Simple way to Play GURPS and other RPGs online

gpf · 07-03-2011, 01:53 AM

Hi everyone,

I want to share an idea I had for playing RPG online: use an in-browser shared whiteboard application instead of a virtual table top application. It's like having a shared piece of paper where everyone can draw. Of course, this is just a start: these whiteboard applications usually support text chat. Sometimes voice, or even video chat. And you can upload images... So here is the recipe: collaborative whiteboard site + (hex or squre) grid overlay + free tokens + online dice roller. No need to download any programs, all you need is a web browser. And you can start simple (just chat and whiteboard) and add only the features you want. To try it out, do this:

1. Download a PNG image of an hex grid of appropriate size, and transparent background. See "Sources of Hex Grids" below.

2. Download some tokens. See "Sources of Tokens" below.

3. Go to the collaborative whiteboard site and start a new meeting (you don't even need to create an account, but then the room is public and anyone can join and mess up with your game). See "Whiteboard Websites" below.

4. (Optional: some people don't always use hex grids; no grids or square grids are "built-in") Upload the hex grid and the tokens to your whiteboard meeting. I am almost sure all such sites also allow you to upload other documents, so you can upload Characgter sheets, and other game aids.

5. (Optional: this can be done by the GM if the group agrees) Go to a dice-roller website, and create a meeting room. See "Dice-Rolling Websites" below.

6. (Optional: the whiteboard websites have text chat widgets) Setup some voice or video conferencing with whichever software you prefer (some whiteboard sites have this built-in; see Twiddla and DabblerBoard below)

7. Play!

An alternative to the above: the GM could have a webcam pointing to a table with an hex grid, miniatures and dice... Could be as simple as creating a second Skype account and having your smartphone pointing at it!

Below, a few places where you can find/download the stuff mentioned above. The list is not exhaustive, but it works for me!

Sources of Hex Grids
====================

mkhexgrid
Little program you can install to generate hex grids. Very nice, but you have to install it, it doesn't run online. Produces PNGs. http://www.nomic.net/~uckelman/mkhexgrid/

SVG Hex Grid Generator:
If you don't want to install anything, just use this page. But it only produces SVGs, and you will probably need a PNG for the hex grid overlay to work with the whiteboard site. If you have some program that converts from SVG to PNG (like Inkscape, which is free), you are done. http://axiscity.hexamon.net/users/is...sc/svg-hex.cgi

Note: both tools above can produce hex maps with coordinates.

Sources of Tokens
=================

Devin's Token's Site
Nice collection, and many free packs. http://www.immortalnights.com/tokensite/tokenpacks.html

Other
http://rpgvirtualtabletop.wikidot.com/tokens

Whiteboard Websites
===================

Twiddla
It's the only one I really played with. The interface seems the best of the ones I toyed a little bit with. Very intuitive, I did not have to read any manuals or spend time figuring out stuff. Big drawback though: I could not find a way to rotate images, so you have to figure out a way to indicate which hex you are facing (like putting another symbol in the face of the hex you are facing). It even has voice-based conferencing! No video though. http://www.twiddla.com

Other
http://www.scribblar.com/, http://www.dabbleboard.com/. Both are Flash-based (I'm not sure what Twiddla is based on...), but Dabbleboard seems to have a better interface. Might be better than Twiddla, but I haven't tried it.

Dice-Rolling Websites
=====================

rolz.org
Create or join a "Dice Room" (top right corner). Simple, and easy. You can also chat here. http://rolz.org

Final Comments
==============

Like many others here, I would like to play RPG with people that live far away from me. I tried MapTool, Battlegrounds and VASSAL for 20min to a couple of hours. It didn't work very well for me or for my friends. The solution I am poiting out above felt *a lot* simpler/lighter to me and my friends. Of course, this may or may not be true in your case. Of course, virtual table top programs do a lot more than my solution proposes... but hey, me or my group feels like the above functionality is more than enough.

