|
Post by geneweigel on Mar 15, 2020 21:15:49 GMT -5
After looking into it. I would have to get an overhaul on my setup if I wanted to run a decent online game.
Is it worth it buying all new equipment to run a game?
Alternatives. A group chat on the Saturday of Garycon to game talk would be the simplest thing. Maybe that Friday and if it seems possible to run a coherent game the next day.
I'm probably going to post the thing that I had planned for the con on that Saturday on the blog and maybe in PDF form.
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Mar 15, 2020 21:18:55 GMT -5
There seems to be multiple video group chat formats. I only seem to recall the hangouts. When they went to Europe two years ago they were calling me on some app called "Whats App" that they put on my phone. It was a group chat thing.
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Mar 15, 2020 22:37:40 GMT -5
Well, this has been one game changing week.
Hope next week is puppydogs and sunshine.
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Mar 16, 2020 7:58:06 GMT -5
Facebook Live from what I can tell allows you to broadcast live video feed like Twitch and also play the video back later like YouTube. And then there is two-way video calling like Duo which my sister always uses -- just like in Dick Tracy or BLADERUNNER ("Oh no, it's Duo, and I haven't brushed my hair yet!"). But for gaming, you need something that allows multiple people to see and hear each other at the same time, such as Roll20, Webex, or Zoom. I played in an online game in January using Zoom and it worked well enough. I believe the host has to pay something to have an account for Zoom, but the participants do not have to pay. As far as I know, Roll20 is still free. Scott ran a game for some of us about a year or two ago using Roll20 and it worked fine.
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Mar 16, 2020 14:05:19 GMT -5
Yeah, I don't know how any of this is going to unfold with all this lockdown shit getting more and more lockdowns. Hopefully, there will be a break in this shit soon.
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Mar 16, 2020 15:00:28 GMT -5
It all feels so surreal. It's like being in one of those 'crisis' movies or science fiction books that I've been watching/reading for decades, with everything shutting down and uncertainty about when it will come back up again. The biggest threat right now is panic. As long as everyone stays calm and works together, we'll be fine. I guess this is a test of how civilized we are...
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Mar 16, 2020 15:45:22 GMT -5
My daughter is at the store because she doesn't want me to get it just in case. Now that is weird. She just said all bread, dairy, meat, pasta and tissues are gone. Thats pretty freaku.
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Mar 16, 2020 18:12:58 GMT -5
I just came back from Giant Eagle. It looks like it was hit by starving looters with diarrhea. There was absolutely no chicken, beef, pork, bread, eggs or toilet paper.
Update: I went again this morning, and the meat was already selling out fast, but it wasn't as busy as yesterday evening. They had limits of 1 per customer of each kind of meat, limit of 1 dozen eggs, and 1 item of toilet paper, and limits of 2 for bread products. I also went to the liquor store and bought six magnums of wine because after today they are closed indefinitely across Pennsylvania.
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Mar 18, 2020 7:43:36 GMT -5
On a good note, I called Candace the proprietress of Seven Oaks B&B in Lake Geneva, and she said she would cancel my non-refundable reservation and give me credit for it until Spring 2021. That was very nice of her.
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Mar 19, 2020 21:45:18 GMT -5
I think maybe I might do a livestream talking about the module and possibly stuff on the blog as well as doing free form game the next day.
What if it was on cell phones/google hangouts and you just roll dice on camera as it goes and the minutiae can be handled by e-mail? I like minis but the playmat thing on the programs is off putting.
I think by Monday I'll figure it out the definites.
AMONGST THE ELVES will on the blog on the Saturday so I'm probably going to run it on Friday.
So talk about the module live stream Thursday maybe on Facebook.
Then that Friday run the AMONGST THE ELVES thing.
Then Saturday I don't know just fuck around after I publish the add on for BROKEN CASTLE on the blog.
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Mar 19, 2020 23:08:05 GMT -5
I think that I can go on the phone the whole time instead of the webcam and maybe have it propped up over the computer. I might have to create a studio out of the spare room just for the weekend because the basement is impossible getting a wifi signal. I tried using the phone on Hangouts at the same time as the computer and it worked.
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Mar 20, 2020 7:24:05 GMT -5
My boss just created a contraption mounting her phone on a box on top of a plastic lid on top of a laundry basket on top of an office chair so her daughter could get a piano lession via Skype. So, it is definitely worth trying.
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Mar 20, 2020 9:04:28 GMT -5
Trying to get my son's teacher on "Zoom" on his tablet for his special classes has been tough. He still hasn't got through so I'm not sure if its me, them or both at this point. Gaahhh!!!
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Mar 23, 2020 10:48:16 GMT -5
Its 9PM to 11PM Eastern time for the seminar because its in Central time on the site.
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Mar 23, 2020 12:34:51 GMT -5
I'm glad you reminded me, because I did forget about that. It would have been: "Gene? Anybody? Hallooo-ooo? I guess this thing was cancelled!" Are you still going to run your AMONGST THE ELVES module? I wanted to sign up for that, but couldn't find it.
The other virtual events I signed up for are the Greyhawk Fan renaissance on Friday, and Haunted Keep with Paul Stormberg and a module by Jon Hook on Saturday.
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Mar 23, 2020 14:15:56 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm trying finalize so i guess it can anytime friday after the afternoon
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Mar 27, 2020 15:10:55 GMT -5
Alright, they mentioned reducing Gary Con next year for those specifically interested in Lake Geneva and the Gygax family. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? I'm not sure how this will apply to me. Any input on this?
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Mar 27, 2020 16:14:27 GMT -5
I haven't read the announcement yet. Is there a link? I'm pretty set on going next year, no matter what. A smaller convention could mean better chance of meeting some Gygaxes, so that is an updside. I wish I had been able to go to the first few Gary Cons because that is when it seemed like a 'reset' of the first few Gen Cons and smaller gatherings. The bigger cons do not appeal to me as much.
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Mar 27, 2020 16:57:10 GMT -5
I can't find it now. Luke Gygax said something about keeping it in Lake Geneva so limiting badges but I don't know where I saw that. Facebook is a mess for searching for things people said even myself sometimes so I can't find it. But whatever the statement it came across like people aren't coming for the Gygax stuff and limiting size. The reaction was a pile on of first come first served statements. If we have to go full circle and start our own... "Welcome to Summer at Mentzercon Lake Geneva!"
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Mar 28, 2020 10:03:55 GMT -5
Just for the record, I am definitely not going back to "make your own con" mentality. However, if Gary Con gets over bloated and moves out of Lake Geneva then I'll probably make a trip out there instead without the hubbub. Ernie has some kind of "geeks" tour thing maybe that'll be the alternative if GC goes full brain dead. So next year Gary Con but if they move out then I think I'm going to have think that over.
|
|