Topic: REAL-ish Table Top RPG?

I think I got it....Switch Table Top RPG !!!
imagine this, a cartridge that has complete set of books (like D&D or Vampire: TM), a calculator/dice system, mapping, graphics with a live chat system !!!

it could have an rpg maker thing like on the original PSX to show what's happening, ect. I think it would be pretty easy and there would be a huge demand for it

Nintendo allowing Indie game makers to make games easier and for a few extra bucks, put on cart also, I think it would rock

Nintendo would be happy too because they would run the chat servers for the games on their new service, BIG MONEY for the "Big N" & expanded use of the Switch.

any ideas ???

after I came up with that idea, it dawned on me that "Nindie" makers could make dang near anything, not just Atari, NES, or even SNES looking games, I'm not saying the apps and games have to look fantastic, but they don't have to make JUST games either

I know a huge number of table top rpg'ers who also v-game but can't always get together with friends for a session due to mitigating circumstances, and they would love this, I'm not sure what "Fantasy Grounds" is, but if it's like the table top groups that video chat play on their laptops, that is the point of this, a more compact and portable system, laptops, not so much

now, I looked up Fantasy Grounds and, yes, right idea, but if they could make it so it could work through the Switch......

Something along the lines of Fantasy Grounds on Switch would be great. Thought about that when they announced the table top games package thing at the Direct.

Or D20 Pro, which I use.

it's effectively all the same, but in a nice, little Ninten-package

I was basically hoping there was some of those Nindie makers out there were also table top RPG'ers and would love to give it a try, if I knew C++ or a few others, I might try to give it a go myself, but Damn It Jim, I'm A Theoretical Physicist, NOT A Computer Programmer !!!

@jhewitt3476 a little janky but Roll20 works just fine

@diwdiws I'm not downing other sites/systems, I've done "Roll20" before, but I was looking for a more portable alternative to laptops, for those who don't have access to laptop/towers, or for the minimalists in the world, I also see it as you can not only meetup with other players on a server, but could play simultaneously with a couple others in person or even just as a local group in the same house have all their books, maps, character sheets, ect. all at a finger's poke, and linked up to the GM, (sorry guys, no more cheat rolls ) it would be the best of both worlds

The problem would be adding maps, especially if you're running a published adventure. In my experience, it's also rather fiddly getting combat semi-automated. It's great once you get things set up, but until then...

@FaeKnight I'm sure it would take work, but I do believe the Switch has the ability to handle it, try not to think of it as a game as much as a shared and linked database, (stored on system, not cloud, but cloud optional) a live chat and die app, linked either local and/or on the Nintendo service, like Mario Kart, but without hogging system's resources, so ya, I think it could be easier than it seems

So you want D&D Beyond on Switch.

@Tasuki No, not limited to one system, maybe AD&D 2nd ed. on Saturday, then Sunday, meetup for Vampire: The Masquerade, Call of Cthulhu Wednesday, ect, you download, which books and other stuff you need, any, not just one

but yes, D&D B would be avail. also

@Tasuki I've never played D&D B, how is the Psionics system ???

@jhewitt3476 i think its doable, what i think would be the problem is on the DMs side. I mean portability isn’t really a DMs friend

@jhewitt3476 i may just be out of the loop, but the D&D beyond i know of is a sort of online compendium and where you can buy digital published adventures. Its basically a one stop shop of D&d

@diwdiws the "designated GM" pencil and paper would not be forbidden, but you could run multiple apps like, word, maps, ect. same time instead of having to switch between, like tabs or windows, it's not a perfect idea, but I think it would be a success for many reasons, not just the "Nifty Factor"

@diwdiws I know nothing about Beyond, I was just trying to say all your books, sheets and stuff would be stored on the system memory or card, the cart would run the apps, ect you could add books from a "Books-A-Nintendillion"

@jhewitt3476 Um D&D Beyond is not a game system it's an app available on the play store and Apple Store that has what you want. You can download all the 5th books, have a digital copy of your character sheet and more on a Tablet or Smartphone.

And that is where I see the problems lying. The user would have no way to add maps/handouts/whatever from outside sources. When I run a published adventure for Pathfinder using D20 pro I use the pdf of the adventure to import the maps needed into D20 pro. I also import the character art for the specific npcs I'll need to make tokens for.

That is, of course only the first step. I then need to go through and add the lighting/fog of war effects, block out where the actual walls are (and other things that will block light casting), add in the enemies, traps, and any treasure chests, play-test to ensure the enemies are working the way they're suppose to (ie using the correct hit bonuses and damage modifiers), and other things. Finally I import any handouts such as crude maps the players can find, letters they can acquire, and the like.

The only way I could see such a program working on the Switch is if every single published adventure for any game system it includes is available as paid dlc that includes all the maps, handouts, and npc tokens required for that adventure. And that would likely be a mistake.