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Roll20 on new new google hangouts12/25/2023 ![]() With these apps, Google Hangouts is able to provide all of the functionality of an in-person live D&D game… and even simplify many tasks that would be time consuming in a traditional pencil and paper session! These apps provide support for D&D elements, including maps icons representing characters, monsters, and more embedded character sheets virtual dice shared images shared soundtracks. There are actually a few different apps available specifically for D&D Google Hangouts, the most developed of which appears to be Roll20. How are Google Hangouts used to play D&D? The app menu starts out with just a few basic apps, but additional apps can be added to the menu by clicking the +Add apps option.īecause Google Hangouts are part of the Google+ ensemble, a Google+ account is required in order to start or join a Google Hangout. To add an app to an active Hangout, simply click the app’s icon from the menu on the left side of the Hangout browser window. Third party apps are also available, which is the key to D&D through Google Hangouts. ![]() Because Google Hangouts are part of Google+, other Google apps can be integrated into a Google Hangout. Google Hangouts are, at the most basic, free online video chat sessions either between up to 10 participants, or broadcast from one person to anyone who cares to watch. Providing the functionality of miniatures, a game board, and dics is where Google Hangouts sets itself apart from other video clients. Each player, and the Dungeon Master, will roll dice to determine how successfully their characters carry out the actions that the players describe. The grid provides a quick and easy way to determine distances, and the map provides a visual representation of the area in which the combat occurs. The miniatures will be placed on a map covered with a one-inch grid. Since where things are in relationship to each other plays a very important part in D&D combat, the group will likely use miniatures to represent the dragon and each character. For instance, if the adventuring party encounters a dragon, there is likely to be a fight between the dragon and the players’ characters. These might not be used for every moment of every game, but typically are vital for any part of the game that involves combat. Second, there are the miniatures, game board, and dice. In fact, since some players already scan their rule books to PDF files to read on tablet or e-reader, and use spreadsheets or other programs to store character sheets, these might even be more accessible to players sitting along in front of their computer. Players would be able to refer to the rule books just easily sitting alone in front of their computer as sitting in a group around a table. The rule books and character sheets don’t present any difficulty for online play. Each player also has a character sheet that contains all of the details of that player’s characters, numbers that represent how well the character is able to perform specific tasks. ![]() The Dungeon Master (the person who runs the game) might have several more rule books containing the rules specific to the game setting and events. Each player typically has one or more rule books containing the rules specific to that player’s character. There are a few other elements of the game to consider.įirst, there are the reference materials - rule books and character sheets. For instance, any form of text messaging would slow down game play considerably.īut, D&D is a little more complicated than a group of people talking to each other. All of these technologies would probably be adequate for the social interaction aspect of D&D, though some would be less than ideal. There are many technologies to help people talk to each other across long distances, from telephones to cell phones to internet chat to VoIP to video chat. The Dungeon Master would then describe the results of the characters’ responses, and so on throughout the game. A D&D game session typically consists of the Dungeon Master describing a scenario, and then the players describing their characters’ responses to the scenario. In fact, Wizards of the Coast (the publisher of the official D&D game manuals) describes D&D as “You take on the role of a fantasy hero and help tell your story in collaboration with your fellow players and a Dungeon Master.” Or to simplify it even further… the heart of D&D is a group of people talking to each other. The primary element of the game is social interaction. D&D is a pencil and paper role-playing game. ![]()
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