We are all probably looking forward to something that looks a little bit like old normal for 2021. With a fair wind and a strong dose of ingenious science, perhaps we will as the year continues. Most markedly, I would like conventions to be face to face at some point during the year. Of those that I am most heavily involved in, I remain hopeful that Furnace 2021, scheduled for October, will see us meeting each other at The Garrison Hotel once again. How lovely that will be, with the added opportunity to actually roll some physical dice, something that I have only really managed with the occasional family games. I expect that North Star, slated for May, will be online.
For my regular gaming though, I think the patterns set in 2020 will now become a fixture, whatever happens in the life of the pandemic. Online gaming suits me very well, and in a silver lining of an awful year has set me on a course for my future regular gaming. The advantages of the format outweigh the pitfalls to such a great extent that my regular weekly gaming will continue on a Virtual Tabletop. The convenience of signing in and out from your own home, the broader range of people you can connect with, and some of the inherent advantages of online play will ensure that is where the majority of my games will take place.
I have already noted how much more gaming I have had in 2020 compared to pretty much any year except perhaps my undergraduate times. The quality of the games have also been very high. The sessions are typically shorter, but I have found more focused on the actual game, which is a slight surprise given the Internet distractions that are in everyone’s faces. I’ve noted a few players that have regularly zoned out, in game, to other online windows, but they have been a minority. Or, at least, for some, the distractions haven’t influenced the quality of their play, so I haven’t really noticed. The use of the online resources for maps, tokens, dice rollers, information sharing all add to the experience, without being necessary for a great game. So, online is where I will be.
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| More games than ever before |
The virtual tabletops themselves are continually improving. At present I don’t think there is one that does everything the best. As such it is more a case of choosing the right tool for the job. Having said that, I am not wanting to spread myself too much beyond a couple of online offerings. The obvious choice is Roll20, which currently is predominant, but I don’t really like it enough, despite very strong integration with a large number of systems. I will say more below, but I am keen to get D&D 4th edition to the roster of games this year, a game built with a VTT in mind. The obvious thing to do here is use Roll20, as it has a character sheet ready to go for it. Even then, I find that I hold back.
I backed Role, a new contender, because it looked at the VTT experience differently. The audio visuals are much more video conference, and the best I have seen, providing simple tools for non-coders to add character sheets. However, it lacks basic features I could do with, including: fog of war, persisting attributes for tokens, chat window, dice log and music integration. Many of these are slated for release during 2021. I’m looking forward to see how it will improve during the year and will subscribe when the time comes for me to be asked.
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| The Role VTT with some 4e prep |
My other is Lets Role, which I have supported through play and advertising, but without any money for well over a year. This one ignores any audio or visuals for players and focuses on an attractive maps and tokens experience with tools for people to write their own sheets. I have found the first steps to do this a bit too steep, so have used the generic sheet instead, which can be customised, to an extent, to suit. Lets Role is about to go into Kickstarter for their next phase. Even for no other reason than a thank you for providing me with such a nice home for my gaming throughout 2020, I will say that ‘thank you’ by backing them.
I’m not saying ‘never’ to Roll20, but I expect that if I decide to back and use one of the mainstream VTTs, I’d end up using Foundry, which looks excellent.
For regular campaigns that I will GM, these are currently in the plan:
- Pathfinder 2e – continuing our weekly adventures in Varisia as expressed in the Shattered Star AP. If interest and enthusiasm continues, we will get to quite high level play, which I have wanted to explore with Pathfinder since getting into it.
- True20 – continuing our West Marches influenced Greyhawk game. True20 has been a real find, and possibly, on the quiet, my favourite d20 game so far. Greyhawk is a great place to run games, as its philosophy of open play, but now backed with lore if you want to use it, lends to the more sandboxy style I’m going for with this game. Although I don’t have the volume of players to create a broader West Marches mix and match approach, I shall leave it as player led and not force it. If people coalesce around an expedition out into the wilds, then I would be delighted to guide them there.
- D&D 4th Edition – I would like to run a Points of Lght campaign set in Nentir Vale. I have some great material, maps and excited ambition to try out this version of D&D. I’ve taken some askance and good natured flak for my pre-try enthusiasm, but hey, that’s me, so phooey! I think I’ve found a great version that really appeals. Maybe I’ll slope back to 13th Age, after I work out what slightly dissatisfies me about it.
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| A mad eBay Christmas spending spree |
- Coriolis – a continuation of the Mercy of the Icons game, that alternates with Dom’s excellent Curse of Strahd. This is currently on Roll20, but I’d ideally like to get it off there.
- Traveller – located either in the near future Hostile, or out in the Gateway Domain
- Heroic Fantasy – some quick playtest games prior to releasing the update onto Drivethru
- TRIPOD Essence – ‘in layout’ so will happen in year and when possible.
- TRIPOD Dramaguhl: City on the edge of Nowhere – I really hope this progresses. Writing is at about 70% complete. Either we self publish, or we try for a Kickstarter for a professional book.
- TRIPOD Fantasy – a theme book to run high fantasy using the new Wordplay. It’s already 50 pages, but it needs some substantial work.
- Heroic Fantasy 2 – Almost complete in writing. A few new Kin, new armour rules, cantrips, new Class (Druid). Bit of playtest and me having a go at a cover using Publisher.
- Ten Step Campaign – highly aspirational and thus probably 2022. Write a building, 10 adventure, campaign framework. Possibly stat free, but more likely embed some examples using Heroic Fantasy or TRIPOD and guidance on adapting to others.