Comments on: Four Good Reasons to Run Your D&D Game With a Laptop http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/four-good-reasons-to-run-your-dd-game-with-a-laptop The D&D Blog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:54:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: D20 online game tools « D20 Hobby Blog http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/four-good-reasons-to-run-your-dd-game-with-a-laptop#comment-12916 D20 online game tools « D20 Hobby Blog Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:01:37 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/four-good-reasons-to-run-your-dd-game-with-a-laptop#comment-12916 [...] running a game session with a monolithic device from the stone age called a laptop. I suppose these four ideas are sort of what I was thinking, but not really. DonJon is really, really close with this gallery [...] [...] running a game session with a monolithic device from the stone age called a laptop. I suppose these four ideas are sort of what I was thinking, but not really. DonJon is really, really close with this gallery [...]

]]> By: Happymunda http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/four-good-reasons-to-run-your-dd-game-with-a-laptop#comment-11862 Happymunda Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:11:27 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/four-good-reasons-to-run-your-dd-game-with-a-laptop#comment-11862 I personally love the game but, playing in front of a screen ruins it, the game is meant to be a group of friends and a table with some dice. When you take it online you lose so much of the game, such as forgetting a rule but, coming up with an interesting fix, actually talking with people with people and enjoying their company, or even rolling a dice. The game is suppose to be a pencil and paper game, (the best one in the world), but, when its just having to click Attack1 you miss out on mixing things up. I've played Dnd for six years, and an average adventure can take up to a year, yet online adventures finish in half that time. Maybe because you don't need to record everything, or the rooms are all mapped out, but I think it is because the players involved are so focused on reaching the end because, its the only thing left from the original game, leveling up is already planned, dice rolls are in sets so you pick which weapon and it does all the work, and there are no other people in the room, so you miss out on company, and atmosphere. DMing an Insider adventure (That's what I tried) made we feel as if I was dming a bunch of robots, it was silent and routine, I would throw an encounter and they would set up formation, as the ranger used his daily, while the fighter and paladin block the enemies and go defensive till they can use their encounter. Now this rant has gone on for longer than I wanted so to sum it all up, old timers will find the online Dnd distasteful and a cheap imitation of fun, while newcomers might find it a lot like other RPG's online, ( which could be good or bad) but, I think they will all agree on one thing, that it feels as though you are playing alone. (again could be good or bad) I personally love the game but, playing in front of a screen ruins it, the game is meant to be a group of friends and a table with some dice. When you take it online you lose so much of the game, such as forgetting a rule but, coming up with an interesting fix, actually talking with people with people and enjoying their company, or even rolling a dice. The game is suppose to be a pencil and paper game, (the best one in the world), but, when its just having to click Attack1 you miss out on mixing things up. I’ve played Dnd for six years, and an average adventure can take up to a year, yet online adventures finish in half that time. Maybe because you don’t need to record everything, or the rooms are all mapped out, but I think it is because the players involved are so focused on reaching the end because, its the only thing left from the original game, leveling up is already planned, dice rolls are in sets so you pick which weapon and it does all the work, and there are no other people in the room, so you miss out on company, and atmosphere. DMing an Insider adventure (That’s what I tried) made we feel as if I was dming a bunch of robots, it was silent and routine, I would throw an encounter and they would set up formation, as the ranger used his daily, while the fighter and paladin block the enemies and go defensive till they can use their encounter. Now this rant has gone on for longer than I wanted so to sum it all up, old timers will find the online Dnd distasteful and a cheap imitation of fun, while newcomers might find it a lot like other RPG’s online, ( which could be good or bad) but, I think they will all agree on one thing, that it feels as though you are playing alone. (again could be good or bad)

]]> By: Klaive http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/four-good-reasons-to-run-your-dd-game-with-a-laptop#comment-3896 Klaive Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:54:03 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/four-good-reasons-to-run-your-dd-game-with-a-laptop#comment-3896 I know I'm late to posting on this one... But I'm with Yax and Ully on this one. The computer age is upon us. I personally use the RPTools; specifically MapTool and InitTool. I run the game from my laptop connect via a LAN to another broadcasting onto a big-screen TV. I found this saves tremendous amounts of time. I am able to set up all the maps I believe the party will encounter during a set day ahead of time. so no more wasting time as I draw a map for the group, or wasting time having to continuously describe the scene if line of sight become an issue. With programs such as MapTool and OpenRPG you can assign PCs there vision and they only see that far so you can realistically tract movements of NPCs off scene as they surround the party to ambush or attempt to sneak out without being seen. Ive personally been able to cut my groups normal 6-8 game day down to 3-4 hours and get twice the amount accomplished in a session. That being said we still game typically for 6-8hrs but now OoC interruptions don't bog us down as much and the story still progresses. I also believe there is a point you must stop I mean this isn't a PC or console game so don't treat it like one... I tried running my campaign for about two months remotely via MapTool and I almost lost my entire game group luckily I was able to salvage it slightly and we are gaming again in person I still just use the tool (and that is what it is, a Tool) for my mapping, line of sight, and general trackers. the time saved out ways the the time lost (wasted) I know I’m late to posting on this one… But I’m with Yax and Ully on this one. The computer age is upon us. I personally use the RPTools; specifically MapTool and InitTool. I run the game from my laptop connect via a LAN to another broadcasting onto a big-screen TV. I found this saves tremendous amounts of time. I am able to set up all the maps I believe the party will encounter during a set day ahead of time. so no more wasting time as I draw a map for the group, or wasting time having to continuously describe the scene if line of sight become an issue. With programs such as MapTool and OpenRPG you can assign PCs there vision and they only see that far so you can realistically tract movements of NPCs off scene as they surround the party to ambush or attempt to sneak out without being seen.

Ive personally been able to cut my groups normal 6-8 game day down to 3-4 hours and get twice the amount accomplished in a session. That being said we still game typically for 6-8hrs but now OoC interruptions don’t bog us down as much and the story still progresses.

I also believe there is a point you must stop I mean this isn’t a PC or console game so don’t treat it like one… I tried running my campaign for about two months remotely via MapTool and I almost lost my entire game group luckily I was able to salvage it slightly and we are gaming again in person I still just use the tool (and that is what it is, a Tool) for my mapping, line of sight, and general trackers. the time saved out ways the the time lost (wasted)

]]> By: Jeff http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/four-good-reasons-to-run-your-dd-game-with-a-laptop#comment-3309 Jeff Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:21:03 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/four-good-reasons-to-run-your-dd-game-with-a-laptop#comment-3309 Similar to the soundtrack idea, a laptop provides some other multimedia opportunities. If you have an extra monitor or a TV near your gaming table, I find it handy to connect it as an extended desktop. You can post images, maps, etc. for your players to see while keeping all the important stuff hidden safely on your screen. Similar to the soundtrack idea, a laptop provides some other multimedia opportunities. If you have an extra monitor or a TV near your gaming table, I find it handy to connect it as an extended desktop. You can post images, maps, etc. for your players to see while keeping all the important stuff hidden safely on your screen.

]]> By: Bird http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/four-good-reasons-to-run-your-dd-game-with-a-laptop#comment-3239 Bird Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:01:20 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/four-good-reasons-to-run-your-dd-game-with-a-laptop#comment-3239 You mind me asking what program you use to make up your levels and floorplans, Danny? You mind me asking what program you use to make up your levels and floorplans, Danny?

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