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Roll20’s in-browser video and voice feature doesn’t require any plugins or widgets to install in order to use your microphone/webcam to communicate with other players in a game. Instead, we utilize a component, called WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication), to natively run in your Chrome or Firefox browser. WebRTC is an HTML5 high-definition, peer-to-peer VOIP service. It's also adaptive so it works well with low-bandwidth connections.
+
=WebRTC Basics=
 +
==What is Roll20 WebRTC?==
 +
We at Roll20 believe that seeing and talking to your friends while you play is a vital part of the tabletop experience. WebRTC is a browser based VOIP option, allowing video and voice chat to be integrated into Roll20 without requiring you to download a 3rd party program or installing an add-on or plugin. While no other Virtual Table Top provides integrated video and voice chat, Roll20 is dedicated to offering it as a free feature. WebRTC's peer-to-peer nature allows us to provide that service as well as giving us the freedom to design advanced features, such as whispering, pop-out and adjustable videos, and more.
  
−
Once at least '''two people''' log into the same game using any Broadcast settings beyond ''None'', Roll20 will initiate the process to activate your webcam and/or microphone and attempt to connect everyone in the game into a call. If this is your first time utilizing this feature, you should see a dialog box along the top of your screen that asks you to give permission for Roll20 to use your webcam and/or microphone.
+
==How is WebRTC different from Discord, Google Hangouts, Skype, etc?==
 +
WebRTC is a HTML5 technology that runs video and voice through a web browser without the need of a java applet. Applications like Skype or Discord aren't browser-based and therefore have access to hardware acceleration and data compression that Roll20 cannot take advantage of. Those applications use a ''Client/Server'' or ''All-to-One-to-All'' connection rather than a ''Peer-to-Peer'' connection. With an "All-to-One-to-All" connection, applications like Skype send your video/voice data one time to their server which then carries that load of data to each of the other people in the call. With "Peer-to-Peer", you are sending your video/voice data again to each peer connection in the call. This means that the upload bandwidth cost for a WebRTC call is higher than other VOIP options in anything more than a two person call. This higher upload bandwidth cost can result in stability problems for users with low upload bandwidth connections.
  
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{{mbox | text=Note: If you are experiences issues with Roll20 built-in video/voice chat, we recommend walking through the [[Video and Voice Chat Troubleshooting|Video and Voice Chat Troubleshooting wiki page]].}}
+
==Roll20 WebRTC Requirements==
 +
When it works Roll20 WebRTC can only be used in web browsers that natively support it. Roll20's officially supported browsers, Chrome and Firefox, are both compatible. A Roll20 WebRTC call has a suggested download and upload bandwidth of 512Kbps per additional user in the chat. That means that in a six person call (five users other than yourself), you would need around 2.5Mbps of bandwidth for a stable call. If your group has members whose connections cannot support these requirements we suggest using a 3rd party, non-browser based chat option, that can make use of both hardware acceleration and data-compression to lower bandwidth requirements.
  
−
==Enabling and Disabling WebRTC Video & Voice Chat==
+
=Roll20 Settings=
−
Video and Voice are enabled by default. Unless this is changed, Roll20 will try to automatically connect a call when at least two users launch the game.
+
[[File:Video_and_Audio_Chat_Options.png|right|framed|The Video & Voice Performance Settings on the Settings Tab of Roll20]]
−
===Managing Browser Device Permissions for the First Time===
+
Inside the Roll20 App, click on the '''Settings''' tab (<span style="font-family:Pictos;">y</span> icon), in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Under the Settings tab are different options that affects how WebRTC performs within a game.
−
If this is your first time playing in a game that has WebRTC active, your browser will prompt you to give Roll20 device permission to utilize your webcam and microphone before you connect with other players. Unless you have set strict permission restrictions on your browser, you’ll only need to do this once.
+
−
====Device Permissions In Google Chrome====
+
−
A dialog box will appear along the very top of your browser screen. Click "Allow".
+
  
−
[[File:Chrome_Mic_Permissions.png]]
 
  
−
Note that you can click the little camera icon located in the far-right of your address bar to change the settings of what camera/microphone is being used.
+
Under the ''Video + Voice'' options make sure you've set '''Broadcast''' and '''Receive''' to your game's prefered choices (Video & Voice, Voice only, Video only). If there is more than one person currently in the game, individual changes made to either Broadcast or Receive require clicking on the '''Reconnect''' button in order for the changes to adhere for anyone else currently in the game.
  
