Simple way to Play GURPS and other RPGs online - Page 3

Kalzazz · 10-04-2011, 06:32 PM

I like using IRC, in particular because I can use Mibbit to get on IRC from a computer lab or anywhere, but I've used IRC long before I used computer labs

I like google docs also

ClayDowling · 10-04-2011, 07:37 PM

IRC would also be my preferred method, with necessary visual or audio resources stored on a web server somewhere.

Gudiomen · 10-05-2011, 03:30 PM

I guess, given a choice, very few people would prefer online play over live play. It's just we end up having to do it because the group moves appart and doesn't want to stop playing together, nobody near you plays GURPS, work and family makes meeting at the same time difficult (leading to play by e-mail or play by post).

I've been playing online since... forever, now. Some of us manage to scare up a group every now and then, but our style is so compatible we like playing with each other most of the time. And we each live in a different corner of the state, with our jobs and families to juggle.

In my experience you only really need any sort of fancy resource for combat. Regular play can be done by instant messaging (MSN, ICQ back in the day) or, preferably, by voice.

Our ideal routine is as follows:
- 1 weekly skype meeting thursday nights (gets cancelled more than we'd like)
- play by post on our private forum, as time allows, in between thursdays
- when combat arises we use MapTool on our thursday online meetings
- we meet live on big holidays or vacations when we can, averages around 1-3 times a year

I didn't find MapTool complex, it gets maps set up really fast, and the miniatures are easy to use, even rolls the dice for you if you don't want to use the honor system. It can get very sophisticated, I have the GURPS rules modules, sheets and macros all installed for great fun, but it's not something we need, it's just fun for me because I like tweaking stuff.

If we didn't enjoy combat so much we'd probably have no need for a VTT.

ClayDowling · 10-05-2011, 05:26 PM

We've moved to opposite-ish corners of the state, about an hour apart from our original home base. That's close enough we can usually do it, but we only meet about once a month. Careers and families are like that. I don't see online play ever being an option with my group, since some of our players are technology-challenged.

I'm wondering if Google Hangouts would be a workable solution though. Pretty low-maintenance for setup.

As for finding a local group, finding compatible play styles is probably the hardest part. Finding a group to play GURPS is easy if I offer to run the game, and I do the heavy lifting on character creation the first time around. Once people see the flexibility of the system, they stop worrying about the overwhelming list of options and start looking for the ones they want.

doulos05 · 10-06-2011, 05:02 PM

What about OpenRPG? Anybody use that? How's that for ease-of-use, native GURPS support, etc?

Mateus · 01-29-2012, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doulos05

What about OpenRPG? Anybody use that? How's that for ease-of-use, native GURPS support, etc?

I also wnat to know about Open RPG...

demonsbane · 01-30-2012, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mateus

I also wnat to know about Open RPG...

Pious Paladin seems to be the next version of OpenRPG.

Mateus · 01-30-2012, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demonsbane

Pious Paladin seems to be the next version of OpenRPG.

Thanks Demonsbane. I will keep an eye on it.

Kuroshima · 01-30-2012, 03:59 AM

IMHO, Google Hangouts are the ideal replacement for skype, because you get group video chat, and it switches viewpoint to who is actually speaking. It's also browser based, though IIRC, it requires a browser plugin (that is installed from the browser itself), but it works on Win/Mac/Linux. I know that it also works on Android through the Google+ app, and I guess that also goes for iOS.

As for the VTT part, well, Maptools works quite well, it's cross platform (Win/Mac/Linux/anything that can run a full Java Virtual Machine. I just wish they released a version for Android tablets, but the whole GUI part would need heavy rewriting.)

I just wish that SJG gave authorization for the full GURPS framework, as IIRC, they considered that it exceeded what the online policy allowed.

Tinman · 01-30-2012, 04:51 AM

Maptools works amazingly well. The only thing you need is a voice system.
My friends from college use it for our game group. We now live scattered all over the country (NY, NJ, IL, CO, CA). For voice We use skype.

Maptools is a great program. You can set the stats on the tokens so you don't need to keep looking them up. You can set it so only the GM sees the stats of the NPC's. You can set up individual macros for rolling. My knife swing dmage & my knife thr damage. You can set some macros so the player rolls & only the GM sees the result. Thats great for perception rolls, ect...

For anyone who's using google docs (or nothing), I urge you to checkout maptools.

