Online Gaming

[Magman]

Just pitching an idea to the board.

I am not sure people's availability or thoughts on actual playing a role playing game via the web, but wanted to at least see a topic on the subject.


Would people be open to playing / running a game like this? Why / Why Not?

Would people prefer plain in a normal room, video chat room, or some type of Table Top software ?

[Grimace]

I might be open to something like this. Probably not in any long-term endeavor, but getting a game in every now and then could be fun.

I'd either suggest a normal room, or some sort of table top software that has a dice roller. I don't do the video thing (haven't got a webcam and don't want a webcam) so I could care less about a video chat room. The only thing you'd have to worry about with a table top software is to make sure it was simple to use and didn't crash on people when they tried to use it. Nothing more frustrating than having access to something and it not work.

[Lubidius]

I've had a lot of success taking part in games run via Google+ Hangouts. It has been very stable for 1 GM + 4 to 5 players or so , depending upon individual connections. G+ Hangouts is basically video conference web chat. It works extremely well and gives you a more "at the table" feel then anything else I've used online. We use twiddla.com as a white board. As far as dice rolling, twiddla does have rudimentary dice rolling built into it's chat, but we also just have folks roll their own dice and trust that they are reading them properly and not cheating. As it is web chat, you basically can see that they are not re-rolling. Anyhow, I'd be willing to run a quick hit or something along those lines if folks are willing ; just to demo the tech involved. Just say the day/time. I've usually run at around 9:30PM Eastern and just run a 3 hour session. That has been the sweet spot for most players across the US Time Zones at least.

Most of the Google+ Hangouts matches I've taken part in are scheduled via this website : http://constantcon.blogspot.com/

[Mangus]

This is something I have been thinking a lot about lately, though I have not had a chance to actually try it out. I would say Google+ would be the way to go, from everything I have read. I would want to get involved as a player at first, so I can get a feel for how this type of play is best handled, but eventually I would love to run an ongoing online game. I will be watching this thread closely to see what everyone has to say.

[Lubidius]

I'm very willing even to just do a "tech demo" for a 30 minute stint. Just to show you how it is initiated via Google+, how it looks when you are in the hangout, and how twiddla.com works in tandem (or how we've used it at least). I can do a tech run Saturday at 10PM Eastern if you would like just a 30 minute "tech demo". If not this week, another week, whenever...

[Mangus]

I'm very willing even to just do a "tech demo" for a 30 minute stint. Just to show you how it is initiated via Google+, how it looks when you are in the hangout, and how twiddla.com works in tandem (or how we've used it at least). I can do a tech run Saturday at 10PM Eastern if you would like just a 30 minute "tech demo". If not this week, another week, whenever...
I tested out my web cam earlier today, and it isn't functioning properly. This is no surprise, as it is almost 5 years old... :-P I plan to try and buy a new one sometime next week. Once I have that I will take you up on your offer, Lubidius. In case anyone wants to look me up on Google+, here is my G+ profile (https://plus.google.com/116541111642124593804/).

[Lubidius]

Here is my profile in return:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/102178220145878236512/posts
I just "circled" you. Put me aside in some D6 online test circle :) and we'll try it out once you are up and running properly.

[Grimace]

I've not had much experience with Google+....can you use a hangout if you don't have video?

*edit: Nevermind. I tried it and it DOES work if you don't have a webcam. You still need a microphone, but you can get away without a webcam.

[Mangus]

Here is my profile in return:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/102178220145878236512/posts
I just "circled" you. Put me aside in some D6 online test circle :) and we'll try it out once you are up and running properly.

Cool, I dropped you in one of my gaming circles. BTW, are you located in Raleigh, NC? My wife and I moved here a couple of years ago.

[Lubidius]

Yes. I've been here in Raleigh since '85. We should hook up at a local hobby shop gaming session sometime. I occasionally hit up Game Connection, Game Theory, or Hangar 18 Hobbies; mostly for miniatures wargaming. I've not ventured much into RPG at the hobby shops nearby, but plan to start to do that more in the near future. I've known the owner of Hangar 18 in Cary for about 15 years now+.

[Mangus]

Yes. I've been here in Raleigh since '85. We should hook up at a local hobby shop gaming session sometime. I occasionally hit up Game Connection, Game Theory, or Hangar 18 Hobbies; mostly for miniatures wargaming. I've not ventured much into RPG at the hobby shops nearby, but plan to start to do that more in the near future. I've known the owner of Hangar 18 in Cary for about 15 years now+.

Yeah, definitely. I have checked out Game Theory and Game Connection. I have been meaning to get over to Hangar 18, but just haven't gotten around to it. I haven't tried hobby shop gaming myself, but I would be willing to give it a go. Looking over your blog and G+ profile, it looks like there are several games we both support, as well as similar musical tastes. Most of my gaming these past few years has been Castles & Crusades, Labyrinth Lord, OpenQuest, Microlite20 and D6. I am sure we can get something coordinated sometime soon.

[GamerDude]

Just pitching an idea to the board.

I am not sure people's availability or thoughts on actual playing a role playing game via the web, but wanted to at least see a topic on the subject.

Would people be open to playing / running a game like this? Why / Why Not?

Would people prefer plain in a normal room, video chat room, or some type of Table Top software ?Due to a very poor local RPG community I have been trying to get into a game like this for a number of years (run or play in). I have a lifetime membership for iTabletop (meaning I can have 11 people with just free accounts play) and this has full/voice video conferencing.

My other VTT poison of choice is Maptools. A very powerful and flexible program which lacks only voice/video conferencing.

Some of the others out there are: Screen Monkey, d20 Pro, OpenRPG, Fantastic Realms (not sure that's the name) etc. All with varying levels of cost/features.

Google? *personally* no thank you. To me it's really just one more "social networking site" - the use of which feels like the old "MCI Friends & Family" like phone plans.