Had my first experience being a player in a Roll20 game tonight. Was impressed with that way of doing D&D, but I wonder what happens when the players head somewhere that the DM has not prepared? I still like my dry erase crayons and $10 bag of coloured puffballs... - ThreadSky

dmofscience.bsky.social • 29 days ago

Had my first experience being a player in a Roll20 game tonight. Was impressed with that way of doing D&D, but I wonder what happens when the players head somewhere that the DM has not prepared? I still like my dry erase crayons and $10 bag of coloured puffballs...

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hagiologist.bsky.social•29 days ago

It's definitely a mixed bag. I love my DM and I'm glad to get to play but he definitely has prep paralysis and VTTs are part of it. Some down and dirty dry erase would be very freeing. If we go at all out of line or past what he expected we just have to end for the week even if its only like 1 hour

dmofscience.bsky.social•29 days ago

Yeah, I have been using a vinyl battlemat with minis, puffballs, and tokens since 2010. I can see the appeal of Roll20, but it's so easy to improvise with what I have got.

misshelle.bsky.social•29 days ago

If we were going to run in Roll20 long term, I would give players access to their tokens to have even more autonomy. Tonight I tried to make it as akin to the dry erase mat.

zerhackermann.bsky.social•29 days ago

So far Ive disliked it. spending more time fiddling with the tool than actually solving the problems with it is too much like my actual job. tablet hookups for drawing because mostly theater of the mind is finicky. and god damn it I want real dice.

durenar.bsky.social•29 days ago

I have the rare "luck" that my players, for the most part, don't like to have too much freedom. They are very much set in the principle "Have Quest, go there". And yes, I asked them, and they get paralysed if they have too many options. So it's easier for me to be prepared in a VTT.

lostr2.bsky.social•29 days ago

Try doing that when the DM is legally blind and a player is pulling up maps and positioning things for battle. I do like moving my own token, but I don't think it's significantly improved over you moving a mini and sometimes needing a further explainer.

Only bonus so far is the dynamic lighting.

calenmir.bsky.social•29 days ago

depending on your setup and subscription level, there are a couple options:
-grab a random map from your library
-start drawing on the map tab with the drawing tools
-theater of the mind

chellekat.bsky.social•29 days ago

the campaign I play in there moves to theatre of the mind or uses a 'blank' page and some of the drawing tools if visualization is needed.

dmofscience.bsky.social•29 days ago

Thanks for the response. Maybe I will look into it a bit more.

chellekat.bsky.social•29 days ago

the tools in place can be finicky, but they mimic a dry erase board well enough in a pinch.

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