Paizo Announces Virtual Table

More bad news for Wizards. As if they knew about Wizard's cancellation of their VT project ahead of time. Paizo announced on July 7th that they are releasing there own virtual tabletop called "Paizo Game Space".

What makes their product interesting? It requires nothing more than a browser. Although I'm sure there will be certain browser requirements to be met. I hope the "requirements" are just HTML5 and devices like Androids and iOS will be supported. There are not a lot more details, although it looks like basic usage of the tool will be free. Paizo is probably going to sell other stuff for use in their "Game Space".

"There WILL be a way to use the tabletop for free. What kind of functionality that free version has is undecided. There will also be a way for people to purchase scenarios, adventures, APs, maps, card decks, tokens and other such things for use on the VTT. Not sure when or at what price yet. Just as we give away free adventures and such for Free RPG Day and for the Beginner Box, there will be free adventures and stuff for the VTT. We want people to be able to see what they are getting when they purchase the paid versions. Also, free stuff will allow folks to test drive the VTT. How much and what stuff is going to be included for free is, you guessed it, unknown at this point. :)"

I will still have some issues with any "single game only" VTT. But the easier they make it to setup and play a game the easier it is to deal with one tool for Paizo games and other tools (like Maptool) for more general usage.

If they don't make it trivial and relatively inexpensive to use the tool there is no point to it. Perhaps if they make purchasing an adventure for the Game Space about the same as purchasing it as a PDF and allow a GM and the players to use that paid module for free with the tool it would be useful. I should be interesting to see how the tool progresses.

If Wizards falters with DNDNext and any continues to have massive issues creating useful digital tools for Dungeons and Dragons, Paizo's Game Space could have huge consequences for the RPG world and the fate of Dungeons and Dragons.