Who Skypes?

[PrinceYyrkoon]

I get a fair bit of gaming in, but you can always have more, at least, thats what I think. Especially, as you get older, and some of your long term buddies manage to get worthwhile lives of their own, and/or move on.

So the question is, who, among you does it via Skype? Or similar? Recommend it? Dont like it? Whats best, or satifying, cheapest method, etc.? Anyone?

 

[Blackyinkin]

Hi,

Lawrence Whittaker, Pete Nash, Nathon Baron, Colin Driver and myself are fans of Skype gaming, along with several other friends. It is a little weird at first, but can lead to some great gaming. We have even had sessions with several tabletop players and laptops with players using skype with the video on placed around the table. Pete has regularly joined our Straw Dog sessions as the 'Big Head in the Corner' on laptop through the TV or even a projection screen on one occasion. I actually recommend the experience, try a virtual pub night first, just have a chat with your mates via skype and then give gaming a try, you might enjoy it.

Simon

 

[Mongoose Pete]

Since I live in the frozen wastes of the far north of Sweden, finding roleplayers is a bit tricky. Thus I do all of my gaming via Skype, with the guys mentioned by Simon on Fridays, and another group on Wednesdays.

Being the 'Big Head in the Corner' I've always wanted to play Max Headroom, or a slightly psychotic computer system. Still waiting for someone to write a suitable scenario for that though!

You can only run a visual conference on Skype (for free) between two people. So those games are special occasions when the guys all gather together at the same house then dial me in. Trying to run a multi-visual session from everyone's home usually fails due to low bandwidth in the UK throttling the data flow. So normally we stick with audio only.

You miss out on visual triggers, and sometimes the sound quality can be poor if you have several players together at one location using an open microphone - but in general it works very well, and has been a perfect solution now all of my gaming friends are scattered across the UK and Canada.

 

[RosenMcStern]

I have been running 90% of my games with skype for two years now. With some groups scattered among Belgium, France and Italy it is a necessity. It works perfectly. The only difference is that my group plays with skype sound only, each one from his or her home. We use Maptool for props, but ScreenMonkey is a nice product, too. You miss interpersonal contact a bit, but computer aids help play somehow.

A pity that no product like NeverWinter Nights exists for RuneQuest. It could enhance play experience even more.

 

[PrinceYyrkoon]

Thanks people.

Still, there doesnt seem many who do this, surprisingly. I think it has great potential.

Anyone tried Fantasy Grounds?