My first panel “at” the convention was a fully virtual panel. No physical presence at all. I’m glad we were able to present the panel again this year, and do it in this format. It wasn’t a bad panel, but my connection at the hotel was not fantastic. Maybe, if we keep rolling with the virtual format we’ll actually get to a place where we can have some pre-set questions and get some screen sharing time in.

The description:

Come one, come all to the virtual table! In this online age, virtual tabletops have boomed in popularity, revolutionizing play with tools such as dynamic lighting, built-in soundboards, and combat trackers. It has never been easier to find a game, and connect with other players around the world. But with technological ease comes technical difficulties. Come listen to experienced GMs and players discuss the advantages and disadvantages of virtual tabletops versus in-person play!

Panel: Jana S. Brown (mod), Swift Crescendo, Angela Yuriko Smith, ME!

My Notes:

I have been a player and game master for a long time. As happened with so many, when we weren’t able to get together in person in the bad old days, we went online. I just kept it going – it is simultaneously easier and more diverse than many of my previous games. We now post our live play games on my YouTube channel for all to view.

First – COST.

It’s important to understand that playing a virtual game automatically has a cost associated with it. That is a limiting factor right from the start. The simple fact that playing like this demands a computer/phone/tablet (depending) and an internet connection. This is a limit for some people. We’re already here, so we can move ahead with an understanding that your party can get there – but it’s important to remember that starting cost.

Where do you connect?

How do you play? Do you have cameras on and do theater of the mind OR are you audio only while navigating a map in a virtual environment? There are a number of places to play, with various costs associated.

Play Tabletop Games hosts a wide variety of games – with per session costs. There are some that are free, others that cost. I have seen a range from $10 – $50 per session from the top GM lists.

Roll20 – Free to use, subscription for more options (from $50/year to $150/year)

Foundry VTT – One-time $50 payment by the Dungeon Master required

Fantasy Grounds – Free to use, subscription or purchasable license required for DM only (requires a download – and that may change your ability to connect based on your computer)

Owlbear Rodeo – Free to use, paid subscription available ($40/annual or $80/annual)

https://new.tableplop.com/ – Free to use

Tale Spire – digital, graphical – looks like it’s 3D (cost $25 on Steam)

There are TONS of digital tools out there for anything you can imagine. Character sheets, random generators, random everything generators, map tools, audio tools, and a massive list of advice videos about which of those tools are the one you should totally use.

Here are some that I think are important:

Random Name generators – my party always wants to know names. Have a list handy OR grab a random generator.

My go to is Fantasy Name Generators

Maps. I am super visual, and I love using Inkarnate

Those were all the notes I had prepared. In the end the path wound its way hither and yon. If you’re really interested in hearing what my co-panelists had to say you can pop over to good ol’YouTube and check out the whole panel – it was virtual so they recorded it!