I just started a local EotE campaign. Previously, my experience in the past 4 years has been running online campaigns only (WFRP3 and EotE). Prior to that time, I hadn't RPG for 20 years since the good old days where tablets, smartphones, and portable cool laptops didn't exist.

Back to this local campaign. Some of my players came to the 1st session using Apple or Android tablets with character sheets on PDF, some came with computers using OggDude program, some with good old prints.

I gotta say, all this technology at the table took me by surprise (in hindsight, I should have prep for it). It hasn't been particularly disruptive as the players, for the 1st session, were highly immersed, but I wonder whether it could be.

Not that I plan to shone technology: I was hoping to use Obsidian portal to keep track of the campaign events & story in between session and Google Drive to provide a repository of our campaign files, including character sheets.

My questions (and I realize they are very generic): How are today GMs dealing with that technology?

• Are your players using OggDude's program during play to track characters? How does that work for you?
• Can OggDude's program even be used with a cloud drive (Ok this question is probably better to be asked in the OggDude's program thread)
• What about the use of tablets and form-fill-able PDFs at the game table?
• Is it unreasonable to ask my players to get paper character sheets, and let them track on computers/tablets between sessions, or is a tablet to a cloud character sheet a better option anyway (less clutter on the game table)?

Thank you for your inputs!

Personally I really prefer that players not have their phones/tablets/laptops out at the table.

I've played in games where players ran their character off their laptop and, personally, I find it a little disruptive, because laptops are big and physically block line of sight.

I had one player who preferred to use FFG's dice app on his phone. I didn't disallow it although physical dice rolling is my preference.

As a GM, I run my whole campaign off of Obsidian Portal on an iPad. I used to print out a sheaf of notes into a binder for each session. Now I just have the tablet on the table and I don't use any paper at all.

Oh, I use OggDude's program to manage character sheets. In my game, the players pretty much just show up. I keep their character sheets updated and I print them out for each session.

I will answer your questions one at a time based on my group.

• I use OggDude's program as a GM, my players have printouts. One of my players has an android app he tracks changes on and has OggDude's program on his computer (that he doesn't bring to the table). I understand the desire to have tech at the table, I see cell phones as a distraction and it annoys me personally. Be present or don't.
• OggDude's program needs a local drive from what I can tell. I used it with Dropbox but it saves files to the local profile so if you open it on another device it is like a fresh install. This suggests to me that it is not totally sandboxed enough for a cloud drive implementation.
• PDFs on a tablet yes. Games on a tablet when action isn't on them. NO NO NO NO NO.
• No it is not unreasonable. If you are uncomfortable with that, make it clear as to your intensions early and go from there. It is a situation that may require a compromise but most gamers are willing to put it down if you ask for that rule.

Tech is great. Unfortunately it can take you OUT of a scene and make it harder to get back on track.

On another note I also use tech to track the stuff that happens in that I blog session recaps. This helps the players recall what went on and can have outside people follow their adventures.

I've played in games where players ran their character off their laptop and, personally, I find it a little disruptive, because laptops are big and physically block line of sight.

As a GM, I run my whole campaign off of Obsidian Portal on an iPad. I used to print out a sheaf of notes into a binder for each session. Now I just have the tablet on the table and I don't use any paper at all.

Oh, I use OggDude's program to manage character sheets. In my game, the players pretty much just show up. I keep their character sheets updated and I print them out for each session.

Thanks progressions, very helpful. I agree with he computer blocking the view, however I want to first understand the pros/cons from both GMs and players before to bring it up to my table.

You mentioned using Obsidian to run your campaign, with a tablet. I need to visit further your Obsidian portal, however do you have your NPCs and all notes on Obsidian, or mostly the broad strokes of the adventure.

As for your use of OggDude, are you the one updating the character sheets between each session?

I'm prepping my campaign now.

• OneNote for GM prep (adventures, PC tracking, NPCs, Equipment, Locations, Vehicles, etc).
• Pinterest to collect artwork.
• I intend on using Obsidian Portal for player interfacing (forum, etc).
• I'm trying to find a map-maker that I like - So far I've been toying with Battle Map 2 for iPad. I'm not planning on using a ton of maps, but I'd like to map our the group's business (Speeder repair shop), etc.