10-04-2011, 06:32 PM	#21
Kalzazz Join Date: Feb 2009	Re: Simple way to Play GURPS and other RPGs online I like using IRC, in particular because I can use Mibbit to get on IRC from a computer lab or anywhere, but I've used IRC long before I used computer labs I like google docs also

10-04-2011, 07:37 PM	#22
ClayDowling Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ann Arbor, MI	Re: Simple way to Play GURPS and other RPGs online IRC would also be my preferred method, with necessary visual or audio resources stored on a web server somewhere. __________________ Online Campaign Planning

10-05-2011, 03:30 PM	#23
Gudiomen Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: in your pocket, stealing all your change	Re: Simple way to Play GURPS and other RPGs online I guess, given a choice, very few people would prefer online play over live play. It's just we end up having to do it because the group moves appart and doesn't want to stop playing together, nobody near you plays GURPS, work and family makes meeting at the same time difficult (leading to play by e-mail or play by post). I've been playing online since... forever, now. Some of us manage to scare up a group every now and then, but our style is so compatible we like playing with each other most of the time. And we each live in a different corner of the state, with our jobs and families to juggle. In my experience you only really need any sort of fancy resource for combat. Regular play can be done by instant messaging (MSN, ICQ back in the day) or, preferably, by voice. Our ideal routine is as follows: - 1 weekly skype meeting thursday nights (gets cancelled more than we'd like) - play by post on our private forum, as time allows, in between thursdays - when combat arises we use MapTool on our thursday online meetings - we meet live on big holidays or vacations when we can, averages around 1-3 times a year I didn't find MapTool complex, it gets maps set up really fast, and the miniatures are easy to use, even rolls the dice for you if you don't want to use the honor system. It can get very sophisticated, I have the GURPS rules modules, sheets and macros all installed for great fun, but it's not something we need, it's just fun for me because I like tweaking stuff. If we didn't enjoy combat so much we'd probably have no need for a VTT.

10-05-2011, 05:26 PM	#24
ClayDowling Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ann Arbor, MI	Re: Simple way to Play GURPS and other RPGs online We've moved to opposite-ish corners of the state, about an hour apart from our original home base. That's close enough we can usually do it, but we only meet about once a month. Careers and families are like that. I don't see online play ever being an option with my group, since some of our players are technology-challenged. I'm wondering if Google Hangouts would be a workable solution though. Pretty low-maintenance for setup. As for finding a local group, finding compatible play styles is probably the hardest part. Finding a group to play GURPS is easy if I offer to run the game, and I do the heavy lifting on character creation the first time around. Once people see the flexibility of the system, they stop worrying about the overwhelming list of options and start looking for the ones they want. __________________ Online Campaign Planning

10-06-2011, 05:02 PM	#25
doulos05 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Seoul, Korea	Re: Simple way to Play GURPS and other RPGs online What about OpenRPG? Anybody use that? How's that for ease-of-use, native GURPS support, etc?

01-30-2012, 03:59 AM	#29
Kuroshima MIB Pyramid Contributor Mad Spaniard Rules Lawyer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The ASS of the world, mainly Valencia, Spain (Europe)	Re: Simple way to Play GURPS and other RPGs online IMHO, Google Hangouts are the ideal replacement for skype, because you get group video chat, and it switches viewpoint to who is actually speaking. It's also browser based, though IIRC, it requires a browser plugin (that is installed from the browser itself), but it works on Win/Mac/Linux. I know that it also works on Android through the Google+ app, and I guess that also goes for iOS. As for the VTT part, well, Maptools works quite well, it's cross platform (Win/Mac/Linux/anything that can run a full Java Virtual Machine. I just wish they released a version for Android tablets, but the whole GUI part would need heavy rewriting.) I just wish that SJG gave authorization for the full GURPS framework, as IIRC, they considered that it exceeded what the online policy allowed. __________________ Antoni Ten MIB3119 My GURPs character sheet My stuff on e23

01-30-2012, 04:51 AM	#30
Tinman Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New York City	Re: Simple way to Play GURPS and other RPGs online Maptools works amazingly well. The only thing you need is a voice system. My friends from college use it for our game group. We now live scattered all over the country (NY, NJ, IL, CO, CA). For voice We use skype. Maptools is a great program. You can set the stats on the tokens so you don't need to keep looking them up. You can set it so only the GM sees the stats of the NPC's. You can set up individual macros for rolling. My knife swing dmage & my knife thr damage. You can set some macros so the player rolls & only the GM sees the result. Thats great for perception rolls, ect... For anyone who's using google docs (or nothing), I urge you to checkout maptools.