What's the easy/best way of communicating on R20?

Hi  I'm new to R20 and was wondering what most groups use to communicate to each other whilst playing?(such as Skype) and what equipment I would need (web cam/headset). I hope this question makes sense.

Skype is a pretty popular choice. &nbsp;Roll20 also has some built in Video/Voice chat capability as well as the ability to launch it in google hangouts (my personal preference). &nbsp;Roll20 also has it's own chat tab build into the sidebar for text-based games or even just in-game chatting. &nbsp; To use video, obviously you'd need a webcam and for voice, at least a microphone. &nbsp;Each option is going to have it's own requirements, but most modern equipment seems to work pretty well with all of the different types. &nbsp;Even a cheap webcam these days works pretty well and should get you going. &nbsp;Many folks prefer to use a headset with a microphone, but it's not required. &nbsp;The sticking point honestly seems to be the computer hardware rather than the video/voice peripherals. &nbsp;An ancient/outdated computer or bad internet connection is more likely to cause problems. &nbsp;That said, for basic roll20 operations, I don't think you need anything particularly fancy or super powerful. &nbsp; As for what's best, that really depends on your preference. &nbsp;My group uses google hangouts since we've found that easiest to set up, smoothest operation, and we all have google accounts. &nbsp;Some groups feel Skype is more reliable, while others prefer to use the built in "TokBox" software. &nbsp;There's no harm in trying all three and figuring out what is going to suit your needs best. You might find these wiki pages helpful. Video and voice chat:&nbsp; <a href="https://wiki.roll20.net/Video_and_Voice_Chat" rel="nofollow">https://wiki.roll20.net/Video_and_Voice_Chat</a> Playing in google hangouts:&nbsp; <a href="https://wiki.roll20.net/Playing_in_Google%2B_Hangouts" rel="nofollow">https://wiki.roll20.net/Playing_in_Google%2B_Hangouts</a> Also, welcome to the community! :)

Cool cheers for the reply

Ollie F. said: Cool cheers for the reply You're welcome. &nbsp;Feel free to ask any questions you like here. &nbsp;I've found the forums to be a very friendly and welcoming place. :) I'm sure other people can chime in with specific hardware they use if you need. &nbsp;I have a Logitech C510 webcam I picked up when it was on sale a few years back. &nbsp; Seems to work a treat for me, but I'm pretty sure any basic webcam will work just fine.

I'm a big fan of the pure chat based games. But recently I stumbled across something that was a bit of a mix and I think it worked rather well. If the GM broadcasts video and everyone else uses text then the DM can get the colorful descriptions out there and the players can respond. There is very little lag and overlap this way. I admit tho, I'm a bit of a ham, so the fact that the only camera is pointed at me may be playing a huge part in how I feel about this way of gaming. My spotlight! All the same, I had very little prepared for the game and was able to keep a pretty consistent flow going because I could just speak what I was thinking. Happy hunting!

We use a rented Mumble server for our games. &nbsp;It allows me to create private rooms quickly and easily when the need arises and I also have a few more controls over who can get into the server and we have a backup in case Roll20 goes off line mid-session. &nbsp;I know other groups here use a TeamSpeak or Ventrilo server similarly. It does seem that there is always one person who can't or has trouble with one of the options. &nbsp;Someone doesn't like Google, someone doesn't like TokBox, someone else doesn't like Skype. &nbsp;So it might be important to put what method you're going to be using in the game description.