If my players want to use their phones or tablets for note-taking, etc. I'll be fine with it, but I'll be providing physical character sheets for their us (and then updating any changes between sessions).

Most of this will most likely go the way of the do-do as I'm not nearly as organized as I'd like to think I am.

I do pretty detailed prep work before a session, and I have all my notes and NPCs in Obsidian Portal.

I use GM-only Adventure Logs and Wiki pages to organize a session.

I'll do a GM-only Adventure Log which says something like:

"Session 10

Landing on Kalandra

Meeting with Dac Arlos

Ambush by Stormtroopers

Escape on Gondolas"

Each of those entries would be links to a Wiki page where I've made notes about who and what might happen. I use OggDude's GM Tools to save a Stat Block image for each of the NPCs they might encounter, and I embed those Stat Block images in the Wiki page.

Here's an example from a recent session: https://explorers-on-the-edge.obsidianportal.com/wiki_pages/throne-room-of-jaren-laa

This way when I'm running the campaign, I have the iPad with the Adventure Log in a browser, then I open each Wiki page in a new tab when an encounter is called for.

I find this works great for me, as I can keep all my notes in one place (and I have the styles to make it easy to use SWRP dice symbols) and I don't have to print anything out.

And yeah, I update the OggDude character generator with each PC's XP and whatever they spent it on. Usually they'll mark on the sheet or tell me "I want to take Skilled Jockey", and I use the program to save the changes.

Then I print out the updated sheets before the next session.

What is up with all the avatars being R2 on this thread!!!!

I too am old, and have some trouble with all this technology at the table.

Phones, laptops and tablets can really can really get intrusive to the game, as people would rather text, or surf around "while waiting for my turn".

This all boils down to why are we here in person to play this game. I look it as we have all agreed to meet up in person to play this game where it requires human interaction. If we all wanted to look at our computers, then we could play TOR, WoW, or EotE over Skype, and save the gas.

If you are the running the game, and especially if you are the one hosting it as well, there is nothing wrong with laying out your table rules. I ask (just a nicety really) that players don't put computers or tablets on the table. If a player wants to bring the computer, I do ask they keep it on chair next to them. (I had a guy once that would watch videos of WoW runs, we don't game together anymore.)

I do use OggDudes Char Gen, and so do my players. i could never get it to work on Dropbox right, so they guys email their Char file, and I print it out about every 2-3 adventures. I also use Obsidian Portal a lot. I do try to keep the Characters updated on it, but I am lazy... My players will post in the Adventure Log. I keep a ton of my notes and stuff on it.

--Feel free to check out my Portal and leave any comments or feedback--

Since I do "require" paper copies of character sheets at my table, I let my players know I will print them out if they want. Paper and ink can be expensive, plus I have a double sided printer. No one in the group really wanted to use the Dice app, I already had four sets of Edge dice, and now my players all have about two sets each.

I feel having tablets/phones and all that on the table can cause a lot of unwanted clutter. I do have people put their phones on the table and do an occasional text or phone call, and I am cool with that. Most drive about an hour to get to my house. So they have kids checking in and stuff like that, so no big deal.

All in all, as the GM, and as the Host, it is well with in your rights to set the table rules. It is not rude to ask people to leave the technology out of it.

I keep my iPad out and on during my games. i use the iTunes remote control to control my iTunes Star Wars music on my PC which is at the other end of the room. I also keep my Obsidian Portal up so i can reference it if need be, or google an image of an alien if I need to. But I keep that off to the side of me on a card table I have set up, so i have nothing directly in front of me blocking me and my players. For those that have not seen my setup, here it, for those that have...sorry, here it again...

I find the use of a laptop fairly invaluable really, its a tiny little 13" Asus ultrabook that weighs about 1kg I bought mostly for work instead of having to lug around a full-sized laptop. For RPG's it means I'm not lugging around tonnes of notes, print outs, maps, pictures and other crap that as a GM you sort of end up with, I've literally got about a wad of about 15-20years worth of gaming characters, adventures and god only knows what else that's pretty much half a tree's worth.

(yeah, I'm as old as dirt)

So through the week I update the adventures I'm running, characters I've got active and anything else, stick it all on a USB drive and good to go. Most of the group have a laptop or tablet of some sort as well and I don't really see it as being invasive... except phones. People fiddling around on a smartphone during the game, I reserve the right to either turn it off, bugger off or I'll snap it in half.

