Apr
1st
2021
Anyone use Roll20? · 2:14am Apr 1st, 2021
I know I literally just posted a blog earlier tonight, and I had meant to ask this question in it, but now that's it up, no one will notice if I edit, so
I'm planning on running a D&D game using Roll20, and using it is... kinda not intuitive? There's a lot of moving parts? So I figure, if I can get in on a game of any sort -- doesn't have to be D&D -- just once and figure out how it works, I'll be able to help my players figure out how it works.
Can anyone help a guy out? :B Only issue is I can't stay up late (in Eastern time).
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PresentPerfect · 291 views
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I've used Roll20 and also Foundry VTT, and I would highly recommend the latter. You don't have to pay a monthly fee for usage if you host the server on your own computer (which does cost money but it's a one-time price), and I've found it to be more intuitive and easy to use both as a player and the GM. My setup was to make backgrounds with Inkarnate, then import them into Foundry VTT to do the lighting stuff and for actual play.
I use Roll20 currently. It's fine. Uploading images to use as maps is simple, the tutorial is nice. While it can get complex, if you just use it as a simple dicerolling and mini-moving tool it's pretty easy.
I don't use Roll20. I use a different one built by the military and N.A.S.A.
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WHat he said. My 2 year Curse of Strahd game started on Roll20, but halfway through we switched to Foundary, and man. So much better.
I use roll20 all the time. I run games and play in games. I also make my own macros in sheets. Pathfinder 1e and some 5e.
Let me know what you’re having trouble with. I can tots help with a ton of stuff.
I also pay for the mid tier, so can help with dynamic line of sight if you need that.
Edit: to expand. My groups tend to heavily lean on 3pp like Path of War, Spheres of Power, and Akashic mysteries. 95% of this stuff can be done using the built in ability or spells (community sheet. The official PF sheet is garbage.) but sometimes, you need a custom macro. Maneuvers/stances that change weapon size, non static bonus damage, or things like Barrage that have a variable number of attacks with variable penalties: all of these really want you to either do things the slow way, or just write your own macro. It’s a limited form of programming, but can be made to look very native.
Edit 2: we all use discord for voice and roll20 for everything else
I use Roll20, poorly. You’re right that it’s not very intuitive. Sadly it’s been a while since I ran a game on it; right now I’m using it as a player in someone else’s game
I run games and play in them on Roll20.
It works. I can assert that. But, yeah, not very intuitive. The tutorials for setting up character sheets and using dynamic lighting, by Roll20 themselves are also, okay, but not the best. Like so many other things, users make better tuts that are pretty easy to find on youtube that can help with just about every issue.
The good part is once you are over the hump of the learning curve, the system plows along at a good chop without too much turbulence.
If you have a specific question, shoot me a PM.
I used to, but I switched to Discord because I don't tend to make use of maps. I hardly ever run d20 anymore either. Usually other stuff.
I have used it, not well. I have had technical troubles in, for example, building a character sheet in one game, and not being able to export it to another, even though Roll20 says the action was successful.
I’ve played a little Roll20, but it’s defiant fiddly. Can be useful for map based games though?
On the other hand, you might be able to skate by with just a discord chat and a dice bot if you’re running something rules-light. (FATE, Blades in the Dark, Kids on Bikes, various White Wolf games, et al).
My friends and I play on Roll20. We don't use the character sheets, dynamic lighting, audio or video though - we just use it as a board to play on. We use Discord for talking, and handle our own character sheets (since I make my own character sheets). That cuts down on the amount of Roll20 there is to learn.
It's not as full featured a VTT as eg Foundry or Arkenforge, which actually understand the rules of the game. I'm quite happy with that though; as GM, it's my job to run the game, and the board is just there to do what I tell it to.
EDIT: I should add, none of us pay anything for Roll20, since we don't need its advanced features.
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Honestly it's once you're used to it r20 isn't a bad setup... the problem is the setup is a bit annoying. Even players need to do some, you can program in actions so all you have to do is click a button and your action is rolled... buuut the player needs to set that up.
Had a friend who ran a game on Roll20. The learning curve is a bit rough, but it seemed versatile and it just seemed to work. We ran some games on it for a few years.
But, admittedly, I don't have too much else to compare it to, so take that as you will.
I have no experience with Roll20. But a few of my friends have run games on Tabletop Simulator. They've highly recommend it.
Now, I've only played board games on Tabletop Simulator. (We usually use TTS plus Discord.) And it has its quirks and issues, same as any program. But the learning curve for it is extremely low. The controls for it are very simple.
I've even ported custom assets into it, which is probably its biggest weakness. But there's countless free assets for it, so I'm assuming that won't be an issue for most.
I was also put off by how expensive Roll20 is. But there may be some bias here, since I own a fair amount of physical books and PDFs already.
I'm currently using Roll20, and there are definitely some early stumbling blocks. User-made tutorials are likely your best bet.
Holy crap, did not expect people to be this passionate about online role-playing games, and now in hindsight of having typed that, I have to wonder why.
Also, I just shift-clicked a reply button and it erased all but the first line of this reply. :| Fimfiction, why?
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I've already got everything set up on Roll20, so...
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Mostly, I just don't know how things work on the players' side. What they'll experience when they're using their character sheets. I figured out enough to set up a bunch of maps and some minis, but that was enough of a headache, I hate to think what they'll be going through. And like, it was long enough ago that I don't remember how it works myself anymore. :B
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It's D&D, so we need maps. :B
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I've used TTS enough that I would never want to run an RPG on it. Getting character sheets would be awful. It's fine for card games, but it's so fiddly and messy, I just don't recommend it for anything else. D:
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That's not a bad idea. I'll have to check that out.
Okay. So When do you want to try to get a quick tutorial? I’ll make a game and add you as a PC and we’ll go over stuff. It won’t take too long. Depending on what system you wanna use. Community Pathfinder sheet even has draggable buttons that simplify using the data entry spreadsheet that is a typical PF game.
My discord is basically my D&D group. So you can ask (almost) anyone in there about how they find roll20 to get more perspectives.
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There's a button on the settings tab that lets you switch from GM to player and back, so you can try out their point of view.
I've been playing as a character in a weekly D&D 5e game on Roll20 for about a year, and I ran a one shot as a DM on Roll20 to give my DM a break from prep work, so I have some experience on both sides of the virtual screen. When setting up to DM, found the following tutorial videos pretty helpful:
Beginner DM crash course:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2svM5qPA5hg
One more focused on running combat:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBIqdfgXf9s
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Can you elucidate? The reason I went to roll20 is they have a really good GURPS sheet and rolling system plugin.
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It was just a more fluid, easier UI. We could use hotkeys for certain attacks or spells, it ran smoother, and from what my DM said, his side was incredibly more intuitive.
I, registered but ran into the same issue. No clue how to use it.