I had the chance to mess around a little with ABOVE VTT - This tool is amazing, it integrates into your owned DnDBeyond resources and is pretty straightforward
I see there is an issue that some of it stored data locally and when you delete your cache it loses data - it appears to be being worked on as they have moved a lot to a cloud-based system now.
I'm not seeing a VOIP or audio system integrated - guessing they expect it to be used with Discord?
Has anyone been using this ABOVEvtt? What are your thoughts?
Not as much chatter as I would expect with a tool that is integrated so well.
The creator doesn't even seem to check the thread or update things very often ( it took another user to remind the creator that it has been around for a year.
Looking on Youtube, there are like a half dozen videos and most of them are 10-11 months old and do not even look like the current released version
AboveVTT has video/audio integrated.. (using Jitsi free service) just press that "connect video" in the bottom left.
My time is limited so I don't plan to make new youtube videos until we reach a kind of "1.0".... as you said.. stuff changes a lot and videos become obsolete quickly :)
I don't write too much in the forums.. I'm more active on the dis cord... anyway.. I did try to make a "celebratory 1 year post" on that thread but it was removed.. probably cause I posted some links to the project .. so I'm not doing it again :)
Ahhh awesome, I will do some testing this week with a couple of my players.
This is an absolutely phenomenal tool, simple to figure out - , quick, and the animated backgrounds are pretty sweet.
I did finally join the Discord, it kept telling me the invite was no longer valid until late last night - already started asking questions ( Text objects and Furniture )
Have you used Microsoft Edge with the extension at all? Curious how it works, one of my players works for Microsoft so he is opposed to other browsers :)
Thanks for the response, and I will do what I can to get some traffic for this app -- I'm kind of surprised DDB/Fandom has not scooped you up as a developer since their attempt at a VTT seems to have died ( probably better off to license the API anyhow )
To answer the title question, it's because roll20, foundryVTT, fantasy grounds, and like 50 other VTTs exist. The first 3 are the big 3, and roll20 has Beyond20. Which just sends all your rolls off DDB onto r20. As roll20 is (arguably/presumably) the biggest VTT it has a ****ton of users, and therefore is talked about way more.
I have enjoyed playing and testing AboveVTT for a couple of weeks. Gonna give it my first serious test one week from today because my offline family group (me as DM plus 4 players) has to meet online this time. Running LMoP with the group currently in Phandalin.
I think this is a very good tool. I would like to see tighter integration with the Initiative/Combat Tracker and Encounter Builder if at all possible. From a DM's perspective that is one of the last area of duplication that this tool lacks. I don't know about the programming details but with everything else that was there it would sure help. Also, kudos to the author of Above VTT, 10 out of 10 stars.
It's difficult for a new VTT to dethrone roll20 or foundryVTT no matter how good it is. Users are already used to their VTT, and generally have purchased the content for it. Switching from VTT means that you are going to have to buy a lot of that material again, unless it can somehow be exported to the new one (something that roll20 or foundryVTT will not provide for pure commercial logic). In addition, both VTTs work well enough that they can't be widely surpassed by another. Yes, the new VTT may have interesting features, but they will never be interesting enough for people to invest their money again.
The only one that could really break the market is the one that WotC itself is rumored to have in store. And only if two conditions are met: That it somehow allows you to import the material that you have in other VTTs (for example "giving you" in DDB that content if you prove that you have bought it in another VTT), and that it really works better than your old VTT.
As far as other content on VTT I do understand the problems. However, with Dnd Beyond, in many cases the content is purchased here and available online via the Dnd Beyond website. If the Above VTT tool continues to be allowed to link to Dnd Beyond content as it appears, I would be very happy with that scenario.
