recently tried a PFS scenario using D20Pro/Ventrilo. I do not know anything about game table. I know with D20 it was easy to port the maps from the scenario and import the characters from hero lab. However; there are still a lot of tweaks that need to be done on the program. Fog of War and spell hit/damage is still very clunky.

As for the play, it all seemed to be smooth. There were some things that took longer than in person. 1) setting up the maps was a bit tedious(would be remedied by having the PFS prepackaged...hint hint)
2)Spell damage and hit is not plug and play but I think they are working on that.

Overall, I think It was a good experience and worth the time. Especially if you have members out of town but able to still play. I also plan on trying it in my home game just for the maps.

I think there is a definite place for online tabletops as long as the tabletop is easy to use and does not take away from the role-playing.

Paly

[Mark Moreland]

Mortran wrote:

I'm going to run a monthly online PFS game using Gametable. Has anyone else tried this yet? If so what issues have you faced? How was the over all gaming experience? I'm interested to see how many other people have tried this approach and other thoughts on the subject.

Have you inquired at the Pathfinder Society Online Collective? The fine folks there have a ton of experience with online play.

[Shar Tahl]

We play regularly with TTopRPG and Skype. It works out pretty good. Scenarios end up running about 3 hours on average with combat going pretty fast due to dice rolling macros. It is good to get people together gaming that could not otherwise. Out game last weekend running Devil We Know Part 2 had players from Alberta, Arizona and Wisconsin.

[teribithia9]

We regularly use RPTools maptools and Skype to play with a friend in MD (we're in NC). It usually works pretty well. The only issue we tend to have is that if we draw the maps out on our end, they don't always match the maps exactly straight from the mod. This isn't really relevant unless playing a character where positioning matters a lot in combat, but if you are it can be frustrating. I try to get around it by printing the maps out from the modules to scale and taping them together.

[Wolfrick]

Mark Moreland wrote:

Mortran wrote:

I'm going to run a monthly online PFS game using Gametable. Has anyone else tried this yet? If so what issues have you faced? How was the over all gaming experience? I'm interested to see how many other people have tried this approach and other thoughts on the subject.

Have you inquired at the Pathfinder Society Online Collective? The fine folks there have a ton of experience with online play.

I didn't know about the Online Collective. This is great! Thanks a bunch Mark.

Shar and Paly,

Thanks for sharing your experiences with me. I'm looking forward to trying this myself.

-Mortran

[Agelaus]

The group I play with also uses a combination of TTopRPG and Skype. Works out rather well, especially TTopRPG. A terrific piece of software. My group spans two continents (North America and Europe) and we rarely experience any issues until Skype gets buggy and we have to reset our connections.

[miniaturepeddler]

I have used Maptools (http://rptools.net) Table Top RPG (http://ttoprpg.com/TTopRPG/index.htm), and d20pro (http://www.d20pro.com) to play Virtual Table top games with players throughout the world.

The google online collective has been a great place to get together and the players utilize all the above programs.

They often supplement the games with voice via Skype or Ventrillo, which both work very well (though you are often best served to have the person hosting the voice be separate from the person hosting the table top.

All the game require an investment in time to set up for the GM, but once set up are very smooth, but its rather like comparing coke to pepsi to Royal Crown cola. Its down to preferences.

The PFS pdf scenarios allow for easy copy and insertion of the maps into the VTT programs, with easy overlay of grid system to help in movement and actions.

join in some games, get some experience and have a good time!

Robyn