I have been playing in a weekly online Forgotten Realms 3.5 campaign over the last 18 months with a group that uses the virtual tabletop application KloogeWerks, voice with Teamspeak and our own Web portal with a few custom XML editing tools (to edit character sheets when not playing).

After spending a significant amount of time in virtual tabletop play, here are some things to consider:

1. You probably already have a computer and bring it to your IRL games (if you don’t already, leave your PHB and Magic Item Compendium in the bathroom and get them in PDF form). KW runs on pc/Mac through JAVA and well even on older machines.

2. You will play more regularly through VT than you do IRL. Our group has a rule where if at least 1/2 of the PC's are available we have quorum and the game goes on. A DM typically puts much time into a campaign (VT or IRL) and wants it to be played.

3. You can still flaunt your characters prowess to your fellow PC’s and then berate the DM when your PC is killed through VOIP as easily as you can IRL. (You can't actually slam the table or domino it though)

4. Digital campaign management can be fun, really. We have 5 Google docs shared in our group for campaign note tracking (Loot, important NPCs, XP tracking, adventuring notes and custom maps). This allows us to use our non-game time to plan for the next session ahead of time. Most of the note taking we do just dumps right into the VT tool so we don't even have to retype anything.

5. KloogeWerks isn't immersive 3D so it still lets you use something called imagination (ask your parents what this is). This is what I like to think DND is all about. What a good VT tool should do is give the DM the tools to apply platform rules while still allowing imaginative freedom.

If the new tools that are coming out can still provide an environment in which to play without hindering the imagination I say all DND fans will have something to celebrate.