![]() Hevenor also recommends searching for tutorials by online TTRPG players. Astral Tabletop has user guides, and Roll20 has an interactive tutorial for new users. Once you've chosen your setup, take the time to get familiar with your application, recommends Hevenor. They have a list of resources for GMs, for players. "The reddit RPG forum has a wiki of various tools for people to use. "There are more options than Roll20," says Hyslop. Soses Media livestreams the TTRPG show Chicks With Dice every other week. In the last couple of sessions we've been able to just use Roll20," Short says.Įven if you're already leaning toward using a particular platform, it's worth looking into all your options - especially if you're playing a lesser-known game system, says Emma Hyslop, co-founder of Soses Media, a queer-inclusive multimedia co-op based in Toronto. "We used Zoom for the video and audio, and only used Roll20 the game board. Since her DM had used Roll20 before, it was a natural choice of platform. If someone in your group is already familiar with a particular app, that could also be a good place to start.Īmanda Short from Saskatoon has been playing TTRPGs for just a few of months and her in-person D&D 5e campaign moved online in mid-March. "About half of our party have no online experience at all, so something like Discord where really all you have to do is make an account, join the server and click on the voice channel, has really helped." (Although you can use voice and video on Roll20, its most useful functions are its graphical interface and dice roller.)įor Hevenor, keeping things simple was important. Hevenor uses Roll20 for the tabletop-specific functions, and Discord for voice chats. To satisfy players in a low-visual game who still want to roll dice online, there are command-based dice bots, like Sidekick, that you can add to the server for your game.Ĭonsider combining platforms to customize your game even more specifically. And yes, common communication apps such as Google Hangouts, Skype, or Zoom can also be used. If your game doesn't need visual aids but you'd still like to see and/or hear your players, Discord, a social app (you can access it from your desktop or from your phone), is designed with gamers in mind and has voice, text, and video chat capabilities. Roll20 has a number of features that allow you to roll dice online, measure distance on the map, share information from your game system, and more. There are several applications designed for playing TTRPGs online, such as Astral Tabletop and Roll20, with built-in dice rolling functions, character sheets from the most popular TTRPGs, and libraries where you can upload your own maps and character tokens. Ultimately, what matters most is choosing the application that suits your group best, says Hevenor. Some of your more expressive players might even want to be on camera. Your players might want visuals to replace physical maps and miniatures, or they might prefer a voice-only setup that favours theatre of the mind. "Deciding you want your game to be before you start putting stuff down is a really great way to keep that co-ordinated," says Brock Hevenor, a GM and player from northern Saskatchewan with seven years of TTRPG experience. To help players and Game Masters (GMs) navigate their options, we reached out to six gamers across the country for advice on how to choose the right application, issues to watch out for, and how you can get the most out of playing online.Ĭreate a setup for your group, and learn how to use itīefore you set up your game online, take a moment to chat to your group about the kind of experience they're hoping to have. With so many platforms to choose from and each with a seemingly endless suite of features, starting a new game or moving an existing game online can be daunting. Although games are usually played in person, Canadians who can't meet up with their regular groups are using online platforms to continue their adventures. ![]() ![]() ![]() Tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) are enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Or at least, the character I was playing did. I slayed monsters, went treasure-hunting, and escaped from a 10-foot deep hole last week, and I did it all while social distancing.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |