Roll20 GM Overview: Learn the Basics!

[@StruggleBus07]

Thank you so much! Moving our game to roll20 for COVID

[@JW-wr4ep]

Holy crap, same here. I hope we are locked down for 18 months. I'd be level 35 at least.

[@thearabcowboy]

Hahaha, same here!

[@baileymorton4116]

I got a game started via roll20 last Sunday

[@NpcManDoesStuff]

@@JW-wr4ep hhahahaha yes, but actually no please xD

[@darthdadt]

Upcoming session this weekend. I’m a Luddite so this tutorial was perfect.

[@belltowersubductions5104]

Session in an hour, this was a lifesaver.

[@davidhamblin5825]

how'd the session go?

[@belltowersubductions5104]

We sat at our respective tables failing to get the voicechat to work for everyone while I desperately typed up their Character sheets, slowly uncovering all of the errors made in their creation, at least a year ago, and how it made putting them into roll20 impossible, until it all started to truly fall apart, ending with me walking away to make a cup of tea, one leaving to look at porn, one asking questions over voicechat despite not being able to hear us, completely oblivious to the chaos, half the players took part in a heated shouting match over something not related to the game whatsoever, and we haven’t scheduled the next session. Further roll20 testing, methinks, will be done with a different group from now on.

[@davidhamblin5825]

@@belltowersubductions5104 sorry to hear that man, sometimes these things don't work out. I have yet to try roll20, any tips or things to be wary of?

[@belltowersubductions5104]

My experience wasn’t much more than an hour of pain, but from that pain was born two pillars of wisdom: write up the players’ character sheets into roll20 as far beforehand as possible, and make sure everyone’s voicechat works beforehand too. Other than that, I’m afraid I’m not much help.

[@michaelmatejka1068]

Belltower Subductions we use discord chat while on roll20.

[@eranbenzeev627]

this was SO MUCH simpler than the tutorial on the sight. thank you!

[@abrahamalfaro7908]

Way simpler, but now I want to see how long it takes to prep and build a session.

[@hawkthetraveler6344]

Hands down the best organized and executed tutorial of any of the VTT demos online Nov 2020. Thank you for showing what the product can do, for having smart pan/zoom during the tutorial, and for clear audio. Really well done definitely makes me think favorably of Roll 20 for its ease of use.

[@Roll20App]

Thanks for the feedback! We just want to get everyone in and gaming as quickly and easily as possible.

[@mrandrewv]

This looks seriously awesome. I'd be interested in seeing a table showing how the free version compares with the pay version.

[@colevendittelli6129]

.

[@TheGamingWarriors125]

I’m just upset that we have to RE purchase content we already own the physical books of for campaign maps. That’s what we were told by several players.

[@somefrozendude3475]

​@@TheGamingWarriors125I like to have my players use their actual character sheet and just use their roll20 sheet/token as a way to decide where they are, enemies are, and when enemies die. I use statblocks from my monster manual for non-pc's still and just subtract health from my tokens. It's not super annoying to do imo, but it is annoying.

[@TheGamingWarriors125]

@@somefrozendude3475 yea but still requires purchasing the maps right? Like if you're using the campaign books you'd need the maps for t hem right?

[@Shippoiship]

I'm relatively new to GMing and have been looking for a way to play games online. This is a real godsend.

[@jeremykendall7524]

This was by far the best tutorial I've watched tonight. I love how you jumped right in and got to it. I feel much more confident building now! If I could like this more than once I would!

[@AndrewLuhring]

Roll 20 really needs to make more of these videos for dms. This shit is super complicated to draw maps and stuff in roll 20 and Idk how to hide rooms and stuff. like if i have a hallway, and theres a secret passage but i don't want the players to see it its like... how do i dentify something as a wall and should be hidden. how do i make sure my dynamic lighting stuff doesn't go outside the room? etc

[@clarkwhitlow2474]

Theres a reveal tool and a hiding tool

[@Kylekashi]

In the current version of the app you apparently do it with layers. There is a layer for DM only stuff and if it becomes visible you move it to the common layer.

[@Gamercatos]

@@clarkwhitlow2474 9

[@atinybard6594]

This should seriously be the first video you can access in the tutorial section on the actual site. Super useful.

[@rydog3452]

I am running a game over the Corona virus outbreak from home and this is really gonna help out. This is a lot more then I thought there was gonna be with this site.

[@BCoydog]

Wow. This tutorial was perfect. Thank you. I could ramble, but words don't do it justice. Great service. Great tutorial. Great things, altogether!

[@RisingLava]

I can't believe I read the whole in-game tutorial when I could have just watched this.

[@ardidsonriente2223]

Superb tutorial, direct, clear, complete and short. Thanks for the great job.

[@torreslab8276]

Its the first time i really undertand how to create a game. Thanks.

[@Noooiiiissseee]

I'm about to start up my first campaign and this video saved me so much time. Thank you for making it!

[@edgyhamster749]

Mr. Riley... Your intellect is definitely greater than 10!

[@warling5042]

This was the best tutorial video ever.

[@lychordia]

This is fabulous. Thank you for the basics!

[@thomasingle8827]

Nice video. I have been looking for something like this for a long time. I just signed up and can't wait to get started. Big thanks to the entire Roll20 crew!

[@ciaranspalding3993]

Excellent tutorial, helped immensely as I try to move to Roll20 due to Covid

[@MarkProjMgr]

Good video, short and concise

[@lockei6947]

I love the fact that this video is still useful nowadays.

[@spaceblockb5284]

8 years later and still the most comprehensive guide

[@design4earth]

great explanation. I can start and start to explore more features at a later date.

[@atomicnectar]

great vid! love the addition of hot keys

[@profdetti]

Thanks a lot. Really clear, neat and usuful! Kudos.

[@josephle5373]

Great, introductional video. Really well done.

[@sajadamjad4752]

Quick and to the point i love it

[@iskevosi]

I had a friend wanting to get into Roll20. I use it a lot, but I wanted to find a tutorial that he could follow. I found this, and though it's good it is also old and could do with updating with some of the latest screenshots with the new content. Might be worth doing Roll20!!

[@AnOdd1plays]

This sounds awesome. Getting some great ideas.

[@omegaRST]

This seems really well made with a lot of thought put into it!

[@NIGHTWINGEX]

Omg I’ve been using photoshop and sharing my screen this is a great idea

[@seibervideo]

I thought about doing that but dang if my computer isn’t too slow for that. 😅

[@MalisonStage]

Very helpful video. Thanks so much! 😁👍

[@getanimated6889]

This was extremely helpful, thanks for the video!

[@GeniusOnHisWay]

concise and clear! Thank you

[@WilliamAlexanderJr]

Super helpful thank you for the video.

[@Idococaine123]

Good video, helped me a bit.

[@bekimachine]

This is great - thanks!

[@astroempires1733]

Such an informative video, thanks! Really great program.

[@James-yl3ix]

Oh dang this video is old. And so relevant right now!

[@dewaarya7000]

This is really give me help to DM games on r20... thank you very much

[@gabrielhawk]

I think I am in love with this program

[@MatthewsPersonal]

Great work guys!

[@JeremyTheGraten]

You guys run a great site! Thanks!

[@nilcraify]

Super helpful, THANK YOU !!!

[@GallowglassAxe]

I approve the StarTropics Dungeon Theme

[@pandoratheclay]

I am having a session zero soon,just so I can get the characters done and I will also set up the stuff like this

[@KTiMe13]

This is so awesome! I'm going to try it right now. :)

[@NoInfoAvail]

TY for making this and TY for roll20!

[@Volsati]

This has helped so much! Thank you for the tutorial.

[@danielandrae9743]

looks great, just wish there was a Lizardfolk token

[@InWitheNew]

Holy balls was this helpful.

[@squirrelarmy9890]

NVP right here

[@99zxk]

Trying to follow along with the program. Wish that the tutorial didn't use drag and drop from the desktop as I don't have the file.

