More options for online gaming

Sacrosanct · August 24, 2013, 05:50:12 PM

I suspect many of you have played Roll20 or other online programs that help simulate the gaming table. I think they do really well, and I honestly think it's sort of the future of gaming in the context of expanding the numbers of gamers.

For example, my gaming group and myself are in our 40s and all have families. Often we don't have time to get together for 8+ hours, but can get together for 2-3 if there's no commute time.

I just saw this new kickstarter for tabletop connect, and honestly I'm getting pretty excited about it because it does a lot of things that the others don't. I am in no way affiliated with it, but wanted to share because I think for gamers like me who are on a limited time budget, something like this would be great.

LordVreeg · August 24, 2013, 06:12:53 PM

Quote from: Sacrosanct;685209I suspect many of you have played Roll20 or other online programs that help simulate the gaming table. I think they do really well, and I honestly think it's sort of the future of gaming in the context of expanding the numbers of gamers.

For example, my gaming group and myself are in our 40s and all have families. Often we don't have time to get together for 8+ hours, but can get together for 2-3 if there's no commute time.

I just saw this new kickstarter for tabletop connect, and honestly I'm getting pretty excited about it because it does a lot of things that the others don't. I am in no way affiliated with it, but wanted to share because I think for gamers like me who are on a limited time budget, something like this would be great.

will take a look. I do a lot of this.

Dana · August 24, 2013, 06:28:35 PM

Wow, that does look interesting! I haven't tried a VTT yet, but I know people who use them regularly and enjoy them.

Géza Echs · August 24, 2013, 08:14:32 PM

Can anybody suggest a really good system for current over-the-net gaming? A good friend runs a game of 2nd Ed. D&D pen and paper back home in Canada, and I've been joining in over Skype. It works, but... It kind of sucks. I'd love to hear of some alternatives?

Rincewind1 · August 24, 2013, 08:20:58 PM

Quote from: Géza Echs;685229Can anybody suggest a really good system for current over-the-net gaming? A good friend runs a game of 2nd Ed. D&D pen and paper back home in Canada, and I've been joining in over Skype. It works, but... It kind of sucks. I'd love to hear of some alternatives?

Roll20 seems to be the most popular alternative, and it is pretty good, though I can't figure out why the Flash parts don't work for me

.

Piestrio · August 24, 2013, 08:47:46 PM

roll20
Google+
Infrno

are the big three I know.

Géza Echs · August 24, 2013, 09:03:16 PM

Thanks, guys. I'll have a look when I have a chance and pitch some suggestions to my DM if I like any of them!

Zak S · August 24, 2013, 10:09:39 PM

We play tons of games online on Google + (there's at least one OSR game on any given a day) and most people don't use anything but vidchat and maybe Twiddla for maps.

People trust each other to roll dice and the die-rolling apps often slow things down, ironically enough.

Maese Mateo · August 24, 2013, 10:10:04 PM

This looks interesting. Thanks for sharing.

We use Roll20 + Skype when we have to play online.

Zak S · August 24, 2013, 10:19:07 PM

Skype works fine, too, but on Google + multiperson chat is free (don't know if it still requires a subscription on Skype--it did last I checked)

Maese Mateo · August 24, 2013, 10:21:59 PM

Quote from: Zak S;685257Skype works fine, too, but on Google + multiperson chat is free (don't know if it still requires a subscription on Skype--it did last I checked)

I've never spent a single cent on Skype and we've made mutiperson chats to game in the past. Maybe in Argentina is free?

Piestrio · August 24, 2013, 10:30:14 PM

Quote from: Maese Mateo;685258I've never spent a single cent on Skype and we've made mutiperson chats to game in the past. Maybe in Argentina is free?

In the past it required that one person have a paid plan.

I don't know if that's true anymore.

EDIT: Yep. http://www.skype.com/en/premium/ someone has to be paying.

Benoist · August 24, 2013, 10:36:39 PM

Quote from: Piestrio;685260In the past it required that one person have a paid plan.

I don't know if that's true anymore.

EDIT: Yep. http://www.skype.com/en/premium/ someone has to be paying.

You don't need to pay for a multi-person voice call (without video) on Skype. You will need to get Premium if you want voice AND video calls with more than two people.

Personally, I use twiddla.com with Skype voice calls for my online tabletop gaming. I might upgrade to Premium in the near future, however.

Maese Mateo · August 24, 2013, 10:45:55 PM

Quote from: Benoist;685261You will need to get Premium if you want voice AND video calls with more than two people.

We used voice alone, so that explains why we didn't have to pay.

deadDMwalking · August 26, 2013, 12:17:05 PM

We've used Skype, ooVoo and we now use Google+ Hangouts.

The Google+ works best for us, in part because it is free. We use a map posted to a shared Google Drive document. Nothing fancy, but it works for us.

We've considered whether to try a VTT like roll20, but we haven't made the conversion yet. What we're doing has been working well enough that we haven't made it a priority to learn a new system.