−
[[File:Chrome_cam_icon_Addressbar.png]]
 
  
−
====Device Permissions In Mozilla Firefox====
+
For the GM, further down the '''Settings''' tab, under the "Game Settings" section, are "Video + Audio Chat Options". The GM should double check that the '''Chat Tech''' setting is not set to ''None''.
−
A dialog box will appear, click on "Share Selected Devices" to allow Roll20 to start video chat (highlighted in green below). If for some reason a dialog box does not appear, or if you wish to change your settings after the game has started, click on the Camera icon (highlighted in pink below) to change your settings.
+
  
−
[[File:MozillaWebRTCScreenshot.png]]
 
  
−
===Enabling/Disabling Video and Voice for an Entire Game===
+
Also in the "Video + Audio Chat Options" section, the GM can adjust the Video Bandwidth for the game. The setting can be set to '''High''', '''Medium''', '''Low''', or '''Very Low'''. If one or more of your fellow players has a slower connection speed, you may want to set this to the lower Bandwidth settings to help with performance.
−
[[File:Video and Audio Chat Options.png|right]]
+
<p style="clear:both;"></p>
−
Enabling or Disabling Video and Voice for the entire game can only be done by a GM. On the '''My Settings''' tab (the <span style="font-family:Pictos;">y</span> icon) on the '''Sidebar''' (top-right side of the screen), scroll down to the '''Video + Audio Chat Options''' section. The very first option here is a drop down menu labeled ''Chat Tech:''. There are currently three menu options to choose from this drop down:
+
−
# ''Roll20 WebRTC (Chrome + Firefox Only):'' This is our complete rebuild that was released as an open beta on January 2018 and will be the tech we will be using moving forward.<br /><br />
+
−
# ''Legacy Roll20 WebRTC (deprecated):'' This is our first WebRTC build that is using some now-deprecated JavaScript libraries that are causing conflict issues with the latest Chrome and Firefox browsers. Games made after January 2018 will automatically default to the first tech option. We will eventually remove this Legacy option in a future update. For anyone still using this version, we recommend swapping over to the non-deprecated version.<br /><br />
+
−
# ''None (no video/audio):'' This will disable both Video and Voice for the game. The call connection process will not initiate under this setting. Choose this option if you want to disable Video and Voice completely for everyone in the game.<br />
+
  
−
===Enabling/Disabling Video and Voice Individually===
+
=Firefox & Chrome Settings=
−
Available to both GM and Players is the ability to disable or enable what you personally wish to transmit and what you want to receive from other players.  
+
At present, Roll20 only fully supports Firefox and Chrome web browsers for our VTT. Other browsers may be able to handle WebRTC with little to no issues, but we can't devote reliable tech support for them if you do run into any issues.
  
−
A couple of examples where adjusting these settings would be useful: If you only own a microphone and not a webcam, you can adjust your settings to transmit voice only. This will force Roll20 to skip attempting to locate and activate a webcam that doesn’t exist on your device. Another example would be if you are player with a limited internet connection. In this situation, you can disable receiving video from other players to save on bandwidth.
+
==Keeping your Browser Up to Date==
 +
It's generally a good idea to keep your browser updated to take advantage of browser bug fixes and optimization measures.
  
