Im working on using a projector for maps and seeing if anyone can help me out with suggestions for doing Fog of war with GIMP.
I hear of adding a black layer over the map which you erase slowly as the party move through the map, but how do you actually do that with GIMP as I have little knowledge with these kind of applications.
It is free.
I have also switched to maptools mostly for the ease of scrolling and zooming, wich is much faster than Gimp. But ive previously used gimp exstensively. and still use it to tweak my maps before I use maptool at gametime
Fastest and easiest way to Fog a gimp image is to work from the end of the dungeon back
first - create a mask layer
black out the whole map...and cut all the rooms. hallways etc... so you have what the map will look like when the explorers are done
Then, on its own transparent layer (named after the room) draw a black rectangle over the last room.
then (again on its own layer) on the hall leading to that room,
Then, on the room before that..
work your way to the front of the dungeon..
Then at game time, Just reveal (hide each layer) as the players move through the dungeon.
This way, each room or "view" is a single click, no messing around with drawing or sizes during the game
Using a dual monitor setup, i keep the map on the game table, and the layer menu on my dm monitor. the players turn a corner, and "click".... the next area is revealed.
usually takes me about 30 minutes to setup an entire map, but that includes wiping out the dm only information, monster locations, and covering up pit traps with dissappearing floortiles and all the other goodies you can add to a "video table"
@Muppet.. ya, Maptools rocks, but setting up the map image in gimp before you import it to maptools, makes life soooo much easier.
Using maptools, i usually run a server and a client. I make my table a playerview, and my dm monitor the dm (obviously) so i can manipulate the fog.
Hope this post was some help for ya
Then, on its own transparent layer (named after the room) draw a black rectangle over the last room.
then (again on its own layer) on the hall leading to that room,
Then, on the room before that..
work your way to the front of the dungeon..
As opposed to doing it this way (with a layer for each room/hallway/etc), would it not be simpler to simply use apaintbrush or whatnot on the "fog of war layer" to black the entire dungeon out and then, as the players explore, simply use the eraser tool to erase the fog of war.
As opposed to doing it this way (with a layer for each room/hallway/etc), would it not be simpler to simply use apaintbrush or whatnot on the "fog of war layer" to black the entire dungeon out and then, as the players explore, simply use the eraser tool to erase the fog of war.
I dont like erasing while playing. your milage may very.
its usually pretty easy if the room is a rectangle. but then you get wierd shape rooms, alcoves, lofts that you dont have LOS to, rectangular foyer's into large circular rooms.. etc etc etc..
My way is the most convienient for me, i click one button and the room is revealed. i click the next button, and the next room is revealed, no measureung or shape tools or brush selection required. the process is transparent to the players.
As for saving it with layers... it will flatten if you save it as a png or jpg.. save it in Gimp format (.xcf i believe) it will maintain the layers