This is a simple, straightforward beginner’s guide to getting up and running playing tabletop games online using physical game components on the Liminoid Games Discord server.
Here at Liminoid Games, we love playing physical board games. Virtual board game software, like Tabletop Simulator, is nice. But, nothing beats the feel of real physical game components.
We also love supporting board game designers and publishers. Often, the virtual versions of tabletop games are fanmade. Potentially, this is illegal, but even in the ethical cases, this doesn’t provide much financial benefit to the folks that created the game in the first place.
This is why Liminoid Games exclusively supports the playing of tabletop games online using physical game pieces ONLY.
MICROPHONES AND ACCESSIBILITY
This guide makes several assumptions. First, that most players already have and know how to use a microphone and speakers/headphones for voice and video chat. So, I won’t be providing much instruction in the way of getting your mics and headphones set up.
But, in truth, this is entirely optional, and some folks (such as those in the deaf community) might not find audio equipment useful, at all. Communicating through written text chat might be far more appropriate. That said, if a deaf or hard-of-hearing person uses devices that have microphones and speakers built-in, it might still be useful to read and understand the audio suggestions in this guide, to avoid creating echoes and audio feedback loops that might cause problems for other players.
Tabletop gaming is for everyone, and we want to support all players in finding the communication strategies that will work best for their individual situations. This holds true for video, as well. This guide is primarily written for players that will benefit from video feeds, but that doesn’t mean every player needs to use webcams. As long as your playgroup has a way to communicate with each other, and a way to maintain a board state that everyone has access to, then you should be good. Please let us know if we can be of any assistance in making your online games more accessible.
WHAT GAMES CAN BE PLAYED ONLINE?
Many modern board games can easily be played online, using physical game pieces, with only slight modification to the game’s setup and procedures. In most cases, one player with the complete board game can maintain the full board state, which is displayed to the group via webcam, while the other players simply tell them their game actions on their turns. If any of the other players also possess the complete game, they can also maintain an additional board state for redundancy, which may or may not be displayed on webcam.
Alternatively, multiple players might each maintain portions of the game state, which are each displayed on their own webcam. For instance, while playing a TCG, each player would likely be responsible for maintaining their own board position, displayed on their own webcam.
This is similar to the classic method of playing Chess through the mail, where each player maintains a copy of the board state, and game actions are mailed back and forth. Only, when we play online, we don’t have to wait for the post office to deliver our instructions. Game actions take place immediately! And, we can easily see each other’s boards through webcams!
Games That Cannot Be Played Online
Unfortunately, there are a few types of games that make this type of online play impractical:
Dexterity games, where players must have physical access to the same components.
Many realtime dexterity games, like KLASK, are obviously impossible to play without all players physically present at the same board. But, even turn-based dexterity games are also problematic. Imagine trying to maintain two identical game states for a game of Crokinole or Jenga. This is impossible to do with a sufficient level of fidelity, and thus most dexterity games would be totally unfair and unfun if played online.
But, some dexterity games like Meeple Circus, where each player maintains their own components, can potentially be played online.
Games where players maintain hidden information that is drawn from a shared, randomized pool.
The classic example here is Poker. I draw my hand of cards (which remains hidden through most of the round) from a shared, randomized deck. Thus, the cards I draw influence the cards drawn by the other players. To play this game online would require one player to have multiple webcams in order to secretly show each player their hand, while not allowing the other players (or even themself) to see those cards. Professional Poker broadcasters may have access to such equipment, but most gamers do not.
This is different, though, from most TCGs, which can easily be played online. In Magic: The Gathering, for instance, each player has their own deck, and never really interacts with their opponent’s deck in a way that can’t be replicated online.
Likewise, most deckbuilding games can be played online, so long as any draws from randomized communal decks are not kept hidden from any players.
Note that many social deduction games fall into this category, but can still be played online so long as one person acts as a facilitator, rather than a player.
HOW TO SET UP YOUR COMPUTER FOR PLAYING PHYSICAL BOARD GAMES ON DISCORD
There are many ways to set up your computer and webcam(s) to play physical board games online. Each requires different hardware and/or software. In particular, some of these methods require you to have two different Discord accounts. I’m going to cover three methods, which I will call: The Easy Way, The Standard Way, and The Advanced Way.
