Comments on: 12 Ways to Use Google Apps at the Game Table http://www.gnomestew.com/tools-for-gms/12-ways-to-use-google-apps-at-the-game-table The Game Mastering Blog Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:25:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ding! The Stew is Ready. Hope You Like Gnomes. : Critical Hits http://www.gnomestew.com/tools-for-gms/12-ways-to-use-google-apps-at-the-game-table/comment-page-1#comment-8695 Ding! The Stew is Ready. Hope You Like Gnomes. : Critical Hits Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:53:41 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=47#comment-8695 [...] Adam Nave [...]<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('8695','Ding! The Stew is Ready. Hope You Like Gnomes. : Critical Hits'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> [...] Adam Nave [...]
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]]> By: Nojo http://www.gnomestew.com/tools-for-gms/12-ways-to-use-google-apps-at-the-game-table/comment-page-1#comment-5426 Nojo Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:43:47 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=47#comment-5426 <a href='#comment-113' rel="nofollow">@Kurt "Telas" Schneider</a> - I tried Google Groups, and was surprised at how poor a groups tool Google has. There is no integrated calendar, no integrated links, no integrated table support. Yahoo and MSN groups have all the above, and are older. I don't know why Google even bothered.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('5426','Nojo'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> @Kurt “Telas” Schneider – I tried Google Groups, and was surprised at how poor a groups tool Google has. There is no integrated calendar, no integrated links, no integrated table support.
Yahoo and MSN groups have all the above, and are older. I don’t know why Google even bothered.
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]]> By: zacharythefirst http://www.gnomestew.com/tools-for-gms/12-ways-to-use-google-apps-at-the-game-table/comment-page-1#comment-117 zacharythefirst Tue, 13 May 2008 11:54:47 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=47#comment-117 We use Google Calendar for our group, like Phil, thought recently things have been pretty word-of-mouth. But its good so folks can look ahead. I haven't used Google Groups, but I'm pretty sure I'll have to try it for my next campaign. I'm between computers a lot, so Google Docs is a great place to sort of formalize and sync my notes between our desktop and laptop. The other day, I was running upstairs and downstairs with the kids, while having a ton of brainstorms for our campaign. Well, I had Google Docs up on both computers, so I'd type in a blurb on the laptop, run downstairs to get a bottle, type another on the same doc on my desktop... We gaming parents have to be cagey, you know. :)<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('117','zacharythefirst'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> We use Google Calendar for our group, like Phil, thought recently things have been pretty word-of-mouth. But its good so folks can look ahead.

I haven’t used Google Groups, but I’m pretty sure I’ll have to try it for my next campaign.

I’m between computers a lot, so Google Docs is a great place to sort of formalize and sync my notes between our desktop and laptop. The other day, I was running upstairs and downstairs with the kids, while having a ton of brainstorms for our campaign. Well, I had Google Docs up on both computers, so I’d type in a blurb on the laptop, run downstairs to get a bottle, type another on the same doc on my desktop…

We gaming parents have to be cagey, you know. :)

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]]> By: Kurt "Telas" Schneider http://www.gnomestew.com/tools-for-gms/12-ways-to-use-google-apps-at-the-game-table/comment-page-1#comment-113 Kurt "Telas" Schneider Tue, 13 May 2008 04:33:08 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=47#comment-113 Google Groups is GREAT. Discussions are identical to email, and are archived. (That may not make sense, but you can start or reply to a discussion via the site or via email.) Pages are simply published documents, almost like a blog. Check out this one for an example: <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/savagehawk" rel="nofollow">SavageHawk</a>. (Yeah, it's mine, but it's posted as an example.)<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('113','Kurt \"Telas\" Schneider'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Google Groups is GREAT. Discussions are identical to email, and are archived. (That may not make sense, but you can start or reply to a discussion via the site or via email.)

Pages are simply published documents, almost like a blog.

Check out this one for an example: SavageHawk. (Yeah, it’s mine, but it’s posted as an example.)

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]]> By: Adam Nave http://www.gnomestew.com/tools-for-gms/12-ways-to-use-google-apps-at-the-game-table/comment-page-1#comment-81 Adam Nave Mon, 12 May 2008 18:05:43 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=47#comment-81 @Argokirby: They might be intimidated by Gmail, which does have a bit of a learning curve since it is so different from traditional email clients, but I think the rest of the Google apps are very intuitive. Your best bet might be to arrange a little demo and show them how easy it actually is, how you'd like to use it, and what they'd gain from it. Tossing in some bonus XP for those who are willing to start using it wouldn't hurt either.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('81','Adam Nave'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> @Argokirby: They might be intimidated by Gmail, which does have a bit of a learning curve since it is so different from traditional email clients, but I think the rest of the Google apps are very intuitive. Your best bet might be to arrange a little demo and show them how easy it actually is, how you’d like to use it, and what they’d gain from it. Tossing in some bonus XP for those who are willing to start using it wouldn’t hurt either.
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]]> By: argokirby http://www.gnomestew.com/tools-for-gms/12-ways-to-use-google-apps-at-the-game-table/comment-page-1#comment-70 argokirby Mon, 12 May 2008 16:30:43 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=47#comment-70 I'm so in love with Google its kinda scary! My group though (even though they are all techy 20 somethings) refuse to take the effort to learn to use any of the Google apps. Aside from telling them all that their not good enough nerds/geeks and kicking them out, do you have any recommendations on how to get them on the Google band wagon??!!!?<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('70','argokirby'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> I’m so in love with Google its kinda scary! My group though (even though they are all techy 20 somethings) refuse to take the effort to learn to use any of the Google apps. Aside from telling them all that their not good enough nerds/geeks and kicking them out, do you have any recommendations on how to get them on the Google band wagon??!!!?
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]]> By: kodemage http://www.gnomestew.com/tools-for-gms/12-ways-to-use-google-apps-at-the-game-table/comment-page-1#comment-61 kodemage Mon, 12 May 2008 15:47:51 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=47#comment-61 My group uses many of these ideas already. Not everyone gets on the technological bandwagon but most of us do. We've got shared Character Sheets in Google Docs as well as a party overview list with basic descriptions to help new players get caught up. We've spreadsheet with our group loot divided by container so we don't go over out carrying limit. We use Google chat extensively to communicate about lots of different things but often the game(s). Personally I use Google docs for all my GMing needs and I maintain documents for most of my characters. I also play in the Living Arcanis campaign and I use a Google spreadsheet to keep track of which Modules I have played. Regards, -Benjamin<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('61','kodemage'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> My group uses many of these ideas already. Not everyone gets on the technological bandwagon but most of us do. We’ve got shared Character Sheets in Google Docs as well as a party overview list with basic descriptions to help new players get caught up. We’ve spreadsheet with our group loot divided by container so we don’t go over out carrying limit. We use Google chat extensively to communicate about lots of different things but often the game(s).

Personally I use Google docs for all my GMing needs and I maintain documents for most of my characters.

I also play in the Living Arcanis campaign and I use a Google spreadsheet to keep track of which Modules I have played.

Regards,
-Benjamin

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]]> By: Martin Ralya http://www.gnomestew.com/tools-for-gms/12-ways-to-use-google-apps-at-the-game-table/comment-page-1#comment-55 Martin Ralya Mon, 12 May 2008 15:27:19 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=47#comment-55 My group hearts Google tools in a big way. The Mage chronicle I'm running uses docs, maps and of course the mailing list function. Our chronicle map looks like what you'd expect: different pins and symbols for all the locations featured in the campaign. It's helpful for getting an idea of the big picture, and it helps ground us in the setting (Las Vegas). We get a ton of mileage out of Docs, too. I wrote up a glossary of every NPC, group, place and other important element of the game, and made it editable so my players could take notes on the stuff they cared about. I also post copies of longer handouts, and one of my players has written spellbooks and shared both the spells and the templates used to create them over Docs. Good stuff. Great post, Adam. It's easy to overlook how useful Google's stuff can be to your game without a little prodding.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('55','Martin Ralya'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> My group hearts Google tools in a big way. The Mage chronicle I’m running uses docs, maps and of course the mailing list function.

Our chronicle map looks like what you’d expect: different pins and symbols for all the locations featured in the campaign. It’s helpful for getting an idea of the big picture, and it helps ground us in the setting (Las Vegas).

We get a ton of mileage out of Docs, too. I wrote up a glossary of every NPC, group, place and other important element of the game, and made it editable so my players could take notes on the stuff they cared about.

I also post copies of longer handouts, and one of my players has written spellbooks and shared both the spells and the templates used to create them over Docs. Good stuff.

Great post, Adam. It’s easy to overlook how useful Google’s stuff can be to your game without a little prodding.

