The nice thing about playing a tabletop game is that you don't need computers or all those fancy electronics, its a fun time without it. If you are going to take out the physical dice rolling, and keeping track of things why not go play never winter nights?
I can see how it would be fun, but its really not needed.
There is nothing better than have friend arround a table and the imagination of a DM and rolling some dice ( real or virtual dice ) .
When you already made all thing in world of warcraft , you runned all instanced , killed all boss and next expansion or patch is only in 3 or 4 month you stuck with a game than nothing else to offer to you.
In Dungeon dragon what ever the version , It's rare than a DM waiting the next expension of his brain to create a new dungeon or campain.
Oh well, Wow disguting me in the highest level you can't imagine for something, Too mush time cosuming with articifial and virtual friend than begging you to do for the 9999 time the same dungeon over and over with monster parked in the same mecanics. Also they made the game so you need to couple Daily quest ( same quest over and over ) to get some gold in order to buy Reagent/ Arrows / repair your armor / get some potion Flask or elexir etc... oh well . I needed to spend 2 hrs everyday to get 200 gold arround in order to be ready to Raid with guild.
In resume I been tired to be slave from a electronic game. Even wrost to Pay to be slave.
WOW story for me is END.
The reason for the VTT is kinda easy to understand, You can play with your Mini Real one and Dm can summon via image others mini and manage them with his desktop or laptop as dm battle sreen.
That will Accelerate DM interaction for monster management, Click mob A , DM screen show max of his movement avalaible reclick for destination with Detailed movement and bingo. Player see where mob moveing like a line on battle screen etc...
I doubt that could be expensive. IF touch screen is too expensive . Most Video card now give access to 2 monitor output. So 1 output for DM battle screen 2nd output for player and dm battle field
A software than manage map / player char sheet ( ddi CB sheet) general initiative
For dice They could manage some USB remote with 7 buttom
like buttom to D4 roll D6 roll etc..... or just roll regular dice and DM input them manually.
If player hit a tiny animation happen on creature.
Also, for the battle field screen a Flat 42" inch is now low as 400$ now ( LCD ) manage one in a box with some fan( ventilation) to be lay down on a table with a plaxiglass that would make arround 550 to 600$ , than dont require a 240 hz with all billion contrast option, Just need Full HD 1080p screen with 1 HDMI 1 DVI 1 VGA input. No need sound 60 hz lcd will be fine.
I saw a player made already his table , his commnunity name is Jeehell Link to see post
I would like to have comment for Jeehell , how is game play now. How fun thier player have with this system . Also does that accelerate combat and dinamics for monsters..
well i would like to continue to talk but i got to go. i will contnue my reply later. see ya `
-- Hi , I got 10 min to continue my post :D hehe
I'm Dm in a group and i'm a player in another group. I gave a poll some question to answers . I was surprise everyone participate.
1 point in commun 10person on 12. They wrote me NPC/ monster take too LARGE time to attack. In fact we not rushing and we aren't stressed , we all play to relax but when monster take 75% of the ROUND . than make less fun to play for player.
If i could pre-command move and attack and give the result for 12 monster in 2 min instead to take 10 min than usual, everyone would be glad.
In order to fix that , I learn how to use Dungeon Master's Battle Screen from Dzmitry Khimaroda.
I can prepare my battle , prepare couple dice D20+6 1d6+1 etc.. I just need to click while player turn. I will apply if than possible. btw if Dzmitry looking at my post , what would be fun if I could prepare dice on monster's power directly. so i just need to click on power icone or name and i get dice result.
In resume if I could manage something Home made than Take Dm battle screen + player battle screen + map manager + monster mini manager . That will be perfect.
Whats the point, why not just play wow?
The nice thing about playing a tabletop game is that you don't need computers or all those fancy electronics, its a fun time without it. If you are going to take out the physical dice rolling, and keeping track of things why not go play never winter nights?
I can see how it would be fun, but its really not needed.
Because you want to maintain the human element in to your game instead of being limited to a preprogrammed story and set of actions? Because you want to have lots of cool minis and maps without dropping a lot of money on them or worrying about storing/transporting them? Because you want to continue playing the game with your friends even though you now live far apart? Or maybe because not everything that involves electronics = WoW?
To the OP, I think WotC would have a hard time creating something that can compete with what's already out there. Why would I go and pay for their VTT if I can get MapTools (which is probably better than whatever WotC would create anyway) for free?
- To make fancy 3d terrain like WWG or the upcoming 3d Dungeon Tiles and use it for my games.
- To go completely digital (almost done it already, only dice, tiles and minis left) and play out combats on a big wall-mounted screen or projector.
Now if there would be a Combat Manager with 3d battlemap...
In resume if I could manage something Home made than Take Dm battle screen + player battle screen + map manager + monster mini manager . That will be perfect.
Something like Masterplan?
Whats the point, why not just play wow?
The nice thing about playing a tabletop game is that you don't need computers or all those fancy electronics, its a fun time without it. If you are going to take out the physical dice rolling, and keeping track of things why not go play never winter nights?
I can see how it would be fun, but its really not needed.
Because you want to maintain the human element in to your game instead of being limited to a preprogrammed story and set of actions? Because you want to have lots of cool minis and maps without dropping a lot of money on them or worrying about storing/transporting them? Because you want to continue playing the game with your friends even though you now live far apart? Or maybe because not everything that involves electronics = WoW?
Exactly. For our 4th edition games we have very little time to play, and it is is really annoying having to wait for the DM to draw the maps out. Not to mention is ruins a lot of the suprise factor with the game as the DM suddenly stops everything to draw the map.
We've talked serveral times about "what if we had a computer" for drawing maps, ploting LOS and all those mechanical jazzes.
Of course most of us want to have dice that were real however. (For me, Virtial dice sometimes are nicer than real ones.)
Of course the DM would need tools and all that, ways of easily making DM calls. The program we imagine wouldn't take those away from the DM. Nor would you ever be able to see the DMs dice unless he wanted to. And he could also use things to fudge the dice if for some reason his dice are hot or so cold its a non-challange.
And this isn't just limited to 4e either. My 3.5 game the next day we've talked about it with people who haven't ever played 4e. Haven't talked about it in my 2.0 game the day after third edition. However I do wish I could find an interactive PDF for second edition.
and
cgi.ebay.ca/AD-D-2e-CD-Rom-Core-Rules-1-...
There is rules for 2nd edition. I own both box of them but i would never sale it. it's came with Dice roll software and Map creator tool, Encounter manager , Tresure roller script etc. Everything to make you a campain.
chanter look this cgi.ebay.ca/AD-D-Core-Rules-2-0-Expansio...
and
cgi.ebay.ca/AD-D-2e-CD-Rom-Core-Rules-1-...
There is rules for 2nd edition. I own both box of them but i would never sale it. it's came with Dice roll software and Map creator tool, Encounter manager , Tresure roller script etc. Everything to make you a campain.
Oh yes, I used the hell out of those during 2e, and even somewhat during 4e. The program is just so easy to use and its very easy to add new classes, races, etc. Even though I don't play 2e anymore, I'm pretty sure I'll be hanging onto those CDs forever.
Right now two desires tear me apart:
- To make fancy 3d terrain like WWG or the upcoming 3d Dungeon Tiles and use it for my games.
- To go completely digital (almost done it already, only dice, tiles and minis left) and play out combats on a big wall-mounted screen or projector.
Now if there would be a Combat Manager with 3d battlemap...
THIS! +1
I love the digital look but the 3D aspect is missing.
I dream of 3D LCD Tv's hooked up that way.