I was wondering if the community had any tips for hybrid sessions where you have both people in the room and remote. During the pandemic we were completely virtual using zoom and D&D Beyond, but as things opened up we started having more people in the room. Long-term we will always have some remote people because our party lives all over now.
Through a complicated setup of cables and cameras I arrived at a system that sort of works, using one mic, one big screen for visuals (primarily battle maps via foundry) that I screen share, and the zoom window. The end result works, but requires me to juggle 2-3 displays, I never know where I should look, the remote players often can't hear quite as well and kind of wait their turn instead of interrupting and driving things. I don't imagine there's a perfect solution, I was just curious what other people have come up with.
This is probably not helpful to you, but our current solution is that if anyone is remote, we all go remote.
I suppose if we did go partially in-person, we'd want to get some sort of conference mic (which it sounds like you're using) and then a camera that hangs down over the tabletop.
I was wondering if the community had any tips for hybrid sessions where you have both people in the room and remote. During the pandemic we were completely virtual using zoom and D&D Beyond, but as things opened up we started having more people in the room. Long-term we will always have some remote people because our party lives all over now.
Through a complicated setup of cables and cameras I arrived at a system that sort of works, using one mic, one big screen for visuals (primarily battle maps via foundry) that I screen share, and the zoom window. The end result works, but requires me to juggle 2-3 displays, I never know where I should look, the remote players often can't hear quite as well and kind of wait their turn instead of interrupting and driving things. I don't imagine there's a perfect solution, I was just curious what other people have come up with.
Hybrid is really, really complicated for the reasons you stated. I've seen some success with having all the "In person" people still be on laptops and running the game virtually, that way the remote people aren't missing out on anything, but the in person people still get that physical social connection. The only problem that came from it were character sidebars that were happening at the table that I had to be like hey, if its an in character interaction, it needs to be done through voice or through DM that way the people remote still got the experience.
Not D&D, but if my son’s school experience is an indication, hybrid doesn’t work. The remote people end up mostly ignored. Obviously you’ve got a smaller group and the dynamic is very different from a classroom. But if a remote person wants to ask a question or say something, it’s very hard for them to get the group’s attention.
I used to run a game with one remote player. We had a physical map that could be seen from the webcam and displayed the player on a laptop with good speakers attached (we learned very quickly that we wouldn't hear the remote player over table chatter with just laptop speakers)
2) if not possible to avoid, have everyone still play on their laptop regardless of if they're present in person and try and represent the remote player(s) by a screen of their own (this is easier for the DM as a visual cue); use good quality mics (one separate mic for everyone there in person) and speakers (one separate set of proper, external, speakers for everyone remote).
3) be courteous. Try not to interrupt anyone, let everyone get their (non-combat) turn. As DM, regularly go around the table and designate the "active" player, even if only to ask if they have something to add, so it's not the loudest getting the attention.
It's not great. Just do your best to maximize the quality of communication and hope it works out.
I was wondering if the community had any tips for hybrid sessions where you have both people in the room and remote. During the pandemic we were completely virtual using zoom and D&D Beyond, but as things opened up we started having more people in the room. Long-term we will always have some remote people because our party lives all over now.
Through a complicated setup of cables and cameras I arrived at a system that sort of works, using one mic, one big screen for visuals (primarily battle maps via foundry) that I screen share, and the zoom window. The end result works, but requires me to juggle 2-3 displays, I never know where I should look, the remote players often can't hear quite as well and kind of wait their turn instead of interrupting and driving things. I don't imagine there's a perfect solution, I was just curious what other people have come up with.
This is probably not helpful to you, but our current solution is that if anyone is remote, we all go remote.
I suppose if we did go partially in-person, we'd want to get some sort of conference mic (which it sounds like you're using) and then a camera that hangs down over the tabletop.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
Did it once with one of four players remote, rest including me as DM onsite. Was really bad for the remote player. It worked, but just so.
Hybrid is really, really complicated for the reasons you stated. I've seen some success with having all the "In person" people still be on laptops and running the game virtually, that way the remote people aren't missing out on anything, but the in person people still get that physical social connection. The only problem that came from it were character sidebars that were happening at the table that I had to be like hey, if its an in character interaction, it needs to be done through voice or through DM that way the people remote still got the experience.
Not D&D, but if my son’s school experience is an indication, hybrid doesn’t work. The remote people end up mostly ignored. Obviously you’ve got a smaller group and the dynamic is very different from a classroom. But if a remote person wants to ask a question or say something, it’s very hard for them to get the group’s attention.
I used to run a game with one remote player. We had a physical map that could be seen from the webcam and displayed the player on a laptop with good speakers attached (we learned very quickly that we wouldn't hear the remote player over table chatter with just laptop speakers)
1) avoid if possible.
2) if not possible to avoid, have everyone still play on their laptop regardless of if they're present in person and try and represent the remote player(s) by a screen of their own (this is easier for the DM as a visual cue); use good quality mics (one separate mic for everyone there in person) and speakers (one separate set of proper, external, speakers for everyone remote).
3) be courteous. Try not to interrupt anyone, let everyone get their (non-combat) turn. As DM, regularly go around the table and designate the "active" player, even if only to ask if they have something to add, so it's not the loudest getting the attention.
It's not great. Just do your best to maximize the quality of communication and hope it works out.
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