Tips for a psionics-newbie? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Tips for a psionics-newbie? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
VikingWarrior
06-16-07, 01:48 PM As the topic suggests, I'm completely new to psionics - as in, I've never played one, never played in a game where someone else was playing one, and have never really read the rules for them, either. However, I've always been interested by the concept, and so I've ordered the Expanded Psionics Handbook, in order to change that. However, I figured I'd ask the nice and friendly (I hope! :hides: ) people in this forum for any tips they might have for someone who's interested in learning about psionics. :)

One thing worth noting, is that I'm currently without a tabletop group, so the only chance I get to play D&D is on a PbP-site, meaning that it usually takes a lot longer to get things done than in tabletop. It seems to be working out for me, though, at least most of the time.

So. . . thanks in advance for any answers, kind and helpful posters of the Psionics-subforum! :)
Tempest Stormwind
06-16-07, 01:51 PM See the New DM/Player's Guide, which is linked in the FAQ at the top of the forum or in my sig.

Welcome to psionics!
VikingWarrior
06-16-07, 02:10 PM Thanks! :)
Tyroki
06-16-07, 07:31 PM You could get yourself a DM and play via Instant Messengers ^^; Me and my mates do it all the time.
Tempest Stormwind
06-16-07, 08:18 PM You could get yourself a DM and play via Instant Messengers ^^; Me and my mates do it all the time.

Eeew. At least use something like OpenRPG.
Tyroki
06-17-07, 02:21 AM Eeew. At least use something like OpenRPG.

OpenRPG? What is that, and where can I get it? Infact... If it's what I think it is, could you give me a list of those kinda programs with links?
Tempest Stormwind
06-17-07, 02:37 AM OpenRPG? What is that, and where can I get it? Infact... If it's what I think it is, could you give me a list of those kinda programs with links?

I can do better. (http://openrpg.digitalxero.net/wiki/index.php?page=Online+RPG+Tool+Compariso ns)

OpenRPG is my program of choice:
Chat, with built-in dieroller (can handle complex and variable die rolls, including functions for more advanced rolls) and aliases (i.e. the DM talking as different characters), full HTML support, logging, spellchecking, auto-filtering (though that's difficult to set up beyond the two they provide you), and so on.
Miniature map, with grid (hex and square) of variable scale, fog of war, whiteboard, and full web support for miniatures and maps. Can hide miniatures as well and add them en masse, great for surprises on the PCs. Miniatures can have 3D support of sorts (a Z-order stack), facing, and heading (for games that use that; we use the heading/facing indicators to represent status changes), and various labels.
Gametree with XML noding -- essentially, allowing you to create anything you would use your notes for in a pen-and-paper game, but with macroes (I click one button and it does my full attack for me, with nice specialty formatting). Granted, you do need a bit of expertise to REALLY know how to milk this system, but I have that and I provide nodes for it without much difficutly.
In addition to server logging, private rooms, and more, and it's all extendable with plugins.

Oh, and it's free, too.

The only other one on the list I'd recommend using is MapTool -- better map, worse overall mechanics for the game rules (hence why I prefer OpenRPG). It's still worth considering, though.
Tyroki
06-17-07, 02:56 AM wxPython 2.8.4 or just Python 2.5? o.o;
Tempest Stormwind
06-17-07, 03:09 AM wxPython 2.8.4 or just Python 2.5? o.o;

Both. wxPython's a graphics extension to Python; it's what handles the miniature map.

Don't get confused; it's not as bad as it sounds. (Unless you run a Mac, where there's one change that needs to be done to get it to work properly due to the terrible way MacOS implements Python...)
InkBlot
06-17-07, 07:05 PM If you don't mind me asking, what's that one change?
Tempest Stormwind
06-17-07, 07:37 PM If you don't mind me asking, what's that one change?

Edit html.gif (in Images; it's the icon used for web links) so that it's 16x16 instead of 17x17 pixels in dimension.

Like I said, the Mac implementation of Python is terrible and ludicrously picky. (On the flipside, I THINK it may have been fixed by the OpenRPG team.)
InkBlot
06-17-07, 08:06 PM It looks like the OpenRPG team are a canny bunch. It's indeed been fixed already!
Tyroki
06-17-07, 08:29 PM So do you need to know coding to really do much with it?

And can the DM make his own maps using this? See, we've tried Fantasy Grounds, but it has some major flaws, ESPECIALLY in the character sheet department. It really doesn't allow for much.

Uhwaaah O.o This program is confusing as heck o.o
Tempest Stormwind
06-17-07, 09:01 PM So do you need to know coding to really do much with it?No, nothing of the sort.And can the DM make his own maps using this?As easily as making any other image. One sample map (from the dungeon one of my two games is currently dealing with, actually) would be this one (http://telusplanet.net/~sdupuis/Tempest/Sionnis/Occand-Castle.jpg). (We use tiles for this; they're cheap -- far cheaper than fantasy grounds -- and very effective.)See, we've tried Fantasy Grounds, but it has some major flaws, ESPECIALLY in the character sheet department. It really doesn't allow for much.Heh. Damn right.

If you want a program to look pretty but be ultimately worthless, take Fantasy Grounds.

If you want a program to actually play online, use OpenRPG or MapTool.Uhwaaah O.o This program is confusing as heck o.oNot really. What do you need help with?
Tyroki
06-17-07, 09:07 PM All of it xD
Tempest Stormwind
06-17-07, 09:58 PM All of it xD

...You do realize that says nothing, right? I can help more the more information I have, but with no info, I can't do anything but say this:

It's really nowhere near as hard to use as you seem to think it is. Start off by installing Python and wxPython (up to date links are provided at the OpenRPG dev site (http://openrpg.digitalxero.net)), then OpenRPG. From there, there's a user guide available on the same site.

