Virtual Table Top (VTT) support

KataH · 11-21-2017, 10:56 PM

Well that is promising about Fantasy Grounds.
I know someone already has written a GURPS module to be used with Fantasy Grounds, unfortunately I never saw it and have since moved to Roll20.

Gigermann · 11-21-2017, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KataH

Well that is promising about Fantasy Grounds.
I know someone already has written a GURPS module to be used with Fantasy Grounds, unfortunately I never saw it and have since moved to Roll20.

Can see it in use here, FWIW

trooper6 · 11-22-2017, 12:09 AM

I spoke with SJGames at GenCon and said I'd really appreciate VTT support, and he said that he had heard that from a number of people and was looking into it. He mentioned Fantasy Grounds. I noted that it is currently only Mac/Linux compatible through WINE and that isn't the greatest...though rumor has it that the new Fantasy Grounds will be truly compatible.

I think Roll20 is probably better for streaming because it is less of a burden on the computer...but I'm happy for any good and useable VTT that will make streaming GURPS easier. But in an idea world there would be support for both Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds.

keyespj · 11-23-2017, 11:15 PM

I think it would be great if they did there own like GCA.

Refplace · 11-24-2017, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keyespj

I think it would be great if they did there own like GCA.

That is quite a bit of work and programming is not really SJG core skill set.
Plus it would have to be built up.
the FG stuff is already done, or mostly so and taps an existing base as well so more advertising.

Blind Mapmaker · 11-24-2017, 03:36 PM

I would certainly support any effort to make GURPS more accessible and that includes VTT support, but I am with mlangsdorf on this one. There is no clear standard even today. I am still partial to RPTools, but some of my less tech-savvy players can't set it up. Roll20 is easy for players, but makes things hard to improvise. Fantasy Grounds was a nightmare, when I tried it years back, but may have improved much.

All of the above (except RPTools) more or less require subscriptions that are in now way reasonable for me as I can happily use a chat programme and a dice roller (or honour system) to simulate everything but combat. Your mileage may vary if combat is the name of the game for you and you don't have any offline groups.

I might sink $5 a month into a VTT that actively promoting GURPS, but only if there's tell-tale SJGames quality involved. So far I haven't seen that anywhere in this area (from the character sheets to user-friendliness).

Christopher R. Rice · 11-24-2017, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blind Mapmaker

I would certainly support any effort to make GURPS more accessible and that includes VTT support, but I am with mlangsdorf on this one. There is no clear standard even today. I am still partial to RPTools, but some of my less tech-savvy players can't set it up. Roll20 is easy for players, but makes things hard to improvise. Fantasy Grounds was a nightmare, when I tried it years back, but may have improved much.

This has matched my expensive almost completely. Though I'll note I'd be willing to run 4-5 games for a copy of Fantasy Grounds and assistance by someone who knows the software and is willing to teach me how to use it. I'm seriously contemplating switching over to Maptool at the end of the year because I need more flexibility than Roll20 can provide at the moment.

~~VonKatzen~~ · 03-19-2018, 01:27 AM

It's worth playing on Roll20 despite the fact that it lacks a lot of integrated rules support.
It makes tactical combat easier. It makes it easier to keep track of all the sheets. You can copy-paste all relevant information into character sheets and handouts. You can create unlimited numbers of condition and maneuver cards. You can create rollable tables like critical hits that automatically print information of results to chat when used. You can still track stuff like turn order. Etc.

While it's not as convenient as the more heavily supported or simpler systems it makes running GURPS a lot easier than doing it by hand at a table-top. In fact I do this with every game I run - even if I'm running it in person, face-to-face. I find non-VTT games unacceptably clunky and for old people who can't computer.

Spend time creating one with all this stuff (combat cards, references, tables) as a generic GURPS game, then copy it for new games so you never have to re-do it.

Fantasy grounds has a lot of fan-made integration stuff but I find it overall to be more work to use. I would rather require my players to learn how to do math and read than spend time fiddling with automated rules.

KataH · 03-22-2018, 02:14 AM

On the question of whether or not SJ Games is even looking at VTTs, I got short but direct answer directly from Steve Jackson himself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jackson

Hunter is correct; he cannot talk about licensing pre-announcement.

I can say that we have indeed discussed the VTTs. So we're aware.

Swifty0x0 · 06-11-2018, 10:47 PM

I'm new to using VTT to RPG. The group I was part of, many years ago, has spread across the country, so face-to-face is out. But, we stay in touch and every once in a while we talk about starting up again (we had graduated to GURPS before people changed locations to find their real fortunes in life).

So, I researched today's VTTs and found them quite robust in allowing a tabletop RPG to be run online. I bought Fantasy Grounds ultimate on Steam (was 35% off the 1-time license fee) because it seemed to have the most GURPS support (even though only from fan efforts so far), and would be cheaper than Roll20 over time.

I've spread the word to my old group and some of them have already obtained FG, and definitely want to play online. All of us have the hope that SJG will officially support it, partly to take the tedium out of entering stats for everything ourselves, and to get ready made modules to play.

Even though our hope is SJG will support FG, I don't think there's any reason SJG shouldn't also support Roll20 (both VTTs support many of the same systems now), or any other top VTT. They should be interested in opening the market to all that make sense.

I have to express my thanks to those that have worked hard on the GURPS ruleset in FG. I'm still learning FG, but the online test cases I've done with a couple of my old group (using the GURPS ruleset)has fueled the fire to start up again. If I had to do it all myself from scratch I don't think I'd have the time. And this is partly why official support would be a plus. The time savings outweighs the cost (for us), so we're willing to pay for supported content.

11-21-2017, 10:56 PM	#1
KataH Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New Mexico	Re: Virtual Table Top (VTT) support Well that is promising about Fantasy Grounds. I know someone already has written a GURPS module to be used with Fantasy Grounds, unfortunately I never saw it and have since moved to Roll20. __________________ KataH "Follow me if I advance! Kill me if I retreat! Avenge me if I die!"

11-22-2017, 12:09 AM	#3
trooper6 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Medford, MA	Re: Virtual Table Top (VTT) support I spoke with SJGames at GenCon and said I'd really appreciate VTT support, and he said that he had heard that from a number of people and was looking into it. He mentioned Fantasy Grounds. I noted that it is currently only Mac/Linux compatible through WINE and that isn't the greatest...though rumor has it that the new Fantasy Grounds will be truly compatible. I think Roll20 is probably better for streaming because it is less of a burden on the computer...but I'm happy for any good and useable VTT that will make streaming GURPS easier. But in an idea world there would be support for both Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds. Last edited by trooper6; 11-22-2017 at 12:16 AM.

11-23-2017, 11:15 PM	#4
keyespj Join Date: Feb 2009	Re: Virtual Table Top (VTT) support I think it would be great if they did there own like GCA.

11-24-2017, 03:36 PM	#6
Blind Mapmaker Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mannheim, Baden	Re: Virtual Table Top (VTT) support I would certainly support any effort to make GURPS more accessible and that includes VTT support, but I am with mlangsdorf on this one. There is no clear standard even today. I am still partial to RPTools, but some of my less tech-savvy players can't set it up. Roll20 is easy for players, but makes things hard to improvise. Fantasy Grounds was a nightmare, when I tried it years back, but may have improved much. All of the above (except RPTools) more or less require subscriptions that are in now way reasonable for me as I can happily use a chat programme and a dice roller (or honour system) to simulate everything but combat. Your mileage may vary if combat is the name of the game for you and you don't have any offline groups. I might sink $5 a month into a VTT that actively promoting GURPS, but only if there's tell-tale SJGames quality involved. So far I haven't seen that anywhere in this area (from the character sheets to user-friendliness). __________________ My GURPS and mapmaking blog: The Blind Mapmaker

03-19-2018, 01:27 AM	#8
~~VonKatzen~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2018	Re: Virtual Table Top (VTT) support It's worth playing on Roll20 despite the fact that it lacks a lot of integrated rules support. It makes tactical combat easier. It makes it easier to keep track of all the sheets. You can copy-paste all relevant information into character sheets and handouts. You can create unlimited numbers of condition and maneuver cards. You can create rollable tables like critical hits that automatically print information of results to chat when used. You can still track stuff like turn order. Etc. While it's not as convenient as the more heavily supported or simpler systems it makes running GURPS a lot easier than doing it by hand at a table-top. In fact I do this with every game I run - even if I'm running it in person, face-to-face. I find non-VTT games unacceptably clunky and for old people who can't computer. Spend time creating one with all this stuff (combat cards, references, tables) as a generic GURPS game, then copy it for new games so you never have to re-do it. Fantasy grounds has a lot of fan-made integration stuff but I find it overall to be more work to use. I would rather require my players to learn how to do math and read than spend time fiddling with automated rules.

06-11-2018, 10:47 PM	#10
Swifty0x0 Join Date: Jun 2018	Re: Virtual Table Top (VTT) support I'm new to using VTT to RPG. The group I was part of, many years ago, has spread across the country, so face-to-face is out. But, we stay in touch and every once in a while we talk about starting up again (we had graduated to GURPS before people changed locations to find their real fortunes in life). So, I researched today's VTTs and found them quite robust in allowing a tabletop RPG to be run online. I bought Fantasy Grounds ultimate on Steam (was 35% off the 1-time license fee) because it seemed to have the most GURPS support (even though only from fan efforts so far), and would be cheaper than Roll20 over time. I've spread the word to my old group and some of them have already obtained FG, and definitely want to play online. All of us have the hope that SJG will officially support it, partly to take the tedium out of entering stats for everything ourselves, and to get ready made modules to play. Even though our hope is SJG will support FG, I don't think there's any reason SJG shouldn't also support Roll20 (both VTTs support many of the same systems now), or any other top VTT. They should be interested in opening the market to all that make sense. I have to express my thanks to those that have worked hard on the GURPS ruleset in FG. I'm still learning FG, but the online test cases I've done with a couple of my old group (using the GURPS ruleset)has fueled the fire to start up again. If I had to do it all myself from scratch I don't think I'd have the time. And this is partly why official support would be a plus. The time savings outweighs the cost (for us), so we're willing to pay for supported content.