I play both online and in person. It was a combination of online play and the pandemic that launched me back into the hobby. We ditched roll20’s a/v for discord REALLY fast. That’s still how to do it, comms through discord and VTT through Foundry. We played two longish campaigns online, I ran one for almost two years, both were 5e. Now we play adventures in different systems, with rotating GMs. EZd6, Dungeon World, 13 Age, and just completed a Shadowdark Funnel. We might be doing Mutants in the Now next…

That Isle of Dread book from the thumbnail is wonderful. The opening essays are worth the price alone.

Not having to commute was the absolute best 🚗 PJs were good, too 😌

Another struggle I have with playing online is that it becomes tempting to start doing other things on your computer (browsing the web, checking social media, emails, etc) While players could use their phones or computers while playing in person, I feel the temptation is much stronger online. My group is honest with each other some of us struggle with this. Lately, I started doing coloring pages while playing which has helped me stay away from distractions on the computer.

I play both, for me in person will always win out for actual play as it's a social game. Like you say in the video, a lot of the feedback you get, both as a player and a GM is non verbal and if you can't hear or see that you just aren't getting the same depth of roleplay. To be clear I've had amazing online games, I've had amazing roleplay in them too, I just think in person has more potential. The big benefit of online, however, is that you don't need to get anywhere. My in person game is at most a 15 minute drive from me (we rotate who hosts but we live close). But for those who have to drive much further than that I can see it putting them off.

Great video, i love when i have a notification from the channel! i think more of the cons can be resolved with time, patience and communication among players & between them and the gm. Right now, my biggest problem is the technical aspect and being the dm i feel its worse. i cant run combat online because my laptop is old (2014) and i cant run roll20, owlbear rodeo, dnd maps or even the snip & share tool from windows and discord at the same time. i hate it because i cant offer my players the experience i would like them to have. But they keep saying im a good dm because they love the campaign, the world, the plot twist and how narrative focus is it. that soften the blow :D

I used to use a VTT but it is a a bit of a pain to train everyone to use it properly... and if you've invested money you feel like you need to endure the cons to justify the purchase. I have Fantasy Grounds, but I'll either not use it or just have it open for my journal (pinned notes on images/maps) but not sharing/connecting it to the players. We go full Theater of the mind in our live sessions over streamyard and using Sophies dice... I might share an image or two if needed. We have a way smoother time using our imaginations and roleplaying a character.

I played almost exclusively online for more than ten years because that's the only place I could find people. I live in a fairly small city in southern Ohio, but my online game had a guy in Hawaii and a lady in Australia and lots of folks in between. And yeah, there were definitely some problems with it, but it let me play the game. About 18 months ago I found some folks locally who play, but I still play in both face to face and online games. All that matters is getting to play!

The start of the pandemic coincided with the climax, the last few sessions, of a campaign I was running in the Pathfinder region of Osirion (ancient Egypt). I had built a huge pyramid to explore inside for this climax. Sadly, we were forced onto roll20 and I never got to use my pyramid at the table in actual play in person play. Instead I had to take pictures of the levels and upload them to roll20. Not the same exciting effect I had planned. It was a bit depressing. But eventually I got good at using roll20 and it worked out.

I've been running an online game for about a year and half, online because the players are all over the US. Three time zones. I've used Roll20 and wasn't crazy about it, and I found Foundry to just be too much work, so we've been using Shard Tabletop and loving it. I like this VTT so much that if I ever start playing in person again I might still use it and just have everyone bring their laptops to play on. Much better than printing out battle maps and handouts. The biggest drawback to me is not being able to use physical props. But a handout on a VTT is the next best thing.

we shifted to online when covid hit and stayed doing so until the end of those campaigns. But since spring of 23 we have gone back to in person play at our LFGS

I play nearly exclusively in person. We've tried online before, but i find myself quickly frustrated by not getting anything close to the in person world immersion. I rely on my ability to read people to RP well and keep players engaged and the sessions moving.

I play online with one player, and I play in person with a slightly larger group that consists of my sister and her friends. For the online game, we just use text because that’s what we’re used to

hey

We’ve been playing in person and online at the same time for years. We have 6 meet in person and 2 others in other states join us. It works most of the time. Storms can take out internet in no time. I prefer in person but sometimes it doesn’t work out that way.

Great video. I've played online, with remote Players who could not drive down for a game session. It sucks, to be honest. I hate it. The remote player gets distracted by people/pets around them; we tend to forget they are there; we talk over one another. There is no substitute for being together in the same room. I am tempted to run games online, so I can game more often than my regular group can get together, but the con's of it all, are weighing heavily upon me, holding me back from starting it up. Grrr!... Cheers!

I've played a lot of both. I pretty much entirely play online now, although I do actually like playing in person when it's possible. It's let me play with old friends and established groups and so we get to play together despite not living in the same town. One thing that has happened was for in person play, when it happens, is to still make use of online tools such as having people bring laptops and use Roll20. One thing that makes a HUGE difference with online play is for the GM to structure interactions more. For example, rather than just letting folks talk during a noncombat encounter, be sure to explicitly check in with a player who hasn't said anything. Radio discipline makes a big difference too. One other thing that I find helpful: Some people REALLY like background music, sound effects, and flickering lighting effects. I can't tolerate any of those well. I have sensory issues due an injury that make coping with them hard, much less trying to do it while paying attention to the game. As long as the music and sound effects are set up correctly, I can turn them off and others can have them on. Having this experience was very helpful when I needed to online my classes in 2020.

While you do miss a lot of the nuances from an in-person game, I too feel online has a lot more going for it than in person. Inclement weather can make it impossible to get to the game, you can play if you're sick and not worry about infecting the rest of your group, and you can indulge in the libations and not have to worry about driving home impaired. There's also a safety bonus with online play okay. If you are playing with a new person, you don't have to give them your home address and invite them into your home to only then find out that they are not someone you want to be around. The host doesn't have to clean the house, and the DM always has all of their resources within their reach.

I play online, but I only DM in person. I don't feel confident that I have a good enough command of any VTT to give players a decent experience playing online yet.

I've only played online. And I joined my second game in february 2020... worked great.. until it didnt for some bizare reason :P The most infuriating part is tech not working. Its the equivalent of car not starting xD

I play online and it's fun. I'd prefer to play in person but it's impossible because the whole group is busy with work and family. I was really frustrated with all those online platforms because everything is just D&D, a system that I loathe. There are so many good systems out there yet everyone keeps playing D&D. I don't understand it. If I didn't GM myself, I'd have a hard time finding a group. Unless I wanted to play D&D, that is. But before I do that I rather not play at all.

I run a couple online games i record. Its the only dnd ive been able to play tbh

If you use 'box text' descriptions find a way to display it on the screen for players. People can absorb info better if they can hear it and read it. In person I started putting my 'box text' on note cards. After my (over) dramatic GM moment, I pass the card around so people can read it.