Gaming Software

[KainMalice]

So, I have been running Rise of the Runelords with my close friends these past few months. My other friend has also been running the Skull and Shackles game, alternating with me. Anyway, it has recently come to our attention that two of our players will basically be leaving the state, and we want to keep going if possible. We were considering using some software to keep it going, but we arent really sure what we could use to really do the game justice. I have seen a few people run some games on these weird anime looking softwares, but it looked kind of odd. Can anyone provide any advice as to how we could go about keeping our game going?

[Macgreine]

There are several types of virtual table tops available to facilitate your game. Some free ( Maptool, RollD20) and some premium (Fantasy Ground and D20Pro) just to name a few. You can check them out by doing a Google search.

[Blueluck]

I've played over Skype and Google+ and had a good time. (I preferred Google+) Choose your favorite free online dice roller, and go to town. The only thing missing is a battle mat, but there are free online versions of that too.

[Rynjin]

Roll20.net is a good free one with a bunch of options.

Maptools has a lot of options too and I believe is also free, but I hear it's a mite hard to get used to using.

I hear Fantasy Ground is actually really good, but it's not free.

[rangerjeff]

If you're going to be playing together for a while, Maptools is a b%~++ to learn and get going, but it's got some great features, and for your situation it sounds like it would be worth it.

Fantasy Grounds is a little over the top, imo. Takes hours to set up your character, and then everything is push-button. Bless, and it's auto figured rounds and all for everybody else. And with that kind of system, making adjustments mid-game can be a pain.

Roll20.net has been my easiest experience so far, and 70%-90% of online PFS uses it. Very simple to use, does nothing but provide the battle map and a chat box for dicerolling (and macros if you want.) together with Skype or Teamspeak or Ventrilo for voice (Skype is usually fine but sometimes buffery, Teamspeak has always been clean). The google hangout isn't as elegant, compromises table size... better to just use the Roll20 website's interface.

As far as premium on Roll20 or D20Pro goes, I'm not sure. And doesn't Paizo have it's own VTT coming out soon?