bobcatt
Apprentice Douchebag
Patron
An infinite number of monkeys can't be wrong...
Posts: 81
Preferred Game Systems: AD&D 1e, 2e, 5e, Top Secret/S.I., Classic Traveller
Currently Playing: nothing at all :-(
Currently Running: completely stalled doing 5e via Roll20
Favorite Species of Monkey: Barrel of
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Post by bobcatt on Oct 26, 2017 14:45:40 GMT -8
Hello,
Over here I asked about GMs not being able to fully explore one premise before being dragged into another. My Top Secret/S.I. prep is now on indefinite hold while I cobble together several 5e D&D scenarios for some old friends. We're stretched over 2,100 km so a VTT is our best option to game.
We four high-school alums are almost all connected now. Last night, three of us had an 80 minute Q&A/mucking around session on Roll20 with working audio. One had Chrome/Win7, the second had Firefox/Win10, and myself using Firefox/Win7. Sound quality was quite good but there were a few instances of one person dropping audio connection (but nothing else), which we could rectify using the reset chat button under the Settings tab in the Sidebar.
Two nights before that, there was a limited text + garbled audio session with all four of us. This marked the first time in 25 years when we've all been at the same gaming table. A couple of Goblins offered a pathetic two rounds of combat to their three test characters. Frankly, it was glorious.
The final fellow (naturally, the furthest away) may be hardest to aurally connect, as he's still using Vista. I'm hoping that whatever the most recent version of Firefox he can get running on his computer will be sufficient. [edit] we made some mods to his mic settings and his wife will be installing the latest browser for him - test happening this weekend [edit]
Now comes all the prep of Monsters, NPCs, and maps within the app itself. I've got about two dozen hours in on Roll20 and am getting the hang of its functions. By the time I hit 40 hours I intend to have the initial two encounters ready, with enough interesting stuff for them to explore and interact with to cover three 2-hour sessions.
Do you VTT GMs tend to narrate all of your flavour text or do you copy/paste it into the chat thread, or both?
Is there a better way to prepare/present frequently referenced rules (combat actions, etc.) than to make up digital handouts and place them into the Journal section? [edit] None of them have two monitors (yet?). [edit]
Since scheduling regular game times will still be tough, is there a easier way to offer a recap of the previous session's activities than to write up a summary and stick that into the Journal section as well? [edit] I'd like to use a shared calendar to figure out timeslots when we can game - can anyone recommend a web-based app? [edit]
cheers
Chris in Canada
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bobcatt
Apprentice Douchebag
Patron
An infinite number of monkeys can't be wrong...
Posts: 81
Preferred Game Systems: AD&D 1e, 2e, 5e, Top Secret/S.I., Classic Traveller
Currently Playing: nothing at all :-(
Currently Running: completely stalled doing 5e via Roll20
Favorite Species of Monkey: Barrel of
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Post by bobcatt on Nov 6, 2017 17:45:08 GMT -8
Well, the audio connection to the Vista machine wasn't stable. His OS is suffering from the dreaded "svchost" memory leak which Microsoft decided not to fix before ending support. He is obtaining a different headset (non-USB to consume fewer system resources), and disabling some Windows Services so we can try again. Paradoxically, he has the highest available bandwidth but the least capable PC.
As predicted by those who know me, I did NOT manage to get the intended prep tasks done before hitting 40 hours with the app. I have learned more about macros, tokens, and using the 5e Compendium to populate monster entries directly. I fear that there is more to learn than there are brain cells left to absorb the information.
Quick references in the Journal section consist of a Turn Actions précis and lists of the equipment in the Dungeoneer and Explorer Packs. So far no one has offered any further suggestions; they may wish for more as game play commences.
cheers
Chris in Canada
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bobcatt
Apprentice Douchebag
Patron
An infinite number of monkeys can't be wrong...
Posts: 81
Preferred Game Systems: AD&D 1e, 2e, 5e, Top Secret/S.I., Classic Traveller
Currently Playing: nothing at all :-(
Currently Running: completely stalled doing 5e via Roll20
Favorite Species of Monkey: Barrel of
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Post by bobcatt on Dec 6, 2017 18:25:30 GMT -8
Game prep continues depressingly slowly. Wildly different work schedules, middle-aged liabilities, and a time-zone difference are contributing to delays.
Having only three PCs, the skill & ability mix was looking a little woeful. Two of the characters were below 45 lbs and there was only one fighter but no mage. The players suggested running a second character each, which I cannot recall ever having done in the past.
CinC
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Post by ericfromnj on Dec 6, 2017 18:44:31 GMT -8
Another option might be to have gestalt characters?
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bobcatt
Apprentice Douchebag
Patron
An infinite number of monkeys can't be wrong...
Posts: 81
Preferred Game Systems: AD&D 1e, 2e, 5e, Top Secret/S.I., Classic Traveller
Currently Playing: nothing at all :-(
Currently Running: completely stalled doing 5e via Roll20
Favorite Species of Monkey: Barrel of
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Post by bobcatt on Dec 6, 2017 19:44:09 GMT -8
Hi ericfromnj I'm not sure how to interpret your suggestion (extra-low brain today). For the 1st three characters I assigned a halfling rogue, a gnome cleric, and an elf fighter using the 27-point buy system. Their 2nd trio of characters are a half-elf wizard, a dwarf fighter, and a half-elf cleric respectively (using 4d6 drop the lowest, six times, arrange as you like method). This limits each player to one spellcaster to keep the resource management down. I'm using the variant encumbrance rule, plus tracking consumables including spell components. They've bought all their gear but we're still sorting out backgrounds and divine domains. I'm putting together a few monsters and tokens for the initial encounter - the last wagon in a caravan is attacked by a group of starving, desperate kobolds. This will hopefully get all the characters in one place, test out combat & spells, and introduce a task for the group. CinC <edit> Part of the delay has been in establishing a reliable audio connection to our remotest group member. I hope this is solved using Discord over his home WiFi to a smartphone. His computer doesn't have the horsepower to manage both the audio and VTT.
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Post by Houndin on Dec 8, 2017 10:49:24 GMT -8
Well, the audio connection to the Vista machine wasn't stable. His OS is suffering from the dreaded "svchost" memory leak which Microsoft decided not to fix before ending support. He is obtaining a different headset (non-USB to consume fewer system resources), and disabling some Windows Services so we can try again. Paradoxically, he has the highest available bandwidth but the least capable PC. We had this same problem on some of old Windows Server 2008 systems. There *IS* a hotfix available: support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2743187/memory-leak-occurs-in-the-svchost-exe-process-on-a-computer-that-is-ruIt was never released through windows update but has to be downloaded specifically. Hope that helps.
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