I play a lot of games via G+ Hangouts. It’s pretty much the ideal situation for the husband and me because, not only are we far away from some of our favorite gamers, but we’ve got a toddler. We easily put the kid to bed and be rolling dice within 10 minutes, which makes weeknight gaming possible – something that’s darn-near impossible when both partners game.
Bonus: I can game in my PJs. There’s no more comfortable way to play!
I also tweet a lot about the games that I’m playing online. The result is that I also get a lot of people asking me about virtual gaming. How do I do it? What advice do I have? LOOK NO FURTHER, PEOPLE OF THE INTERNET. I PRESENT TO YOU:
Three Tips That Might Be Good For G+ Gaming. Maybe?
First, you need a webcam. But, then again, not all of you do.
So, a while back, our Pathfinder group wanted to play, but also didn’t want to leave their houses. Despite all being somewhat local, we sat down at our computers in our assorted suburbs and rolled some freaking dice on a weeknight… but Ben didn’t have a working webcam.
We all just popped into a Google+ Hangout, cued up Tabletop Forge (see below) and he was able to indicate where he was on the map and participate easily. Was pretty awesome.
Second, use Tabletop Forge or a similar app. Or don’t, it’s really up to you.
Some games require a battlemat. And, if those are the games you’re playing, getting to know the various app offerings is essential. I’ve used Tabletop Forge to great success, but – then again – the games I love are rarely battlemat-driven. Do, Hollowpoint, and Kobolds Ate my Baby were all brilliant via G+… and, of course, don’t require you to track combat much at all.
Third, prepare for some glitches in the system. There might not be any. But it’s always possible.
Group video chat is pretty much amazing. It’s the future and all that. And, you know, it works pretty well about 90% of the time in my experience. But sometimes it is a disaster and you just have to roll with it. (har har! roll with it! YOU SEE WHAT I DID THERE!?)