−
====Broadcast and Receive Settings====
+
===Updating Chrome===
−
Under '''Video + Audio Chat Options''' of the '''My Settings''' tab are the two options with dropdown menus labeled: ''I want to broadcast to others'' and ''I want to receive from others''.  
+
#Click on the ''More Button'' (vertical row of three dots icon) in the upper right hand corner.
 +
#Click on the ''Help'' option from the resulting drop down menu.
 +
#Click on ''About Google Chrome'' option from the secondary drop down menu that appears.
  
−
The Broadcast to Others menu controls whether or not you broadcast ''Video and Voice'', ''Video only'', ''Voice only'', or ''Nothing(disable)'' to other players in the game. If you’re lacking a webcam or microphone device, you do not have to change these broadcast setting for WebRTC to work; however, it can help speed up the initial connection process to other players if you specifically tell Roll20 to skip over attempting to connect to a device that is not available.
 
  
−
The Receive From Others menu controls whether or not you will receive ''Video and Voice'', ''Video only'', ''Voice only'', or ''Nothing(disable)'' from other players, if they are broadcasting at all.
+
'''OR'''
  
−
If you want to disable WebRTC entirely for you personally, adjust Broadcast and Receive settings to ''Nothing''.
+
#Paste <code>chrome://help/</code> into the URL bar and hit Enter.
−
+
−
If you make changes to your Broadcast or Receive settings while a call is active, you must click on the following '''Reconnect''' button for these new changes to be applied.
+
  
−
==Roll20 WebRTC Features==
 
−
Once you have your Video and Voice settings adjusted to the way you want them, here are some additional features that can improve your experience.
 
  
−
===Selecting Specific Audio and Video Devices===
+
Either method will open Chrome's "About" page that will inform you of your current browser version and will automatically prompt you to update to the latest stable version if you're not using it.
−
(This feature is not available for the Legacy version of Roll20 WebRTC)
+
  
−
If you have multiple microphone and webcam devices connected to your computer, you are able to specifically choose which ones you want to use for broadcasting and receiving video and audio.
+
===Updating Firefox===
 +
#Click on the ''Menu Button'' (three horizontal lines icon) in the upper right hand corner.
 +
#Click on '''?''' icon at the bottom of the drop down menu.
 +
#Click on ''About Firefox'' from the resulting roll out menu.
 +
#Firefox will tell you your current browser version and automatically prompt an update to the latest stable version if you're not using it. Click the ''Restart to Update button'' if necessary.
  
−
In the '''Video + Audio Chat Options''' section are drop down menus for '''Audio Output Source''' (your chosen speaker device), '''Audio Input Source''' (your chosen microphone device), and '''Video Input Source''' (your chosen webcam device). Your input source menus are available regardless whether a WebRTC call is active or not.
 
  
−
Audio Output Source's device menu, on the other hand, will only populate while a call is active. It will activate the browser's default speaker choice (which is often dictated by your Operating System) initially, but then populate the option menu to every speaker device available. This device menu selection ONLY takes into account the voice audio received through WebRTC. Other Roll20 sounds (chat tab notifications, 3D dice SFX, and Jukebox audio) will play on the browser's default speaker still.
+
==Microphone and Camera Browser Permissions==
 +
To protect your privacy, microphone and webcamera permissions are disabled from use on Chrome and Firefox by default. If this is the first time you've used Roll20, recently cleaned out your browser cookies/cache, or working from a fresh install of your browser, you'll need to approve the Roll20 website's use of your camera and microphone for them to be used for broadcasting either video or voice within a game.
  
−
===Relocating Player Avatars Around the Tabletop===
+
===Enabling Chrome Permissions===
−
[[File:MovingAnAvatarPortrait.gif|framed|right|One of the features of Roll20 WebRTC is the ability to move the player avatar portraits around the Tabletop.]]
+
[[File:Chrome_Allow_Deny.png|top]] [[File:Avt.png|framed|"Chrome AV Select"|right]]
−
(This feature is only available when the non-Legacy version of Roll20 WebRTC is enabled.)
+
<br/>
  
