Pug’s Place

I really want to get back into Dungeons and Dragons. Additionally, I like playing with technology. I started looking at making a projection table for D&D games, a setup where the map is projected from a computer projector (often located above the table) rather than drawn on a battlemat. In order to do this, one needs good software capable of showing part of a map at a time to players (fog of war) while ’staying out of the way’ of the DM’s ability to tell the story. I’ve been looking for software like this for years now, and I have to say that I think I’ve finally found it: MapTool. It’s even Free Software!

A major advantage to switching to a projector-based setup is it lowers the bar to entry for remote players — everything’s already on the computer, then, so if you wanted to play from a remote location you could, while still keeping the local players in the middle of the action.

So I’m fantasizing about buying a projector to hang from the ceiling of my house (when I get one) from which I can project the D&D map onto the table. I’m thinking that the aesthetic impact could be lowered by putting a paper lantern around the projector (but with enough room for adequate cooling). The miniatures for the local players would still be on the table and moved by the players, while the remote players would simply move their tokens on the map. The DM would move the local players’ tokens to match their miniatures’ movements. This means that Carmen, Liz, Elf and Crunch could connect and watch via MapTool’s player interface, talk via voice conferencing and see the exact same board as those of us in town see. All without forcing the DM to pull double-duty drawing on a battlemat and updating a computer representation.

The screenshot above is from MapTool; the shaded portions are showing the “fog of war” — players (including what is shown on the projector) would just see blackness there. I made the tokens with the companion program, TokenTool. You can find both tools at RPTools.net.

So, D&D group, have any comments?

That’s what dungeons and dragons is all about! …at least with this crew!

Oh God, we were in very rare form tonight. Expect bloggings of some of the most hilarious bits from Liz and Elf fairly soonish.

I could write a bunch, but it sounds like Liz and Elf want to put fingers to keyboards first — Liz already said she was going to start her blog entry off with a great statement.
I know, I’m teasing you all with choice bits but golly, you’ll forgive me later.

There’s really nothing to DMing. At least when your mind is as twisted as mine.

UPDATE: Liz’s first post about the fun.

Mystery and Excitement? No, actually mystery and frustration.

So I can’t write mystery campaigns. I’m trying, dangit. Ghost and Shen are hilarious together, but I apparently don’t understand how to write a good clue… which isn’t surprising since the only mysteries I’ve read are various Hardy Boys and maybe four or so Sherlock Holmes novels. Elf pointed out that she doesn’t have the infinite perception of the sleuths in one of those stories.

Oops. Ah well, it just means that neither Ghost nor Shen have died yet. The time grows ever closer, ever closer… >:) Then I either need to buy a module with good roleplay value, or we’re going to have to get to some tactical combat which is something I can choreograph well.

Anyway, I just woke up for no particular reason and decided to type this up. Time to get back to bed until 9 AM or so…