It'll turn up eventually. From the promo material I saw on youtube, I don't think it's for me and I'm already a couple thousand hours into the VTT I have chosen and highly unlikely to shift away from that because I like it, it's got a very solid committment to consistent development/improvement and the community around it is super-helpful.
It's also a x1 payment model, no subscription necessary and I find microtransactions and (a fair amount) of subscription based stuff unnecessary (unethical) in the current financial climate. I don't want to DM something that could freeze players out that "can't afford it". I strongly suspect I'll be turned off by whatever payment plan WOTC has in mind, but maybe there's a training program for The Pinkerton's to DM/enforce payment? *laughter emoji*
Thing is, if WOTC put out a good product, that will (hopefully) make the game more accessible, bring more people in and ideally make it so they're more likely to stay. Best case scenario - it's a great thing for the hobby and I come at this from the perspective of someone that cancelled their sub (fairly recently) and has no intention of WOTC having access to my money ever again. Still, a good working VTT that enables people in the hobby - awesome.
It just feels pretty late to the game, I think "the film" and VTT launch should have happened together to capitalise engagement and awareness. I have zero clue on stats for the various VTT's, but I think it's safe to say that Covid was a strange time, but one where VTT's and engagement with them really flourished. People returned to the hobby and had easy ways to access. To a degree, I think we're in a Golden Age of (VTT)RPG's and there's some great stuff out there to facilitate that (that already exists).
Coulda sworn I popped in here a few weeks ago, but yeah, def not vaporware. We're playtesting it all the time internally, and as someone who prefers the simpler VTTs like Owlbear and our own Maps, I'm pretty impressed.
I am with you, I like simpler, though I don't mind being a player using Owlbear I do not like it as a DM, however I do really like the Maps tool here on DDB and use it in games I am DMing. Even in alpha it is a very useful tool that is getting better with every update it is also nice to see they are adding older books along with the new releases be the 1st or 3rd party. I also only play at physical tables with all players present, so it is more of a DTT than a VTT for my use case.
I've not tried Owlbear as a DM so I can't speak to its capabilities on that side of the screen.
With Maps here on DDB, I've only run one game (Descent into the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth), and setup was easy AF and my players, who'd never played with the tool before, had a lot of fun with it, which made it worth it :3
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Owlbear has slightly more capability than Maps at present but requires more setup too. We're using Maps for a campaign currently and having a blast, especially once they finally added free-drawing earlier this year.
Coulda sworn I popped in here a few weeks ago, but yeah, def not vaporware. We're playtesting it all the time internally, and as someone who prefers the simpler VTTs like Owlbear and our own Maps, I'm pretty impressed.
I am with you, I like simpler, though I don't mind being a player using Owlbear I do not like it as a DM, however I do really like the Maps tool here on DDB and use it in games I am DMing. Even in alpha it is a very useful tool that is getting better with every update it is also nice to see they are adding older books along with the new releases be the 1st or 3rd party. I also only play at physical tables with all players present, so it is more of a DTT than a VTT for my use case.
I've not tried Owlbear as a DM so I can't speak to its capabilities on that side of the screen.
With Maps here on DDB, I've only run one game (Descent into the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth), and setup was easy AF and my players, who'd never played with the tool before, had a lot of fun with it, which made it worth it :3
I have 3 campaigns I am DMing with maps, and my experience mirrors yours, the players love it as much as I do. We play mostly in living/entertainment rooms with a large screen I cast the maps from a tablet and let them pass the tablet around, or they decide who is going to be in charge of it depending on the group. It is so nice and very fast to set up.
I have high hopes that the maps will come populated with the npc/monsters and content sharing will be implemented in the tool at some point though I am sure there are more important things being addressed this early in development.
Coulda sworn I popped in here a few weeks ago, but yeah, def not vaporware. We're playtesting it all the time internally, and as someone who prefers the simpler VTTs like Owlbear and our own Maps, I'm pretty impressed.
I am with you, I like simpler, though I don't mind being a player using Owlbear I do not like it as a DM, however I do really like the Maps tool here on DDB and use it in games I am DMing. Even in alpha it is a very useful tool that is getting better with every update it is also nice to see they are adding older books along with the new releases be the 1st or 3rd party. I also only play at physical tables with all players present, so it is more of a DTT than a VTT for my use case.
I've not tried Owlbear as a DM so I can't speak to its capabilities on that side of the screen.