−
While Roll20 WebRTC is enabled, the GM and players can relocate the player avatar portraits (or their video feeds if video broadcast is enabled) around the Tabletop. This can prove useful if the default position of these portraits at the bottom of the Tabletop obscures important elements that the players should be able to see. It can also be helpful when you want to move the video feeds for a specific broadcast overlay while streaming on platforms such as Twitch or YouTube. This feature is always enabled for the Game Master, but it can be either disabled or enabled for the players to arrange these avatar portraits as they see fit.
+
#When the VTT loads for the first time, you should be asked to ''Allow'' or ''Deny'' camera and microphone access from a grey bar pop-up that appears at the top of the screen.
 +
#Click ''Allow'' to enable your camera and microphone to be used within a Roll20 game.
  
−
To move an avatar, hover your mouse over the one you’d like to move. An icon resembling three horizontal bars will appear in the bottom left corner of the avatar (over top the Name Plate). This is the avatar's handle that you can click and drag the whole avatar, Name Plate and Card Hand included, to a new location on the Tabletop. You can still move these around if you have the avatar portraits hidden and are only currently displaying player’s Name Plates. Regardless of who's moving their avatars around, avatars can only ever be placed in a spot on the Tabletop. You can't drag it atop the Tabletop Toolbar or over the Sidebar. They also will snap away from getting partially stuck under the sides of the browser window.
 
  
−
[[File:Chat Avatar Settings.png|framed|left]]
+
'''OR'''
−
The settings for this feature can be found on the My Settings tab under the Chat Avatars section (this section is directly above the Video + Audio Chat Options).
+
−
As the GM, you can decide whether this feature it available to players. Under the option “Movable avatar/video screens”, you can choose between GM Controlled or Player Controlled. If this setting is set to GM Controlled, however the Game Master decides to arrange the locations of the avatars on the Tabletop, these new positions are set on the Players' ends as well. If you set this option to Player Controlled, the Players can change the locations of their avatars, BUT their setup is only seen locally on their own device.
+
  
−
Beyond moving the avatars individually, you can also set the avatar portraits to either align to the top of the Tabletop or the bottom via the Player Video/Avatar Location menu option. By default, avatars are aligned to the Bottom of the Tabletop. This position won’t automatically take if you (or your players) have repositioned the avatars to a specified place on the Tabletop.
 
−
If you ever wish to reset the avatars positioning, click on the Reset Player Video/Avatar Location button. This will file the avatar portraits/name plates either on the Bottom of the Tabletop or the Top (depending on what you have set for the Player Video/Avatar Location setting).
 
  
−
====A Note About Splitting The Party====
+
#Click on the ''lock'' icon in the far left of the URL/search bar to reveal a drop down menu.
−
If you have the avatars re-positioned on the Tabletop, you're still able to drag players onto individual Pages (AKA Splitting the Party). Just make certain to click and drag on an area of the portrait that isn't the Avatar Handle on the bottom left corner. This will allow to drag the player into the Page Toolbar and assign them to a particular Page.
+
#Ensure that both Camera and Microphone options have their permissions set to "Always allow on this site". ''Make sure you're currently on Roll20.net when you set this, this setting is URL sensitive.''
−
<br style="clear:both;"/>
+
  
−
===Mic Input Indicator===
+
<p style="clear:both;"></p>
−
[[File:Mic Input Indicator.gif|framed|left|The Blue Live Mic Indicator Bar]]
+
−
Between the user's Nametag and Avatar Portrait (or video footage, if broadcasting that as well), is a small bar that lights up pale blue when a player begins speaking into their microphone. This blue bar expands and contracts with the wavelength of what is picked up from the mic. This is the "Mic Input Indicator" and it should help Voice-Only games determine which player is speaking at any given time during gameplay.
+
−
Muting and Individual Volume Adjustment
+
  
