Using roll20 to play RPGs off the grid?

[@DrVesuvius70]

The "poetic" starship combat visualisation is worth the price of admission here on its own. Definitely a technique I'm going to shamelessly copy when I run a sci-fi game on Roll20. The "map and minis" spaceship combat in the online Starfinder game I'm playing in has proven highly unsatisfactory so far for both GM and players and we've been casting around for an alternative. I've suggested a more abstract approach like that in STA but while that works well face-to-face where the GM can work to visually engage the players' attention I can see it would be harder to make exciting online without something for the players to focus on. This does that wonderfully. I think 3.x era games created an expectation of a certain way of using miniatures, i.e. as game pieces in a simulationist boardgame. But I think there's a real case to be made for using them not necessarily to track positions in a simulated space, but as artistic tools to set the scene and spark the imagination.

[@Sutehp]

Just so you know, the Chief Medical Officer Talent Card in the Crew Role Cards refers to the "Chief of Security" having the Advantage of "Medical Department" instead of the CMO. Just letting you know to fix this typo.

[@The_CGA]

Oh, thanks These resources have gone through several updates in the more than two years since this video was made, but crew roles are a topic which may be revisited as a larger topical video soon on the channel

[@Sutehp]

@@The_CGA I've recently just started watching your videos to try and learn how STA (and the 2d20 system in general) works. It's no substitute for reading the books, of course, but the Star Trek fluff is more interesting to me than the rules and number-crunching. Your videos make the rules easier and more fun to learn. That said, I spotted a few more typos in your Playing Cards and I can give you a doc file detailing all the typos I found upon request. My email is: [e-mail]

[@Wisquimas]

I love this video!

[@Simyonovich]

It would be amazing if you could include the files for all your card backs for those of us with absolutely no image editing skills, unless I missed where those are located in your imgur links

[@Simyonovich]

Do you have any of the pngs of the Science and Engineering Division books? Love your content, btw. Making my life a whole lot easier!

[@Simyonovich]

I should clarify, I meant png's of the talent cards, specifically. also, do you use something specifically to track extended tasks, or do you just do that on paper?

[@The_CGA]

Thank you! It is definitely all here with the idea of helping to make lives easier I did the operations book talents, which I’ll have to dig up the URL for where I put them...the trouble with those two books is the talents are overwhelmingly pretty bad in terms of opportunity cost, and the good ones end up being a bit niche and the sort of thing, when expressly needed it’s useful to just use a supporting character’s advancement in the moment to get the talent. So I go put off from Persevering on that. The new Klingon corebook May bring me back to this project, at which point I’ll also take the time to do the science ones.

[@The_CGA]

I have some graphical elements for extended task tracking, experience has taught these are only really useful when magnitude begins at 3 or higher. The mag 2 tasks are there and gone in a flash...often characters make sure to be done with them in one roll. So setting them up with all the formality is.....best only for **especially** extended tasks.

[@Simyonovich]

@@The_CGA good to know. I'll make sure to rate the really dangerous/challenging stuff at 3+

[@The_CGA]

Here's the album with the Ops Division Talents: imgur.com/a/RUmdiTG And here's one with tokens for pools and facility for extended tasks: imgur.com/a/AecSgvM I've since moved toward 'gauges' where there's only one token moving up and down a number line, or several number lines, as that's just slicker, prevents misclicks in roll20, and keeps roll20 running faster for people with bad connection or older laptops.

[@edwardtunisiii3152]

Any reason you didn’t use the STA stuff (character sheets) that Roll20 has? You can role the CD right from the sheet. Otherwise thanks for all your videos - it has helped me wrap my head around some of the concepts.

[@The_CGA]

You can use those, and we do; that's fairly intuitive and easy so no strong reason for me to show it. but it does take paging away from the screen And some players have observed some lag bringing it up ans getting back to the main screen. Also, some people like to use paper sheets. Also, as the GM, opening and closing lots of NPC sheets can get cumbersome, and it can be easier to just work from macros. And for the mentioned reason: I have some players that are trying to wrap their heads around the nuts and bolts of the system and so they're keen to do as much of it for themselves as possible to get ahold of the "guts" of it all.

[@edwardtunisiii3152]

Complex Games Apologist Cool. Just wanted to make sure you weren’t reinventing the wheel for no reason 😉

[@The_CGA]

🤔😂😅 I have been known to do that just to see if circles were the best shape ~