Can the Gametable be used this way? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Can the Gametable be used this way?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
dungeonrenter
May 11, 2008 15:18:42 I am excited about the game table, but I am not really interested in using it to play online.

I get my only real dnd gaming group together all the time face to face.

We would like to use the game table instead of our minis/tiles/tokens etc.

The physical stuff takes a very long time, if instead I could set it all up online, and then plug my laptop into the TV and use that to display the dungeon in tile form I think it might help with the speed alot.

However, this does not seem to be the real reason for the existance of the gametable.

Will this work, or is the gametable really only for online play?
#2
steerpike7
May 11, 2008 15:22:26 Well, my knowledge is extremely limited with respect to the game table, but I have used some of the other software out there to do similar things.

For those other applications, playing online is the chief focus of the software. However, there is no reason you can't do exactly what you're talking about here. I suspect it is the same with the game table.

My advice, though, if you're not interested in playing online - check out OpenRPG (free) or Fantasy Grounds (one-time payment for software). You can do what you're talking about without having to pay a $15 per month fee.
#3
mort_q
May 11, 2008 22:13:30 I plan on using it for my local group. Most of us have laptops, and I have a decent size LCD monitor I can hook up.
#4
Webster
May 13, 2008 2:50:11 This question was asked at Gen Con, and the designer thought about it for a moment, then got very excited over the possibility. It wasn't a use they thought of, but it can be done.

But- there might be some juggling if you've gor a "DM" side showing on the TV.

Perhaps have a computer hooked up to the TV with the player's view, and a second one hooked up for the DM to manipulate the "hidden" stuff.
#5
trevorscroft
May 13, 2008 8:31:28
check out OpenRPG (free)

You might also check out MapTool ( http://rptools.net ) which is also free, and is still in very active development. (disclaimer: I'm the developer)
#6
steerpike7
May 13, 2008 9:15:44
You might also check out MapTool ( http://rptools.net ) which is also free, and is still in very active development. (disclaimer: I'm the developer)

I'll do that. I'd head of Map Tool, but have never tried it. Thanks for the link!
#7
trevorscroft
May 13, 2008 15:27:15
I'll do that. I'd head of Map Tool, but have never tried it. Thanks for the link!

If you want a quick view of what it can do and how it works before downloading, you can watch some video tutorials here:

http://www.rptoolstutorials.net/
#8
ariasilverhands
May 15, 2008 23:58:25
This question was asked at Gen Con, and the designer thought about it for a moment, then got very excited over the possibility. It wasn't a use they thought of, but it can be done.

o_0

You're not serious are you? This doesn't give me any hope for the game table if they cannot even make that kind of leap of logic between online gaming and offline gaming. It tells me they're sorely out of connection with their players. People have been using VT's for offline gaming for years. I thought about it a while ago, but the cost was prohibitive at the time. I'm actually planning on finding a way to build a game table with computer tools built into the table now the computer parts are getting cheaper and these software packages require almost nothing to run.
But- there might be some juggling if you've gor a "DM" side showing on the TV. Perhaps have a computer hooked up to the TV with the player's view, and a second one hooked up for the DM to manipulate the "hidden" stuff.

I'm going to make a table with six to eight monitors built into the table connected through a LAN and have MapTool installed on all of them. It'll provide each player with their own personal map/view of the battlefield. The really, really cool thing... is that using voice chat and a good microphone, you can have players around the world connect to your "game table" and play if they can't make it in person.
#9
heruca
May 20, 2008 10:15:58
I am excited about the game table, but I am not really interested in using it to play online.

I get my only real dnd gaming group together all the time face to face.

We would like to use the game table instead of our minis/tiles/tokens etc.

The physical stuff takes a very long time, if instead I could set it all up online, and then plug my laptop into the TV and use that to display the dungeon in tile form I think it might help with the speed alot.

However, this does not seem to be the real reason for the existance of the gametable.

Will this work, or is the gametable really only for online play?

There are better and cheaper tools for that job, IMO. MapTool has already been mentioned, so I'd like to mention another...

Battlegrounds: RPG Edition was designed with offline use in mind. Its fullscreen map and the hidden-until-needed user interface are an excellent combination for those wanting to use a projector or HDTV to display a virtual battlemat at their face-to-face game sessions. The result is a highly immersive gaming environment, complete with both manual and dynamic fog-of-war features that reveal the map as your adventuring party explores an area. The software can even play sound effects or music to enhance the mood even more.

Its ability to save and load your encounter setups means there is no set-up time or clean up time during your game sessions.

