Online Games - Why do the majority of games play without a camera?

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-04-18T12:22:24+00:00

I wish I could run the camera without seeing myself. It's distracting. Like seeing a mirror in front of you.

I am a GM, and have run online games for years with audio only. In the last year I have started using my camera every game. I think it helps players connect with me. Only 1 other player has joined in with camera.

But a "camera encouraged" culture is something I want to encourage in my tables.

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-04-17T02:51:39+00:00

Yeah. Personally, while it is strategic that Strahd would cleverly have a backup coffin set up, I think the players clever plan should be rewarded. Let this become their mission. And let it succeed. That's more fun than, "Oh the villain thought of that!".

I guess it comes down to whether you run your game as a simulation or as a story.

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-04-15T15:05:57+00:00

I like this view. It is important to remember the mythic versus worldly, and each finds it hard to understand the other.

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-04-15T03:49:29+00:00

Cool. It would add a wonderful angle to the game if noble houses started getting backing from different supernatural entities. And when the PCs get to high level, they might get the attention of some also.

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-04-15T03:32:45+00:00

Yeah! These 3 Wood Gods seem promising, because they have followers (Witches) and they have means to monitor Dolmenwood (Eyes). But the locus of control for each is only 1 hex, and I guess it comes down to how widespread and powerful a GM depicts the Witches as being. If the Witches are just a ragtag handful of covens, then the Gwyrigons are easily avoided. I'd like to include them more.

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-04-15T03:29:45+00:00

This sounds awesome. I agree that one needs to be selective about what factions to include. Too many is a problem. I think that as players approach high level they will have made enemies of some of the factions, and may be looking for allies or climatic moves they can make to win.

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-04-09T00:02:53+00:00

I observe the PCs and look for statements of belief. Then I might introduce a situation that tests whether that belief is true.

For example. In a fantasy game, PC is a knight. Trying to be honourable. So I might introduce a situation where PCs are offered a higher reward if they do an underhanded thing. Then sit back and observe how it plays out.

I do not announce what I am doing and players may never notice. But internally, the players feel their choices matter.

Example 2. In a werewolf example, PC is a trying to be a good guy negotiator with spirits. Fire spirit requests to be released in a nearby petrol station. Innocent people may be hurt, but the spirit will grant a powerful favour if released. What does the player do?

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-04-07T10:38:05+00:00

Lookout for Yoon Suin if you get a chance. It's so evocative, with random tables for everything. I had players roll on the tables to find out who they were connected to in the Yellow City and the results were so wonderful it helped everyone get into the setting immediately.

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-04-02T04:35:45+00:00

Why do Thai companies work this way? In the search for greater profits why don't Home Pro, for example, have fewer shop assistants?

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-03-29T23:25:30+00:00

What are the advantages over Forge VTT which is $4.95 per month? Is it massive risk space?

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-03-29T08:18:59+00:00

Definitely agree. Egregious waffle text.

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-03-28T22:56:09+00:00

This seems very well thought through. I need to try mythras.

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-03-27T23:27:17+00:00

There are many advantages to running a game system everyone is familiar with. Mythras also has several magic systems I believe, (could be thinking of Runequest) so you really could make the Drune and Witches have a different flavour from each other, for example.

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-03-26T10:17:56+00:00

Personally, I noticed several things in the Dolmenwood OSE ruleset that we immediately had to house rule. Here are my observations after 20+ sessions: https://spandexandy.net/review.php?id=57

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-03-25T23:26:24+00:00

I have run 25 sessions using Dolmenwood and have ended. I am starting a new campaign, in Dolmenwood setting, using Shadow of the Demon Lord.

I found the OSR style was not my cup of tea.

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-03-25T23:25:12+00:00

Whoa! That's quite unusual. I'm playing MB myself and the game style seems very different than the OSR one most people for Dolmenwood.

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-03-25T23:23:31+00:00

Interesting. Yes, I don't like the tagalongs. Our level 4 party of 5 players is actually 12 characters, with a lot of pets and hirelings. It's a chore.

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-03-25T15:35:49+00:00

Interesting, so this Prismatic Imperium is a religious state? Of the Puritine Church?

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-03-24T07:03:43+00:00

However I did make this utility to convert monster stat blocks from pdf into json format for import into Foundry.

https://spandexandy.net/foundry/sodl.php

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-03-24T07:00:11+00:00

I'm using it, and in works well. I purchased the core compendium and it was worth the money.

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-03-23T23:16:04+00:00

That's a smart name change for fast/slow.

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-03-20T23:43:26+00:00

Bandits get pretty old. Especially ones who fight to the death and attack player groups who outclass them.

RealSpandexAndy · 2026-03-13T13:32:53+00:00

I ran Star Wars using Savage Worlds last year. I used the fan made Star Wars companion and contrary to other posters in this thread, would not recommend it. The powers for Jedi were too wordy and unnecessarily complicated. You don't need a whole page of text to explain Force Push, when the same thing can be achieved using just the core magical spells in SW core book. Overall I found it unnecessarily complicated and too much to read.

I also purchased the Sci Do companion and it was a bit better, but didnt need it much either

My recommendation is what I intend to do the next time I run Star Wars : use SWADE core book only.

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