Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 DD22 Nov 13, 2014 13:18:34	How important do you think everyone having a webcam is to the D&D experience?
#2 mellored Nov 13, 2014 13:22:12	You can't make rude gestures without it.
#3 iserith Nov 13, 2014 13:27:48	Voice is just fine for me. I don't typically transmit video nor pay attention to any video I'm receiving.
#4 DaveDash Nov 13, 2014 13:31:46	I find webcams detract from the experience. Text is the slowest and most immersive. Voice is a good compromise of speed vs immersion.
#5 IxidorRS Nov 13, 2014 13:45:33	Vidoe is not necessary, distracts from the experience, and if you've got anyone with low bandwidth / high latency it can really bog down the game (this is true of audio as well, but to a lesser extent). We have awesome technology today, but it can't overcome the limitations of the media or the provider.
#6 AaronOfBarbaria Nov 13, 2014 13:51:34	The key thing to focus on is the relay of information - you want the game info to be going to and fro as quickly as it can, and that means skipping the video feeds that eat up bandwidth and don't really provide anything that a "this is a picture of my character" couldn't do well enough to replace.   If I were to use a video feed in an online game, it would be a feed of the center area of my table (the map and minis) piped to a remote player in a game that is otherwise face-to-face, and even then that is because I lack the appropriate number of monitors to handle the local and remote map feeds through a VTT for, again, speed of information relay.
#7 Dracones Nov 13, 2014 13:57:44	I never felt the need for video and really I wouldn't want it taking up the screen realestate. A video of Bob eating nachos doesn't add to the gameplay experience to me.   For voice I run my own Mumble server and that's worked really well for years. But I've played games using Skype and that's worked well too.
#8 Azzy1974 Nov 13, 2014 14:09:56	It can be a nice feature (it's great see the facial expressions of the others in the group during play), but it's not necessary at all. If it's causing bandwidth problems, I'd suggest dropping it.
#9 edwin_su Nov 13, 2014 14:10:46	It also depends if you want to record the gameplay and make it public on sorces like yutube or stream the session.   If you stream or record the game for others to view later video is often seen as a factor that makes such streams/video more entertaining to see.
#10 MrHotter Nov 13, 2014 14:41:48	My last online game was voice and Map only, but I'd like to try video if everyone playing has the hardware/bandwith for it.  I'm toying with getting my old army budies back into a DnD game and it would be nice to see how old and ugly they are now.
#11 Mistwell Nov 13, 2014 16:36:35	We use Roll20 and Skype (audio only).  It works very well.  I can see using video for the DM only, if you want to show an object or something, but even that we've never found the need for it.  I do recommend headsets though, with a digital USB connection rather than a standard audio plug-in.
(Reply to #3) danyc	iserith wrote:
#13 Rastapopoulos Nov 13, 2014 20:06:43	Voice-only is ok. It works. I've been playing online with a group where people mostly either don't have a webcam or roll20.net doesn't recognize their cameras for some reason.   It works, but when I play with cams it certainly adds A LOT to the experience.    I find online play a poor substitute to a good ol' play around the table (but I do it since presently I live far far away from the folks I play with), so the more I can simulate our cozy table the better. It's good to watch the reaction of people, the worries, the laughter, the surprises, etc.
#14 DaveDash Nov 13, 2014 21:47:41	If you're doing more theatre of mind stuff, no minis, no maps, no virtual tabletop, then I can see where webcams would come in handy.
#15 trebor_rjf Nov 13, 2014 22:05:04	i've never used mine for gaming. maybe it's because i started playing dnd online before the techology was there and now i'm set in my ways.   but really, what does 5 little thumbnail videos of people watching their computer screen add?
#16 LongTimeLurker Nov 14, 2014 0:59:39	DD22 wrote:
#17 akaddk Nov 14, 2014 1:06:36	Video is annoying. Voice is good simply because most people type so damned slowly.
#18 Psikerlord Nov 14, 2014 3:05:39	I like both video and just audio only. I find they have different advantages. If the video is on, it feels more personable to me, I like to see expressions and gestures, etc. On the other hand, I've done a fair bit of audio only lately, and I actually find it more immersive. I'm not quite sure why, but I do get that feeling. You learn everyone's voices very quickly. Audio only certainly doesnt make it any slower to run, from what I can tell.     So I think it can work well with video or without. My personal experience is that audio is slightly more immersive. Game style wise, I prefer theatre of the mind, and I've also played grid heavy with video and without. I think if there's a lot of grid, audio only is better to free up valuable map space.