Spectator Mode

Im not sure, but i think this would be relatively easy to set up A spectator mode, with a list of active games.. (so that members can join and watch a game in play.. (but cannot say or do anything). I was invited to watch a game for a day, ready to join the following day, and just thoguht this a useful idea.. Owners can choose if their games are public for spectating.. Just a thought Cheers keith

This is precisely the sort of thing I was going to suggest myself. I've run a few games where it would be lovely to give people the ability to watch (as a lurker/spectator) but to not confuse everyone with who is a player and who is not . Right now, in my latest campaign, I have twice as many people interested in watching the game as I do actual players. >_> And right now all I can do is invite them all and watch my "Player List" expand helplessly. Then their names clutter the map (which is probably fixable in some way, but it's a moot point) and it's just a bother. You have my first ever upvote, sir. Thank you for speaking my mind.

I would also like this. Hopefully it wouldn't begin to create a bunch of lag or strain on a game, or lag or strain on Roll20 in general, I could see that being a stumbling block. It would have to be an option to either opt in or out of per each campaign so those who prefer not to game with viewers can do so, but yes. +1

This is a great suggestion. It'd be awesome to leave my games open to spectators AND spectate others' games. I don't think it'd be viable to allow unlimited spectators per game, but maybe a few slots would be great. And there are multiple paths to monetize this feature in a clever way, for instance, each game could have a few free spectator slots and be granted more slots to premium accounts OR the person wanting to spectate could buy a "spectator seat" in a particular game/session.

Aymar P. said: And there are multiple paths to monetize this feature in a clever way, for instance, each game could have a few free spectator slots and be granted more slots to premium accounts OR the person wanting to spectate could buy a "spectator seat" in a particular game/session. Talking to the pocketbook. ;D Great idea. Everyone loves to make themselves some monies.

Just wanted to add to this; When I am looking for games I tend to have people that are cool just to join and spectate how the feel of the game is. This would be a great mode to have especially when there are newcomers who are not used with Roll20's systems overall.

I think the biggest issue with spectating is how they interact with the players.  Not to be mean to people who wish to lurk and watch.  Just bringing up a potential game balance issue with spectate.  And removing all those freedoms suddenly devalues the person spectating. To allow a spectator in, not have a full icon, not have a full item on the player roster, have limited chat (private channel?), would really take a lot of work on the infrastructure side of roll20. With all that said, I would love it if there was a spectate mode.  Even if the watcher could ruin the game.  Since the whole idea is about trust and communication.

Seikojin said: I think the biggest issue with spectating is how they interact with the players.  Not to be mean to people who wish to lurk and watch.  Just bringing up a potential game balance issue with spectate.  And removing all those freedoms suddenly devalues the person spectating. To allow a spectator in, not have a full icon, not have a full item on the player roster, have limited chat (private channel?), would really take a lot of work on the infrastructure side of roll20. With all that said, I would love it if there was a spectate mode.  Even if the watcher could ruin the game.  Since the whole idea is about trust and communication. I think, at least at first, spectators should only be able to watch games with no means to interact with the people playing the game. For me the spectators shouldn't be able to interfere with the game (be it via chat or otherwise).  And I strongly agree with the last part of your post, playing RPG is indeed about trust and communication, it makes no sense to cheat at it or peek what the GM has in mind for the next sessions and stuff, it just ruins the game and gives no reward to the cheater.

In my games we have spectators fairly frequently. Some one time, some recurring. I would love to have a spectator mode which allows spectators by invite only . Maybe with an option to be open to everyone, but invite only would be a must have for me. I want possible spectators to contact me before they join the game. They should be able to see everything the players can see (maybe with an option to see everything the gm can see) but they should not be able to move or edit anything. At the moment this can't be achieved afaik.

The GM would need to have control of what the spectators could/not do/see/hear

I was going to suggest something like a spectator mode too. I have a few folks who have asked to be able to watch my campaign.

I'd love this option! We have friends who don't have time to play but would sometimes (back in the day) come over and kibitz our face to face games. This may even entice those friends to suddenly "find" time to join in. :) I'd probably like to give them the "GM's View" but be able to block visibility to the GM layer, and be able to limit access to the chat. (No access, Full access, and Whisper to GM Only) A colored background could be used to differentiate "guest chat" from the normal "in game" chat.

Id love this too since I could see as a GM what other tables do or don't do and change things in my game.