After you have some specific questions, come back here.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
VikingWarrior 06-16-07, 01:48 PM	As the topic suggests, I'm completely new to psionics - as in, I've never played one, never played in a game where someone else was playing one, and have never really read the rules for them, either. However, I've always been interested by the concept, and so I've ordered the Expanded Psionics Handbook, in order to change that. However, I figured I'd ask the nice and friendly (I hope! :hides: ) people in this forum for any tips they might have for someone who's interested in learning about psionics. :) One thing worth noting, is that I'm currently without a tabletop group, so the only chance I get to play D&D is on a PbP-site, meaning that it usually takes a lot longer to get things done than in tabletop. It seems to be working out for me, though, at least most of the time. So. . . thanks in advance for any answers, kind and helpful posters of the Psionics-subforum! :)
Tempest Stormwind 06-16-07, 01:51 PM	See the New DM/Player's Guide, which is linked in the FAQ at the top of the forum or in my sig. Welcome to psionics!
VikingWarrior 06-16-07, 02:10 PM	Thanks! :)
Tyroki 06-16-07, 07:31 PM	You could get yourself a DM and play via Instant Messengers ^^; Me and my mates do it all the time.
Tempest Stormwind 06-16-07, 08:18 PM	You could get yourself a DM and play via Instant Messengers ^^; Me and my mates do it all the time. Eeew. At least use something like OpenRPG.
Tyroki 06-17-07, 02:21 AM	Eeew. At least use something like OpenRPG. OpenRPG? What is that, and where can I get it? Infact... If it's what I think it is, could you give me a list of those kinda programs with links?
Tempest Stormwind 06-17-07, 02:37 AM	OpenRPG? What is that, and where can I get it? Infact... If it's what I think it is, could you give me a list of those kinda programs with links? I can do better. (http://openrpg.digitalxero.net/wiki/index.php?page=Online+RPG+Tool+Compariso ns) OpenRPG is my program of choice: Chat, with built-in dieroller (can handle complex and variable die rolls, including functions for more advanced rolls) and aliases (i.e. the DM talking as different characters), full HTML support, logging, spellchecking, auto-filtering (though that's difficult to set up beyond the two they provide you), and so on. Miniature map, with grid (hex and square) of variable scale, fog of war, whiteboard, and full web support for miniatures and maps. Can hide miniatures as well and add them en masse, great for surprises on the PCs. Miniatures can have 3D support of sorts (a Z-order stack), facing, and heading (for games that use that; we use the heading/facing indicators to represent status changes), and various labels. Gametree with XML noding -- essentially, allowing you to create anything you would use your notes for in a pen-and-paper game, but with macroes (I click one button and it does my full attack for me, with nice specialty formatting). Granted, you do need a bit of expertise to REALLY know how to milk this system, but I have that and I provide nodes for it without much difficutly. In addition to server logging, private rooms, and more, and it's all extendable with plugins. Oh, and it's free, too. The only other one on the list I'd recommend using is MapTool -- better map, worse overall mechanics for the game rules (hence why I prefer OpenRPG). It's still worth considering, though.
Tyroki 06-17-07, 02:56 AM	wxPython 2.8.4 or just Python 2.5? o.o;
Tempest Stormwind 06-17-07, 03:09 AM	wxPython 2.8.4 or just Python 2.5? o.o; Both. wxPython's a graphics extension to Python; it's what handles the miniature map. Don't get confused; it's not as bad as it sounds. (Unless you run a Mac, where there's one change that needs to be done to get it to work properly due to the terrible way MacOS implements Python...)
InkBlot 06-17-07, 07:05 PM	If you don't mind me asking, what's that one change?
Tempest Stormwind 06-17-07, 07:37 PM	If you don't mind me asking, what's that one change? Edit html.gif (in Images; it's the icon used for web links) so that it's 16x16 instead of 17x17 pixels in dimension. Like I said, the Mac implementation of Python is terrible and ludicrously picky. (On the flipside, I THINK it may have been fixed by the OpenRPG team.)
InkBlot 06-17-07, 08:06 PM	It looks like the OpenRPG team are a canny bunch. It's indeed been fixed already!
Tyroki 06-17-07, 08:29 PM	So do you need to know coding to really do much with it? And can the DM make his own maps using this? See, we've tried Fantasy Grounds, but it has some major flaws, ESPECIALLY in the character sheet department. It really doesn't allow for much. Uhwaaah O.o This program is confusing as heck o.o
Tempest Stormwind 06-17-07, 09:01 PM	So do you need to know coding to really do much with it?No, nothing of the sort.And can the DM make his own maps using this?As easily as making any other image. One sample map (from the dungeon one of my two games is currently dealing with, actually) would be this one (http://telusplanet.net/~sdupuis/Tempest/Sionnis/Occand-Castle.jpg). (We use tiles for this; they're cheap -- far cheaper than fantasy grounds -- and very effective.)See, we've tried Fantasy Grounds, but it has some major flaws, ESPECIALLY in the character sheet department. It really doesn't allow for much.Heh. Damn right. If you want a program to look pretty but be ultimately worthless, take Fantasy Grounds. If you want a program to actually play online, use OpenRPG or MapTool.Uhwaaah O.o This program is confusing as heck o.oNot really. What do you need help with?
Tyroki 06-17-07, 09:07 PM	All of it xD
Tempest Stormwind 06-17-07, 09:58 PM	All of it xD ...You do realize that says nothing, right? I can help more the more information I have, but with no info, I can't do anything but say this: It's really nowhere near as hard to use as you seem to think it is. Start off by installing Python and wxPython (up to date links are provided at the OpenRPG dev site (http://openrpg.digitalxero.net)), then OpenRPG. From there, there's a user guide available on the same site. After you have some specific questions, come back here.