Thanks all for the inputs. I'll definitely check your obsidian portals pages.

As a GM, I use technology a lot. I use my iPad as a soundboard, and to quickly reference wookiepedia or access google drive. Like Progression, I hope (when I get around it) to have all my notes on Obsidian so that the iPad is the only tool I coulduse beside a cheat sheet/gm screen.

The players are very good RPGers and mature players. They players interacted great, computers or tablets didn't stop that, thus I should have no ground to complain. Obviously, people need to check their phones, check on their family and so on. No one has expressed the want to use a dice rolling app (thanks).

It's interesting that mostly GMs are commenting so far. What do players think? Do they like to use their tablets or laptop to track their characters? Why? Why is it more attractive than good old paper?

• Are your players using OggDude's program during play to track characters? How does that work for you?
• Can OggDude's program even be used with a cloud drive (Ok this question is probably better to be asked in the OggDude's program thread)
• What about the use of tablets and form-fill-able PDFs at the game table?
• Is it unreasonable to ask my players to get paper character sheets, and let them track on computers/tablets between sessions, or is a tablet to a cloud character sheet a better option anyway (less clutter on the game table)?

Thank you for your inputs!

My GM will be using OggDude's program soon. I have no clue about the cloud drive.

The other players are using pencil and paper character sheets but, again, will be using OggDude's program soon. My sheet is a pdf, though... because I'm special like that! My GM writes the pdf for me. It has to fill some fairly specific needs so I don't really know if that'll change even after they start using OggDude's program.

My GM outlaws all electronics at the gaming table... except for himself and me. They can have phones and stuff but they can't take them out and can only answer for parents. ABSOLUTELY NO TEXTING!! I have a tablet for my character sheet and for the dice app. I don't know how much less clutter there would be with a tablet than with a clipboard.

Ww play with just one PC on the "table". We connect the portable PC to the TV and I open there the necessary PDF's or programs (like the Oggy's one), any support documents (all digital) and also I prepare the OST. So, the rest of the table a just for dices mainly (and food XD).

I try to evade so much the use of physical material, but the only physical thing I have on the table are the two core books.

I use my samsung 10" galaxy tab as my character sheet. trying to anoid waisting paper on new character sheets every session.

My questions (and I realize they are very generic): How are today GMs dealing with that technology?

• Are your players using OggDude's program during play to track characters? How does that work for you?
• Can OggDude's program even be used with a cloud drive (Ok this question is probably better to be asked in the OggDude's program thread)
• What about the use of tablets and form-fill-able PDFs at the game table?
• Is it unreasonable to ask my players to get paper character sheets, and let them track on computers/tablets between sessions, or is a tablet to a cloud character sheet a better option anyway (less clutter on the game table)?

Thank you for your inputs!

To answer your questions, in order:

• One guy has it up on his laptop during play, although I'd prefer that he didn't (I didn't write it as a play aid, but as a resource generator; you should use it to prepare games, not run games). It's not normally a problem, but sometimes I'll find him surfing the net, and/or using my program to look things up, which can be distracting.
• Yes it can. I have a common DropBox folder that all of my players use as their data folder. All you need to do is have everyone install the DropBox client on their computer so they have a local cache directory. I then invite them to share my data directory, they accept, and my directory shows up inside their local cache. From there, you just set the data path in the launcher to point to that folder. The same method should work with any cloud service that provides a local cache directory and shared folders.
• Another player will sometimes use a PDF character sheet created by my program on his tablet, and use some other program to annotate it with his touch screen, pretty much like he would with a pen on a paper sheet. He's a techno-nerd, and likes geeking out with that sort of thing, so I'm not sure how well this actually works.
• Your table, your rules Personally, what I did was buy 1/2" notebooks, slip in personalized title sheets in the front and spine, a 3-hole zipper pouch for wet erase pen, pencil, eraser, and character token, and, of course, a copy of their character sheet in sheet protectors. They all thought that was way cool (I tend to spoil my players). I prefer them to use this, rather than use computers, but I don't mind them updating their characters using my apps after the session. Normally, though, I will get on my computer later on and add XP to everyone's character. Since we all share a data directory on DropBox, they can run the program on their end any time in the next two weeks and spend their XP if they like. They can then print up their character sheets and bring them to the next session, although they generally always "wait" to re-print them until they get to my house and use my ink

Personally, I find any sort of electronic device at the table (including laptops, tablets, phones, and portable gaming devices, especially the latter) to be distracting, unless the person is well-disciplined about it's use. I'd prefer them not be brought to the table at all, but seeing as having fun with the game, and having a fascist dictator as a GM, tends to be mutually exclusive, I won't say anything unless it actually becomes a problem.

