Virtual Runequest - anyone playing online ?

[phantomwhale]

Hello all,

Just wondered if anyone out there was playing Runequest online using any of the Virtual Table Top technologies out there (FantasyGrounds, MapTools, etc...) ?

If so, I'd be interested to hear how well it works, and what tools (if any) you are using. Was thinking of getting a virtual game up and running myself, but just not seeing the right setup to get me started - and as a point of disclosure, looking into writing / extending something to allow better online play.

Yes, I have my local group - but my RQ buddies are all growing up and currently I'm losing any chance of face-to-face RQ to *gasp* other systems.

Thanks,
Ben

 

[RosenMcStern]

I ran several RQII playtest sessions last September using MapTools, and it worked really fine. We kept a PDF with Combat Manoeuvers open in another window and switched to it rather frequently.

If you go to http://www.fantasygrounds.com/community , there are news about a RQ II ruleset in the near future, as a derivative of the new BRP ruleset.

In short: it works, and it works rather well, with the two most used VTT.

 

[phantomwhale]

Well, oddly enough, it's me that is looking at authoring the MRQII ruleset for Fantasy Grounds, as it's something I'd really love to be able to play online. But was equally wondering if others had considered online play, as that would certainly compel me towards producing a more complete ruleset for SmiteWorks (the publisher of Fantasy Grounds) rather than just a rough and ready version for my personal use.

 

[carrknight]

for what is worth, I've always been interested in playing online. If a good ruleset support exists for RQII, it might just as well convince me to buy a virtual tabletop

 

[RosenMcStern]

Well, oddly enough, it's me that is looking at authoring the MRQII ruleset for Fantasy Grounds, as it's something I'd really love to be able to play online. But was equally wondering if others had considered online play, as that would certainly compel me towards producing a more complete ruleset for SmiteWorks (the publisher of Fantasy Grounds) rather than just a rough and ready version for my personal use.

LOL! I did not look at your nickname before posting and did not notice you were the one who had volunteered

I have been playing various incarnations of BRP (RQ3/4, MRQ1, BRP, MRQ2 playtest version) over the internet for three years now, for a total of four PBP games (five if you count the classic Kustria game by Jose Ramos which was described in an old issue of Tradetalk) and lots of VTT games.

With a wide community of mature players who are separated from their original groups but still wish to still game with them over the Internet, I think there is a huge potential for VTTs that support this classic game system.

 

[jarulf]

I'm fairly interested in something for MapTools (as its platform neutral). I haven't done any VTT-gaming, apart from an aborted OpenRPG Gurps game a while back but would love to try.

 

[Nickbergquist]

I love (and have used) Fantasy Grounds and would be very happy to see an RQII adaptation for FG.

 

[Rurik]

Is fantasy grounds well suited to running PBP type games?

Obviously the Server would have to be up all the time. What happens if clients connect and disconnect? Do their tokens dissapear? If someone reconnects will they see what has transpired while they were not connected?

 

[RosenMcStern]

Is fantasy grounds well suited to running PBP type games?

Obviously the Server would have to be up all the time. What happens if clients connect and disconnect? Do their tokens dissapear? If someone reconnects will they see what has transpired while they were not connected?

You cannot run PBP games with FG or MapTools. If you reconnect, you will not see what has happened in the meanwhile, although tokens will stay. These tools are devised to run 2-4 hour sessions, possibly coupled with voice chats if your bandwidth allows it. And please note that I have played MapTools/Skype games on a GPRS connection, and Fantasy Grounds on UMTS, so the bandwidth requirements are rather low, once you have D/Led all the pictures.

To do what you are suggesting, Screen Monkey could be a better choice. But it has very limited character sheet handling capabilities.