A 'hybrid session' is a session where we have some players online and others arriving in person. This has the benefits of allowing anyone to join, even those in another country, but with the drawback of a bit of jank.

To take proper advantage of the real-world setup, the primary advantage of virtual sessions--the map--cannot be used. Instead, a whiteboard is set out on the table, and when combat happens, a space for fighting is drawn onto it. Online players will have to dictate which spaces they want to move to using a cartesian coordinate system; in other words, a Battleship-style A-1 or B-8 coordinate system.

The setup pictured above is prepared to support 3 guests. Another could join if need be with minimal adjustment. The session will still be held in a Discord call, where two users will be showing a webcam: one connected to the laptop that shows all of the players, and one connected to a mount on the ceiling that shows the battle board.

Every player will have a device connected to Foundry (one will be provided if none are available), where your character sheet, notes, and other miscellania can be accessed. Your tokens will be set up on the board, and when needed, the DM can sketch out an area on the board with dry-erase markers. Online players will dictate where they go using coordinates (if you don't want to interrupt the conversation, you can send them through Foundry chat!).

The TV in the back will show the Discord call or the Foundry, depending on what's currently important and whether or not any online players have their cameras on. The Foundry will usually just be a static image of the surrounding area; everyone who needs to access an area map can do so on their device.

If you have a device that can run Foundry, such as a laptop or even a tablet or phone (or a desktop, if you're attending from home, smartass), bring it. We have enough devices for everyone, but one is a tablet, which Foundry was not made for, and the other is a Chromebook, which has exceptionally poor performance.

Colin is bringing the board and anything that needs to be 3D-printed, Gabe is helping to set up the space and providing several key props, and Cass is of course bringing a prepared session, and the tokens. For everyone else, snacks and drinks are a welcome addition to the table. :)

(If you're in charge of snacks, try to bring some vegetarian ones for Gabe's sake.)

Once the session is over, it would make everybody's lives easier if everyone pitched in to help clean up. Wiping off bits of dust or spilled drinks from the table, packing up and plugging in all the devices from the session, having your things together, and getting the table and chairs put back where they should be are all ways you can pitch in. If someone needs to leave early though, it's understandable.

The plan is to run a session every Saturday, starting at 4:00 PM EST (16:00, 22:00 Warszawa, 2:00 PM BWT). With the current setup, Gabe will leave to pick up participants at 3, so you can get here and get set up before the session; the time might change depending on how many people need to be picked up, talk to Gabe about it.

Sessions typically last 3 to 4 hours. Enough time to get home before curfew, probably not enough time to do anything else in the evening, so clear your Saturdays.

Those online, while it is our responsibility to listen, it is your responsibility to speak. Partake in the discussion the same as everyone else, where you're comfortable, and try not to feel put off by the differences. Inspiration will and should be offered for those who are especially accommodating and able to work well in this odd situation.

Those in person, please be considerate of those online. They will naturally have a less pronounced presence, so it falls on all of us to make sure that we're including them in the discussion, even if we can't see them. This is not only the DM's responsibility; it falls on everyone to ask their fellow players what they want to do, and especially to never skip a beat when moving tokens to requested coordinates.

Those online, while it is our responsibility to listen, it is your responsibility to speak. Partake in the discussion the same as everyone else, where you're comfortable, and try not to feel put off by the differences. Inspiration will and should be offered for those who are especially accommodating and able to work well in this odd situation.