Oh, and in a previous campaign, I did use MapTool at the table since we had multiple people playing remotely. I set up a 30" TV on one end of the dining room table and hooked it into a laptop. The locals could then use a mouse to move their tokens or click power macros or whatever, while the remotes did the exact same thing on their end and talked to us through Skype. If the technology gods were smiling on us that day, it all went pretty smooth. If they were being capricious (and they often were), we'd have internet issues, Skype issues, and other issues that would delay the game, sometimes for hours.

Thank you for the detailed explanation OggDude! I like the zipper pouch idea.

As for the cloud based SW Char Generator software, I am using Google Drive, and my test player was able to get it working when changing the data path, however he had to import all characters. Is that right?

Thank you for the detailed explanation OggDude! I like the zipper pouch idea.

As for the cloud based SW Char Generator software, I am using Google Drive, and my test player was able to get it working when changing the data path, however he had to import all characters. Is that right?

You don't have to import all the characters. In fact, characters are only part of your custom data. You may also have descriptions, custom items, data sets, adversaries, groups, encounters, etc.

What you want to do is perform a transfer from the launcher. You set the data path to where you want it in your local Google Drive cache folder (the one that's shared by everyone). When you start a transfer (there's a button for it), it'll ask you for the original data directory. It'll then back everything up to a zip file and copy all of your custom data to the new path.

Doing a transfer will get everything over to the new data directory, which will then be mirrored on the cloud. And if your other users set their data path to the same cache folder as yours on their Google Drive client, they'll see the exact same thing as you do.

My questions (and I realize they are very generic): How are today GMs dealing with that technology?

• Are your players using OggDude's program during play to track characters? How does that work for you?
• Can OggDude's program even be used with a cloud drive (Ok this question is probably better to be asked in the OggDude's program thread)
• What about the use of tablets and form-fill-able PDFs at the game table?
• Is it unreasonable to ask my players to get paper character sheets, and let them track on computers/tablets between sessions, or is a tablet to a cloud character sheet a better option anyway (less clutter on the game table)?

Thank you for your inputs!

To answer your questions, in order:

• One guy has it up on his laptop during play, although I'd prefer that he didn't (I didn't write it as a play aid, but as a resource generator; you should use it to prepare games, not run games). It's not normally a problem, but sometimes I'll find him surfing the net, and/or using my program to look things up, which can be distracting.
• Yes it can. I have a common DropBox folder that all of my players use as their data folder. All you need to do is have everyone install the DropBox client on their computer so they have a local cache directory. I then invite them to share my data directory, they accept, and my directory shows up inside their local cache. From there, you just set the data path in the launcher to point to that folder. The same method should work with any cloud service that provides a local cache directory and shared folders.
• Another player will sometimes use a PDF character sheet created by my program on his tablet, and use some other program to annotate it with his touch screen, pretty much like he would with a pen on a paper sheet. He's a techno-nerd, and likes geeking out with that sort of thing, so I'm not sure how well this actually works.
• Your table, your rules Personally, what I did was buy 1/2" notebooks, slip in personalized title sheets in the front and spine, a 3-hole zipper pouch for wet erase pen, pencil, eraser, and character token, and, of course, a copy of their character sheet in sheet protectors. They all thought that was way cool (I tend to spoil my players). I prefer them to use this, rather than use computers, but I don't mind them updating their characters using my apps after the session. Normally, though, I will get on my computer later on and add XP to everyone's character. Since we all share a data directory on DropBox, they can run the program on their end any time in the next two weeks and spend their XP if they like. They can then print up their character sheets and bring them to the next session, although they generally always "wait" to re-print them until they get to my house and use my ink

Personally, I find any sort of electronic device at the table (including laptops, tablets, phones, and portable gaming devices, especially the latter) to be distracting, unless the person is well-disciplined about it's use. I'd prefer them not be brought to the table at all, but seeing as having fun with the game, and having a fascist dictator as a GM, tends to be mutually exclusive, I won't say anything unless it actually becomes a problem.

