Another option for music is Kenku, it lets you stream audio into discord and is controllable with a streamdeck if you have one. Made by the same people that made owlbear rodeo!
11:16 I turn on a table lamp, set slightly next to and in front of me. The best camera and lighting advice I've ever heard: If you're going to be by a window (or a single light source), sit with it lighting the side of your face, not the front or behind you. That also avoids glares and reflections on glasses and eyes.
Been waiting for this video! My group has grown to 9 people, we initially split into two groups that would play consecutively, but everybody is dying to combine into one group. But trying to find a night where 9 people are free is nearly impossible, so I envision a lot more Discord games in future.
If scheduling continues to be an issue, have you heard of a west-marches style of game? (Also called Serialized campaigns) Might work if your players are interested. Hope y'all made it work!
@@benjaminschultz6501 It somehow has been working out for us. We meet up twice a week now. And this is after two of us started college and one started working. We just enjoy it enough to work it out. Couldn't be happier with it.
Such a bloody good video! Loved it! I'm entering my mic and camera horning phase now and these all look very temping! ~wiggles goblin fingers~ Really fun to see lots of thing's I've never seen before too!
Excellent video! I run my sessions via Zoom and religiously use Foundry VTT. I have a Blue Yeti microphone and Razor Kraken headphones connected to it so I can hear myself as I speak, in addition to using a standing desk to encourage me to incorporate physicality in my roleplay. My laptop screen typically has Obsidian notes on it while my main monitor is nice and wide to have my Zoom players' videos minimised on the side while I utilise Foundry VTT. I'm super happy with the setup and would love to invest in cooler lighting next!
I have a quick suggestion for you- great video BTW!! I use Above VTT which syncs with DND beyond and is a fully functional VTT. If you’re running DND, you may be able to get rid of improved initiative and use that to eliminate one of your windows. There is a slight learning curve but I went from owl bear over to above VTT. It is free, and easy to use. Give it a shot!
Discord has now the YT watch together activity, so after music bots were killed mostly this is a good solution to get everyone on the same page with yt music
I started using owlbear rodeo in combination with discord, and D&D beyond for seeing character sheets, and rolling for simplicity. Music has always been a struggle though, so this was insanely helpful!!
My group has been experimenting with KenkuFM recently. Last session, logging into Spotify on their browser and playing it through there for us to hear on Discord worked pretty well. Separate setup for a discord bot but it was really simple with no messing with bot commands, thank the gods.
Great stuff. We have a tough time because we have three of us locally, and three online. It's awkward and we can't find a good solution for nice audio, but we make it work anyway.
Nice video and recommendations! My group has been using Shard Tabletop. It has a lot of nice features to both DM and players, merging sheets, maps, initiative and monster/pcs stats and DM notes. It improved our remote sessions a lot! The one thing we didn't get right so far is the music, since some players play in the same room/setup, we will certainly try your tips for it, thanks! Also the battlesim is a must try.
The Spotify tip is something I had no idea about. That is going to be super useful as all my in game music I use is right on Spotify. We are usually in person when we can but that always doesn't work out and I've been trying to figure out how to use some specific songs for specific scenes I have planned next session. This set up will be very easy.
My setup is a CAD e100s mic with an SSL2 interface for more serious meetups. but for casual stuff I am running a Komplete Audio 6 with a MkII mic from Focusrite. All this is hella overkill but i use it for work so its a win win haha. thinking of getting a webcam, tho i didnt know about the android app to use it as camera, thats super cool!!
Camo also is on windows. Also, you can remove the watermark. Its under Overlay and Watermark. At least it is on windows, but I imagine there is parity between mac and windows versions.
+1000 on using automation; DM usually has to run a number of monsters similar to the number of players, so he/she has to be 4 to 6 times faster than the players
My biggest complaint about playing online is that, as the DM, my prep time has increased greatly! First I noodle out my dungeon / encounter on paper until I have it sorted the way I want it. Then I have to create the maps in my software of choice (Dungeon Draft, in my case). Then the maps have to be imported into my VTT, the dynamic lighting sorted out, plus populate the monsters & NPCs. So it's like I'm doing the same thing three times in order to make it playable online :-/
Due to a broken laptop I just started using my old tablet to join the discord video call - so I'm directly streaming the drawn paper map with minis (I wish, actually Lego pieces) This way I can still use my own maps or in a pinch my white board :)
Yeah it has definitely added to my prep time. I try and mitigate this by only doing maps for big important encounters, and for smaller stuff we just do theater of the mind. That makes the big encounters feel a bit more special. But I definitely know what you mean, it adds a significant amount to prep for sure!
