Re: video conference TFT, for dummies
 

In my group I use Roll20 for the game table. No need for screen-sharing since the player can see the map and what I allow them to see through Roll20. I use Roll20 for both the world map and for various combat megahex maps.

For our group chat during play we use Google Meet. We found that the Roll20 group chat feature would eventually cause a slow down in the game and various issues. Issues in both voice and in the table top for random players. So, we now do Google Meet for voice. We block the Google Meet video after the initial meet and greet.

I love Roll20 as a GM. I get to set up maps and encounters and enter all the encounter critters into character sheets with notes so I need not remember many things. I even enter attack damage and DX bonus/penalties and so on into the character sheets (players and critters). I also GM with friends locally and I got to tell you, when I do I miss Roll20. It is so nice to have everything well prepped and at my finger tips.

And to answer Henry's question: yes I do rename everyone so that they AdjDX is before their name and then sort them by DX (manually). During play to handle action order, I just go down the Roll20 sidebar from top to bottom and call out who goes next. Someone gets a DX -2, I don't rename them, I just move them down the order for the next turn.

Re: video conference TFT, for dummies
 

Videoconferencing is a luxury, and isn't essential. It can reduce a few miscommunications, but a VTT is a far better first tool for that, by presentign a hex map and hexagonal grid.. If you don't have reliable high speed internet (DSL or Cable, perhaps

There are two free VTTs I've used: Maptools and GTove. GTove is dead simple to use, is FOSS, and requires no licenses... but it requires access to your google drive, so you need a google account.

I've not touched maptools in the last 6 years, but it was a major pain back then.

Re: video conference TFT, for dummies
 

We use Roll20 which is an online tool like Zoom but has features specifically for RPG gaming; it allows battlemaps, has bacground combat/adventure music, digital character tokens etc. It supports cameras and for those that want it there are a few You Tube videos that explain how to set up a second camera on your cpu to have a dice camera.

Re: video conference TFT, for dummies
 

I am a dummy who can't get into Roll20 or the other specialized VTTS. That said, I use Discord. With discord, you can share a different screen, so I can open a map and then put that as a "new" member of the conference call. You can also make a separate conference channel for "secret chats" where you can send a PC and go to tell them something only they find out. It works.