07-03-2011, 01:53 AM	#1
gpf Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: California, USA	Simple way to Play GURPS and other RPGs online Hi everyone, I want to share an idea I had for playing RPG online: use an in-browser shared whiteboard application instead of a virtual table top application. It's like having a shared piece of paper where everyone can draw. Of course, this is just a start: these whiteboard applications usually support text chat. Sometimes voice, or even video chat. And you can upload images... So here is the recipe: collaborative whiteboard site + (hex or squre) grid overlay + free tokens + online dice roller. No need to download any programs, all you need is a web browser. And you can start simple (just chat and whiteboard) and add only the features you want. To try it out, do this: 1. Download a PNG image of an hex grid of appropriate size, and transparent background. See "Sources of Hex Grids" below. 2. Download some tokens. See "Sources of Tokens" below. 3. Go to the collaborative whiteboard site and start a new meeting (you don't even need to create an account, but then the room is public and anyone can join and mess up with your game). See "Whiteboard Websites" below. 4. (Optional: some people don't always use hex grids; no grids or square grids are "built-in") Upload the hex grid and the tokens to your whiteboard meeting. I am almost sure all such sites also allow you to upload other documents, so you can upload Characgter sheets, and other game aids. 5. (Optional: this can be done by the GM if the group agrees) Go to a dice-roller website, and create a meeting room. See "Dice-Rolling Websites" below. 6. (Optional: the whiteboard websites have text chat widgets) Setup some voice or video conferencing with whichever software you prefer (some whiteboard sites have this built-in; see Twiddla and DabblerBoard below) 7. Play! An alternative to the above: the GM could have a webcam pointing to a table with an hex grid, miniatures and dice... Could be as simple as creating a second Skype account and having your smartphone pointing at it! Below, a few places where you can find/download the stuff mentioned above. The list is not exhaustive, but it works for me! Sources of Hex Grids ==================== mkhexgrid Little program you can install to generate hex grids. Very nice, but you have to install it, it doesn't run online. Produces PNGs. http://www.nomic.net/~uckelman/mkhexgrid/ SVG Hex Grid Generator: If you don't want to install anything, just use this page. But it only produces SVGs, and you will probably need a PNG for the hex grid overlay to work with the whiteboard site. If you have some program that converts from SVG to PNG (like Inkscape, which is free), you are done. http://axiscity.hexamon.net/users/is...sc/svg-hex.cgi Note: both tools above can produce hex maps with coordinates. Sources of Tokens ================= Devin's Token's Site Nice collection, and many free packs. http://www.immortalnights.com/tokensite/tokenpacks.html Other http://rpgvirtualtabletop.wikidot.com/tokens Whiteboard Websites =================== Twiddla It's the only one I really played with. The interface seems the best of the ones I toyed a little bit with. Very intuitive, I did not have to read any manuals or spend time figuring out stuff. Big drawback though: I could not find a way to rotate images, so you have to figure out a way to indicate which hex you are facing (like putting another symbol in the face of the hex you are facing). It even has voice-based conferencing! No video though. http://www.twiddla.com Other http://www.scribblar.com/, http://www.dabbleboard.com/. Both are Flash-based (I'm not sure what Twiddla is based on...), but Dabbleboard seems to have a better interface. Might be better than Twiddla, but I haven't tried it. Dice-Rolling Websites ===================== rolz.org Create or join a "Dice Room" (top right corner). Simple, and easy. You can also chat here. http://rolz.org Final Comments ============== Like many others here, I would like to play RPG with people that live far away from me. I tried MapTool, Battlegrounds and VASSAL for 20min to a couple of hours. It didn't work very well for me or for my friends. The solution I am poiting out above felt a lot simpler/lighter to me and my friends. Of course, this may or may not be true in your case. Of course, virtual table top programs do a lot more than my solution proposes... but hey, me or my group feels like the above functionality is more than enough. Last edited by gpf; 07-03-2011 at 02:36 AM. Reason: Adding punchline to first paragraph.