DM's that have run a game using one of the virtual table tops and skype or the like, how well does this rate compared to the table top experience? Any particular pitfalls of this approach? Advice in general?

My long time group has for all intents and purposes disbanded. People have moved, changed schedules etc.

I have a hard time finding local gamers as I'm not very well connected to the local gaming scene, plus everyone around here is still playing Pathfinder which I have no interest in running. My thinking was that maybe running a game I could find folks interested in the sort of games I am. How do you typically find players for this sort of thing.

Play by post is great, but it really is it's own thing that doesn't quite compare to the actual table top experience.

I've been wanting to do this for quite a while, but every time I sit down and actually try to set it up, I'm just not sure what to do or where to start or how to run it.

I think I need to sit in on a few sessions run by someone who knows what they're doing. In particular a 5E session.

I kinda want to use a grid, so it's not just abstracted combat, but then I can't really be bothered uploading maps, as when I run tabletop RPGs, I use a Chessex wipeable mat and draw stuff on the fly.
 
Also, reference material... do I go with just using PDFs or have the books scattered around me?
My computer desk isn't that big.. I suppose I could put a couple of tables around me, but dunno how that'll work out..
I have a nice big gaming table I use for tabletop RPGs sessions.


So I'll be interested in seeing how this thread goes.

Google Hangouts are great if you don't want/need a map.  Plugins like Dicestream do a great job of all the dice-handling needs.  For super simple maps, you can do a Google Drawing or use Scoot'n'Doodle.  But they're kind of a pain because they don't make token manipulation easy (or possible, for Scoot'n'Doodle).

roll20.net is awesome if you want a map - you can do everything from super-basic sketches all the way to beautifully done maps with fog of war.  It'll support snap to grid for tokens as well as free-form placement.  roll20 is also available as a Hangout plugin, so if you prefer going through Google, they've got you covered.

Not a lot of "gotchas" I've seen with running games online.  Some people say that people are less focused, my experience has been the opposite.  YMMV.

The few technical things are making sure you have bandwidth, and it generally works better if people use headphones.  Too many people talking can cause feedback, and that gets really annoying.

It's like doing a live video presentation to clients. If you're good at sharing quality images from your desktop screen to groups of people, and you have a great audio microphone, then presenting/running a D&D session for online players will be no problem.

Slow computers and/or DSL connections or slower will not do however. Best practice is everyone connected with cable modems at least. Otherwise, you are limited to just doing audio and fuzzy images for your group. And most of that sound will sound like it's from underwater. And your players will end up browsing the Internet during your game, and not stay interested.

Search YouTube for tons of good and bad examples of D&D gaming.

Thanks for all the advice so far. How would I know if my connection is fast enough?

Roll20 + Google+ Hangouts = Win.  It's all free.

Anyway, easiest is to just tell us what your bandwidth is.  Anything from 10mbps up should handle voice for several people at once without issues.

I've been running a game over Skype and playing in a bunch over Roll20 and Google Hangouts. They've been great fun except for a few that failed to launch. Every once in a while there's a problem guy who isn't paying attention... but mostly the groups have been fun and focused. Not as easy and relaxed as face-to-face... but otherwise good.
Our DCC group GM has full on map support in Roll20 and that's pretty cool... but not necessary.
None of the groups I've been in have insisted on cameras but I do have one.

Online play has been a great way for me to connect with friends who moved away and folks who are interested in playing things outside the mainstream... I'm slowly building up the resolve to run a short campaign for The Whispering Vault.

Quote from: thedungeondelver;833287Roll20 + Google+ Hangouts = Win.  It's all free.

Anyway, easiest is to just tell us what your bandwidth is.  Anything from 10mbps up should handle voice for several people at once without issues.

I might have problems then .
I have ADSL, which is 10 Megabit down (often around 8 Megabit though) and 1 megabit up.

It's my understanding the NBN (Fibreoptic internet) will be available next year in our area, which will give 10 * the speed.
So I may as well put off bothering with this until then.