There is always the WotC Plan A(i). Find an AI image generator and give it a drawing/description and have it make the map. You might even be able to find an AI to code the info into something compatible with whatever VTT and peripherals you are using. Personally I hate online play. I want to play at a table if I wanted to do everything on computer I would be playing BG3 or similar not tabletop D&D.
I've got a Rode NTG-2 boomed out over my head on a mic stand and it records to a Zoom H5. But you just need to get the mic as close to your mouth as possible. I use the Adobe ai audio enhancer and that in combination with an effects chain in resolve with pretty standard stuff like compression and EQ. Hope that helps!
I tried using the D&D Beyond Campaign DM screen, but for me, the profiles would not load up, no matter what I tried or which browser I used. My players also tried it and had the same result, the character profile codes are listed to the right, but do not seem to actually load properly.
Did this guy just recommend that you spend $30 on a USB condenser mic that sounds worse than the mic in his computer, only to then recommend that you spend $50 on a light instead of like $13? Wot
Another option for music is Kenku, it lets you stream audio into discord and is controllable with a streamdeck if you have one. Made by the same people that made owlbear rodeo!
came here to say this. :D
11:16 I turn on a table lamp, set slightly next to and in front of me. The best camera and lighting advice I've ever heard: If you're going to be by a window (or a single light source), sit with it lighting the side of your face, not the front or behind you. That also avoids glares and reflections on glasses and eyes.
That's great advice for sure!
Love that you are promoting battlesim, an amazing tool made as a labour of love for the game
Been waiting for this video! My group has grown to 9 people, we initially split into two groups that would play consecutively, but everybody is dying to combine into one group. But trying to find a night where 9 people are free is nearly impossible, so I envision a lot more Discord games in future.
If scheduling continues to be an issue, have you heard of a west-marches style of game? (Also called Serialized campaigns) Might work if your players are interested. Hope y'all made it work!
@@danieleynon8157 I have not heard of those 🤔 but I am in the middle of organising a full improv game for tonight.
Good luck! DnD has always been the game I almost play due to scheduling impossibilities.
@@benjaminschultz6501 It somehow has been working out for us. We meet up twice a week now. And this is after two of us started college and one started working. We just enjoy it enough to work it out. Couldn't be happier with it.
Such a bloody good video! Loved it! I'm entering my mic and camera horning phase now and these all look very temping! ~wiggles goblin fingers~
Really fun to see lots of thing's I've never seen before too!
Excellent video! I run my sessions via Zoom and religiously use Foundry VTT. I have a Blue Yeti microphone and Razor Kraken headphones connected to it so I can hear myself as I speak, in addition to using a standing desk to encourage me to incorporate physicality in my roleplay. My laptop screen typically has Obsidian notes on it while my main monitor is nice and wide to have my Zoom players' videos minimised on the side while I utilise Foundry VTT. I'm super happy with the setup and would love to invest in cooler lighting next!
Wow! You have almost exactly my setup! Heads up you can add a plugin to Obsidian that let you use a browser, I have battlesim open in that space.
Foundry and the amazing mods available does everything you covered in the 1st 7 minutes.
This is awesome, thank you so much for all these resources!! Also great nod to the D20 crew at 05:00
I play the majority of my sessions over Discord now, and use the Nero bot for music. Big fan of it, especially for ambient music.
I'll check it out!
that campaign page extension! 🥰 thank you for sharing that one! battlesim is cool as well ^_^
Bro - your videos are fire AF. Sharing with all my friends.
Thank you!
I have a quick suggestion for you- great video BTW!! I use Above VTT which syncs with DND beyond and is a fully functional VTT. If you’re running DND, you may be able to get rid of improved initiative and use that to eliminate one of your windows. There is a slight learning curve but I went from owl bear over to above VTT. It is free, and easy to use. Give it a shot!
Awesome! I looked into it briefly but I'll have to give it a proper try for a one shot!
Above VTT is fantastic. I prefer it so much over Foundry and after playing on Above, there is ZERO chance I will ever play on Roll20 again.
@@powerwordspill What replaces SNAP cam for Windows the pulled it in January... we had made a batch of face skins now only useful on phone
Discord has now the YT watch together activity, so after music bots were killed mostly this is a good solution to get everyone on the same page with yt music
This a great video Kelly! Thank you! I’m also a big fan of 2 Minute Tabletop.
I started using owlbear rodeo in combination with discord, and D&D beyond for seeing character sheets, and rolling for simplicity. Music has always been a struggle though, so this was insanely helpful!!
My group has been experimenting with KenkuFM recently. Last session, logging into Spotify on their browser and playing it through there for us to hear on Discord worked pretty well. Separate setup for a discord bot but it was really simple with no messing with bot commands, thank the gods.