And the software is available for a modest one-time fee, so you could save loads of money compared to a lengthy subscription to DDI. Plus, it's available now, so you don't have to wait for Game Table to be released.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dungeonrenter May 11, 2008 15:18:42	I am excited about the game table, but I am not really interested in using it to play online. I get my only real dnd gaming group together all the time face to face. We would like to use the game table instead of our minis/tiles/tokens etc. The physical stuff takes a very long time, if instead I could set it all up online, and then plug my laptop into the TV and use that to display the dungeon in tile form I think it might help with the speed alot. However, this does not seem to be the real reason for the existance of the gametable. Will this work, or is the gametable really only for online play?
#2 steerpike7 May 11, 2008 15:22:26	Well, my knowledge is extremely limited with respect to the game table, but I have used some of the other software out there to do similar things. For those other applications, playing online is the chief focus of the software. However, there is no reason you can't do exactly what you're talking about here. I suspect it is the same with the game table. My advice, though, if you're not interested in playing online - check out OpenRPG (free) or Fantasy Grounds (one-time payment for software). You can do what you're talking about without having to pay a $15 per month fee.
#3 mort_q May 11, 2008 22:13:30	I plan on using it for my local group. Most of us have laptops, and I have a decent size LCD monitor I can hook up.
#4 Webster May 13, 2008 2:50:11	This question was asked at Gen Con, and the designer thought about it for a moment, then got very excited over the possibility. It wasn't a use they thought of, but it can be done. But- there might be some juggling if you've gor a "DM" side showing on the TV. Perhaps have a computer hooked up to the TV with the player's view, and a second one hooked up for the DM to manipulate the "hidden" stuff.
#5 trevorscroft May 13, 2008 8:31:28	check out OpenRPG (free) You might also check out MapTool ( http://rptools.net ) which is also free, and is still in very active development. (disclaimer: I'm the developer)
#6 steerpike7 May 13, 2008 9:15:44	You might also check out MapTool ( http://rptools.net ) which is also free, and is still in very active development. (disclaimer: I'm the developer) I'll do that. I'd head of Map Tool, but have never tried it. Thanks for the link!
#7 trevorscroft May 13, 2008 15:27:15	I'll do that. I'd head of Map Tool, but have never tried it. Thanks for the link! If you want a quick view of what it can do and how it works before downloading, you can watch some video tutorials here: http://www.rptoolstutorials.net/
#8 ariasilverhands May 15, 2008 23:58:25	This question was asked at Gen Con, and the designer thought about it for a moment, then got very excited over the possibility. It wasn't a use they thought of, but it can be done. o_0 You're not serious are you? This doesn't give me any hope for the game table if they cannot even make that kind of leap of logic between online gaming and offline gaming. It tells me they're sorely out of connection with their players. People have been using VT's for offline gaming for years. I thought about it a while ago, but the cost was prohibitive at the time. I'm actually planning on finding a way to build a game table with computer tools built into the table now the computer parts are getting cheaper and these software packages require almost nothing to run. But- there might be some juggling if you've gor a "DM" side showing on the TV. Perhaps have a computer hooked up to the TV with the player's view, and a second one hooked up for the DM to manipulate the "hidden" stuff. I'm going to make a table with six to eight monitors built into the table connected through a LAN and have MapTool installed on all of them. It'll provide each player with their own personal map/view of the battlefield. The really, really cool thing... is that using voice chat and a good microphone, you can have players around the world connect to your "game table" and play if they can't make it in person.
#9 heruca May 20, 2008 10:15:58	I am excited about the game table, but I am not really interested in using it to play online. I get my only real dnd gaming group together all the time face to face. We would like to use the game table instead of our minis/tiles/tokens etc. The physical stuff takes a very long time, if instead I could set it all up online, and then plug my laptop into the TV and use that to display the dungeon in tile form I think it might help with the speed alot. However, this does not seem to be the real reason for the existance of the gametable. Will this work, or is the gametable really only for online play? There are better and cheaper tools for that job, IMO. MapTool has already been mentioned, so I'd like to mention another... Battlegrounds: RPG Edition was designed with offline use in mind. Its fullscreen map and the hidden-until-needed user interface are an excellent combination for those wanting to use a projector or HDTV to display a virtual battlemat at their face-to-face game sessions. The result is a highly immersive gaming environment, complete with both manual and dynamic fog-of-war features that reveal the map as your adventuring party explores an area. The software can even play sound effects or music to enhance the mood even more. Its ability to save and load your encounter setups means there is no set-up time or clean up time during your game sessions. And the software is available for a modest one-time fee, so you could save loads of money compared to a lengthy subscription to DDI. Plus, it's available now, so you don't have to wait for Game Table to be released.