METHOD 1: The Easy Way
Requirements:
- 1 Desktop or Laptop Computer (Built-in Webcam Optional)
- 1 Discord Account
- 1 USB Webcam
- 1 Boom Arm
Instructions:
Using this method, you can simply plug in a USB webcam, and attach it to a boom arm so that you can position it above the table for optimal viewing of your game components.
Most USB webcams are acceptable for this method, and many gamers with a desktop computer already have one on hand. If you don’t, and are having trouble choosing, I use and recommend a Logitech C920e.
(Please note that I do NOT use affiliate links.)
Likewise, just about any boom arm will work, so long as both the arm and the webcam have standard camera/microphone mounts. The one I use is a Movo ASM-5-KS.
Once you have your USB webcam and boom arm set up and connected to your computer, you simply need to select this webcam as your video source in Discord.
As an added bonus, if you’re playing on a laptop with a built-in webcam, you can switch back and forth between webcams if you ever need the other players to see your face, instead of your board state. (We recommend only doing this in between games, though, as you should really keep your board visible at all times during a game.)
The big downside to this method is that Discord automatically mirrors your view of your own webcam, and there is currently no option to turn this “feature” off. This means you won’t be able to read any text on your cards or boards by looking at them on screen. DON’T WORRY, though! This mirror effect is only applied to YOUR view of YOUR webcam. You’ll be able to see everyone else’s feeds normally, and the other players will also be able to see yours. So, if another player asks for a close-up view of one of your cards or components, you can simply move it closer to your webcam, and they’ll be able to read it. But, if YOU want to read it, you’ll have to look at the actual component, and not at the screen (unless you’re really good at reading backwards).
This isn’t a game breaking problem, but it’s pretty annoying. Also, you’re only able to show the other players one video feed at a time. If you want to be able to read your own components on screen normally, and/or show multiple feeds to the other players simultaneously, you’ll need to use one of the next two methods.
PROS:
- Easy setup.
- Only need one webcam.
- Only need one Discord account.
CONS:
- Your view of your own webcam is mirrored.
- You can’t show your board and your face simultaneously.
METHOD 2: The Standard Way
Requirements:
- 1 Desktop or Laptop Computer (with Webcam)
- 2 Discord Accounts
- 1 Mobile Device
- 1 Tripod Mount
- 1 Boom Arm
Instructions:
This is probably the best overall method for playing physical board games on Discord, and the one that most people will want to use. In this method, you’ll be connecting to Discord using two separate devices: a mobile device, and a webcam. This will require two separate Discord accounts, as Discord won’t let you connect a single account to a voice channel on two different devices simultaneously. So, make sure you have a second Discord account, and then decide which one you want to use for your BOARD, and which one you want to use for your FACE.
Next, you’ll need to attach your mobile device to your boom arm. If you’re using a tablet, you may need a heavier duty boom arm than the one I recommended above. And, you’ll also need a tripod mount large enough to hold your tablet. As I have no experience with that specific situation, I’m sorry to say you’re on your own, there.
But, if you’re just using a smart phone, most boom arms and phone mounts should work just fine. I use and recommend an Ailun Tripod Phone Mount, which is large enough to handle even the bulkiest of smart phones, often without taking them out of their case.
The mobile device, being attached to the boom arm, will be streaming your BOARD. So, log into the appropriate Discord account and connect to your voice channel. Once connected, make sure to MUTE the microphone on this account, AND the speaker on the device! Otherwise, you’re going to end up with some awful feedback and echo problems.
Now, you’re free to log into your other account on your desktop/laptop, and join the same voice channel. I recommend you switch to spotlight mode, and highlight the feed coming from your mobile device.
Voila! You can see your board in its natural, un-mirrored state. And, the other players get a steady feed of both your board and your face!
PROS:
- No mirrored views of boards.
- Steady feeds of both board and face.
- Relatively simple to set up.
CONS:
- Requires 2 Discord accounts.
- Requires 2 devices.
- May require a heavy duty boom arm.
METHOD 3: The Advanced Way
Requirements:
- 1 Desktop or Laptop Computer (with Webcam)
- 2 Discord Accounts
- Open Broadcaster Software (OBS)
- 1 Additional USB Webcam
- 1 Boom Arm
Instructions:
This last method is intended for streamers that want to be able to present their board and an overlay of their face in a single frame. It will require the use of the open source streaming software, OBS, and a little bit of technical shenanigans.
First off, we’re going to need to open two different instances of Discord on your computer, using two different accounts. There are applications you can download that allow you to do this. But, it’s also possible without installing any additional software. (At least, I know it’s possible in Windows and Linux. For other operating systems, you are sadly on your own, again. Hopefully, a quick Google search will get you on the right path.)
Here’s how we’re going to do it: We’ll create a shortcut to the Discord executable, with the “-multi-instance” attribute. For the moment, I’m going to hand you off to Alex over at his blog, TechSwift. He walks you through the process perfectly:
I’ll just add a couple of points to Alex’s awesome write-up. First, instead of creating a shortcut on your desktop, you can also pin the executable onto your start menu or taskbar, and it will work the same way as a shortcut (because that’s what a pin is — it’s just a shortcut).
Also, you should note that whenever Discord updates (which is frequently), your shortcut will be broken. This is because Discord creates a new executable file with the new version number appended to its folder, every time it updates. Then, it deletes the old folder. You’ll know this has happened when your shortcut turns into the generic blank page icon in Windows. But, don’t worry! You just need to open up the shortcut’s properties and update the file path with the new version number. (You can find the new version number just like before, in the Discord folder in %localappdata%.)
Okay! You’ve got two instances of Discord running! Now, let’s talk about Discord and multiple cameras. Let’s say you’ve got two different webcams connected to your computer. When you’re in Discord, you can switch back and forth between them, but you don’t have the option of displaying them both at the same time.
This is true even when you have multiple instances of Discord running. You’ll only be able to use a single webcam in a single instance. So, what you need is a virtual camera that can combine your multiple real webcams into a single feed. That’s exactly what OBS does!
At this point, I have to assume that if you’re considering this method, you are already a streamer, and probably have experience using software like OBS. If that does NOT describe you, I encourage you to take a little time acquainting yourself with OBS, as it’s a really terrific piece of software. Some wonderful documentation is available at the official OBS site, obsproject.com.
Specifically, I encourage you to read the official Quick Start Guide:
And, the Virtual Camera Guide:
These documents should help you get your virtual camera set up with your board webcam as the main image, and a small overlay of your face webcam in a corner of the frame.
I should warn you, though, this process can be a little buggy, and it can take multiple attempts to get the virtual camera to show up properly in Discord. Be patient, and if it doesn’t work the first time, try shutting things down and trying again. It should eventually work.
This time, instead of having one Discord account for your face and one for your board, you’ll have one account for VIDEO, and one account for AUDIO. From your VIDEO account, select your Virtual Camera as your video source. You’ll be watching from your AUDIO account, and you’ll need to turn OFF the video feed for this account, so as not to interfere with your VIDEO account.
Just like in Method 2, you’ll also need to make sure you’ve got your audio set up properly, to avoid feedback and echo. I recommend the following:
- MUTE the microphone in your VIDEO webcam account.
- Turn ON the microphone in your AUDIO webcam account.
- IMPORTANT: From your AUDIO webcam account, DEAFEN your VIDEO webcam account. (If you skip this step, you’ll create a feedback loop.)
And, there you go! While watching from your AUDIO webcam account, you’ll have a single video feed of both your board and face. It’s unmirrored for everyone (including you), and you can even move your face around, using OBS. You can also now use OBS to create custom scenes for streaming, so that your audience only sees the video feed, without the rest of the Discord server.
This method also relies only on a single device, so it frees up the use of your mobile device. That way, if you need to use your phone as a life counter, or to take a call, it’s not attached to a boom arm.
PROS:
- Maximum flexibility for streamers.
- Everything run from a single device.
CONS:
- Lots of extra setup work.
- Shortcut must be repaired every time Discord updates.
TIPS FOR PLAYING PHYSICAL BOARD GAMES ONLINE
Finally, I’m going to share a few pointers for how to handle certain game situations in the online environment.
CHEATING
First, let’s address the elephant in the room. Switching to an online environment definitely makes it easier for a player to cheat without getting caught. Part of this is due to the lack of real world anti-cheating procedures. For instance, at the beginning of most TCG games, it is required that players cut or shuffle their opponent’s deck. This is impossible online. Likewise, deck checks or close examination of components to root out forgeries become burdensome and problematic online.
Fortunately, in most casual contexts, cheating is rarely a major issue. In competitive contexts, though, Liminoid Games is dedicated to using all reasonable anti-cheating procedures available, and making sure that if/when cheating is confirmed that it is appropriately deterred through harsher corrections than would normally be applicable in real world contexts.
At all times, though, we recommend that players maintain the highest levels of transparency possible. This includes keeping all game pieces within the frame of the camera as much as possible (particularly when shuffling or handling hidden objects), and always handling hidden objects in such a way that they are not visible to players that are not allowed to view them.
PROXIES
In general, Liminoid Games does not endorse or support the use of proxy components as replacements for actually owning collectible game components. We want to support the creators of our favorite games, and so we require all players that participate in our organized-play experiences to own, and be able to present all of the collectible game components they choose to play with.
However, there are times when the sanctioned use of proxies is required by the demands of the online play environment. This generally applies to situations where one player is required to maintain all, or a portion of the board state, using collectible components that are owned by other players. In these situations, sanctioned use of proxies are allowed, so long as the following requirements are met:
- Each player owns and is able to present authentic copies of all collectible game components they have chosen to use.
- Proxies are only used for the purpose of maintaining a single copy of all, or a specific portion or portions of the game state which would otherwise require components that are not owned by the player maintaining the game state.
- Players display the authentic components that are being proxied at all times.
- While in play, all proxies are clearly labeled to indicate exactly which authentic components they represent.
Furthermore, proxies may only be used under the direction of an event judge, who will be responsible for ensuring all of the above requirements are met.
Here are two examples of situations where the sanctioned use of proxies would be appropriate:
In a game of Funkoverse, Player A and Player B are each maintaining their own copy of the entire board state. Each player owns a copy of all characters on their chosen team. However, Player A’s team uses two characters that Player B doesn’t own. For the purpose of maintaining an accurate game state, it is appropriate for Player B to represent those characters with proxy figures, so long as those figures are clearly labeled with the names of the characters from Player A’s team they represent.
In a game of Star Wars Rivals, Player 1 has been tasked with maintaining the Location deck. At the beginning of the game, both players announce the six Location cards they have chosen for their team. As it turns out, two Locations have been chosen by both characters, which means two copies of those Locations must be placed in the Location deck. Unfortunately, each player only owns one copy of each card. Therefore, it is appropriate for Player 1 to use two proxy cards that represent the second copies of these Location cards. While doing so, Player 1 should provide a visual or written indication of which Locations are represented by each proxy.
Note that some TCGs, like Magic: The Gathering, routinely require players to use markers and tokens to represent parts of the board state. For the purposes of Liminoid Games competitive events, unless stated otherwise by an event judge, these situations are not considered to be the use of proxies, and do not require judge direction. Also, procedures that would normally be required for events with high level rules enforcement in physical spaces, which demand the use of official tokens, will generally be relaxed in Liminoid Games’ online play experiences, even at competitive events.
Finally, note that unofficial upgraded components for game pieces that are not considered collectible (e.g. upgraded wooden tokens or metal coins) are not considered proxies, nor are artistic alterations of collectible game pieces (as long as the pieces remain recognizable and functional).
LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP
Well, that pretty much covers it. If you have any questions, or feel that we’ve left something out, let us know! We’re here to help you get the most out of online play with physical game pieces. So, if you haven’t joined the Liminoid Games Discord server, yet, what are you waiting for? Get out there and play!