−
While Voice is active in a call, other players in your game will have a volume slider overlay located at the bottom of their portrait. This allows you to adjust the volume of each individual. Instead of a volume slider on your avatar, you'll find a mute button. You can use this to mute your mic if you don't have the physical means for it on your microphone itself.
+
===Enabling Firefox Permissions===
−
<br style="clear:both;" />
+
[[File:Firefox_Allow_Deny.png|framed|"Firefox AV Select"]]
−
===Muting and Individual Volume Adjustment===
+
#When the VTT loads for the first time, you'll be asked to 'Share Selected Devices' from a drop down menu in the upper left hand corner of the screen.
−
While Voice is active in a call, other players in your game will have a volume slider overlay located at the bottom of their portrait when you mouse over them. This allows you to adjust the volume of each individual in the call.  
+
#If not, click on the ''Camera'' icon in the upper left hand corner next to the ''Back'' button.
 +
#Be sure to select the correct Camera and Microphone to share before clicking the ''Share Selected Devices'' button.
  
−
Instead of a volume slider on your own avatar, you'll find a mute button. You can use this to mute your mic if you don't have the physical means for it on your microphone itself. A pink icon with a black speech bubble within it will appear in the upper left of your Avatar if you are currently muted. This icon status can be seen by the GM.
+
<p style="clear:both;"></p>
−
<br style="clear:both;" />
+
==Clear your Web Browser's Cache==
 +
===Clearing Out Chrome's Cache===
 +
#Click on the ''Menu Button'' (three horizontal lines) in the upper right hand corner.  
 +
#Click on ''More Tools'' from the dropdown.
 +
#Click on ''Clear browsing data'' from the new options.
 +
#From the drop down "Obliterate the following items from:" select ''the beginning of time'' option.
 +
#Check both ''Cookies and other site and plug-in data'' and ''Cached images and files''.
 +
#Click on ''Clear browsing data'' button.
  
−
===Push to Talk===
+
===Clearing Out Firefox's Cache===
−
There is an advanced keyboard shortcut to Mute yourself via the Tilde Key(~). Utilizing this shortcut key, you’re able to simulate semi Push-To-Talk functionality. The big difference between conventional Push To Talk functionality in other platforms and Roll20 is you do not want to press and hold the ~ key. Instead, it’s a single press to toggle your mute button.
+
#Click on the ''Menu Button'' (three horizontal lines) in the upper right hand corner.  
−
To enable this, you must first check the "Use advanced keyboard shortcuts" checkbox under the My Settings tab of the Sidebar. Once enabled, the Tilde Key(~), will toggle your microphone mute on and off. You can use the indicator on your avatar to know when mute is toggled on. It's important to note that Push To Talk functionality only works while the browser tab currently running the Roll20 game is focused on your device (meaning that you aren’t currently browsing on another browser tab or actively interacting with a completely different device application).
+
#Click the ''Options Button' (a small gear) from the drop down menu.
−
===Whispering===
+
#On the ''Advanced'' tab, select the ''Network'' sub-tab.
−
A GM can whisper directly to a single player in the game when Voice is active in a call. When the GM hovers their mouse over a player’s avatar, a dark grey double chat bubble icon appears on the upper right hand corner of the avatar's portrait. This icon is the Whisper Player button. Click on this button to toggle on whisper mode. While the GM is whispering, other players who aren't in on the whisper will have their avatars grayed out to the GM and the Player being whispered to and will no longer be able to hear audio from those other players. Likewise, those players not in on this private conversation will see the GM and the whispered player grayed out to them and will not be able to hear what is being whispered. The group not privy to the whispered conversation can still talk among one another like usual. Everyone's avatars and Voice feeds will return to normal once the GM toggles off the Whisper Player button.
+
#Under the ''Cached Web Content'' section, select the ''Clear Now'' button.
  
−
===Video Bandwidth Options===
 
−
You will notice that there is a menu option for Video Bandwidth. This is an option that currently isn’t available as of yet. We are still gathering numbers to figure out what the ideal bandwidth thresholds are for High, Medium, Low, and Very Low. When this setting is available, you’ll be able to adjust the video quality of what you will receive from other players.
 