With Maps here on DDB, I've only run one game (Descent into the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth), and setup was easy AF and my players, who'd never played with the tool before, had a lot of fun with it, which made it worth it :3
I have 3 campaigns I am DMing with maps, and my experience mirrors yours, the players love it as much as I do. We play mostly in living/entertainment rooms with a large screen I cast the maps from a tablet and let them pass the tablet around, or they decide who is going to be in charge of it depending on the group. It is so nice and very fast to set up.
I have high hopes that the maps will come populated with the npc/monsters and content sharing will be implemented in the tool at some point though I am sure there are more important things being addressed this early in development.
It is a great tool even if it is still in alpha!
That... is actually a REALLY cool idea :O
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I haven't seen any updates, footage or anything at all about the new VTT. I am starting to get the feeling that it doesnt actually exist or if it does it will not be launching this year like they have said all along.
My other concern is that if it does launch that it will not address the basic needs and instead be filled with " flash versus substance".
Can anyone shed light on where this thing is in development and or semi first person account of actually seeing it?
Dude, it was announced less then a year ago. learn some patience before crying the sky is falling.
I have 3 campaigns I am DMing with maps, and my experience mirrors yours, the players love it as much as I do. We play mostly in living/entertainment rooms with a large screen I cast the maps from a tablet and let them pass the tablet around, or they decide who is going to be in charge of it depending on the group. It is so nice and very fast to set up.
I have high hopes that the maps will come populated with the npc/monsters and content sharing will be implemented in the tool at some point though I am sure there are more important things being addressed this early in development.
It is a great tool even if it is still in alpha!
Just wanted to point out that Maps works on mobile phones, so rather than pass the tablet around you can have people join in from their phone browser and move their tokens etc that way. They can even tab between the map and the DDB app to make their rolls.
I have 3 campaigns I am DMing with maps, and my experience mirrors yours, the players love it as much as I do. We play mostly in living/entertainment rooms with a large screen I cast the maps from a tablet and let them pass the tablet around, or they decide who is going to be in charge of it depending on the group. It is so nice and very fast to set up.
I have high hopes that the maps will come populated with the npc/monsters and content sharing will be implemented in the tool at some point though I am sure there are more important things being addressed this early in development.
It is a great tool even if it is still in alpha!
Just wanted to point out that Maps works on mobile phones, so rather than pass the tablet around you can have people join in from their phone browser and move their tokens etc that way. They can even tab between the map and the DDB app to make their rolls.
Thanks for the reminder, I play with lots of new players and they were not liking all of the tab swapping on their phones as they are/were still learning the app and would get caught up in the game then lose their place it was breaking their "immersion", so I pulled out the tablet that is how we ended up with this method. They just continued to ask for the tablet, so I figured what the heck. They seem to treat it like a battle mat, I haven't thought to ask why they prefer the tablet now that they have proficiency with the app. I will try to remember to ask them next session or two why they still prefer the tablet. Though I didn't mention that option, it likely works well at other tables.
ETA: I am not the best DM, so I tend to push the PC movement off on them so I can focus on other things, that may be a contributing factor as well.
So Nerd Immersion dropped a vid a couple of days ago on this. Noting a "exclusive gold dragon digital mini" incentive for purchasers of the digital and physical 2024 bundle. His speculation, and I'd say it's credible, is that the mini is likely for the VTT. He then goes on talking about his experience with the VTT demo and his hopes that we'll be seeing more of its progress in GenCon.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
My concern is cost, how much to use the VTT and if we will need to buy content to play. Hopefully they will let us use the content from digital book purchases we have already to play with. Would not want a higher tier than Master to have to subscribe to.
That was my concern as well! I hope it's included with the Master tier at no additional cost
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Have I mentioned how jealous I am??
If you hear any updates about convention showings or public beta tests please share!
It'll turn up eventually.
From the promo material I saw on youtube, I don't think it's for me and I'm already a couple thousand hours into the VTT I have chosen and highly unlikely to shift away from that because I like it, it's got a very solid committment to consistent development/improvement and the community around it is super-helpful.
It's also a x1 payment model, no subscription necessary and I find microtransactions and (a fair amount) of subscription based stuff unnecessary (unethical) in the current financial climate. I don't want to DM something that could freeze players out that "can't afford it".
I strongly suspect I'll be turned off by whatever payment plan WOTC has in mind, but maybe there's a training program for The Pinkerton's to DM/enforce payment?
