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5 years ago ::
Sep 28, 2008 - 4:58AM
#21
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I haven't read anything else on it, so I don't have any pros/cons.
I've used it some time ago.
Pro: Free, Fast, Easy, Sufficient if you only need a pure Battlemap
Con: Not many functions, No textures or objects can be placed, Extremely Basic
If you have questions about 4th Edition - don't hesitate to ask me via PMs. Join the Community Monster Manual Group and help to collect a mass of monsters which will make your life as DM easier, and your life as Player pure hell!  I am a cartographer. You can find some of my maps in my profile, free for non-commercial use. Also, if you happen to like maps or make them yourselves, join into the Cartographers Group!
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5 years ago ::
Sep 28, 2008 - 12:13PM
#22
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Date Joined:
Aug 22, 2007
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I might as well post it... DragonScript DM Tools (Treasure Generator, Encounter monitor, more to come) http://home.dralenan.com/dscriptPrice: Free Pros: Easy to use, instant results, output to plain text, platform independent Cons: Web-based, limited to core books (at the moment), only one tool finished (and it only works up to Paragon). Infrequent updating.
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5 years ago ::
Sep 29, 2008 - 6:13PM
#23
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Anything that requires Open Source applications to install *arent* easy for people who arent familiar with them.
An outline of how to get the relevant products and how to use them to install the D&D-related products, might be helpful here too.
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5 years ago ::
Sep 30, 2008 - 5:38AM
#24
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Date Joined:
Aug 24, 2005
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That simply is not true, Haldrik.
MapTool is open source, and the installer is about as simple as it can get. About the only complicated process is the potential need to open a port in the firewall, but that has nothing to do with open source.
It uses the Java Webstart interface to manage the installation. Its a single click to start the process, then just click next on the appropriate dialog boxes.
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5 years ago ::
Sep 30, 2008 - 8:42PM
#25
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Asmodeus: It uses the Java Webstart ...
Java Webstart. Right. :D That isnt easy either.
Dont you remember what its like to be a noobee? Most online viewers use Windows, and arent familiar with computer coding.
For most, installing a program requires one doubleclick in Windows (which opens an installation wizard). However, these D&D-related programs often need them to hunt down third-party computer software (Open Source, Java, whatever) in a foreign computer language, understand what it means, download it (which in turn often requires downloading a fourth-party product to unpack the arj). Learn it, use it. All of this just to open up the D&D product that they wanted in the first place. It can be daunting for beginners!
Its doable. But step-by-step instructions with friendly links for where to get the third-party software, and exactly how to use it to open a D&D-related product, would be helpful.
And firewalls! Thats a problem too! How many noobs got stymied by their computer mysteriously not working because of their firewall, which they didnt know about? Thousands! Millions?
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5 years ago ::
Oct 01, 2008 - 4:33AM
#26
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- Senior Volunteer Community Lead
- Dragon Slayer
- D&DI News Guide
Date Joined:
Aug 31, 2005
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And firewalls! Thats a problem too! How many noobs got stymied by their computer mysteriously not working because of their firewall, which they didnt know about? Thousands! Millions?
I used to volunteer support in the TeamSpeak forums. Perhaps as many as 75% of the "UR SOFTWAREZ DONT WURK!" posts were because they couldn't follow directions to setup port forwarding on their firewall.
A handful of those, when the pictoral guide was shown to them would flippantly say something along the lines of "Well, ur installer should do it for me! This is dumb, I'm going to use ".
To which we'd point out they'll still need to config their firewall, and good luck. 
TBH, I expect (hope?) this is one of the benefits of the Game Table being tied to DDI. Since one has to login to DDI, and we'll (apparently) be on a shared server during the setup, we likely won't need to open firewall ports (since an outbound session will be established first, then the software can just keep that port/ports open for new inbound connections). Should remove that step from the process.
Wolf Star76 Community Advocate (SVCL) for D&D Organized Play, Avalon Hill, and the DCI/WPN LFR Community Manager DDi Guide  Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter
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5 years ago ::
Oct 01, 2008 - 5:56AM
#27
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Date Joined:
Aug 24, 2005
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Its doable. But step-by-step instructions with friendly links for where to get the third-party software, and exactly how to use it to open a D&D-related product, would be helpful.
I agree. Those would be SUPER helpful! And the best part is it already exists.
http://www.rptools.net/doku.php?id=mapt … 0:starting
I found this by going to the maptool site and clicking the big 'installation' link on the left hand side of the screen. It was very obvious and easy to find.
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5 years ago ::
Oct 05, 2008 - 5:24PM
#28
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Date Joined:
Sep 14, 2007
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Java Webstart. Right. :D That isnt easy either.
Are you seriously suggesting that installing MapTools is in any way, shape, or form... difficult?
If you can GET to the web site it's located on, that was harder than installing it. Seriously. I've dealt Java apps that were a pain in the ass--MapTools is not one of them.
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5 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2008 - 8:44PM
#29
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Date Joined:
Jun 21, 2003
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Are you looking to just list stuff for 4E?
If Not I recommend DiceBag, and Tablesmith, Dundjinni, Campaign Cartographer
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5 years ago ::
Oct 07, 2008 - 10:35AM
#30
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Date Joined:
Aug 24, 2005
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No, this is not 4e specific. Anything that you use to aid your gaming in a digital way is welcome.
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