It was bound to happen. Modernity has dragged me, inexorably, into its chrome maw to loll me around in its digital saliva and devour me in the acids of virtual gaming.

My Luddite Shield Generator has melted.

So an opportunity has come for me to GM my old crew from Los Angeles after twenty-years away and I've accepted. So I'm beseeching those that play online in whatever fashion for some insight. Here are the particulars.

• They will all be in a single place. I'll be on their big-ass 4k TV.
• I want minimum fiddle.
• What are the best options: Google Hangouts? Skype? Other?
• I'm fine with using real dice on the honor system.
• How can I stream audio? Best options?
• Roll20 or ?

That's about it. What are your best practices for those that do this stuff? This is my trial run.

I play in a bunch of online games using a mix of Roll20, Skype, Google Hangouts and Fantasy Grounds.
Roll20 seems to have dodgy audio... most groups I've played with use something else for their audio/video. Usually Google Hangouts.
If you don't need the online mapping and dice rollers then there's little need of Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds... so I'd just go with Google Hangouts as, IME, it's been simple and relatively trouble free. There's a way to set up a 'permanent hangout' so it's always the same URL.
Definitely do a test-run before game day though.

It might still be worth setting up the game on Roll20... since it gives you a central hub for down-time discussions, communications and notifications. A place to distribute files and maps and whatnot.

Quote from: Simlasa;934050I play in a bunch of online games using a mix of Roll20, Skype, Google Hangouts and Fantasy Grounds.
Roll20 seems to have dodgy audio... most groups I've played with use something else for their audio/video. Usually Google Hangouts.
If you don't need the online mapping and dice rollers then there's little need of Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds... so I'd just go with Google Hangouts as, IME, it's been simple and relatively trouble free. There's a way to set up a 'permanent hangout' so it's always the same URL.
Definitely do a test-run before game day though.

It might still be worth setting up the game on Roll20... since it gives you a central hub for down-time discussions, communications and notifications. A place to distribute files and maps and whatnot.

Yeah I've been noodling around with Roll20. Fantasy Grounds looks cool... but frankly unless I'm *really* getting into this online stuff then I'll hold off for now.

The audio thing is kind of a big deal for me. I have this hesitation on the screen-factor and not being "in-person" that I feel will detract a bit from the game. So I'd like to have decent audio for background music etc. Any ideas on this front? It doesn't have to be anything more than being able to access a playlist locally or off YouTube. I just want it to come out on their end and not sound like dogshit.

Roll20 is looking like it will be serviceable, if I decide to go for more detail beyond Theater of the Mind (which is my general preference). If I really enjoy this medium then I'll likely plunk down the cash for Fantasy Grounds... but that's down the road.

I believe that you can pipe music through Roll20 directly in its jukebox, although I've never done it.  As for audial communications, I use TeamSpeak 3, but that isn't free.  I know others that use Google Hangouts and yet others that use Discord.  Personally IMO, TeamSpeak 3 sounds the best, with Google Hangouts slightly behind, and Discord behind that.  They're all better than Skype though.

Quote from: tenbones;934049So an opportunity has come for me to GM my old crew from Los Angeles after twenty-years away and I've accepted. So I'm beseeching those that play online in whatever fashion for some insight. Here are the particulars.

Which I roll my eyes when I see people say they will NEVER use a VTT. I just think, yeah but what happens when you have an honest to god opportunity to game with the Los Angles crews from 20 years ago but you can't meet physically?

Based on the below here is what I recommend.

• Use Roll20 (you can use the free account)
• Use a WebCam
• Have the guy with the 4K log into Roll20 as a player.
• Enable Video in Roll20. You will appear as a little square icon at the bottom. But it won't be so little as it is 4k TV. Select the maximum icon size for participants in your buddy's Roll20 login.
• Test this before hand so that you and your buddy are happy with the size.
• If Roll20 video is not good enough. Then pick Skype or Google plus. You want something that show you in a resize able windows.
• Have Roll 20 up and then alt tab to your video and position it off to a corner
• The fact you are using the Honor system will simply things.

.

Quote from: tenbones;934049They will all be in a single place. I'll be on their big-ass 4k TV.

Mmmmmm that not the usual case for VTT. The expectation is that everybody logs into the VTT separately. But it can be dealt with per above.

Quote from: tenbones;934049I want minimum fiddle.

The above means you will have to do something a little out of the ordinary. The minimum fuss is everybody with headsets and computer logging into Roll20.

Quote from: tenbones;934049What are the best options: Google Hangouts? Skype? Other?

