Kickstarter: "playsets" Play Tabletop Games Over the Internet!

[YeOldeMoose]

Hello fellow escapisters... escapistees... people of the escapist! I was wondering around the internet when I came upon a kickstarter for "playsets." Its an app for ipads, androids, or even just web browsers that lets you and your friends have an interactive tabletop with figures to play out games such as dnd, pathfinder, etc.

It looks very interesting, and I know there are quite a few table top RPG players among the forums; so, I thought I'd bring it to everyone's attention if you haven't already heard of it!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/985647565/playsets-the-future-of-social-storytelling
^ The link to the kickstarter is right there if any of this sounds even remotely interesting.

What does everyone think about it though? I personally haven't been able to play a whole campaign of dnd with my gaming group since I left for college. It seems like this would be a very nice way to get back into things since there aren't really any other good alternatives to table top gaming over the internet.

 

[DoPo]

Erm, somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure something like this exists. There certainly was something for tablets, maybe even a couple of them and I know that there are several similar programs for PCs - they might have been ported to other devices already, dunno.

I mean, it's not that it's not exciting but I don't think it's that exciting. Still interesting, though.

 

[kingthrall]

hmm looks interesting but I am waiting for them to finalize this game. This game is by far the most classic childhood game of my life Maybe doesn't look interesting on the tube but its fairly accurate game to what the board game was. (they need more music too I think since its a long game)

 

[Rutabaga_swe]

hmm looks interesting but I am waiting for them to finalize this game. This game is by far the most classic childhood game of my life Maybe doesn't look interesting on the tube but its fairly accurate game to what the board game was. (they need more music too I think since its a long game)

So this is a client for playing tabletop RPGs, has nothing to do with a game like Talisman. They are two completely separate things.

As for the actual topic; i guess the idea is good, but i'm not entirely sold on the concept. I mean there are already programs that allow you to do just this, sans the isometric perspective and the cute cartoony graphics. Tbh i wish there would be some sort of official DnD online client thing (maybe there is?) so that you could hook up with random players from around the world and play DnD. My friends aren't nerdy enough

 

[YeOldeMoose]

Erm, somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure something like this exists. There certainly was something for tablets, maybe even a couple of them and I know that there are several similar programs for PCs - they might have been ported to other devices already, dunno.

I mean, it's not that it's not exciting but I don't think it's that exciting. Still interesting, though.

So wait, there are other ways to do this? The only ones I know of look horrific and are a chore to use. What specifically are you guys using for it?

 

[eimatshya]

Roll20 is pretty easy to use, at least in its basic form. You can get more complicated with macros and the like, but for the most part it's just drag and drop when you want to put icons, backdrops, etc. in. It's presentation is a lot simpler than what is being offered in the kickstarter though. Roll20 is basically a virtual tabletop, where this kickstarter looks like it's trying to look more like a computer game.

 

[DoPo]

Erm, somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure something like this exists. There certainly was something for tablets, maybe even a couple of them and I know that there are several similar programs for PCs - they might have been ported to other devices already, dunno.

I mean, it's not that it's not exciting but I don't think it's that exciting. Still interesting, though.

So wait, there are other ways to do this? The only ones I know of look horrific and are a chore to use. What specifically are you guys using for it?

Myself - nothing, to be honest - I just don't use specific software to play online. I prefer to either play face to face, or do play by post. But other than that, these are the programs I know of

I've heard people have luck using Skype + Google Docs for communication and map/sheets respectively.

But as for actual software:
MapTools - I've heard it's the best
iTableTop - one of the most popular
OpenRPG - another of the most popular virtual table software
VirtualDaivve - I don't really know much about it

I don't have any experience in them but I've seen them mentioned in topics such as this one.

Hope it helps.

EDIT: ah yes, I forgot about the one the poster below suggested - Gametabe is another one of the most famous programs.

There is also Roll20 and the app for tablets I can't remember the name of (may have had a Kickstarter, too).

Tbh i wish there would be some sort of official DnD online client thing (maybe there is?)