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]]> By: Ishmayl http://www.gnomestew.com/tools-for-gms/12-ways-to-use-google-apps-at-the-game-table/comment-page-1#comment-51 Ishmayl Mon, 12 May 2008 15:18:39 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=47#comment-51 GoogleChat is used extremely regularly with my group. Also, one thing I've done is used the spreadsheet to create an ingame calendar, since my calendar doesn't match the "real world." Worth pointing that out, it's been very useful to me. -Ish<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('51','Ishmayl'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> GoogleChat is used extremely regularly with my group. Also, one thing I’ve done is used the spreadsheet to create an ingame calendar, since my calendar doesn’t match the “real world.” Worth pointing that out, it’s been very useful to me.
-Ish
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]]> By: DNAphil http://www.gnomestew.com/tools-for-gms/12-ways-to-use-google-apps-at-the-game-table/comment-page-1#comment-34 DNAphil Mon, 12 May 2008 14:07:35 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=47#comment-34 My gaming group uses Calendar to coordinate our gaming schedule, as we have 3 GM's running games in a 3 week rotation. So we do all our scheduling of games on GCalendar, as many of us use it for their own daily uses. It works out great for me, as my Wife can see my gaming schedule in advance and know what days I am playing. As for Google Docs, last year we were playing an Eberron game, where the party had their own Adventuring/Investigation firm, and I used a shared spreadsheet to keep the books. For fun, at the end of the year, I produced an End of Year report, complete with graphs showing where we made our most money, how many jobs we had done, etc. It was terribly geeky, but totally worth it.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('34','DNAphil'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> My gaming group uses Calendar to coordinate our gaming schedule, as we have 3 GM’s running games in a 3 week rotation. So we do all our scheduling of games on GCalendar, as many of us use it for their own daily uses. It works out great for me, as my Wife can see my gaming schedule in advance and know what days I am playing.

As for Google Docs, last year we were playing an Eberron game, where the party had their own Adventuring/Investigation firm, and I used a shared spreadsheet to keep the books.

For fun, at the end of the year, I produced an End of Year report, complete with graphs showing where we made our most money, how many jobs we had done, etc. It was terribly geeky, but totally worth it.

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]]> By: Adam Nave http://www.gnomestew.com/tools-for-gms/12-ways-to-use-google-apps-at-the-game-table/comment-page-1#comment-31 Adam Nave Mon, 12 May 2008 13:49:14 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=47#comment-31 @Amaril: Thanks, there's some great info in that post.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('31','Adam Nave'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> @Amaril: Thanks, there’s some great info in that post.
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]]> By: Micah http://www.gnomestew.com/tools-for-gms/12-ways-to-use-google-apps-at-the-game-table/comment-page-1#comment-30 Micah Mon, 12 May 2008 13:48:19 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=47#comment-30 Check out http://www.obsidianportal.com It was built specifically for managing RPG campaigns. I've tried lots of different tools (blogs, wikis, google apps, you-name-it) and found them all somewhat lacking. So, I went ahead and built my own app from the ground up. It's still a little rough around the edges, but we're constantly improving it with feedback from the community. Plus, posting your campaign on Obsidian Portal allows you to show it off to the world.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('30','Micah'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Check out http://www.obsidianportal.com It was built specifically for managing RPG campaigns. I’ve tried lots of different tools (blogs, wikis, google apps, you-name-it) and found them all somewhat lacking. So, I went ahead and built my own app from the ground up. It’s still a little rough around the edges, but we’re constantly improving it with feedback from the community.

Plus, posting your campaign on Obsidian Portal allows you to show it off to the world.

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]]> By: Amaril http://www.gnomestew.com/tools-for-gms/12-ways-to-use-google-apps-at-the-game-table/comment-page-1#comment-28 Amaril Mon, 12 May 2008 13:38:02 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=47#comment-28 TreasureTables (Martin) featured a blogpost I had written about using various Google tools to enhance RPG games. You can find the original article at http://immaterialplane.blogspot.com/2007/05/enhancing-your-rpg-games-with-google.html.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('28','Amaril'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> TreasureTables (Martin) featured a blogpost I had written about using various Google tools to enhance RPG games.

You can find the original article at http://immaterialplane.blogspot.com/2007/05/enhancing-your-rpg-games-with-google.html.

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]]> By: » Ding, The Stew is Ready, Hope You Like Gnomes. http://www.gnomestew.com/tools-for-gms/12-ways-to-use-google-apps-at-the-game-table/comment-page-1#comment-21 » Ding, The Stew is Ready, Hope You Like Gnomes. Mon, 12 May 2008 12:14:19 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=47#comment-21 [...] Adam Nave [...]<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('21','» Ding, The Stew is Ready, Hope You Like Gnomes.'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> [...] Adam Nave [...]
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