Desktop: The VR Paper-Pushing Game. No role-playing required.

I've done a lot of remote RPG GMing and playing without a virtual tabletop:

* snail mail
* telephone
* email
* forum
* multi-person chat software
* using some PBEM and multiplayer computer games

I've tried some programs, but never really took the plunge to trying to use programs designed to be virtual tabletops for RPGs. I've looked at them but never saw one I wanted to use more than just using email or something.

I have found that it can be fun and interesting to do, but also can be even more work than running a game in person (at least the way I do it). One thing I have really liked though is that all of the methods (except phone) tend to give the GM a complete record of everything.

It's also good for making "note passing" easy and undetectable... but that also applies to players passing notes without the GM knowing. I've seen players doing rather elaborate OOC metagaming outside the channels the GM is connected to - sometimes for better, sometimes not.

I use papers and pencils usually, plus some dice and maybe a rulebook.

Quote from: Shawn Driscoll;981042Desktop: The VR Paper-Pushing Game. No role-playing required.

Don't know what alternate reality you are from but I don't know anybody who considers a internet whiteboard and text chat as a form of virtual reality. As for the roleplaying people roleplay as much with VTTs as they do face to face.

Which of the VTTs work best with various OSR offerings - for example, I'm currently pretty partial to Beyond the Wall for fantasy and White Star for sci fi. Would Fantasy Grounds or Roll20 be markedly superior options for those?

Having moved out to the stix some years ago there are no real 'face to face' groups about down here. And I'm way too lazy to go up to Dublin for a game (plus, it's expensive and rural transport is highly restrictive).

So online is the only option for me at the moment. That said, I'm having a good time with it (not as good as a face to face group but still good fun).

Because I'm a technophobe our set up is very basic. Skype... That's it. A couple of the guys roll their own dice and one uses an online roller. It's an honor based system. If I need to send a map I've already got it ready and sent it over skype. If I need to do one up quickly then I'll draw it in photoshop and send it over.

Essentially we all play as a face to face group would - except you can't see the other players. We don't use video as it eats up the band width.

I played in a roll 20 game recently. I found setting up the die roller awkward. I wouldn't subscribe to it personally... I think it was Estar who mentioned that you can get a whiteboard app (for skype). So, that's another way you can draw up maps virtually.

Quote from: Skarg;981044* snail mail
* email
* forum

The difference with VTTs with the above is that it takes place in real time like with face to face. I particpated in play by post RPG campaigns and it has very different pacing than face to face. VTTs in contrast has the same pacing as a face to face session.

Quote from: Skarg;981044* telephone
* multi-person chat software

When it comes to a referee who runs a campaign in a theater of the mind style then using the telephone or multi person chat

Quote from: Skarg;981044* and multiplayer computer games

I ran a few sessions using Neverwinter Nights, no where equivalent what you do with VTTs or

Quote from: Skarg;981044I have found that it can be fun and interesting to do, but also can be even more work than running a game in person (at least the way I do it). One thing I have really liked though is that all of the methods (except phone) tend to give the GM a complete record of everything.

It's also good for making "note passing" easy and undetectable... but that also applies to players passing notes without the GM knowing. I've seen players doing rather elaborate OOC metagaming outside the channels the GM is connected to - sometimes for better, sometimes not.

Fog of war with maps is the one thing that VTTs clearly does better than tabletop. Even with dry erase or dwarven forge, exposing and hiding with fog of war takes but a simple movement of the mouse.

Quote from: The Exploited.;981661I played in a roll 20 game recently. I found setting up the die roller awkward. I wouldn't subscribe to it personally... I think it was Estar who mentioned that you can get a whiteboard app (for skype). So, that's another way you can draw up maps virtually.

If you want just to display maps then Discord is the better way to go at the moment. Skype has no whiteboard but there are websites with whietboards on them.

I will add you can use Roll20 just for the whiteboard and not bother with their diceroller and keep doing on what you been doing.

Quote from: ArtemisAlpha;981660Which of the VTTs work best with various OSR offerings - for example, I'm currently pretty partial to Beyond the Wall for fantasy and White Star for sci fi. Would Fantasy Grounds or Roll20 be markedly superior options for those?

Both are equally good, both have OSR rulesets and character sheets. Of the two Roll20 has more at the free level and slightly easier to get going with. I would recommend using Roll20 for a bit. After you get comfortable with whole VTT thing and willing to pay for something, look at Fantasy Ground demo version. Then decide which one is worth paying for.

Either way you won't go wrong. And both have committed developer team and a growing user base. It like asking what you like better a Cadillac or a Lincoln?

Quote from: estar;981713If you want just to display maps then Discord is the better way to go at the moment. Skype has no whiteboard but there are websites with whietboards on them.

I will add you can use Roll20 just for the whiteboard and not bother with their diceroller and keep doing on what you been doing.

Cheers... Discord is definitely an option I want to look at. The whiteboard option in skype was buggy alas.

The guys on the Grognards podcast had the most hilarious play by post story on the most recent episode.