SFR, Inc.

[RadRyan]

It seems like Skype could be a great tool for two player games. Just putting it out there. If anyone wants to try it out with a novice player like myself then pm me or maybe this forum could just discuss if and how a game played on Skype would work.
Wait lemme see if I can get this poll thing to work...

It would overcome the pesky physical presence requirement, but I imagine having to constantly tilt my laptop screen. Maybe some keyboard covering apparatus with a mirror to provide multiple views. I'm actually not to familiar with Skype but it does have a group call feature.
Just an idea...

[chuckpint]

If you are talking video Skype, then it would work much better with a separate webcam (preferably on a tripod). Not sure how the group call thing works with a video call, I've used it for one-on-one meetings and that's pretty good.
_________________
You can never have too many dice.
First Place at the first ever Daemon Dice sealed starter tournament.
Battlefest tied for first GenCon 2012
Single Race Champion GenCon 2008-2009, Sealed Box Champion GenCon 2007,2009,
My collection is 21,500 Dragon Dice, 20,000 Daemon Dice, and others (too many to count).

[Dolus]

Well, Ryan and I got our first Skype game in, and I loved it! I hadn't played against another experienced player since I went to PAX last year. It was a little challenging getting the lighting right, and there's still room for improvement, but overall it worked out well what we setup. It was a close matchup too. I went for an amazon army build, only to realize/remember that my amazon collection is really small, so half of my army was composed of monsters of other races.

[bluewizard]

Very nice this seems very interesting. How did you get the camera and such to work? I guess all my devices have the camera integrated so it would be hard to points the desk/table. You use separate cameras?

Thanks
Ryan

[Dolus]

I ended up using a USB webcam and rested in on a tripod. I didn't have a way to mount it, so I just had it somewhat awkwardly resting on top at the appropriate height and angle.

I'll have to play with it some more, but it might actually be easier to use the integrated webcam and use an external monitor for my own display. Though, there are several videos apparently for making mounts for phones (and other small devices) for $1. So there are definitely options.

One issue to continue working on is appropriate lighting. Too much and you get glare, too little and it's too dark.

[RadRyan]

It worked well enough for a 24 point game and we plan on testing a 36 point game next. All I had was my laptop camera and I left it pointed at the table. Dolus will have to confirm but the diagonal angle showed enough dice in the playing area. The drawback was that I had to lean way over the table in order to see the screen dice it was facing downward. I couldn't tell if the screen was to dark on Dolus's end, but I could have made it brighter.
Leaning to look at a slanted screen was rough so I'll try to pick up a cam. Dolus's cam was pointed a a more downward angle but I could see all his dice. The laptop cam was adequate though awkward. Great game tho. The lava elf undead combo is probably one of my best setups but we'll see what else I can come up with. PM me if anybody wants to set up another.

[Dolus]

The angle you had was excellent. The lighting for the three armies was good, but anything outside of that was too dark too see. The size was small, so some things escaped the range of the webcam, but overall it was adequate.

[Dolus]

Another successful Skype game! This is really awesome. We can get multiple games finished in a night, roll our own dice, and play instantaneously. I like playing on the forums, but now I really feel like I'm using my dice!

The best part is, in the past when I've used my dice, it's almost always been the basic 4 races and demo armies at that. Now, I'm getting to realize how awesome my dice are play around with the races I'm not so familiar with.

[RadRyan]

Another great evening of dragon dice on Skype! Seriously PM Dolus or I to set up a game on Skype.

[Dolus]

I've cross-posted this on BoardGameGeek and already have bites for 2 more games! My schedule is filling up quickly. I also tentatively have plans to meet in person with a local once-player wanting to relearn the game. We've been trying to get together for a few weeks now, so hopefully I meet another local!

[RadRyan]

Cool! Great work Dolus! I'm not on board game geek so if it works out with the new "bites" can you give them my Skype info and have them add me?

[Dolus]