Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 thurgian Apr 23, 2010 0:13:04	I have taken to using an LED projector to display our "Masterplan" driven encounters.  I realized, that I could offer my players much more than just the MP plot points. So, I tracked down MTPAINT mtpaint.sourceforge.net/ a free, paint program that does layers. Essentially, I scan the dungeon map and save it as the background map.  Then I add a second layer, which is completely black.  Finally, I choose a brush size equal to the diameter of the light source the players are using; and, voila as they tell me what turns and choices they make, I merely click on the screen and they can see the map below. While I always enjoyed the mapping portion of original AD&D, and think that accurate mapping is an important part of game play, I believe that the new "show as you go" format leaves more time for the important things like encounters/traps/challenges. No more spending 10 minutes waiting for the map recorder to "get it just right".
#2 Mock Apr 29, 2010 8:55:31	If you have an LED projector, you may want to consider a tool like MapTool for a similar purpose - it has a built in "fog of war" and "light & vision" capability, so as you move the token for the party (or for each player, as you like), what they can "see" is automatically exposed and what they can no longer see is grayed out. With a method for creating "walls" (via a vision-blocking tool), you can create complex dungeons to be explored.  Disclaimer: I am an absolute MapTool fanboy, and could wax eloquent about it for days, but this specific use is actually very simple to get working and may be worth investigating. It is not unique to MapTool (there are other tools that do the same kind of thing). However, if your solution satisfies you, I think it's a great idea!
#3 sijal Apr 30, 2010 11:32:06	You might consider looking at the Wiimote project. Build a couple light pens and you got yourself an interactive touch screen map that both you and your players can manipulate. All I need is the LED projector, and this is what I'll be using.
#4 gorknar May 01, 2010 4:16:22	I finally finished setting up my 40" LCD 1080p HDTV in a table stand.  I'm using Masterplan to track the adventure/combat and d20Pro for the mapping.  Today was the first time I've used a displayed map in a game.  It went pretty well, I'm still learning to use the programs. The LCD HDTV screen is covered with a thin polycarbonate sheet ($67) for protection.  I like to use minis. I got the LCD on sale over a year ago for $800, I know you can find cheaper ones now.  The LCD stand cost me $50 in materials.  I used oak and poplar for the stand, adding a rope lite inside.  Masterplan is free and d20Pro I think is $30.
#5 thurgian May 03, 2010 0:57:26	I will eventually build a gaming table, and I have read all of the wiiremote information. I have also tried maptools, and while i am sure it works well, it doesn't "know" dnd 4e.  Masterplan works well for me (except for the separate map view issue).   I found that the layering ability of mtpaint, utilizing the light-source sized pen, gave me a simple way to show the players the map that they would be creating on graph paper, without having to make them use paper ..
#6 Mock May 17, 2010 13:36:59	True, MapTool doesn't actually know any game systems; I was simply focusing on the displaying a shared map side of things.
#7 thurgian May 17, 2010 14:33:24	Well, given the status of Masterplan (MIA), I have tried all of the other VTT's (Arguably MP wasn't a VTT anyway); and have settled on D20pro as it has (somewhat) native support for 4e (that and it is significantly easier to get up and running). D20 doesn;t have tru "Fog of War"; but it does have a built-in feature similar to what I was doing with MTpaint.  One less necessary tool is always a good thing.
#8 Mock May 17, 2010 17:14:13	Well, given the status of Masterplan (MIA), I have tried all of the other VTT's (Arguably MP wasn't a VTT anyway); and have settled on D20pro as it has (somewhat) native support for 4e (that and it is significantly easier to get up and running). D20 doesn;t have tru "Fog of War"; but it does have a built-in feature similar to what I was doing with MTpaint.  One less necessary tool is always a good thing. Hey, whatever works is great! At this point (as mentioned earlier) I'm so thoroughly MapTool-infused that it's probably not worth my time to look at the alternatives - whatever I could do with them I could do faster in MapTool because I know it intimately. Go with what works for you!
#9 gorknar May 18, 2010 2:29:18	I used d20Pro for about 3 sessions.  I liked that I could "reveal" the map as the characters moved.  It was rather clunky.  It only allowed me reveal in squares, which was a problem for non-square rooms.  It was however, very fast to setup and use.  It was also free to try for 30 days.  If it had native 4e functions and DDI connectivitiy, I'd buy it. I still felt I needed to purchase Dundjinni to actually draw the maps. I had all my module info entered into Masterplan, so I didn't use any of d20Pro tokens or encounter utilities.
#10 thurgian May 18, 2010 12:21:58	D20 does have a decent fix for 4e, and will import your Character Builder files.  Monsters are still a PITa; but they are working on them.  Currently, I use masterplan to make my D20 maps, and to design my encounters.  I then transfer the information to D20.  While this sounds complex, it is working out well.  I now have an interactive map and rules based combat tracker, supported by a an encounter builder and map designer. MP gets sluggish when too many tiles are on a map; and isn't suited for exploring a dungeon (because of the tile issue, it is relegated to an encounter manager).  So I generate individual rooms, and then export each room as a tile.  I then import each room tile into a new map, and assemble my overall dungeon map - this gives me the potential for a huge, high definition, map - which I then can load into D20. Yes, I know I am rambling, but the process works very well for me; and allows my players to actually do more than look at their tokens ...