I'll check it out!
Great stuff. We have a tough time because we have three of us locally, and three online. It's awkward and we can't find a good solution for nice audio, but we make it work anyway.
Nice video and recommendations!
My group has been using Shard Tabletop. It has a lot of nice features to both DM and players, merging sheets, maps, initiative and monster/pcs stats and DM notes. It improved our remote sessions a lot!
The one thing we didn't get right so far is the music, since some players play in the same room/setup, we will certainly try your tips for it, thanks! Also the battlesim is a must try.
My first ever dnd game (i'll be dm for the first time.) will be online and omg I needed a video like this T v T. THANK YOU
Awesome, hope you have fun!!
The Spotify tip is something I had no idea about. That is going to be super useful as all my in game music I use is right on Spotify. We are usually in person when we can but that always doesn't work out and I've been trying to figure out how to use some specific songs for specific scenes I have planned next session. This set up will be very easy.
This is an amazing amount of resources. Thanks!
If you buy an elgoto mic or the stream deck plus they come with wavelink. And steelseries has gg, which can also do audio mixing
My setup is a CAD e100s mic with an SSL2 interface for more serious meetups. but for casual stuff I am running a Komplete Audio 6 with a MkII mic from Focusrite. All this is hella overkill but i use it for work so its a win win haha. thinking of getting a webcam, tho i didnt know about the android app to use it as camera, thats super cool!!
4:40 i suppose you know that already,but foundry has a all in one package of battle maps,initiative tracker and monster statblocks
love the videos keep them up
Congrats on the sponsorship, Kelly!
Thanks Dennis!
Camo also is on windows. Also, you can remove the watermark. Its under Overlay and Watermark. At least it is on windows, but I imagine there is parity between mac and windows versions.
What do you do for lighting when you need to wear reading or regular glasses?
+1000 on using automation; DM usually has to run a number of monsters similar to the number of players, so he/she has to be 4 to 6 times faster than the players
My biggest complaint about playing online is that, as the DM, my prep time has increased greatly!
First I noodle out my dungeon / encounter on paper until I have it sorted the way I want it. Then I have to create the maps in my software of choice (Dungeon Draft, in my case). Then the maps have to be imported into my VTT, the dynamic lighting sorted out, plus populate the monsters & NPCs.
So it's like I'm doing the same thing three times in order to make it playable online :-/
Due to a broken laptop I just started using my old tablet to join the discord video call - so I'm directly streaming the drawn paper map with minis (I wish, actually Lego pieces)
This way I can still use my own maps or in a pinch my white board :)
That's a great idea!
Yeah it has definitely added to my prep time. I try and mitigate this by only doing maps for big important encounters, and for smaller stuff we just do theater of the mind. That makes the big encounters feel a bit more special. But I definitely know what you mean, it adds a significant amount to prep for sure!
There is always the WotC Plan A(i).
Find an AI image generator and give it a drawing/description and have it make the map. You might even be able to find an AI to code the info into something compatible with whatever VTT and peripherals you are using.
Personally I hate online play. I want to play at a table if I wanted to do everything on computer I would be playing BG3 or similar not tabletop D&D.
@@nickm9102I hear ya. When I'm doing all the prep for an online game I'm wondering why I'm not just playing WoW instead >.
Far too few likes for such a great video. thanks.
Video section for Owlbear Rodeo... Is titled "Alabama Rodeo"...
Dang it, auto chapters 😆
@@powerwordspill I mean, at least it was a funny oopsie? XD
How did you do the audio for this video? I'd like to do some videos where I am sitting back from the camera just like you did here.
I've got a Rode NTG-2 boomed out over my head on a mic stand and it records to a Zoom H5. But you just need to get the mic as close to your mouth as possible. I use the Adobe ai audio enhancer and that in combination with an effects chain in resolve with pretty standard stuff like compression and EQ. Hope that helps!
My groups use Watch2gether as a simultanious music playing.
That's a great idea!
Have you tried the free 5e combat tracker and random encounter generator Kobold Helper? Give it a look.
I'll take a look!
I tried using the D&D Beyond Campaign DM screen, but for me, the profiles would not load up, no matter what I tried or which browser I used.
My players also tried it and had the same result, the character profile codes are listed to the right, but do not seem to actually load properly.
Why would I want to SEE my players? Or worse, let them see me? I’d have start wearing pants.
Abovevtt
Owlbear bad
Did this guy just recommend that you spend $30 on a USB condenser mic that sounds worse than the mic in his computer, only to then recommend that you spend $50 on a light instead of like $13?
Wot
Music - Watch2Gether