Re: video conference TFT, for dummies
 

We manage dice rolls with the honor system! If you can't deal with the fallout of a bad die roll you should not be playing TFT in the first place.

Re: video conference TFT, for dummies
 

This looks like a case for video broadcasting the metal dice.

Re: video conference TFT, for dummies
 

Everyone rolls their own dice, but as GM, I use large red casino-style dice that are easy to read from the 'table camera'.

Re: video conference TFT, for dummies
 

I found it handy to clip a dashboard phone holder to a microphone boom, but then I happened to already have both those things.

Re: video conference TFT, for dummies
 

Here's a Google Slides doc I set up ages ago for remote play -- my post about this was long before the corona virus :). Copy and share it so everyone can edit:

https://docs.google.com/presentation...8258fa4_0_2128

Put counters on it and everyone can move their counter(s) around and see all the movement (just import some images for the counters).

I made page layouts for Melee maps, Wizard maps, and a large megahex grid.

We use https://rolz.org/ for dice rolling. It supports lots of different types of rolls and if you create a login, it'll save shortcuts for you for common rolls (like #3d6 for instance, or #2d6+1).

We use discord for voice.

Re: video conference TFT, for dummies
 

https://twitter.com/mathowie/status/1148391109824921600

https://securityboulevard.com/2020/0...o-be-aware-of/

Re: video conference TFT, for dummies
 

Thanks for all the suggestions. Here's where I've got to.

My main consideration is that TFT is indeed highly visual, the map is key and the focus of everyone's attention, at least the way we play. Two possible approaches.

1. A camera showing a physical map that I control. This is nice because I would get to use all my beautiful megahexes and counters. But on the downside, I'm having trouble with setting up a camera, and I'm a little demoralised about it anyway as I realise we have no good spot where I can leave the setup for an extended time

2. A screen-based map. This means a little deskwork to set up the maps and counters. But as it turned out, I enjoyed the process. I went with roll20.net, it sounds similar to what zot does with google slides. Roll20 seems amazing, although -- caveat -- I'm still waiting on group members to test in serious action. But can't wait TBH -- hex grid, counters that snap to location and facing, multiple status markers you can indicate with a click of the mouse, the players can control their own tokens, which is nice. Health bars if you want, v easy to use. There's video/voice support, and also text chat, which can be public or whispered to specific players. Dice rolls are shown in the chat. I've created a melee map with nice-enough megahex marking and obstacles I can drag in to run DT or DT2 with quick changes to the map. And I've now got all kinds of ideas about terrain and new maps for a campaign. Basically, I'm ready, just waiting on the players for a thorough test drive.

Re: video conference TFT, for dummies
 

I miss OpenRPG. The map function allowed the channel owner to give permissions to players to move one or more figures. And the program allowed the GM to create any possible mechanic and link it with a simple button click. There isn't a single VTT in existence now that was as useful as OpenRPG, they are all just pretty and pretty does not mean versatile.

Re: video conference TFT, for dummies
 

We just had a 6 player skirmish to get the feel of TFT battles on roll20.net
All of us logged on at the same time for a 3-vs-3 capture the flag battle.

A snapshot of the action here, have a look, I'm really happy with this!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/u71nadn6dk7zzsf

Or here https://imgur.com/a/CQH5LUw


One thing we learned is the in-game audio/video is not super reliable, esp as number of players increases. We ended up doing the audio links through MS Teams, but there are lots of services you could use (discord, slack, zoom, etc etc)

Re: video conference TFT, for dummies
 

roll20.net is free, and allows at least some of the above, including some great things. The GM can assign tokens to players, and macros let you quickly do your to-hit, damage, and initiative rolls. The ruler tool lets you identify line of sight, and you can throw dice across the screen. Health bars, named figures, tints on the tokens to indicate sides, status markers. Really well thought out. We aren't using fancy graphics, realtime lighting, turn order, etc, but I am psyched and recommend it! Have a look at the link I posted above