My 2+ year group switched from roll20 to AboveVTT 3 sessions ago and so far we've all been very happy. After kicking the tires enough and approving, I'm going to start getting more involved in the Discord channel to bring the sessions to the next level. For those on the fence with all the bugs that come in and out of roll20 I highly recommend giving AboveVTT a shot. If you're bringing your own content in, Google Docs, or some publicly available web sharing site is a must. You plop a file in there, point AboveVTT at it, done. If you're more into pre-purchased modules, the integration with DnDBeyond and AboveVTT is the bees knees.
My group has been using Above VTT for almost all our sessions. We've encounter some issues but not too bad. Not sure why it disconnects and reconnects at times. That's a bit annoying. It's better than the Maps in DDB for sure. I play in Roll20 quite a bit as a player. However, I don't want to buy the books in Roll20 since I own most in DDB already. I've used the moving maps, sound integration (needs some work still), etc. It's a really good free VTT. I guess I will see if Roll20 and Foundry can provide the same free services Above VTT just to be sure I'm comparing apples to apples.
I've found the same. I found the sound integration a bit janky. Having to load everything to the cloud and then into VTT is a bit labor intensive. I did hook into some YouTube videos on what players would see when entering new areas. The old sage telling the players what they see as well as the video lets me start that for the players to watch and listen to while I'm setting up the next maps, etc. I now have ambient sounds for each of the remaining maps as well as certain sounds, dragon roar, chaotic fights, etc, as well.
I'd suggest you stick around a bit longer. The original developer doesn't do much day-to-day, but various folks have stepped up since he stepped back a bit. Currently there is one person who works on the tool several days a week. (And I feel like that is a conservative estimate.) A new version (1.35, I think) was released just last week.
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In my 5th decade of occasional play.
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I had the chance to mess around a little with ABOVE VTT - This tool is amazing, it integrates into your owned DnDBeyond resources and is pretty straightforward
I see there is an issue that some of it stored data locally and when you delete your cache it loses data - it appears to be being worked on as they have moved a lot to a cloud-based system now.
I'm not seeing a VOIP or audio system integrated - guessing they expect it to be used with Discord?
Has anyone been using this ABOVEvtt? What are your thoughts?
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/general-discussion/100073-for-all-of-you-waiting-for-ddb-to-release-a-vtt
Heres the thread by the creator
Not as much chatter as I would expect with a tool that is integrated so well.
The creator doesn't even seem to check the thread or update things very often ( it took another user to remind the creator that it has been around for a year.
Looking on Youtube, there are like a half dozen videos and most of them are 10-11 months old and do not even look like the current released version
Hi :)
AboveVTT has video/audio integrated.. (using Jitsi free service) just press that "connect video" in the bottom left.
My time is limited so I don't plan to make new youtube videos until we reach a kind of "1.0".... as you said.. stuff changes a lot and videos become obsolete quickly :)
I don't write too much in the forums.. I'm more active on the dis cord... anyway.. I did try to make a "celebratory 1 year post" on that thread but it was removed.. probably cause I posted some links to the project .. so I'm not doing it again :)
Ahhh awesome, I will do some testing this week with a couple of my players.
This is an absolutely phenomenal tool, simple to figure out - , quick, and the animated backgrounds are pretty sweet.
I did finally join the Discord, it kept telling me the invite was no longer valid until late last night - already started asking questions ( Text objects and Furniture )
Have you used Microsoft Edge with the extension at all? Curious how it works, one of my players works for Microsoft so he is opposed to other browsers :)
Thanks for the response, and I will do what I can to get some traffic for this app -- I'm kind of surprised DDB/Fandom has not scooped you up as a developer since their attempt at a VTT seems to have died ( probably better off to license the API anyhow )
I never test it on Edge.. but some people are using it. Edge is based on Chromium so it should generally work.
I did find this video that goes into good detail with the more recent build
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCY9S8iUzS4
...'cause DMs are busy surfing the massive list of awesome Foundry mods? (perhaps that's just me >> << )
But more seriously, it does look like a great free offering.