Skype or Google Plus will work. The problem is the that you will have in effect a conference call with everybody talking into the same speaker. This sucks when I have to do them for business and it will suck for this. But... if have a good microphone and do a dry run as to where it is placed then it can be overcome.

Quote from: tenbones;934049I'm fine with using real dice on the honor system.

This simplifies things.

Quote from: tenbones;934049How can I stream audio? Best options?

This is all on your end. There are a variety of packages used for gaming, I suggest getting one of them. I don't have any special advice other than that it can be a pain to record yourself.

Quote from: tenbones;934049Roll20

Roll20

Quote from: tenbones;934049That's about it. What are your best practices for those that do this stuff? This is my trial run.

You will have a whiteboard for maps, and will be able to create text and graphics handouts that will pop up at your command. It will be a VTT session with one referee and one player. If you use miniatures you will make sure all the PC tokens are enabled for the players. And that they can share the mouse in the room. A bluetooth mouse would be a winner here.

Also Google is your friend with images and stuff. It easy, just find what you like, grab it and use it for your game. The only downside to all this other than getting the conference call audio right is that everything you want to show will have to be scanned before hand and stored on Roll20. Other than that, you prep as normal.

I actually play competitive FPS games and I have a Teamspeak3 server.

My problem is that they're all in one big room - not at their individual homes (so they get the benefit of doing the social face-to-face). Maybe I could stream audio through Teamspeak itself and just use Google Hangouts or Roll20 for the video?

edit: Just found a good video on it. https://youtu.be/8I1jGvRosAs Pretty cool. This might be the setup I need.

double-edit: bah it will cost money to set up for the VAC software.

triple-edit: hah there's a free version that's almost as good. Game back on!

Quote from: estar;934055Which I roll my eyes when I see people say they will NEVER use a VTT. I just think, yeah but what happens when you have an honest to god opportunity to game with the Los Angles crews from 20 years ago but you can't meet physically?

Yeah we've been talking about it for a while. But I've been very involved with my group here in Dallas - so the stars took 20-years to align as the Cthulhu says.

Quote from: estar;934055Based on the below here is what I recommend.

• Use Roll20 (you can use the free account)
• Use a WebCam
• Have the guy with the 4K log into Roll20 as a player.
• Enable Video in Roll20. You will appear as a little square icon at the bottom. But it won't be so little as it is 4k TV. Select the maximum icon size for participants in your buddy's Roll20 login.
• Test this before hand so that you and your buddy are happy with the size.
• If Roll20 video is not good enough. Then pick Skype or Google plus. You want something that show you in a resize able windows.
• Have Roll 20 up and then alt tab to your video and position it off to a corner
• The fact you are using the Honor system will simply things.

This sounds like the best way to go.

Quote from: estar;934055Skype or Google Plus will work. The problem is the that you will have in effect a conference call with everybody talking into the same speaker. This sucks when I have to do them for business and it will suck for this. But... if have a good microphone and do a dry run as to where it is placed then it can be overcome.

So this means I'll have to make sure they get a good mic on their end. Right?

 

Quote from: estar;934055This is all on your end. There are a variety of packages used for gaming, I suggest getting one of them. I don't have any special advice other than that it can be a pain to record yourself.

I'm not entirely noobish on this, as it turns out. I record my matches online in Battlefield semi-regularly. I just have never used Google Hangouts before with my specific needs. I *really* want to do music... but if this turns out to be a rabbit-hole I'll just chuck it and go without.

Quote from: estar;934055You will have a whiteboard for maps, and will be able to create text and graphics handouts that will pop up at your command. It will be a VTT session with one referee and one player. If you use miniatures you will make sure all the PC tokens are enabled for the players. And that they can share the mouse in the room. A bluetooth mouse would be a winner here.

Also Google is your friend with images and stuff. It easy, just find what you like, grab it and use it for your game. The only downside to all this other than getting the conference call audio right is that everything you want to show will have to be scanned before hand and stored on Roll20. Other than that, you prep as normal.

Solid information here. Thank you!!!

Get a Cobra Commander costume, and when you're up on the big screen, shake your fist at them and demand a billion dollarsssssssss!

Quote from: tenbones;934049It was bound to happen. Modernity has dragged me, inexorably, into its chrome maw to loll me around in its digital saliva and devour me in the acids of virtual gaming.

My Luddite Shield Generator has melted.

So an opportunity has come for me to GM my old crew from Los Angeles after twenty-years away and I've accepted. So I'm beseeching those that play online in whatever fashion for some insight. Here are the particulars.