Quote from: danskmacabre;833290I might have problems then .
I have ADSL, which is 10 Megabit down (often around 8 Megabit though) and 1 megabit up.

You might be okay, but you'll almost certainly want to do voice-only.  Which isn't my preference (faces carry a lot of information), but it's definitely workable.

The best way to see if it works is... try it.  Jump in a game, see how it works, and adjust from there.

Well speedtest.net shows me at 43 down and 12 up. That typically enough for this?

Quote from: danskmacabre;833290I might have problems then .
I have ADSL, which is 10 Megabit down (often around 8 Megabit though) and 1 megabit up.

It's my understanding the NBN (Fibreoptic internet) will be available next year in our area, which will give 10 * the speed.
So I may as well put off bothering with this until then.

You can probably get away with 8 if you go without video.  Don't give up on it.  No hosting is done locally, so it's not as though you're going to have 4-5 (or more) people demanding YOUR bandwidth specifically.  Do you play videogames online and use voice-chat?

This is WAY less bandwidth intensive.

Why not test it out?

Quote from: Arkansan;833294Well speedtest.net shows me at 43 down and 12 up. That typically enough for this?

Lord yes.

Cool. I've honestly been thinking that I may get brave here soon and try to get a game of Pendragon going this way. Otherwise I'm starting to think I'll never find a group to play the game with.

Quote from: Arkansan;833285Thanks for all the advice so far. How would I know if my connection is fast enough?

Start a LIVE Google+ Hangout and do a quick broadcast test of your self with camera and microphone. Watch the playback on your YouTube channel to see if you cut out or sound quality is not there.

HINT: Good lighting will help your camera record a decent video image. Talking about Pendragon on your channel will get players to seek you out for games.

Quote from: Arkansan;833266DM's that have run a game using one of the virtual table tops and skype or the like, how well does this rate compared to the table top experience?

For one thing it is table-top roleplaying in that in general you are using the same books, doing similar preperation, using the same techniques. There are differences, but far far less than play by post, MMORPGs, CRPGs, etc.

Quote from: Arkansan;833266Any particular pitfalls of this approach?

You are talking over the internet. People like looking at people when they talk in a group. VOIP even with video simulate about 80% to 90% of a face to face conversation. For some that last 10% is a barrier they dislike intensely, other don't give two shits about it. It works, the only question will it be something you can stand over the weeks and months of interacting with a group.

Quote from: Arkansan;833266Advice in general?

The main difference is that anything you want to show, you need to be able to scan or create on the computer. Even with video it is hard to emote physically with gestures and facial expressions. Some people use the text chat in conjunction with the voice. There is no right way just they way that works for you and your group. Voice is definitely preferred over pure text chat.

There are advantages, there is no printing out of material. You can easily grab whatever off of a google search and use that as your image. You may not be able to draw a map but there are dozens of products where you find map images to use in a VTT.

Using miniatures is easier. It crazy easy to make duplicates. For example a dozen works with two mind flayers. Fog of War is the best there is in all of gaming. Roll20 even have a feature, at the subscription level, where lighting can be simulated for individual characters. It is a little work to setup but the effect is like nothing else.

VTTs, Fantasy Grounds especially, excel at automating various aspect of tabletop roleplying. It not lik MMORPGs, where you are playing computer game but more like in the way of random tables and smart character sheet.

Quote from: Arkansan;833266My long time group has for all intents and purposes disbanded. People have moved, changed schedules etc.

I have a hard time finding local gamers as I'm not very well connected to the local gaming scene, plus everyone around here is still playing Pathfinder which I have no interest in running. My thinking was that maybe running a game I could find folks interested in the sort of games I am. How do you typically find players for this sort of thing.

With VTT my group is able to stick together despite being separated geographically.

Quote from: Arkansan;833266Play by post is great, but it really is it's own thing that doesn't quite compare to the actual table top experience.

Like I said at the beginning of my post VTTs successfully allow gamers to play tabletop over the internet. Not something like it, not a variant form of roleplaying like CRPGs or LARPS, but the same tabletop you did in your house or at your friend's house.