Playing Online

When everyone is gathered around the kitchen table/ coffee table/ living room floor and the dice are rolling and the soda is flowing its easy to stay focused on the game. There are little distractions, plenty to interact with, and side conversations can be carried on without disrupting the game's progress. However, as time progresses and people move, it can become harder to get together to play. When this happens most people will try to find another local group but that can be difficult as we are a secretive bunch or we have become accustomed to a certain style of game play that other groups might be against. The other option is not to play and, as any serious rpg player will tell you, that is no option at all. Luckily, thanks to the internet, distance is no longer an issue. The game can continue and the group will survive but new challenges arise from playing online.

The biggest issue comes from distractions. With everyone in different places it becomes harder to shut out every little thing that can pop up. This ranges from family, things laying about the room, the television being on, and the Internet itself (we've all had that moment where we meant to do one thing and then an hour later...). The best way to avoid distractions from the outside world is to have a set playing schedule and try to stick to it. Let others know that this is your gaming time and you can't be bothered. This will limit the incursions of those pesky friends and family members who feel the need to interrupt you. The next best way to keep distractions down are to have a little self-discipline. Turn off the television, remove any toys that might be about (I'm guilty of airsoft target practice), and refrain yourself from finding and posting funny pictures/videos unless relevant to the game. I'm not saying you need to be cloistered from all earthly distractions like a monk but, if they are going to be a problem it's best to remove the issue. Virtual tabletops (check my Resources page for a few of them) can also help by giving everyone something on which to focus.

The next issue I've noticed comes from side conversations. With everyone on the same channel it is almost impossible to have a side conversation without interrupting the game. This becomes more of an issue since you all don't see each other everyday and you want to catch up as well as play. Some programs, such a Skype, have the abilities to use text in conjunction with voice chat which can be useful for side conversations. Another option is just to police yourself. The GM should be the referee to side conversations as they are the only one who can accurately gauge how much time can be used in this manner. If side conversations are becoming too much of an issue then I would set aside some time before the game to just get it out of everyone's system. You know your group best so do whatever works best for you all.