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RPG players of Dakka -

I recently had an idea an online Table Top RPG simulator forum for those who cannot find an IRL game to get their acting fix with. My skype group has given me a lot of good ideas so far, as well as a few of my own - but I'd like to run the idea past those who are running a Online RPG group and see what they think of it, as you would be my target users.

The idea behind it would be similar to playing an RPG over skype or any form of IM (in fact, the idea came from the need to scale up my own Skype RPG group), only it would be organised around a forum with hosting for character sheets provided by the forum and linked to accounts so it would be easier to organise. The site would be quite structured, to try and prevent unreliable players with threads for both GM's looking for players and players looking for GMs for many major rulesets. Play would then commence via chatbox linked to the game thread or within the forum itself (if not all involved are online) via posting. The entire site would be centered around TTRPGs, so the website would be heavily geared towards playability and accessability, with (hopefully) support for maps, handouts, or anything the GM needs within easy reach. (yay buzzwords!) I envisage an isometric 'generic tabletop' interface linked with games as well, similar to how one would use a tabletop if one were playing in an IRL rpg. It wouldn't be a 'simulator' as such, just a visualiser for moving models.

I understand that there are sites similar to this idea out there, but they seem very clunky and geared more towards the 'freeform RPG' side of things rather than an attempt at giving people a way to play a Tabletop RPG over the internet. There are also many good programs out there for simulating a tabletop RPG, but you need to know the people you are attempting to play with before you use it, as they rely on users being able to organise the game in advance and knowing each others IP addresses. All the best ones cost money as well, whereas the forum would be free.

Any ideas for the site would be extremely welcome, as would any questions about the idea. This thread is mainly to ascertain whether people think this would work as a website though - I'm not currently looking for help with development.

Have you looked into Maptools at RPGtools.net? It does very similar to what you are getting at, if I'm interpreting you correctly. Though, I like your idea as a place to gather players and GMs, since as you said, you need to know players before you can play over Maptools.

I find that usually between a combination of skype and maptools I usually have everything I need to play a game online. Of course, I have limited experience using the program with others, though I would be willing to try it out sometime. Of course, being in Alaska USA, my time zone is probably the exact opposite of yours, so there ya go.

Very interesting fox, thanks for posting that

well must say that is a very good idea......this can be done and i have been thinking bout something like that.....wasn't even close to devising it though....thanks for the share .....