−
 
  
−
[[Category:Docs]]
+
=Device and Bandwidth Tests=
 +
 
 +
==Webcam WebRTC Compatibility Test==
 +
*Check to see if your camera works with [https://apprtc.appspot.com Google’s WebRTC demo].
 +
*Go to: https://apprtc.appspot.com
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Alternatively is to run a test of your webcam and mic through [https://appear.in/ appear.in]. This website is also a Peer-to-Peer WebRTC service that can have up to eight users in a conference call. You can test your entire gaming group in one pass.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
==Perform a WebCam/Microphone Test==
 +
*Check if your camera works with a different browser. For instance, if you are using Firefox check if it works with Chrome instead.
 +
*Does the camera work with any other software that uses the camera such as Skype or Photobooth.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
==Perform a Bandwidth Test==
 +
If you don’t already know them, you can take a bandwidth speed test from [http://www.speedtest.net/ OOKLA’s Browser-based Speedtest] (''Note: Adobe Flash is required to run the applet''). You will want to run this test in the principle environment you normally play your games on Roll20 and have a Roll20 game currently open.
 +
 
 +
#Once the applet loads on the home page, click the button "''Begin Test''".
 +
#Allow the test to run. This process can take a couple minutes to complete.
 +
#Once it's finished, Speedtest will give you your download and upload rate in megabits per second (Mbps).
 +
 
 +
 
 +
=Filing a Report on the Bug Forum=
 +
If none of the above tests and steps helped resolve your issues please follow Steps 1-3 from the [https://wiki.roll20.net/Solving_Technical_Issues Solving Technical Issues Guide], taking special care to temporarily disable all browser add-ons and extensions, temporarily pause your anti-virus (or whitelist Roll20.net), and try switching browsers (for Chrome/Firefox specific issues) to see if one of those components is causing the problem. If all of that fails, please follow [https://wiki.roll20.net/Solving_Technical_Issues#Step_4:_Provide_a_bug_report Step 4] and file a bug report on the [https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/4516830/webrtc-video-and-voice-chat-issues/?pageforid=4516830#post-4516830 WebRTC Video and Voice Chat Issues forum thread]. Please provide all of the information you gathered from Steps 1-4 of the Solving Technical Issues Guide as well as the following information:
 +
 
 +
==WebRTC Connectivity Diagnostic Test==
 +
Additionally, we recommend that you try to run this [https://test.webrtc.org/ WebRTC Connectivity Diagnostic Test] and supply its test result in your report.<br />
 +
Once there:
 +
#Click on the Start button.
 +
#Allow the test to run itself through the various subtasks (Microphone, Camera, Network, Connectivity, and lastly Throughput).
 +
#If the test runs into any issues, click on the bug icon at the top, this brings up a new window to create a bug report.
 +
#Describe what issues you had with the diagnostic test and then click on “Upload Report”
 +
#This will pull up a new window that provides a link to the report (“The ''link'' to the report is now available”). This link will be available for the next 90 days. Copy the link and paste it here in this thread.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
==In-Game Bandwidth Settings==
 +
Let us know what your average Download and Upload speeds from the above [[Audio_Visual_Troubleshooting#Perform_a_Bandwidth_Test|Bandwidth Test]] as well as the "Video Bandwidth" setting (High, Medium, Low, or Very Low) under the '''Video + Voice''' section of the '''Settings''' tab within your Roll20 game.

Revision as of 01:02, 17 February 2018

Contents

WebRTC Basics

What is Roll20 WebRTC?

We at Roll20 believe that seeing and talking to your friends while you play is a vital part of the tabletop experience. WebRTC is a browser based VOIP option, allowing video and voice chat to be integrated into Roll20 without requiring you to download a 3rd party program or installing an add-on or plugin. While no other Virtual Table Top provides integrated video and voice chat, Roll20 is dedicated to offering it as a free feature. WebRTC's peer-to-peer nature allows us to provide that service as well as giving us the freedom to design advanced features, such as whispering, pop-out and adjustable videos, and more.

How is WebRTC different from Discord, Google Hangouts, Skype, etc?

