Playing live via Facebook, Zoom, other "video conference"

[Kurgan]

I still like to use the real thing. I whipped up a quick and dirty coordinate system (the standard board is 26 squares wide x 19 squares high). Feel free to use, or modify as you like. To keep everybody straight with their particular boards.

Edit: Replaced with better version below...

[Oftkilted]

That’s a pretty cool idea for movement Kurgan. Though technically it could be done as a quasi-play by forum. (As there are dice rollers on forum.)
While I’m not Midwest, I’d be up for trying some playing remotely. (I even have dice coming in the mail!)

[Rath of Un]

Grid system is nice, might want to consider numbering or letting each room, might make locating models easier and quicker.

[Kurgan]

Fantastic idea! Here's the new version. I thought about making it in b&w but the colors also help. Someone with a lot of time on their hands could label EVERY square but I think this should do for me.

Edit: Fixed, thanks for the feedback.

[Oftkilted]

Fantastic idea! Here's the new version. I thought about making it in b&w but the colors also help. Someone with a lot of time on their hands could label EVERY square but I think this should do for me.

The letters on the top row need to be in black, they’re really hard to read in white.

[Kurgan]

The letters on the top row need to be in black, they’re really hard to read in white.

Fixed.

[Kurgan]

Hey everybody, I recently purchased for myself an inexpensive brand new "Document Camera" and it works really well for displaying cards, sections of the board, etc. These are the kinds of readers that are used by teachers for distance learning, etc. It has a quick autofocus option but you have to provide your own lighting. The arm adjusts horizontally and vertically. I rest my board on top of a padded laptop stand/mini-white board so I can adjust the reader around the edges of the board.

Check out examples here. A program called OBS was recommended to me, as a free program suit (multiple platforms) for displaying picture in picture with multiple cameras.

I have three cameras now... (no smart phone or I'd use that as one of them)... my built in laptop camera, an external HD camera ($70) and this Document Camera ($80).

If you want to get fancy, there are also Copy Stands, which you can use with a DSLR and/or Smart phone to display the board. Have to adjust the angle so the pieces don't fall down, but still... not bad!


Why do this instead of Roll 20 ($50 per year) or Tabletop simulator? Because you can use this for anything, and you can use the set you already own. With the above setup other players don't even have to have HeroQuest, though it's coolest if everyone has their own set, or at least their own dice.

[Kurgan]

The latest thing that was suggested to try, for multiple-video conferences for gaming, free:

OBS Since I don't myself have a smart phone (it's a nice way to have a handheld camera if you do though). I am hoping to try this out before year's end...

[DullandRusty]

I started using vorpalboard. I created the hq dice in it. It uses your phone camera from overhead for the map. You can manually move the heroes or import icons for the heroes that the players can move. So far I like it a lot.

[Kurgan]

Nice! I don't have a cameraphone to use, but I'm sure that will help a lot of people.