[@gaelicgod6460]

This is so cool. Just starting to use this w my friends

[@MarshmallowMadnesss]

My advice would be to allow at least an hour for everyone to sort out their audio issues before the game. For some players accustomed to playing at a table with people in the room, the switching between character sheets and the map is very jarring. Remember to click your "token" and then your character sheet, then finally your spell or attack or check. For people onna small screen, moving back and forth takes getting used to.

[@andrewthornley5172]

Great vid. Tks.

[@Wineblood]

Is this still accurate? My campaign is moving to roll20 and this was clear enough for me to try out tomorrow morning.

[@mcdirty764]

Yep, all still correct

[@davidt.6873]

@@mcdirty764 hey for some reason the jukebox seems really different now did something happen? Or is not included in the free version because its not entirely working for me?

[@OGtatata]

Where did the map come from? Source, like what website or map building tool did he use to get it?

[@kitcarandang]

I made my one-shot session by going to pinterest and other image hosting sites (deviantart, photobucket, etc.). Also a simple Google search also helps.

[@Scatterbrain76]

Very cool dude. Good job

[@silverrain530]

Is it possible for everyone to be DM? In my group, there isn't really a DM, the role kind of just flows from player to player.

[@conner1466]

Is it at all easy or posible to do a full campaign of 4 to 5 players using the free version? Or just the gm paying for it... None of us have the money to each buy the membership right now due to nature of world

[@CPRANDOM2428]

Awesome info!

[@kaydengacha3799]

The Best

[@danniemiesse4643]

11:19 how was that done? It would have been helpful to see the Macro settings bar while that gui was brought up.

[@greenwithenvyband8505]

Can I use this as a visualizing tool for my players to see if they are physically there with me? As in, in the place of a map and physical tokens?

[@Roll20App]

Yes!

[@donaldburkhard7932]

Make video for new player user and what needs to be done.use own character or use GM charActer only? What cost to start as player, what equipment needed? PC, Mac, iPad -i am disabled using 9yr old iPad with 9.3.5 OS.

[@davidheary2482]

THIS IS AMAZING!

[@alexandrebarahonachewbaniche]

Is there may be several masters of the game?

[@davidt.6873]

hey the jukebox isn't giving me an option to add?

[@InTheNickofTime]

Why no eraser feature for drawings?

[@edthered]

Is there a more recent tutorial?

[@froschkenig]

Well apparently my internet connection sucks too much, because a lot of things weren't happening in real time ;-)

[@DAVID4GAMER]

is there some more tutorials, since afther seeing someone who made a badass DyD dungeon board makes my curiosity for play even Uberkilling

[@amarhantus]

You should tell ROLL20 to adjust the transcription of your video, there are A LOT of pieces missing.

[@harrygaren1919]

Hi Folks. I am a bit of a boomer when it comes to this stuff. I've been playing since I was a kid, so I went through basic D&D, then AD&D 1st, 2nd, 3.5 ed, and then I missed 4rth, and went straight to 5th ed. Now I realise I have to change with the times and start using the this system. I'm a very accomplished DM/GM, but when it comes to using Roll20, I am a newbie. OK, my question for you is that I have a ton of material in pdf files. I have loads of pathfinder stuff, such as packs of different monsters. I would like to use these tokens in my rolld20. How do I import these token files into my game? Thanks for any help, and I hope to see some of you in my new campaign.

[@willedwards681]

When I try to drag a map made in campaign cartographer or dungeon designer into roll20, I either get a box saying it may take several minutes (it never loads in at all) or the box doesn't even bother to appear

[@RossMcDowall94]

This definitely needs updated with character sheets.

[@davidkreutzkamp6602]

+Ross McDowall you mean like online editable character sheets? There is nothing stoping you though from uploading scans of a character sheet as another option.

[@RossMcDowall94]

I mean the video does not have the new character sheet feature which Roll20 has.

[@S0phisticatedZ0mbie]

Youre the greatest

[@wurutana]

Is there a way to start even more basic? Like "how to start a campaign?"