WebRTC is a HTML5 technology that runs video and voice through a web browser without the need of a java applet. Applications like Skype or Discord aren't browser-based and therefore have access to hardware acceleration and data compression that Roll20 cannot take advantage of. Those applications use a Client/Server or All-to-One-to-All connection rather than a Peer-to-Peer connection. With an "All-to-One-to-All" connection, applications like Skype send your video/voice data one time to their server which then carries that load of data to each of the other people in the call. With "Peer-to-Peer", you are sending your video/voice data again to each peer connection in the call. This means that the upload bandwidth cost for a WebRTC call is higher than other VOIP options in anything more than a two person call. This higher upload bandwidth cost can result in stability problems for users with low upload bandwidth connections.

Roll20 WebRTC Requirements

When it works Roll20 WebRTC can only be used in web browsers that natively support it. Roll20's officially supported browsers, Chrome and Firefox, are both compatible. A Roll20 WebRTC call has a suggested download and upload bandwidth of 512Kbps per additional user in the chat. That means that in a six person call (five users other than yourself), you would need around 2.5Mbps of bandwidth for a stable call. If your group has members whose connections cannot support these requirements we suggest using a 3rd party, non-browser based chat option, that can make use of both hardware acceleration and data-compression to lower bandwidth requirements.

Roll20 Settings

The Video & Voice Performance Settings on the Settings Tab of Roll20

Inside the Roll20 App, click on the Settings tab (y icon), in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Under the Settings tab are different options that affects how WebRTC performs within a game.


Under the Video + Voice options make sure you've set Broadcast and Receive to your game's prefered choices (Video & Voice, Voice only, Video only). If there is more than one person currently in the game, individual changes made to either Broadcast or Receive require clicking on the Reconnect button in order for the changes to adhere for anyone else currently in the game.


For the GM, further down the Settings tab, under the "Game Settings" section, are "Video + Audio Chat Options". The GM should double check that the Chat Tech setting is not set to None.


Also in the "Video + Audio Chat Options" section, the GM can adjust the Video Bandwidth for the game. The setting can be set to High, Medium, Low, or Very Low. If one or more of your fellow players has a slower connection speed, you may want to set this to the lower Bandwidth settings to help with performance.

Firefox & Chrome Settings

At present, Roll20 only fully supports Firefox and Chrome web browsers for our VTT. Other browsers may be able to handle WebRTC with little to no issues, but we can't devote reliable tech support for them if you do run into any issues.

Keeping your Browser Up to Date

It's generally a good idea to keep your browser updated to take advantage of browser bug fixes and optimization measures.

Updating Chrome

  1. Click on the More Button (vertical row of three dots icon) in the upper right hand corner.
  2. Click on the Help option from the resulting drop down menu.
  3. Click on About Google Chrome option from the secondary drop down menu that appears.


OR

  1. Paste chrome://help/ into the URL bar and hit Enter.


Either method will open Chrome's "About" page that will inform you of your current browser version and will automatically prompt you to update to the latest stable version if you're not using it.

Updating Firefox

  1. Click on the Menu Button (three horizontal lines icon) in the upper right hand corner.
  2. Click on ? icon at the bottom of the drop down menu.
  3. Click on About Firefox from the resulting roll out menu.
  4. Firefox will tell you your current browser version and automatically prompt an update to the latest stable version if you're not using it. Click the Restart to Update button if necessary.


Microphone and Camera Browser Permissions

To protect your privacy, microphone and webcamera permissions are disabled from use on Chrome and Firefox by default. If this is the first time you've used Roll20, recently cleaned out your browser cookies/cache, or working from a fresh install of your browser, you'll need to approve the Roll20 website's use of your camera and microphone for them to be used for broadcasting either video or voice within a game.

Enabling Chrome Permissions

Chrome Allow Deny.png
"Chrome AV Select"


  1. When the VTT loads for the first time, you should be asked to Allow or Deny camera and microphone access from a grey bar pop-up that appears at the top of the screen.
  2. Click Allow to enable your camera and microphone to be used within a Roll20 game.