Oh, and in a previous campaign, I did use MapTool at the table since we had multiple people playing remotely. I set up a 30" TV on one end of the dining room table and hooked it into a laptop. The locals could then use a mouse to move their tokens or click power macros or whatever, while the remotes did the exact same thing on their end and talked to us through Skype. If the technology gods were smiling on us that day, it all went pretty smooth. If they were being capricious (and they often were), we'd have internet issues, Skype issues, and other issues that would delay the game, sometimes for hours.

I print from your app to pdf and use on my tablet. works great.

The group I run at the office tend to use their cellphones and tablets for character sheets, rules resources etc. We also use Roll20 on the projector for maps and when I want them to see any specific artwork.

My home group goes much the same except no projector so the players with tablets tend to share it around for battlemap times.

I use Obsidian Portal to manage player information for all my campaigns and OneNote to keep my info but I'm moving my GM notes to Obsidian Portal for ease of reference.

I think it really depends on the group. If your players are immersed in the story and not constantly fiddling with the tech and getting distracted to the point that it causes the game to slow down then you should be fine and I would allow them to use whatever they want. I'd really only step in if it starts to become a problem as I know some players prefer having digital recording or dice rollers (I use the dice rolling app but my players don't, I just prefer being able to pre-program in the rolls my NPC's will be making a lot of to speed things up, plus it's cheaper than buying more dice so I'm not taking from the players pool). At my table I occasionally use my ipad to play low background music to help set the scene and put images on a slide to help set the scene on occasion. So really it just depends on what you, and your players really find enjoyable and what you can handle without it being distracting.

Roll20 and a projector would be awesome on a longer term, and free up the game table, but the money isn't there yet for that.

Dark Bunny, what app do you use to pre-program your NPCs rolls? Is the FFG app doing that, if so I need to look into it.

Thanks

Roll20 and a projector would be awesome on a longer term, and free up the game table, but the money isn't there yet for that.

Dark Bunny, what app do you use to pre-program your NPCs rolls? Is the FFG app doing that, if so I need to look into it.

Thanks

This is a great topics. If you haven't listened to them, the Order 66 podcast Saga series actually had some great discussions on this topic. I would recommend episode 146 pimp your laptop, and Episode 103 Play that funky music Proxy. Both of those episodes have influenced my tech at the table use.

So as the GM I have been using my laptop since I started running. First is for session prep. Of course I use OggDude's program. I have heroforge from Lone Wolf Development, but no one has created a FFG star wars file; but honestly Ogg's is just as good. With his program I build my bad guy encounters and then print to pdf for use at the table. I am also working with Lone Wolf Development's RealmWorks. It is an amazingly powerful tool, but there is a learning curve. They have a lot of video tutorials. I also use Obsidian Portal for scheduling and campaign story telling.

At the table I use adobe to view the encounters and drop sticky notes for the encounter specifics (initiative, wounds, etc). I use Syrinscape's sci fi player for ambient noise like blaster fire. It is great! I also have itunes up for Star Wars specific music. Finally I have OggDude's open for reference.

I encourage my players to use paper since it declutters the table, but I am ok with tablets or smartphones. I also allow my players to use the FFG dice app since our table affects dice rolls oddly. I also give players bonus XP for post session in character posts on Obsidian Portal.

Other than that Iwould like to explore some other tech use at the table, like forwarding the players handouts on there devices for example. It is star wars a just about everyone has a datapad.

Salcor

I second that character sheets likely don't need to be printed for each session. I get it done every two or three sessions. We have trouble getting the printers attached to my wife's computer to work consistently, so sometimes I just scribble the changes on the old paper. (My character doesn't seem to change all that fast.)

The only really practical suggestion I have is not to use your wife's new porcelain-whatever-it-is serving bowl as a quicky dice rolling arena. The first/only time the dice hit that thing and started clanging around I had visions of being scalped if it had cracked . I now drag out an old game box lid to toss dice into.

One thing i will say is if everyone has tablets and a chat client you can pass notes to the GM with out other players reacting or knowing it was done. Also the Gm can roll perception for the party and just tell those that heard or saw the thing. thus resulting in those players having to let people know in their own words. Or not letting them know at all.