The Virtual Protospiel at the Con of Champions is a board game prototype convention event run online in a digital format, allowing board game designers from around the world to test their games together and fight the spread of COVID-19.Â
https://tabletop.events/conventions/con-of-champions/badgetypes
All proceeds from badge sales go directly to the tabletop.events fundraiser to help keep the site operating through the pandemic. Tabletop.events is the backbone of Protospiel events and has allowed the prototype convention scene to boom!
Participating in the Virtual Protospiel will require you to download Tabletop Simulator and/or Tabletopia as well as the Discord App.
Tabletop Simulator can be purchased for $20 on Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/
Tabletopia is free and can be used in browser with no download required. https://tabletopia.com/
Discord is a voice chat and text app that allows all our participants to stay connected throughout the course of the event. Downloading and using this app is a must for this event. Discord has private voice chat rooms where playtesters and designers can discuss games as well as a general chat room where all participants can speak with one another. You can download the Discord app to your phone from the android or apple store or download to your computer here: https://discordapp.com/download. The link to the DIscord server will be posted as the event draws nearer.
While it is possible to participate in this event without a microphone, having a microphone is highly encouraged to enable quick communication of game rules by designers and effective feedback by playtesters.
Because this Protospiel is online, it will be a little more challenging to set up games with others. There are a two ways to find a game to playtest or playtesters for your game.
1. Join or set up a scheduled playtest.
To join a playtest follow the link below to the schedule page.
https://tabletop.events/conventions/con-of-champions/schedule#
Change the event type in the drop-down menu to “Virtual Protospiel” to see all the playtests currently scheduled. If you don’t see many yet, schedule yours!
To set up a scheduled playtest for your game, follow the link below the convention homepage.
https://tabletop.events/conventions/con-of-champions
Then, click “Submit Events” on the right side of the page. Then click “New Submission” on the following page. You’ll be prompted to fill in all the details for your event. It’s always good to see what times other playtests are running first, so your playtest event doesn’t conflict with another. You can see when other playtests are happening by following the steps above for joining a playtest.
2. Join our Discord general chat and find players looking for a game.
Protospiel participants will use the discord app to communicate with one another during playtests and for chatting with anyone else participating in the Protospiel. When you join the Discord page, go to the general chat room and let others know that you are looking for playtesters or to be a playtester yourself! This will allow for participants to find those “pick-up” games from in person Protospiels.
Want to bring your game to life on Tabletop Simulator or Tabletopia but don’t know how? Never fear! Join the Virtual Protospiel facebook event and let us know in the comments and we can provide tools, videos, and even one-on-one time to help bring your digital board game to life.
Have questions? You can ask them in the facebook event, here in the comments, or contact Carl Matherly on Facebook (send Carl a friend request first so he can see your message).Â