[@iskevosi]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6DcgqZmeNtnppI

[@simonbrown5017]

hey does anyone know how he got the tokens to look so big in the search area? i can only gettiny pictures and a link so i have to go through each and every one of them, its very tedious, any tips? 0:55

[@ryanince3270]

i like it but every time i try to get in it wont let me play any games

[@GoffestRocka]

yeah I seem to be having issues to where my players cant move their characters when I give them permission or even wont be able to seem name and some players tokens I have put down, and idk how to fix it.

[@fordgraca]

Did you find a solution to this? Share if you do

[@GoffestRocka]

@@fordgraca yeah, turns out the players had to move the tokens from the journal to the board themselves

[@bndllama9067]

When I try to move tokens or images the controls invert and I can't do it, it always goes wonky and all I want to do is move or rotate a token. Frankly I haven't been able to find any help with this and it makes the whole system unusable.

[@alexmoran8662]

how do you get to this starting page? I don’t see anything in the game iv created to make a map

[@carlsmagicbicep9736]

This is so helpful

[@SergioFariasLopes]

Awesome !!!

[@clee888]

how can i add my players to the game? i went through the tutorial and understand creating the map, but trying to connect people to the map. thank you!

[@Roll20App]

Once you've invited folks to the game, you can let them see any map or page you create by dragging the red PLAYERS bookmark in the Page Toolbar over to the page you want. Players will only ever see what's on the Map and Objects & Tokens layers on the page their bookmark is on. Let us know if this answers your question!

[@lunagorton6890]

I'm having a bit of trouble. When I drag the map to insert it into the game, it just won't load

[@stompie5233]

The map size is probably too big

[@cndmarksmen7383]

For those that play this online, is a laptop ideal or can this be run on a tablet type system, looking at getting into this but as a console (ps4) gamer I have no idea what I'll need.

[@ChaoticLegion01]

Where do you get those background maps from?

[@fureyfamilyvideos66]

Maps can be found free online in various places. I use: www.reddit.com/r/battlemaps/ You can also buy them from various places for cheap as dirt, including Roll20 marketplace and others.

[@Light1c3]

I can't seem to find any free premade tokens :(

[@titaniumteddybear]

Also, your in-app tutorial is borked. There is no way to move backwards through the tutorial, so if you misunderstand something you need to start the whole section over again. I just clicked in the wrong place, which removed the "gear icon" that I need to click on in order for the tutorial to move forward. So now I need to restart the section, again. Have you peeps really not done any UX feedback processes? This is basic stuff :/

[@titaniumteddybear]

And the tutorial instructions sometimes appear OVER the thing that you're supposed to be looking at. And you haven't updated the tutorial since the hotkeys were changed. Why not? :/

[@evansherlock6330]

When I go to the library and type things in nothing comes up, any ideas?

[@davidt.6873]

hopefully your not in jukebox that might be it also what are you typing?

[@DieFrauAmHerd]

Can someone please tell me how to write a coin toss macro?

[@Roll20App]

Actually yes! If you create a Rollable Table with one item being "Heads" and the other being "Tails", you can then create a macro that will roll it for you. Like this -> &{template:default} {{name=Coin Toss}} {{Coin=[[1t[Heads-Tails]]]}} You can learn more about making rollable tables and macros over on the Help Center -> help.roll20.net/hc/en-us/articles/360039178754-Collections

[@DieFrauAmHerd]

@@Roll20App That helped a lot, thanks.

[@Jacorowi]

Yeah I can't do any of this. I guess I just have no idea what I'm doing. Can't add any tokens and I saw that this was a bug from like 10 years ago and this guy said it should be fixed but I don't think it is.

[@Hyena_Heckler]

Holy shit this is so fucking cool!

[@TheDragonLordCage]

Is it for android

[@TheTIGSY]

How do i edit my campaign once i leave the creator?

[@raphaeltrumpetsound]

Join the Campaign as GM...Go to furthest tab...My Settings...Hopes this helps.