Well, Paizo has started the closed Beta for their Virtual Tabletop - after less than six months.

Betas are going out to folks that bought tickets online for Paizo Con 2012, providing a largish but manageable total of testers.

In a while they are doing an open Beta.

They plan for the base program to be free, and add on contents being the source of cash flow. Importantly - any PDFs bought from the Paizo webstore of map tiles and flip mats will be useable in the VTT, and it does not need to be the GM that made the purchase.

*EDIT* Plus, they intend it to be system neutral, which is both good and bad.

This past summer Paizo announced their VTT, hours later WotC cancelled their own VTT, which had been in the works for four years*.

So... anyone here go to PaizoCon this year?

The Auld Grump

* And, lo, there arose a great moaning and a gnashing of teeth upon the internet....

I'm curious too!

I've tried many programs...
Fantasy grounds 1-2
Map tools

making even my own maps with dundjinni and/or CC3

I've also tried WOTC's virtual table but was TERRIBLE!
and when u have something worse than a freware.... it's a total failure!


In the end it's something i've abandoned because nothing can substitute:

1)paraverbal communication

2) chips and beers with friends

3) non-game-related jokes

Talae and I had (and a few others) had a Skype/Maptools game that went for a while. It worked fairly well. #1/#3 are addressed in this, but you definitely lose nonverbal cues. Of course, we participated in #2 as desired, just individually, which does take some of the fun out of it. Overall, it was a good experience, and I would definitely do it again, but it is distinctly different from IRL games (which I definitely prefer).

Here's hoping Paizo's efforts are a success. More options / competition are always a good thing.

I play a regular game using google hangout, where we don't actually use any figures etc (I know, heresy! ).

It's good fun and a nice way to play with friends who live too far away to get together regularly.

We talked about using forge (which some other friends are using), but decided not to, mostly due to apathy...

RL is best though!

I have used Maptool a few times, as well as TableTop Forge and Roll 20. They have merit for sure (and I liked the Hangout versions better due to simplicity - Maptool has the learning curve of Photoshop). They are great for what they are, but I would much rather hangout in person than on Hangout. That being said, they are a close second.

Imho where virtual tables really shine are in skirmish games!

But for roleplaying i DO feel a wall in front of me....