Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Sinatar Oct 06, 2009 10:19:48	First, I appologize - I wasn't sure where else to ask this question... this seemed like the closest forum to post that made sense. Anyway, I heard once of a program designed for playing tabletop RPG games like DnD over the internet. The players all connect to a server, the DM posts up maps and whatnot, you can roll dice in the chat box, etc. I can't remember what it was though. I'd like to at least check it out. Anyone have any clue what I'm talking about? Thanks.
#2 burgerittoville Oct 06, 2009 10:38:43	I use MapTool, which you can find at www.rptools.net.  There will be a bit of a learning curve for the DM, but these tutorials will get you started.  The forum community at rptools.net is very active and helpful.  If you're using premade maps (from Dungeon magazine, for example) you'll need to scale them before loading them into MapTool.  For this you'll need Photoshop (or GIMP, its open-source counterpart).  Again, there's a bit of a learning curve for this, but you can google around for help and after a bit of practice the process becomes very simple. You'll also need a program to enable voice chat - I recommend Skype. I've had so much fun with MapTool in my online games that I've started using it in my table-top games, too.  We hook one computer up to a projector and display the map on my living room wall.  It's great fun. Good luck. Edit - The best part.  MapTool + GIMP + Skype = Free!
#3 bageljay Oct 06, 2009 14:43:08	rptools is the most robust i've come across, but it does require all of your players to have it installed. another option is to use an online whiteboard (and chatroom). you can find a few with dice roller addons. The benifit here is only the dm needs extra software/admin rights: the other players just need a webbrowser. and skype ventrillo or teamspeak for sound.
#4 Sinatar Oct 08, 2009 10:18:46	MapTools was the one I heard about - thanks guys. I'm going to check it out. I use Campaign Cartographer 3 for my mapmaking, and Ventrillo for voice (I use Vent ALL the time in playing WoW). I'm pretty sure all I need (and my players) is MapTools. I can easily scale and export my CC3 maps to open them with MapTools, I'm sure.
#5 AbdulAlhazred Oct 09, 2009 14:21:40	Yeah, output your maps without a visible grid, that makes it a LOT easier to use them in maptool since otherwise you get to play with tweaking the MT grid to match the one on the map, which really shouldn't be necessary.
#6 QuestingWord Oct 11, 2009 17:27:58	There is also Fantasy Grounds 2 which is a d20 only rule system and there is a 4e rule set that can be downloaded and installed into FG2 so you can play true 4e D&D esque adventures in.  Has built in dice rollers, actually rolls the dice, have maps shown and tokens.. anyways, check it out.
#7 Sinatar Oct 12, 2009 10:45:43	I've heard mention of Fantasy Grounds, but up until now I didn't know what it was. We use 3.5 rules, but I'll check that out too.
#8 nikitadarkstar Oct 12, 2009 13:50:37	My group uses MSN messenger and Gametable and it works quite well for us. We've tried Maptools but we mainly wanted something basic to allow us a battlegrid (My wizard likes throwing big, fancy, fiery spells just close enough to people to singe their eyebrows and killing the mobs.. so we needed something). Gametable is pretty mucha  slimmed down, more newbie friendly version of Maptools and very, very useful if you only want it for encounters and dice rolling. gametable.galactanet.com/
#9 mercaius Oct 12, 2009 14:21:51	Yeah, I've been running a Gametable for 4E as well. The biggest problem you may have with this is restricted access by your internet providers. It can keep people from being able to join your hosted games if you're using the wrong program for your connection, so you might have work a little to figure out who can host your games, and with what program.
#10 QuestingWord Oct 12, 2009 18:48:42	Well, granted some people like just the most basic thing, and there is nothing wrong with that, but if I had to choose between Gametable and Maptools, I would throw my luck in with Maptools.  For one simple fact, you can customize it and do all sorts of 'custom : your style" with it from what I have seen.  I played around with it some a few nights ago and I have actually thought about shelving the FG2 for Maptools, becauise it was so darn easy to use, or was just intuative enough interface, which sits with me well. If you want to learn how to mod game Maptools and maybe even do some Java programming, scripting, then I believe it would support you in that endeavor.  I am not a propgrammer, but I know some of the skill involved and can turn out an app thats good in maybe x4s the time it might take a professional or even an adept... but the very fact that I have the ability to customize it, speaks well for any product.  FG2 uses XML and Lul scripting and has an API that is documented.  btw... there is two other programs that need to be mentioned, one is called iTabletop and is about to go to beta testing at the end of October, so a working upgraded version might be on the way soon enough.  Its a non-rules internet 2.0 whiteboard with all sorts of kewl features and is based on Silverlight framework from MS, instead of flash based.  Do a search on iTabletop on google to find the site, also... it supports Video, Audio and maps, tokens, etc all through one app. The other app to mention is, d20 Pro... which seams still stuck in 3.5e land, but if you are running that ruleset then its perfect.  I don't know if they will mod it for 4e and I haven't looked hard enough or posted any questions in the forum. www.d20pro.com/index.php Also... There is another VTT for D&D and the like but it isn't out yet, beta or otherwise, it is called EpicTable, and looks promising! www.epictable.com/ Oh, btw.. the tools Maptools comes with is more then just one componet, the VTT with the mapview... its comes with utilities that make your life at the game table easier... Hope this helps.
#11 Sinatar Oct 13, 2009 15:20:51	Thanks for all the advice and info, QuestingWord and everyone else. As I've said, we're in the middle of a 3.5 campaign. And I had no idea there were so many VTT hosts out there. I think we've decided on MapTools for several reasons. For one thing, it's free. Also, it's EASY for players. They just need to know how to move their characters/measure distance and roll dice, really. And as you said QW, it's very customizable for DMing. I'm no programmer, and I probably won't be doing anything more than posting up maps, dealing with NPC's, and calling the shots - but it's still nice to have. By the way, does anyone know of a good Map Making program? I should probably just post a new topic, but I might as well squeeze in what I can. I have Campaign Cartographer 3, but I don't like it too much for mapping CITIES, TOWNS, and VILLAGES. That's mainly what I need a new mapping program for. Any suggestions?