To answer the title question, it's because roll20, foundryVTT, fantasy grounds, and like 50 other VTTs exist. The first 3 are the big 3, and roll20 has Beyond20. Which just sends all your rolls off DDB onto r20. As roll20 is (arguably/presumably) the biggest VTT it has a ****ton of users, and therefore is talked about way more.
Er ek geng, þat er í þeim skóm er ek valda.
UwU
I have enjoyed playing and testing AboveVTT for a couple of weeks. Gonna give it my first serious test one week from today because my offline family group (me as DM plus 4 players) has to meet online this time. Running LMoP with the group currently in Phandalin.
In my 5th decade of occasional play.
I think this is a very good tool. I would like to see tighter integration with the Initiative/Combat Tracker and Encounter Builder if at all possible. From a DM's perspective that is one of the last area of duplication that this tool lacks. I don't know about the programming details but with everything else that was there it would sure help. Also, kudos to the author of Above VTT, 10 out of 10 stars.
It's difficult for a new VTT to dethrone roll20 or foundryVTT no matter how good it is. Users are already used to their VTT, and generally have purchased the content for it. Switching from VTT means that you are going to have to buy a lot of that material again, unless it can somehow be exported to the new one (something that roll20 or foundryVTT will not provide for pure commercial logic). In addition, both VTTs work well enough that they can't be widely surpassed by another. Yes, the new VTT may have interesting features, but they will never be interesting enough for people to invest their money again.
The only one that could really break the market is the one that WotC itself is rumored to have in store. And only if two conditions are met: That it somehow allows you to import the material that you have in other VTTs (for example "giving you" in DDB that content if you prove that you have bought it in another VTT), and that it really works better than your old VTT.
As far as other content on VTT I do understand the problems. However, with Dnd Beyond, in many cases the content is purchased here and available online via the Dnd Beyond website. If the Above VTT tool continues to be allowed to link to Dnd Beyond content as it appears, I would be very happy with that scenario.
No wall detection for light and no drawing tools for player... that complicate things when casting wall spell.
My 2+ year group switched from roll20 to AboveVTT 3 sessions ago and so far we've all been very happy. After kicking the tires enough and approving, I'm going to start getting more involved in the Discord channel to bring the sessions to the next level. For those on the fence with all the bugs that come in and out of roll20 I highly recommend giving AboveVTT a shot. If you're bringing your own content in, Google Docs, or some publicly available web sharing site is a must. You plop a file in there, point AboveVTT at it, done. If you're more into pre-purchased modules, the integration with DnDBeyond and AboveVTT is the bees knees.
My group has been using Above VTT for almost all our sessions. We've encounter some issues but not too bad. Not sure why it disconnects and reconnects at times. That's a bit annoying. It's better than the Maps in DDB for sure. I play in Roll20 quite a bit as a player. However, I don't want to buy the books in Roll20 since I own most in DDB already. I've used the moving maps, sound integration (needs some work still), etc. It's a really good free VTT. I guess I will see if Roll20 and Foundry can provide the same free services Above VTT just to be sure I'm comparing apples to apples.
I've found the same. I found the sound integration a bit janky. Having to load everything to the cloud and then into VTT is a bit labor intensive. I did hook into some YouTube videos on what players would see when entering new areas. The old sage telling the players what they see as well as the video lets me start that for the players to watch and listen to while I'm setting up the next maps, etc. I now have ambient sounds for each of the remaining maps as well as certain sounds, dragon roar, chaotic fights, etc, as well.
Doesn't even work as of today for me for some reason. Been using AboveVTT for ages and now it won't add maps from my OneDrive.
It seems AboveVTT might not be actively maintain. The dev doesn't seem to be very active. Too bad because it seems pretty good.
I'd suggest you stick around a bit longer. The original developer doesn't do much day-to-day, but various folks have stepped up since he stepped back a bit. Currently there is one person who works on the tool several days a week. (And I feel like that is a conservative estimate.) A new version (1.35, I think) was released just last week.
In my 5th decade of occasional play.