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7 months ago ::
Nov 17, 2012 - 10:46PM
#31
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Date Joined:
Jun 15, 2012
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I like this thread. Lately, I've been interested in making maps on something other than graph paper. Hoping people will post some free/easy ways to make some ugly, but effective and quick maps.
A few guidelines for using the internet:
1. Mentally add "In my opinion" to the end of basically anything someone else says. Of course it's their opinion, they don't need to let you know. You're pretty smart.
2. Assume everyone means everything in the best manner they could mean it. Save yourself some stress and give people the benefit of the doubt. We'll all be happier if we type less emoticons.
3. Don't try to read people's minds. Sometimes people mean exactly what they say. You probably don't know them any better than they know themselves.
4. Let grammar slide. If you understood what they meant, you're good. It's better for your health.
5. Breath. It's just a dumb game.
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7 months ago ::
Nov 17, 2012 - 10:59PM
#32
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I like this thread. Lately, I've been interested in making maps on something other than graph paper. Hoping people will post some free/easy ways to make some ugly, but effective and quick maps.
What tools are available to you? PC? Mac? tablet?
My two copper.
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7 months ago ::
Nov 17, 2012 - 11:20PM
#33
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Date Joined:
Jun 15, 2012
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I like this thread. Lately, I've been interested in making maps on something other than graph paper. Hoping people will post some free/easy ways to make some ugly, but effective and quick maps.
What tools are available to you? PC? Mac? tablet?
I have all 3, but I prefer to work on my mac, as I have those at the studio too. I have an android tablet.
I'm really just looking for digital graph paper I can annotate and maybe drag and drop some smbols onto. Having dotted lines would be cool too.
A few guidelines for using the internet:
1. Mentally add "In my opinion" to the end of basically anything someone else says. Of course it's their opinion, they don't need to let you know. You're pretty smart.
2. Assume everyone means everything in the best manner they could mean it. Save yourself some stress and give people the benefit of the doubt. We'll all be happier if we type less emoticons.
3. Don't try to read people's minds. Sometimes people mean exactly what they say. You probably don't know them any better than they know themselves.
4. Let grammar slide. If you understood what they meant, you're good. It's better for your health.
5. Breath. It's just a dumb game.
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7 months ago ::
Nov 17, 2012 - 11:28PM
#34
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Hmmm, thats a tough one. I know Curio for mac has a couple of style that are graph paper in different sizes. It allows adding of graphs, maps, and notes. It's an "Idea space" style program if you have ever heard of those. Other than that I'll look into it, but I haven't used anything like that personally.
Anyone else?
Edit: I know you have an android tablet, but Paper for the iPad does this as well, and pretty well I might add. Just for those out there that have an iPad.
My two copper.
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7 months ago ::
Nov 18, 2012 - 12:05AM
#35
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Date Joined:
Sep 26, 2012
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I haven't banned tech from my tables, but the phones are worse than the tablets and laptops. Laptops don't really make it to table too much any more now that tablets are so common. Laptops were poor because of real estate issues mostly, but the tablets have seemed fine.
Honestly, I'm one of those players who is alwys fiddling with their tech during the game. Mostly, games don't move at a fast enough pace, not to do something else. The tech keeps me from distracting others.
You obviously can't ban phones, but phones have been a major problem at games I've DM'd. It has been resolved in my usual game through discussion (figuring out what the players problem was), but you may have to take more drastic measures than I did.
Currently running a playtest, weekly, online D&D Next Session using a virtual table system called roll20.
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7 months ago ::
Nov 18, 2012 - 12:31AM
#36
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Date Joined:
May 29, 2012
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@Staccat0
I don't know about the droid store as I haven't had one in several years but i tested a demo of an app that does exactly what you want on iPad (probably can work on your mac) and I know there are several variations out there. There is everything from free demo versions with basically 8 bit graphics to the big 30 dollar mother-of-all-dungeon-map-apps named "Battle Map". I suggest you go to the apple app store on your mac and search "dungeon map", there are several results under that search and you can find more with some more work.
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7 months ago ::
Nov 18, 2012 - 2:11AM
#37
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Date Joined:
May 12, 2009
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I use a desktop and PDF or Word docs
Yan
Montréal, Canada
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7 months ago ::
Nov 18, 2012 - 2:57AM
#38
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My use of tech has changed significantly over the past year. Since I moved to Hong Kong, I can't actually play with my regular group without technology. We tried Skype, then Google Hangouts have proven to be far better, and now we almost exclusively use Roll20, even when we forgo making maps and play TotM-style using the text chat functions.
Prior to my moving away, technology was fairly limited. Plenty of people used tech outside of the game (to build characters, write journals IC or OoC, and craft adventures). But at the table, the only one using technology was the DM (frequently me). I personally brought a laptop to the game, placing it on a side table, so as not to completely block myself from the other players (the DM screen was enough). I never used dice rollers, preferring instead to roll actual dice whenever possible. While I kept adventure notes (either printed or hand-written) behind the screen, the full adventure I designed was often kept on the laptop.
Every player brought their own rules reference guide, either the PHB or (eventually in 4e) the Rules Cyclopedia, though one player brought it (and the rest of his library) on a tablet. He didn't use the tablet for anything more than that.
For actual game play, the laptop was used sparingly. I basically used it for images, and for background music. I was actually pretty aggressive about incorporating music into my sessions. I never just threw on the Conan soundtrack and hit repeat. Instead, I had crafted playlists that I would turn on at appropriate times. I had playlists for battles, for boss fights (often customized for the boss), different towns, different regions (exploring the desert sounded different than exploring the forest, etc). Characters had theme songs, so when I wanted a certain NPC's presence to be felt, even when they weren't physically there, I would play their theme song. For example, when the players were being stymied by bureaucracy, I'd play the song associated with the corrupt Prime Minister (or whoever) so they could associate the red tape with the NPC who was causing the red tape in the first place.
Nothing better than having the players in a social setting (in this example, a formal party being thrown by the local nobility) complete with chamber groups and string quartets on the playlist, and then having the BBEG's theme song slowly and innocuously fade in while I continue to narrate the scene as if nothing as changed, and watch the players gradually make the connection and start getting physically nervous.
Essentials zigged, when I wanted to continue zagging.
Roll dice, not cars.
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7 months ago ::
Nov 18, 2012 - 10:44AM
#39
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I use freshly harvested quills from my falcon and make the players use parchment stomped by their own feet and rolled out on their thighs and ink made from their tears of frustration and sweat of exertion.
Also we use laptops, ipads, whatevers at hand.
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7 months ago ::
Nov 18, 2012 - 12:25PM
#40
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I use freshly harvested quills from my falcon and make the players use parchment stomped by their own feet and rolled out on their thighs and ink made from their tears of frustration and sweat of exertion.
Also we use laptops, ipads, whatevers at hand.
Lol, +1. You made my day.
My two copper.
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