Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So for the last 2-3 years, I've been somewhat forced to DM games using non-personal methods, Zoom, Googlemeets, Hangouts, Dischord, etc. Recently a friend put me onto Forge, which while amazing in it's functionality, feels like I need a 2 year degree to get a game even started, let alone make the video chat functional.

So mostly I do Zoom, or Hangouts, whichever is easier for folks. But it got me thinking, what sort of things can I add to games that enhance the theater of the mind? I started using ambiant background music/noises in the chat and people loved it. Like the background chatter of a Bar when they are in the Tavern, or the howling of wolves when they are on the trail at night. Even the dripping of water or "cave sounds" when they are exploring the crypt.

What sort of "enhancers" do other DM's do to add extra spice/flavor to a drab zoom dnd session?

Looking for simple ideas, as I'm not flush with cash, or technical skill on VTTs.

In digital meeting platforms, you can often upload a background from a digital image off you drive.

Now, download a portrait of an NPC and then cover your camera. All they will see is the background portrait while they are talking with the NPC instead of you. This helps feel like they are talking to the NPC. Then, if you need to go OOC, you just uncover your camera again. Many laptops have a built in "flap" for covering and uncovering your camera now-a-days.

You can also do this for settings and what not as well.

 Easy E wrote:
In digital meeting platforms, you can often upload a background from a digital image off you drive.

Now, download a portrait of an NPC and then cover your camera. All they will see is the background portrait while they are talking with the NPC instead of you. This helps feel like they are talking to the NPC. Then, if you need to go OOC, you just uncover your camera again. Many laptops have a built in "flap" for covering and uncovering your camera now-a-days.

You can also do this for settings and what not as well.

Wait, how do you make your camera image a static shot? That's brilliant!

I am not sure I understand the question?

You load the portrait as a backdrop. Often it is under background effects, but each system is different.

Do you use a camera built into a laptop, or an external camera.

So I literally only tried it on zoom so far, and Zoom takes roughly 10-20 seconds to switch so that everyone can see. Maybe my connection stinks, but even 5 seconds feels immersion breaking. How do I rapidly switch between characters talking, lol. I actually tried printing out NPC face cards on a stick, and holding them infront of the camera, which seemed silly but the gang loved it.

Sticks is a good idea for a low budget way! Very clever. Sometimes, we lean too heavily into tech gimmicks.

Rapidly switching between characters? I never really did that via Zoom. I typically did it one at a time, or only had a profile picture for "key NPCs" like quest givers.

It is kinda interesting that when I GM in person, I don't bother with pictures of NPCs at all. Online, I do.

I recently began watching videos of people running a sort of online zoom RPG, and the DM basically said, in a room with more than 3 people talking, you get one NPC voice, and the rest are just the DM talking, or the actual players. Never DM yourself into a situation where more than 2 people are in a conversation. 1 player, or even one "group of players" and 1 NPC. Done and dusted.

Makes a good point. I can't recall ever having the party interact with more than 5 people in a single session.

1. Quest giver, npc with a problem and money
2. Rando NPC shop keeper who sells stuff
3. Rando villian mob that speaks for the other rando mobs (chieftain of the raider tribe)
4. BBEG or Lackey there of
5. rando NPC that shepherds group back to proper destination when they get off in the weeds on a snipe hunt.

I don't really ever need a lot of faces or voices, it just adds spice to what I worry is seemingly boring.

That raises my next fallacy - the more effort I put into a campaign, the more interesting it is.