OR


  1. Click on the lock icon in the far left of the URL/search bar to reveal a drop down menu.
  2. Ensure that both Camera and Microphone options have their permissions set to "Always allow on this site". Make sure you're currently on Roll20.net when you set this, this setting is URL sensitive.

Enabling Firefox Permissions

"Firefox AV Select"
  1. When the VTT loads for the first time, you'll be asked to 'Share Selected Devices' from a drop down menu in the upper left hand corner of the screen.
  2. If not, click on the Camera icon in the upper left hand corner next to the Back button.
  3. Be sure to select the correct Camera and Microphone to share before clicking the Share Selected Devices button.

Clear your Web Browser's Cache

Clearing Out Chrome's Cache

  1. Click on the Menu Button (three horizontal lines) in the upper right hand corner.
  2. Click on More Tools from the dropdown.
  3. Click on Clear browsing data from the new options.
  4. From the drop down "Obliterate the following items from:" select the beginning of time option.
  5. Check both Cookies and other site and plug-in data and Cached images and files.
  6. Click on Clear browsing data button.

Clearing Out Firefox's Cache

  1. Click on the Menu Button (three horizontal lines) in the upper right hand corner.
  2. Click the Options Button' (a small gear) from the drop down menu.
  3. On the Advanced tab, select the Network sub-tab.
  4. Under the Cached Web Content section, select the Clear Now button.


Device and Bandwidth Tests

Webcam WebRTC Compatibility Test


Alternatively is to run a test of your webcam and mic through appear.in. This website is also a Peer-to-Peer WebRTC service that can have up to eight users in a conference call. You can test your entire gaming group in one pass.


Perform a WebCam/Microphone Test

  • Check if your camera works with a different browser. For instance, if you are using Firefox check if it works with Chrome instead.
  • Does the camera work with any other software that uses the camera such as Skype or Photobooth.


Perform a Bandwidth Test

If you don’t already know them, you can take a bandwidth speed test from OOKLA’s Browser-based Speedtest (Note: Adobe Flash is required to run the applet). You will want to run this test in the principle environment you normally play your games on Roll20 and have a Roll20 game currently open.

  1. Once the applet loads on the home page, click the button "Begin Test".
  2. Allow the test to run. This process can take a couple minutes to complete.
  3. Once it's finished, Speedtest will give you your download and upload rate in megabits per second (Mbps).


Filing a Report on the Bug Forum

If none of the above tests and steps helped resolve your issues please follow Steps 1-3 from the Solving Technical Issues Guide, taking special care to temporarily disable all browser add-ons and extensions, temporarily pause your anti-virus (or whitelist Roll20.net), and try switching browsers (for Chrome/Firefox specific issues) to see if one of those components is causing the problem. If all of that fails, please follow Step 4 and file a bug report on the WebRTC Video and Voice Chat Issues forum thread. Please provide all of the information you gathered from Steps 1-4 of the Solving Technical Issues Guide as well as the following information:

WebRTC Connectivity Diagnostic Test

Additionally, we recommend that you try to run this WebRTC Connectivity Diagnostic Test and supply its test result in your report.
Once there:

  1. Click on the Start button.
  2. Allow the test to run itself through the various subtasks (Microphone, Camera, Network, Connectivity, and lastly Throughput).
  3. If the test runs into any issues, click on the bug icon at the top, this brings up a new window to create a bug report.
  4. Describe what issues you had with the diagnostic test and then click on “Upload Report”
  5. This will pull up a new window that provides a link to the report (“The link to the report is now available”). This link will be available for the next 90 days. Copy the link and paste it here in this thread.


In-Game Bandwidth Settings

Let us know what your average Download and Upload speeds from the above Bandwidth Test as well as the "Video Bandwidth" setting (High, Medium, Low, or Very Low) under the Video + Voice section of the Settings tab within your Roll20 game.

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