New Blog: TTRPGs and Technology

[thegreyelf]

The growing relationship between tabletop RPGs and technology is something I've really struggled with for a long time. On one hand, there's no argument that wih the advent of things like VTT platforms, more people than ever have the ability to game. People can now game with friends from all over the world using a slick interface that incorporates everything from dice rollers to digital maps and digital tokens, so much so that when completely, fully used, these things really resemble video games as much as they do a traditional tabletop RPG.

Even things as basic as the ubiquitous availability of PDFs have changed the shape of the TTRPG landscape. People can now carry entire libraries of books with them on a single mobile device, be it a tablet, laptop, or smartphone. We have form-fillabe character sheets, direct messaging, and so many other resources. For some people it's all been a massive boon, and those who have adopted these things wholesale tend to take an "all or nothing" attitude towards technology.

It's a strangely polarizing thing: people on both sides of the argument (and I am not immune) tend to be arrogant about their points of view - those who eschew technology are utterly dismissive of those who embrace it, and those who embrace it are quick to brush the older crowd under the rug, brush them aside as being somehow in the way of progress.

Of course, neither side will admit that they do that....


Read the rest: elflairgames.blogspot.com/2022/04/ttrpgs-and-tech.html

[Punkrabbitt]

At the 5e game I play in, there is me with my character sheet and dome dice older than kids using the D&D app on their phone for characters and rolling. And a couple people in between the two extremes. So it takes all kinds at our game with no conflict and no worries

[dicebro]

I love being able to referee games online. I prefer a simple whiteboard with simple tokens. I don’t like to put maps down any more. Loses that traditional feel when players see the map.