Question for you all

[Diamond Spear]

Quick question for you all. If a game company were to develop an online “gaming room” with the following features: ability to use web cams and microphones to see and hear other gamers, a die rolling utility that displayed the number of dice rolled and the results on every computer (the only exception being the GM’s rolls which would not be displayed on each computer), and allowed you to store your characters online (viewable by you and the GM only) would you be willing to pay a subscription fee to use it?

[Mark Taylor]

Originally posted by Diamond Spear
Quick question for you all. If a game company were to develop an online “gaming room” with the following features: ability to use web cams and microphones to see and hear other gamers, a die rolling utility that displayed the number of dice rolled and the results on every computer (the only exception being the GM’s rolls which would not be displayed on each computer), and allowed you to store your characters online (viewable by you and the GM only) would you be willing to pay a subscription fee to use it?

Probably not. From what you describe it wouldn't provide anything I can't do already using webcam and voice chat services for free. Now if it were to provide an interactive, networked 'electronic battlemat' environment too, that would be a different matter.

[Diamond Spear]

Sorry, I forgot to add in the "electronic whiteboard: portion. Work can really detract from posting. :)

[Derek Hiemforth]

Not at the current time, and hopefully not ever. Lemme 'splain that... ;)

Currently, I have a face-to-face group that I game with regularly. If that group were to split up, I know of other groups I could join for face-to-face gaming. If I were to get into a position somehow where there were no face-to-face groups I could join within a reasonable distance, then I would be more interested in this kind of setup.

However, I consider RPGs to be primarily social games, and find the face-to-face environment the most enjoyable for playing them. So I would always seek that out first in preference to playing online in any form. :)

[TechnoViking]

I would, but no more than $5.00/month.

Mike

[Toadmaster]

Originally posted by Derek Hiemforth
However, I consider RPGs to be primarily social games, and find the face-to-face environment the most enjoyable for playing them. So I would always seek that out first in preference to playing online in any form. :)

Nicely said, for myself I've found the more "RPG" like computer games try to be the more I miss my twice a week gaming, that became once a week and eventually the once every 1d6 months I find myself in now.

As to the original post if your idea was capable of being used with any (or at least many) system(s), I'd think it would be popular, but I wouldn't really be interested, never have been able to get exited about the online, pbm, pbem or chat style gaming.

[Lord Mhoram]

Nope. I don't do anything remotely like e-gaming. I do all mine face to face, so no real benefit to me to be able to do it over long distances.

If you had a little device that had a hand come out of a box on the side of a monitor that would slap someone who made a bad pun, well then maybe.

[Hitchhiker]

There's nothing comparable to the evil smile of a GM...:D

Over the internet, pen-and-paper roleplaying is completely different from the normal face-to-face gaming. It surely is not a bad idea, if the players are from various countries, for example...but if you ask me, the personal "touch" would get lost.

There are moments when you want to embrace the GM, and other situations when you're about to strangle him. Over the internet, as always, more or less personality is lost. If you can look into the GMs eyes and explain what you want to do, this sounds better to me than screaming at your screen through your headphones.

Roleplaying is somehow a gathering for me. The players and the GM come together in some place and try to master the quests he gives them. They are together - and that's what counts.

Oh, if I would? No, I don't think so. :D

[JohnTaber]

I completely agree with Derek. Gaming is social. My friends even jokingly refer to it as "our little Tuesday night bowling league". It's all about the interaction and spending time with your peeps... ;)

[aylwin13]

Derek and JT have it exactly right (for me anyway). Gaming is what I do on Sat. nights instead of bowling, or hanging out at a bar. The group I'm in are a gaming group, a social group, a support group (when work or home issues come up). Some nights, if a player can't make it, we hang out anyway, and just shoot the $#i7. Also, all the things the posters have said about seeing the GM, and the other players, is true. It's like e-mail: you just can't get the emotions across electronically.

[Graviton]

I agree with the face-to-face crowd. The whole point of an RPG, IMNSHO, is to get together with friends at the same table. There's so much that facial expressions and body language can convey that's missing online.

[MoonHunter]

While face to face gaming has advantages, there are times when and with groups that this is not possible. As you all get older, wait till you have children, or someone is doing a support job in Dallas, or consulting in Taiwan. You will sing a different tune. Gaming time, heck free time, will become precious enough for you, that you can't spend it travelling to the game or having a null session because a player can't show that session (especially when you game once a month anyways).

This service would be useful. It would have to be cheap. Of course, why are you reinventing the wheel when many of the online meeting sites are doing the same thing?