*laughter emoji*
Thing is, if WOTC put out a good product, that will (hopefully) make the game more accessible, bring more people in and ideally make it so they're more likely to stay. Best case scenario - it's a great thing for the hobby and I come at this from the perspective of someone that cancelled their sub (fairly recently) and has no intention of WOTC having access to my money ever again. Still, a good working VTT that enables people in the hobby - awesome.
It just feels pretty late to the game, I think "the film" and VTT launch should have happened together to capitalise engagement and awareness. I have zero clue on stats for the various VTT's, but I think it's safe to say that Covid was a strange time, but one where VTT's and engagement with them really flourished. People returned to the hobby and had easy ways to access.
To a degree, I think we're in a Golden Age of (VTT)RPG's and there's some great stuff out there to facilitate that (that already exists).
https://wulfgold.substack.com
Blog - nerd stuff
https://deepdreamgenerator.com/u/wulfgold
A.I. art - also nerd stuff - a gallery of NPC portraits - help yourself.
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D&D StaffI've not tried Owlbear as a DM so I can't speak to its capabilities on that side of the screen.
With Maps here on DDB, I've only run one game (Descent into the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth), and setup was easy AF and my players, who'd never played with the tool before, had a lot of fun with it, which made it worth it :3
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D&D StaffY'all already know about the Gen Con panel, which is all the info I have for public appearances, but you bet I'll let everyone know :)
Your Friendly Neighborhood Community Manager (she/her)
You can call me LT. :)
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Generally active from 9am - 6pm CDT [GMT-5].
Thank you for your patience if you message me outside of those hours!
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Owlbear has slightly more capability than Maps at present but requires more setup too. We're using Maps for a campaign currently and having a blast, especially once they finally added free-drawing earlier this year.
I have 3 campaigns I am DMing with maps, and my experience mirrors yours, the players love it as much as I do. We play mostly in living/entertainment rooms with a large screen I cast the maps from a tablet and let them pass the tablet around, or they decide who is going to be in charge of it depending on the group. It is so nice and very fast to set up.
I have high hopes that the maps will come populated with the npc/monsters and content sharing will be implemented in the tool at some point though I am sure there are more important things being addressed this early in development.
It is a great tool even if it is still in alpha!
CENSORSHIP IS THE TOOL OF COWARDS and WANNA BE TYRANTS.
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D&D StaffThat... is actually a REALLY cool idea :O
Your Friendly Neighborhood Community Manager (she/her)
You can call me LT. :)
CM Hat On | CM Hat Off
Generally active from 9am - 6pm CDT [GMT-5].
Thank you for your patience if you message me outside of those hours!
Useful Links: Site Rules & Guidelines | D&D Educator Resources | Change Your Nickname | Submit a Support Ticket
I may not be smart, but I am lazy lol.
CENSORSHIP IS THE TOOL OF COWARDS and WANNA BE TYRANTS.
Dude, it was announced less then a year ago. learn some patience before crying the sky is falling.
Just wanted to point out that Maps works on mobile phones, so rather than pass the tablet around you can have people join in from their phone browser and move their tokens etc that way. They can even tab between the map and the DDB app to make their rolls.
Thanks for the reminder, I play with lots of new players and they were not liking all of the tab swapping on their phones as they are/were still learning the app and would get caught up in the game then lose their place it was breaking their "immersion", so I pulled out the tablet that is how we ended up with this method. They just continued to ask for the tablet, so I figured what the heck. They seem to treat it like a battle mat, I haven't thought to ask why they prefer the tablet now that they have proficiency with the app. I will try to remember to ask them next session or two why they still prefer the tablet. Though I didn't mention that option, it likely works well at other tables.
ETA: I am not the best DM, so I tend to push the PC movement off on them so I can focus on other things, that may be a contributing factor as well.
CENSORSHIP IS THE TOOL OF COWARDS and WANNA BE TYRANTS.
So Nerd Immersion dropped a vid a couple of days ago on this. Noting a "exclusive gold dragon digital mini" incentive for purchasers of the digital and physical 2024 bundle. His speculation, and I'd say it's credible, is that the mini is likely for the VTT. He then goes on talking about his experience with the VTT demo and his hopes that we'll be seeing more of its progress in GenCon.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
It's definitely for the VTT:
^ from the Preorder Bonuses article. This line has been included in all the class preview articles as well.
Great! want to have the possibility to blend 2D and 3D in my campaigns.
That was my concern as well! I hope it's included with the Master tier at no additional cost