COVID-19 Situation: Your Membership & VTT support

Hi all! 

As coronavirus is already affecting people all around the world I thought it might be in order to send a message regarding the situation. 

Your Membership

I live in Finland myself and our government has taken quite harsh measures to control the spreading of the virus and flatten the curve. People are recommended to stay at their homes and avoid any unnecessary social contacts, working from home is endorsed whenever possible, schools are closed, the capital region around Helsinki is declared a quarantine zone, and restaurants are closing down over the weekend. 

You could say that the situation is still under control over here, we do not have that many dead (only 3 as of now) and the healthcare system is not collapsing, but working hard to mitigate the crisis. Still, the impact on economy is already huge. People are getting laid-off or put on unpaid vacation, and small businesses are having hard time coping with the situation. 

I understand that this is not the case only in Finland and I assume that some you might be affected by the situation more than others – either directly or indirectly. If you need a break or your financial situation has changed, for example, you can always cancel your membership, no questions asked. You can also switch to another tier you are more comfortable with. If you cancel your membership, it stays in effect until the end of the next payment period (turn of the month, or 30 days from joining in if you've been a member for less than a month, iirc).

Virtual Tabletops

Another, maybe a bit more positive side effect of this situation is a hugely grown demand for virtual tabletops and other means of organizing remote games. I must admit that I have dabbled a bit with Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds, but my actual gaming experience on these platforms is very limited. 

Now, however, I have started setting up games for my Star Wars (Fate Condensed) and D&D (5E) campaigns and setting up a third one-shot group for Alien RPG, Degenesis, and Wrath & Glory to begin with. While doing this I have found out ways to improve my maps for virtual tabletops and in the future, you will see more maps made online gaming in mind and let's see if I will finally delve into the world of tokens, or tutorial videos myself too. Let's see what else I can come up with.   Also, I would gladly hear your experiences, wishes, and suggestions regarding the use of maps in online gaming in the comments. 

Take care and stay safe! 

- Miska