• They will all be in a single place. I'll be on their big-ass 4k TV.
• I want minimum fiddle.
• What are the best options: Google Hangouts? Skype? Other?
• I'm fine with using real dice on the honor system.
• How can I stream audio? Best options?
• Roll20 or ?

That's about it. What are your best practices for those that do this stuff? This is my trial run.

i haven't used the virtual tabletops but been running skype and google hangouts sessions for two years or so now. If you avoid the digitit bells and whistles, it is pretty much like a regular game sans miniatures. The biggest hurdle is technical problems. I have found both Skype and google to be equally quirky, and it often comes down to which system creates the fewest problems for your particular group and their internet connections/hardware. If one person has a connectivity or update issue, it can affect everyone.

My advice is try skype and google hangout to see what works best.

One awesome thing about online play is efficiency. You save a lot of time when people are not physically going over your house. You can log on instantly and end the session instantly. That makes it easy to schedule.

Quote from: Ratman_tf;934058Get a Cobra Commander costume, and when you're up on the big screen, shake your fist at them and demand a billion dollarsssssssss!

Corporate Commander is a villain!!!!!

Angry Joe Army unfortunately, doesn't play with the big boys in PC BF1. They dawdle about with the console plebes. I should organize something with the Angry Joe Show Army and get them whipped up.

I can't snake Angry Joe fully (pun intended). I'll have to be Hydra Commander.

HYDRAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Quote from: BedrockBrendan;934059i haven't used the virtual tabletops but been running skype and google hangouts sessions for two years or so now. If you avoid the digitit bells and whistles, it is pretty much like a regular game sans miniatures. The biggest hurdle is technical problems. I have found both Skype and google to be equally quirky, and it often comes down to which system creates the fewest problems for your particular group and their internet connections/hardware. If one person has a connectivity or update issue, it can affect everyone.

My advice is try skype and google hangout to see what works best.

One awesome thing about online play is efficiency. You save a lot of time when people are not physically going over your house. You can log on instantly and end the session instantly. That makes it easy to schedule.

Yeah I can guarantee the issues (assuming I don't get too deep into the woods on this and end up creating my own GM studio - I can get obsessive) will be on their end. My PC-gear is ridonkulously bleeding edge. I'm more concerned with them all working off that big TV. As you might have guessed - we're trying to make it as close to me "being there" as opposed to doing a strict online game, but I see that merely doing this endeavor makes the latter inevitable.

I'll take everyone's advice and get a practice connection setup asap and work out the inevitable bugs.

Quote from: tenbones;934057So this means I'll have to make sure they get a good mic on their end. Right?

Yup and you should call your buddy ahead of time and experiment with placement so you don't have to waste time during game day. For bonus points you should do the Cobra Commander thing mention earlier and make your buddy your minion. Just have some good Cobra rants ready.

Quote from: tenbones;934062I'm more concerned with them all working off that big TV. As you might have guessed - we're trying to make it as close to me "being there" as opposed to doing a strict online game, but I see that merely doing this endeavor makes the latter inevitable.

Well it fricking 4000 by 2000 whatever resolution. Plus you are not using the chat much. Maybe display the last few lines so they can see your die roll. I get you may want to use real dice but there something about seeing the rolls that makes the fact they are virtual rolls a non-issue. Beside with Roll20 they subscribe to a source of quantum noise so they have a true random number generator. When one of my group rolls badly we can quip that the universe truly hate him.

Any there is enough real estate to have a video feed of you in the fore ground off to the side. The rest of the screen will be dominated by the whiteboard. They will need to use the mouse to scroll and zoom as you can't force a view on them like you can with Fantasy Ground. Also to get rid of any handouts after you display them.

You know, if your buddies are this savvy, you could have one of them use a laptop with a cam for video. Just place beside or underneath the 4K TV and have Roll20 dominate the big screen.

And just for the record I find conversations like this insanely cool. Like shit damn, I was playing with toys in the 70s pretending stuff like this was future tech. And not only we have a lot of it for real, we have to figure out which way to do it due to all the choices. If somebody said to me in 1975 when I was ten that I would be talking about stuff like this in the way we have been, I would have said baloney. Hell in 1980 I would still would say something similar except I learned to say bullshit by then.

Quote from: estar;934096If somebody said to me in 1975 when I was ten that I would be talking about stuff like this in the way we have been, I would have said baloney.

It boggles me to think that some of the games I'm in online have players who are scattered around the world... mixes of accents, folks who are just waking up playing with others who've stayed up late.