Questions about online Dnd Play? Virtual Dnd suggestions.

[Paladinatheart]

So I am moving to another country (from Hungary to Germany) and now my three groups that I DM are sad to see me leave. I have suggested to them that one of them should take up the reigns and play as DM. Infact I have even said they could continue in the world that I created and they can add their own stories or adventures. Two of the groups were playing with 3.5e rules whereas the third group was starting off with 5e rules. In each group there is a veteran player who kind of knows the roles and even though I have tried to persuade these players that they can do it, they just dont want to. They flat out say they dont want the responsibility, tell me how great I do it (though I think I am just the average DM and they are lazy and dont want to do it and throw emotionless complements at me in the hopes to convince me otherwise).

Of course each of my three groups that I managed have seen online videos via youtube where players and DMs are using virtual tabletops. They have recommended "Roll:20 Virtual Tabletop" for me to use so they can play with me still as their DM (I take it as a complement that they still want me as their DM). However, for me Dnd was always a game where I sat around a Table with bowls of chips and cheetos, beer or pop with character sheets covered in crumbs and dice. Ever since I was 15 (now I am 32) I have been playing Dnd starting with 3.5e and now recently picking up 5e (really fantastic edition) so I have years of experience but I cant imagine doing the virtual tabletop form could be as much fun.

I am also worried that my players being at their computers will be tempted with other distractions (cell phones, etc) more easily and not pay attention like they do when we are sitting at a table.

The other problem is that I am 32, so finding new players in Germany that are around my age maybe difficult and I dont want to DM for teenagers cause that is kind of wierd and creepy, especially since I have nothing to do with kids.

What are your suggestions? Do you guys have experience with Roll:20? Do you know of any other "virtual tabletop forms" good for Dnd?

Also, I am one of those DMs that prepares everything to the finest detail, with story alternatives just incase players derail from the main story. I very rarely "wing it" unless if the players wander far off the main storyline. So keep this in mind when thinking of Roll:20 or any other form, are the tools available to the DM sufficient for me?

[MrSandman]

I don't think your age should be a problem. At any place where they have role-playing sessions you should be able to find a fair amount of 20- and 30-year old people.

[Mordaedil]

Roll20 is fairly good, especially good for the price of free, but if you want an alternative with its own host of problems and solutions, Fantasy Grounds II is a decent one, but costly.

[Firest Kathon]

The other problem is that I am 32, so finding new players in Germany that are around my age maybe difficult and I dont want to DM for teenagers cause that is kind of wierd and creepy, especially since I have nothing to do with kids.

Where are you moving? I don't know about D&D 3.5, but I know that there is a fairly active Pathfinder community in the south-western parts of Germany.

Spoiler: Pathfinder Groups

Show

Pathfinder Society:

• Search for Germany here and contact the nearest coordinator. They can tell you about local games.

Facebook:

• Rhein-Main
• Pathfinder DE

There's also a 5e Facebook Group or just for RPG players in general. Also, you can try out https://www.spielerzentrale.de/ to find other players, and of course the good old way of visiting gaming stores in your area. Many of the players I know are in their 30s, so it's not only younger players.

What are your suggestions? Do you guys have experience with Roll:20? Do you know of any other "virtual tabletop forms" good for Dnd?

I have played with Roll20 and found it to be fine from the technical side, especially if you shell out the money for a premium account which includes the dynamic lighting etc. It's also very good for preparing your things.

However, I found that virtual tabletops are just not for me. I enjoy the social aspect of the game, and I find this lacking for me when I'm just sitting in front of a computer.

[Paladinatheart]

Where are you moving? I don't know about D&D 3.5, but I know that there is a fairly active Pathfinder community in the south-western parts of Germany.

Spoiler: Pathfinder Groups

Show

Pathfinder Society:

• Search for Germany here and contact the nearest coordinator. They can tell you about local games.

Facebook:

• Rhein-Main
• Pathfinder DE

There's also a 5e Facebook Group or just for RPG players in general. Also, you can try out https://www.spielerzentrale.de/ to find other players, and of course the good old way of visiting gaming stores in your area. Many of the players I know are in their 30s, so it's not only younger players.



I have played with Roll20 and found it to be fine from the technical side, especially if you shell out the money for a premium account which includes the dynamic lighting etc. It's also very good for preparing your things.

However, I found that virtual tabletops are just not for me. I enjoy the social aspect of the game, and I find this lacking for me when I'm just sitting in front of a computer.

Thanks for the suggestions I am going to check out the links. I am moving to the northern part of germany near Hamburg. I have played pathfinder before and a few of my previous players (when I lived in the States) played pathfinder and very easily were able to slip into my 3.5e campaigns. So I could get into that I guess. Though I have found a new fondness for 5e, especially as a DM where things were more streamlined.

Still not sure about the virtual tabletop form. The players that I have been playing with will probably go searching for another DM but it was hard for them to find someone who would run the campaigns cause they didnt want to have to travel to a convention or playcenter for games. So they are pushing for the Virtual tabletop, I guess I will try it out and see what will happen.

Thanks again!

[Hurske]

I do both. Run a 5e game face to face with 6 other friends, and I also run a couple online games through Fantasy Grounds.

There is no getting around it, a face game is the best, the interaction, the laughing with table jokes, the physical aspect.

With that said, online is definitely great too, but there are a couple things to consider, you need players that will be committed, someone who won't be watching a tv on his second monitor, or play a video game during the online session, you have to make that clear before even starting.

Most online are voice based, but I have done a couple session with cams, it's a nice spot between the classic face to face, and voice only VVT.

There are definite advantages to online also, some people can be much more vocal with RP, when they might have been shy during a face group, the online aspect also makes visuals so much easier and cool, want to show off a castle the group just stumbled upon, bam, quick 1 min search and show the group the map.

Also little neat aspects, like being able to do different languages, with the various races.

At first, when I started this online gig, before I got my face group, I was worried that the online aspect would be bunk without the physical personal aspect, but really. I have as much fun online as I do with my face group.

[Psyren]

My bf GMs a roll20 game for his friends back home and it works quite well. He even took the time to automate everyone's sheets so that they can just press "reflex save" or "full attack with rapid shot vs. evil undead" for example and have roll20 calculate everything. I can't recommend it highly enough; it's gotten me interested in GMing a roll20 game of my own, likely PF, SF, 5e, or PF2 in that order.

[Cespenar]

If trust (in dice rolls) isn't an issue, just Skype should be enough. I'm using it now in a game every week.

[Dawgmoah]

If trust (in dice rolls) isn't an issue, just Skype should be enough. I'm using it now in a game every week.

I've dabbled with Roll20 as well as Fantasy Grounds and feel I get more freedom with macros, etc, on Roll20.

If you don't care to use a VTT but still want to talk and have dice rolls, I know Discord has dice rollers but not sure about Skype.

I've gotten used to the automation and maps (the ability to use various layers and have notes on the screen, etc, hidden from the players. Get encounters ready and so on.) and would probably start using it with in person games, once I run in person games again.