A few weeks ago, I was asked to help the friend of a friend get started on Roll20. He planned to run a game for which there is no character sheet for the system in Roll20.

We had technical issues so I could not share my screen, so I ended up talking him through from signing into Roll20 to go here and click this, or type that. It was very tedious, but we finally got him enough to get started. I made the comment to him that I wished there was a tutorial for the absolute beginner.

That was the kernel for the idea that I have been simmering since then. After a previous acquisition of a better camera, I have been working to tweak settings, and determine the best way to do things.

It isn’t as polished as I’d like, but with practice comes improvement. I may sound a bit stiff talking to the camera, but I am working on that too.

I have just posted the introduction to the series and have the first episode ready to edit, and ideas for the next two episodes.

Research, scripting, and multiple takes to help minimize the effort of editing takes a lot more time than one would think. Some finished products make it look like it was easy, because of how well they are done. I aspire to such levels.

If you know some absolute beginners to Roll20, please send them my way. Also, I’d appreciate any suggestions for topics for absolute beginners. Most of it will be focused on GM’s, but I will point out things that are different or helpful for players.

UPCOMING EPISODES

No. 1 – The GM: Getting Started.

No. 2 – The Player – Getting Started.

No. 3 – The GM: Building Basic Character Sheets.

You can catch the introduction to the series here: