A small virtual reality company called AltspaceVR has decided to add Dungeons & Dragons to the virtual reality world, and has full backing from Wizards of the Coast — a name that might seem familiar, because they own both Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering.
Gathering Around the D&D Table
Using the Oculus DK2 VR headset, players can simulate that they’re sitting around a table playing Dungeons & Dragons in real life. Each user has an in-game avatar, and the game is played through different panels. There are two specific panels that represent a web browser for referencing, and another with dice needed for the game.
If you’re lucky enough to be the Dungeon Master, you’ll have some awesome superpowers in-game, like playing theme music for different scenarios, and also changing the tiles to fit battles.
This Could Get Confusing, Quickly
With multiplayer virtual reality games, playing could easily become problematic due to confusion and chaos. Luckily in the VR world of Dungeons & Dragons, there’s a setting that shows the entire group all die rolls, making the process of keeping track of turns and placements easier.
“One thing we want to do is create things you can only do in VR and make experiences people are going to want.
But the next big challenge will be enabling people to make their own games, to basically take this over from us.”
-Bruce Wooden, AltspaceVR’s head of Developer Relations
With the app currently in design by AltspaceVR and Wizards of the Coast, it’s expected to become commercial in early 2016.
Do you think VR Dungeons & Dragons will become a popular fad? Could it take away from the personal experience being in a room together? Share your thoughts with me below!