There isn't - WotC sort of advertised one being made, but apparently...how should I put it, they haven't put skill points into "software making". So, as I said - there isn't one.

 

[eimatshya]

Tbh i wish there would be some sort of official DnD online client thing (maybe there is?) so that you could hook up with random players from around the world and play DnD. My friends aren't nerdy enough

If you're just looking to find people to play D&D with over the internet, you could try one of the following sites:

Lots of D&D and Pathfinder campaigns here; a mix of play by post and maptool or related programs:
http://www.thetangledweb.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?13-Recruiting-Office-Find-and-Post-New-Games

All kinds of campaigns can be found here using the site's Roll20 program (usually in conjunction with skype or google hangouts). The Roll20 program is free, runs through your browser, and comes with a dice rolling app:
https://app.roll20.net/forum/category/22

Also this page, but I think they're only play by post (I could be wrong about that, I only looked the site over briefly):
http://www.myth-weavers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=141

 

[DoPo]

Also this page, but I think they're only play by post (I could be wrong about that, I only looked the site over briefly):
http://www.myth-weavers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=141

Myth-Weavers is indeed PbP only - one of the best, too. The other one I'd recommend is RPoL.net, for the record. You won't find any other games on M-W - they really don't want people to search/advertise offsite games, however RPoL has a section for such games, so you could look there - some people look for people IRL, others advertise other websites or games staring on Skype, for example. A bit of a mixed bag, but you might find something.

 

[kingthrall]

hmm looks interesting but I am waiting for them to finalize this game. This game is by far the most classic childhood game of my life Maybe doesn't look interesting on the tube but its fairly accurate game to what the board game was. (they need more music too I think since its a long game)

So this is a client for playing tabletop RPGs, has nothing to do with a game like Talisman. They are two completely separate things.

As for the actual topic; i guess the idea is good, but i'm not entirely sold on the concept. I mean there are already programs that allow you to do just this, sans the isometric perspective and the cute cartoony graphics. Tbh i wish there would be some sort of official DnD online client thing (maybe there is?) so that you could hook up with random players from around the world and play DnD. My friends aren't nerdy enough

well the only difference I can see is the ability to move and place emotional characters over any part of your game. Sound more like a program to facilitate a Larpers/D&D dream than a "table top rpg which is exactly what talisman is" as the O.P said.

so yes, has nothing to do with the idea of the game, but has everything to do with the genre it should be categorized as. Not as an rpg but as a larp r.p.g or something.

 

[Weaver]

Umm, what's wrong with Roll 20 and Skype?
I'd even go as far to say it's far superior, IMO. It's also free.

If you want to get fancy, you can even buy bluetooth enabled dice for the tactile roll.

 

[Weaver]

Umm, what's wrong with Roll 20 and Skype?
I'd even go as far to say it's far superior, IMO. It's also free.

If you want to get fancy, you can even buy bluetooth enabled dice for the tactile roll.

heck if you are using Roll20 you dont even need Skype, it has built in voice chat.

I use Roll20 and OpenRPG myself. Roleplaying over Skype kinda sucks, it generally goes a lot slower than just typing

I like skype for the webcam features so I can see the other players
But, to each their own!

 

[YeOldeMoose]

I have never heard of Roll20, but it looks fantastic. I only wish that I had not missed out on the kickstarter. Still, it looks like they didn't need my help anyways.

Still, playsets is going to be free as well. Different tools are never a bad thing in my opinion.

 

[Lil_Rimmy]

Oh hey, there's a kickstarter for Roll20... oh wait.

Yeah, this thing has already been done a million times over. OpenRPG, RPGOnline, Roll20 and more. Mythweavers and stuff for character sheets. Hell, if you must, Skype. I am a Mentor is Roll20, and it's pretty amazing.

Ok I just had a look at it. As far as I can see, it looks like Roll20 with cartoon-y characters. No offence, but I think this either may fail, or just won't be as popular as the others that already exist. Especially if it is locked down (not allowing players to upload their own things). And the whole idea of "It's on tablets and ipads and phones!"...

One moment, let me load up Roll20 on my phone and Hi Everyone, let's play D&D!